[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro has a good defensive typing, reliable recovery, and fantastic physical bulk that let it check common Pokemon like Heatran, Garchomp, Terrakion, Dragonite, Keldeo, Mamoswine, and Alakazam lacking Grass Knot or Signal Beam. It also has Regenerator to reduce the long-term effects of entry hazards and make it less crippled by Pursuit when switching out on Tyranitar. It's also not overly passive, since Scald and Thunder Wave can burn and paralyze common checks like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W while it's also able to run coverage options like Ice Beam and Flamethrower to hit Dragon- and Grass-types. However, Slowbro's average special bulk and weaknesses leave it vulnerable to common special attackers like Volcarona, Reuniclus, Thundurus-T, and Latios. Its low Speed forces it to take a hit before attacking or recovering, making it possible to easily overwhelm, especially in tandem with entry hazards. While not passive, Slowbro can struggle to threaten and gets set up on by bulkier Pokemon that aren't crippled by status or hit super effectively, like Reuniclus and Latios. It's quite vulnerable to status, namely poison and burn, from Pokemon like Gastrodon, Tentacruel, Heatran, and Keldeo. It also faces strong competition from other bulky Water-types like Jellicent, Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad as a result of their better typings that let them check Pokemon Slowbro fails to, higher Speed and special bulk, and ability to spread status or set up entry hazards.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam hits Dragon- and Grass-types like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Breloom while also doing more damage to Gliscor and Landorus-T than Scald. Thunder Wave cripples faster Pokemon like Alakazam, Scizor, Latios, Rotom-W, and Tyranitar, notably making it impossible for Tyranitar to Pursuit trap it without Defense drops or a critical hit from Crunch. Flamethrower hits Grass- and Steel-types like Breloom, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scizor hard; (period->semicolon) however, it lacks Thunder Wave's utility against offensive teams and Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is used so Slowbro isn't being worn down in sand while also giving it passive recovery outside of sand.
Team Options
========
Slowbro fits well on sand teams that want a blanket check to physical attackers, primarily ones found on hyper offense, as well as Heatran and Keldeo that has good longevity. Tyranitar sets sand and can set up Stealth Rock with a Chople Berry set, which also brings Pursuit to trap Reuniclus, Jellicent, and Latios. It also appreciates Slowbro checking faster setup sweepers so it isn't as overwhelmed having to check these threats if running Choice Scarf and burning foes like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W with Scald. Excadrill is an important partner to keep entry hazards off the field, switch into Electric- and Dragon-type moves, pressure Reuniclus, which can use Slowbro as setup fodder, (add comma) and hit Rotom-W with Earthquake if running Mold Breaker. Ferrothorn sets entry hazards, which are important with Slowbro so it can wear down its switch-ins alongside Scald burns. Ferrothorn also checks stronger Water-, Dragon-, and Electric-types like Rotom-W, Jellicent, and Kyurem-B while providing Knock Off support and appreciating Slowbro checking Fire- and Fighting-types like Heatran, Keldeo, and Terrakion. Heatran can set up Stealth Rock, spread status, and counter Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Celebi as well as Volcarona while benefitting from Slowbro taking on Fighting- and Psychic-types like Terrakion, Keldeo, and Alakazam lacking Grass Knot or Signal Beam. Choice Scarf Latios revenge kills fast Pokemon like Volcarona, can more easily break through burned Pokemon like Ferrothorn, and can cripple Calm Mind Reuniclus with Trick so it can't set up on Slowbro.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be run to punish Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo, Tentacruel, Amoonguss, and do more damage to Breloom and Terrakion. However, it's more niche than Flamethrower and Thunder Wave. Running Grass Knot over Thunder Wave lets Slowbro hit Cloyster, Gastrodon, and Starmie hard and breaks Dragon Dance Gyarados's Substitute, making it unable to setup on Slowbro. Protect lets Slowbro scout what move Choice (hyphen->space) item Pokemon lock into, which is notable against Latios since it lets Slowbro check what move it locks into before switching to Tyranitar to Pursuit trap it. Trick, in tandem with a Choice Scarf or Flame Orb in the lead slot, can cripple switch-ins like Ferrothorn, Rotom-W, and Jellicent and steal their Leftovers. However, it's hard to fit, can be ruined by Protect leads, and is hard to pull off consistently since Pokemon like Latios can switch into Choice Scarf variants and Reuniclus can switch into Flame Orb variants. Toxic can be used over Thunder Wave or Flamethrower to cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W, Gastrodon, Jellicent, and Latios alongside Magnezone to trap Ferrothorn that'd otherwise absorb it. Rocky Helmet can be used over Leftovers to punish common contact moves like Crunch, Outrage, Pursuit, Close Combat, and U-turn. However, losing health in sand is not worth it a lot of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Latios, Thundurus-T, Reuniclus, and Rotom-W can all greatly threaten Slowbro with their strong special attacks or set up on it. Pokemon that it should be able to check like Alakazam, Keldeo, and Heatran can also threaten it should they be running an appropriate coverage move.
