[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro is the most versatile physical wall in the tier, checking most of the tier with its great defensive typing, access to Regenerator, and a deep move pool. Its typing alone lets it check some of NU's best physical wallbreakers and sweepers like Lycanroc-D, Mienshao, and Cloyster, using them as an opportunity to set up with Calm Mind or Future Sight. Slowbro is also a fantastic user of Tera, luring in Dark-types like Alolan Muk and Brute Bonnet before it uses Tera Poison or Fairy, which makes them useless against it. Slowbro has a lot of move versatility, too, Future Sight enables Fighting-type teammates to break each other's checks, Psychic Noise to cripple opposing walls and bulky set up sweepers, Thunder Wave to punish switch-ins, and Calm Mind, which pairs well with Slowbro's high physical bulk, making it hard to KO on both ends of the spectrum, and to boost its own damage output. Regenerator keeps Slowbro alive longer, letting it switch-in to any physical move whenever it wants without worrying too much about residual damage. Slowbro also has a wide range of items it can use, Covert Cloak to ignore Scald's burn and Heal Block from Psychic Noise, Rocky Helmet to further punish physical breakers and pivots, and Leftovers to keep it healthy. Pressuring Slowbro isn't easy, but some strong special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Thundurus, and Choice Specs Noivern are able to force it out, even after a boost or two.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psychic Noise / Psyshock / Future Sight
move 4: Slack Off
item: Covert Cloak / Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
tera type: Poison / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Calm Mind pairs well with Slowbro's great physical bulk, making it hard to KO after a boost. Psychic Noise is the Psychic-type STAB of choice thanks to its matchup against bulky setup sweepers like Reuniclus, Mew, and especially opposing Slowbro without Psychic Noise, letting you win the matchup every time. Psychic Noise also helps against Unaware Quagsire to stall the Slowbro. Psyshock is a stronger Psychic-type STAB attack that lets Slowbro sweep easier, making it more of a threat in early- and mid-game; Psyshock is also able to beat Tera Poison Slowbro reliably, even if the other Slowbro has Psychic Noise. Future Sight enables wallbreakers like Mienshao, Lycanroc-D, and Gallade to get an early- or mid-game KO on Dark- and Steel-types trying to absorb Future Sight, or the Poison- and Ground-types switching into those breakers, often creating a lot of progress and making it easier for Slowbro to sweep later. Covert Cloak is Slowbro's go-to item because it gives it a winning matchup against other Slowbro, ignoring Scald's burn and Psychic Noise's Heal Block. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers and pivots such as Mienshao, Lycanroc-D, and Talonflame, forcing damage on them as Slowbro switches in. Leftovers helps Slowbro keep regenerating health as it boosts, lessening the need to use Slack Off. Tera Poison retains Slowbro's Fighting-type resistance, removes its weakness to Knock Off, and gives it an immunity to Toxic, and helping it in the matchup against Alolan Muk, using it as setup fodder. Tera Poison comes with the downside of losing the matchup to other Psychic-types such as Mew, Reuniclus, and most notably other Slowbro. Tera Fairy also retains Slowbro's Fighting-type resistance and also allows it to resist Dark-type attacks, but it opens up space to be KOed by Alolan Muk, Gunk Shot Krookodile, and Meteor Mash Lucario.