**Residual Damage**: Slowbro's vulnerability to common residual damage methods like burn, poison, sand, and entry hazards from Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, Rotom-W, and Heatran cause it to be worn down over the course of a game and forced to use Slack Off or switch for Regenerator recovery often, making it easy to overwhelm and take advantage of.
**Tyranitar**: Chople Berry Tyranitar can force a weakened Slowbro into a difficult mind (add space) game of Crunch or Pursuit, paralyze it with Thunder Wave, or set up Stealth Rock on it. However, Slowbro can beat a paralyzed or burned Tyranitar and avoid the 2HKO from Crunch if at full health.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ophion, 433215]]
- Quality checked by: [[Finchinator, 114198], [BluBirD252, 347088]]
- Grammar checked by: [dex, 277988]]
Slowbro has a good defensive typing, reliable recovery, and fantastic physical bulk that let it check common Pokemon like Heatran, Garchomp, Terrakion, Dragonite, Keldeo, Mamoswine, and Alakazam lacking Grass Knot or Signal Beam. It also has Regenerator to reduce the long-term effects of entry hazards and make it less crippled by Pursuit when switching out on Tyranitar. It's also not overly passive, since Scald and Thunder Wave can burn and paralyze common checks like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W while it's also able to run coverage options like Ice Beam and Flamethrower to hit Dragon- and Grass-types. However, Slowbro's average special bulk and weaknesses leave it vulnerable to common special attackers like Volcarona, Reuniclus, Thundurus-T, and Latios. Its low Speed forces it to take a hit before attacking or recovering, making it possible to easily overwhelm, especially in tandem with entry hazards. While not passive, Slowbro can struggle to threaten and gets set up on by bulkier Pokemon that aren't crippled by status or hit super effectively, like Reuniclus and Latios. It's quite vulnerable to status, namely poison and burn, from Pokemon like Gastrodon, Tentacruel, Heatran, and Keldeo. It also faces strong competition from other bulky Water-types like Jellicent, Rotom-W, Gastrodon, and Seismitoad as a result of their better typings that let them check Pokemon Slowbro fails to, higher Speed and special bulk, and ability to spread status or set up entry hazards.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Slack Off
move 4: Thunder Wave / Flamethrower
item: Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam hits Dragon- and Grass-types like Garchomp, Dragonite, and Breloom while also doing more damage to Gliscor and Landorus-T than Scald. Thunder Wave cripples faster Pokemon like Alakazam, Scizor, Latios, Rotom-W, and Tyranitar, notably making it impossible for Tyranitar to Pursuit trap it without Defense drops or a critical hit from Crunch. Flamethrower hits Grass- and Steel-types like Breloom, Ferrothorn, Skarmory, and Scizor hard; (period->semicolon) however, it lacks Thunder Wave's utility against offensive teams and Tyranitar.
Set Details
========
Leftovers is used so Slowbro isn't being worn down in sand while also giving it passive recovery outside of sand.
Team Options
========
Slowbro fits well on sand teams that want a blanket check to physical attackers, primarily ones found on hyper offense, as well as Heatran and Keldeo that has good longevity. Tyranitar sets sand and can set up Stealth Rock with a Chople Berry set, which also brings Pursuit to trap Reuniclus, Jellicent, and Latios. It also appreciates Slowbro checking faster setup sweepers so it isn't as overwhelmed having to check these threats if running Choice Scarf and burning foes like Ferrothorn and Rotom-W with Scald. Excadrill is an important partner to keep entry hazards off the field, switch into Electric- and Dragon-type moves, pressure Reuniclus, which can use Slowbro as setup fodder, (add comma) and hit Rotom-W with Earthquake if running Mold Breaker. Ferrothorn sets entry hazards, which are important with Slowbro so it can wear down its switch-ins alongside Scald burns. Ferrothorn also checks stronger Water-, Dragon-, and Electric-types like Rotom-W, Jellicent, and Kyurem-B while providing Knock Off support and appreciating Slowbro checking Fire- and Fighting-types like Heatran, Keldeo, and Terrakion. Heatran can set up Stealth Rock, spread status, and counter Grass-types like Ferrothorn and Celebi as well as Volcarona while benefitting from Slowbro taking on Fighting- and Psychic-types like Terrakion, Keldeo, and Alakazam lacking Grass Knot or Signal Beam. Choice Scarf Latios revenge kills fast Pokemon like Volcarona, can more easily break through burned Pokemon like Ferrothorn, and can cripple Calm Mind Reuniclus with Trick so it can't set up on Slowbro.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock can be run to punish Substitute + Calm Mind Keldeo, Tentacruel, Amoonguss, and do more damage to Breloom and Terrakion. However, it's more niche than Flamethrower and Thunder Wave. Running Grass Knot over Thunder Wave lets Slowbro hit Cloyster, Gastrodon, and Starmie hard and breaks Dragon Dance Gyarados's Substitute, making it unable to setup on Slowbro. Protect lets Slowbro scout what move Choice (hyphen->space) item Pokemon lock into, which is notable against Latios since it lets Slowbro check what move it locks into before switching to Tyranitar to Pursuit trap it. Trick, in tandem with a Choice Scarf or Flame Orb in the lead slot, can cripple switch-ins like Ferrothorn, Rotom-W, and Jellicent and steal their Leftovers. However, it's hard to fit, can be ruined by Protect leads, and is hard to pull off consistently since Pokemon like Latios can switch into Choice Scarf variants and Reuniclus can switch into Flame Orb variants. Toxic can be used over Thunder Wave or Flamethrower to cripple switch-ins like Rotom-W, Gastrodon, Jellicent, and Latios alongside Magnezone to trap Ferrothorn that'd otherwise absorb it. Rocky Helmet can be used over Leftovers to punish common contact moves like Crunch, Outrage, Pursuit, Close Combat, and U-turn. However, losing health in sand is not worth it a lot of the time.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Strong Special Attackers**: Pokemon like Latios, Thundurus-T, Reuniclus, and Rotom-W can all greatly threaten Slowbro with their strong special attacks or set up on it. Pokemon that it should be able to check like Alakazam, Keldeo, and Heatran can also threaten it should they be running an appropriate coverage move.
**Residual Damage**: Slowbro's vulnerability to common residual damage methods like burn, poison, sand, and entry hazards from Pokemon like Ferrothorn, Gastrodon, Rotom-W, and Heatran cause it to be worn down over the course of a game and forced to use Slack Off or switch for Regenerator recovery often, making it easy to overwhelm and take advantage of.
**Tyranitar**: Chople Berry Tyranitar can force a weakened Slowbro into a difficult mind (add space) game of Crunch or Pursuit, paralyze it with Thunder Wave, or set up Stealth Rock on it. However, Slowbro can beat a paralyzed or burned Tyranitar and avoid the 2HKO from Crunch if at full health.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Ophion, 433215]]
- Quality checked by: [[Finchinator, 114198], [BluBirD252, 347088]]
- Grammar checked by: [dex, 277988]]
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