Thanks to its great defensive typing paired with its physical bulk, Slowbro pairs really well with Alolan Muk. Slowbro switches into strong physical wallbreakers that target Alolan Muk such as Krookodile, Mienshao, and Flygon while Alolan Muk can switch into special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Thundurus, and Calm Mind Reuniclus. Slowbro also enjoys having Mienshao as a partner to form a Regenerator core. Slowbro helps deal with revenge killers like Choice Scarf Infernape and Talonflame as well as Poison-types like Vileplume that punish Mienshao. In return, Mienshao can KO Dark-type Pokemon like Incineroar, Brute Bonnet, and Krookodile that try to KO Slowbro or absorb its Future Sight. Variants of Slowbro not running Heavy-Duty Boots appreciate hazard removal from the likes of Tsareena, Brambleghast, and Talonflame or a grounded Poison like Alolan Muk or Vileplume to absorb Toxic Spikes. Ground-types that can switch into Electric-type attacks like Krookodile, Flygon, and Rhyperior benefit Slowbro, giving it the opportunity to set up later in battle. Other physical wallbreakers like Lycanroc-D, Gallade, and Incineroar help beat bulky setup sweepers like Mew, Reuniclus, and opposing Slowbro which Slowbro has a hard time fighting. Slowbro is able to take advantage of passive Pokemon like Talonflame, Registeel, and Klefki, making it easier for Pokemon like Mienshao, Choice Specs Dragalge, and Porygon-Z to sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Slowbro can take on a more standard defensive set, swapping out Calm Mind for Thunder Wave to punish anything that tries to stay in against it. Defensive Slowbro can also use Foul Play to punish set up sweepers like Flygon, Feraligatr, and Gallade which it otherwise struggles to KO. Flamethrower can be used instead of a Psychic-type attack to hit Steel- and Grass-types like Registeel, Klefki, and Tsareena, but it lacks power when unboosted and Slowbro generally doesn't like facing Grass-types. Nasty Plot pairs well with Future Sight, boosting its Special Attack more than Calm Mind does, but it isn't reliable because Slowbro enjoys the boost to its Special Defense that Calm Mind gives. Heavy-Duty Boots ensures Slowbro doesn't take any hazard damage while switching in, letting it switch-in more often and support its team with Scald. Colbur Berry lets Slowbro take any Dark-type attack, such as Lycanroc-D's Crunch, Incineroar's Knock Off, and Krookodile's Knock Off, giving it the opportunity to retaliate with Scald. Assault Vest lets Slowbro tank more hits from special wallbreakers like Noivern, Mew, and Venusaur, but it loses out on Slack Off's recovery and relies too heavily on Regenerator. Eject Button turns Slowbro into a one time pivot, safely letting frail teammates like Lycanroc-D, Mienshao, and Thundurus in for free. Lastly, Slowbro can opt for Tera Water to partially keep its typing, getting rid of its weakness to Ghost- and Dark-type attacks and boosting Scald's damage, but it isn't often used due to the defensive merits of Tera Poison and Fairy.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Walls**: Alolan Muk, Assault Vest Brute Bonnet, and Calm Mind Sylveon are able to keep up with Slowbro's pace to beat it in a matchup, often forcing it to use Tera. Alolan Muk, especially, matches up well into Slowbro, removing its item with Knock Off and threatening it with poison if it has not used Tera Poison.
**Special Breakers**: Strong special wallbreakers such as Chandelure and Choice Specs variants of Noivern and Sylveon can all force Slowbro out due to their unboosted power, but if it has already set up with Calm Mind then they aren't guaranteed to KO. Other sweepers like Nasty Plot Lucario and Scope Lens Kingdra can bait in Slowbro, but they can be exploited by Slowbro's switch-in.
**Dark-types**: Alolan Muk, Krookodile, and Incineroar all pressure Slowbro with their powerful Dark-type attacks. However, they risk getting hit by Scald, and the former two don't want to get burned. users of Tera Dark like Feraligatr are able to KO Slowbro after a boost while Vaporeon is able to wall it thanks to Water Absorb and its new Psychic-type immunity.
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Oricorio-E, and Raikou can all set up alongside Slowbro due to their threat of a strong Electric-type attack, Oricorio-E is also able to use Taunt to stop Slowbro's set up attempts, but it fears Psychic Noise stopping it from using Roost. Choice Specs users like Magnezone and Toxtricity also threaten an OHKO, but they can lose if Slowbro has set up and has used Tera.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/Lucario.189361/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Slowbro is the most versatile physical wall in the tier, checking most of the tier with its great defensive typing, access to Regenerator, and a deep move pool. Its typing alone lets it check some of NU's best physical wallbreakers and sweepers like Lycanroc-D, Mienshao, and Cloyster, using them as an opportunity to set up with Calm Mind or Future Sight. Slowbro is also a fantastic user of Tera, luring in Dark-types like Alolan Muk and Brute Bonnet before it uses Tera Poison or Fairy, which makes them useless against it. Slowbro has a lot of move versatility, too, Future Sight enables Fighting-type teammates to break each other's checks, Psychic Noise to cripple opposing walls and bulky set up sweepers, Thunder Wave to punish switch-ins, and Calm Mind, which pairs well with Slowbro's high physical bulk, making it hard to KO on both ends of the spectrum, and to boost its own damage output. Regenerator keeps Slowbro alive longer, letting it switch-in to any physical move whenever it wants without worrying too much about residual damage. Slowbro also has a wide range of items it can use, Covert Cloak to ignore Scald's burn and Heal Block from Psychic Noise, Rocky Helmet to further punish physical breakers and pivots, and Leftovers to keep it healthy. Pressuring Slowbro isn't easy, but some strong special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Thundurus, and Choice Specs Noivern are able to force it out, even after a boost or two.
[SET]
name: Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psychic Noise / Psyshock / Future Sight
move 4: Slack Off
item: Covert Cloak / Rocky Helmet / Leftovers
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA
tera type: Poison / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Calm Mind pairs well with Slowbro's great physical bulk, making it hard to KO after a boost. Psychic Noise is the Psychic-type STAB of choice thanks to its matchup against bulky setup sweepers like Reuniclus, Mew, and especially opposing Slowbro without Psychic Noise, letting you win the matchup every time. Psychic Noise also helps against Unaware Quagsire to stall the Slowbro. Psyshock is a stronger Psychic-type STAB attack that lets Slowbro sweep easier, making it more of a threat in early- and mid-game; Psyshock is also able to beat Tera Poison Slowbro reliably, even if the other Slowbro has Psychic Noise. Future Sight enables wallbreakers like Mienshao, Lycanroc-D, and Gallade to get an early- or mid-game KO on Dark- and Steel-types trying to absorb Future Sight, or the Poison- and Ground-types switching into those breakers, often creating a lot of progress and making it easier for Slowbro to sweep later. Covert Cloak is Slowbro's go-to item because it gives it a winning matchup against other Slowbro, ignoring Scald's burn and Psychic Noise's Heal Block. Rocky Helmet punishes physical attackers and pivots such as Mienshao, Lycanroc-D, and Talonflame, forcing damage on them as Slowbro switches in. Leftovers helps Slowbro keep regenerating health as it boosts, lessening the need to use Slack Off. Tera Poison retains Slowbro's Fighting-type resistance, removes its weakness to Knock Off, and gives it an immunity to Toxic, and helping it in the matchup against Alolan Muk, using it as setup fodder. Tera Poison comes with the downside of losing the matchup to other Psychic-types such as Mew, Reuniclus, and most notably other Slowbro. Tera Fairy also retains Slowbro's Fighting-type resistance and also allows it to resist Dark-type attacks, but it opens up space to be KOed by Alolan Muk, Gunk Shot Krookodile, and Meteor Mash Lucario.
Thanks to its great defensive typing paired with its physical bulk, Slowbro pairs really well with Alolan Muk. Slowbro switches into strong physical wallbreakers that target Alolan Muk such as Krookodile, Mienshao, and Flygon while Alolan Muk can switch into special wallbreakers like Chandelure, Thundurus, and Calm Mind Reuniclus. Slowbro also enjoys having Mienshao as a partner to form a Regenerator core. Slowbro helps deal with revenge killers like Choice Scarf Infernape and Talonflame as well as Poison-types like Vileplume that punish Mienshao. In return, Mienshao can KO Dark-type Pokemon like Incineroar, Brute Bonnet, and Krookodile that try to KO Slowbro or absorb its Future Sight. Variants of Slowbro not running Heavy-Duty Boots appreciate hazard removal from the likes of Tsareena, Brambleghast, and Talonflame or a grounded Poison like Alolan Muk or Vileplume to absorb Toxic Spikes. Ground-types that can switch into Electric-type attacks like Krookodile, Flygon, and Rhyperior benefit Slowbro, giving it the opportunity to set up later in battle. Other physical wallbreakers like Lycanroc-D, Gallade, and Incineroar help beat bulky setup sweepers like Mew, Reuniclus, and opposing Slowbro which Slowbro has a hard time fighting. Slowbro is able to take advantage of passive Pokemon like Talonflame, Registeel, and Klefki, making it easier for Pokemon like Mienshao, Choice Specs Dragalge, and Porygon-Z to sweep.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Slowbro can take on a more standard defensive set, swapping out Calm Mind for Thunder Wave to punish anything that tries to stay in against it. Defensive Slowbro can also use Foul Play to punish set up sweepers like Flygon, Feraligatr, and Gallade which it otherwise struggles to KO. Flamethrower can be used instead of a Psychic-type attack to hit Steel- and Grass-types like Registeel, Klefki, and Tsareena, but it lacks power when unboosted and Slowbro generally doesn't like facing Grass-types. Nasty Plot pairs well with Future Sight, boosting its Special Attack more than Calm Mind does, but it isn't reliable because Slowbro enjoys the boost to its Special Defense that Calm Mind gives. Heavy-Duty Boots ensures Slowbro doesn't take any hazard damage while switching in, letting it switch-in more often and support its team with Scald. Colbur Berry lets Slowbro take any Dark-type attack, such as Lycanroc-D's Crunch, Incineroar's Knock Off, and Krookodile's Knock Off, giving it the opportunity to retaliate with Scald. Assault Vest lets Slowbro tank more hits from special wallbreakers like Noivern, Mew, and Venusaur, but it loses out on Slack Off's recovery and relies too heavily on Regenerator. Eject Button turns Slowbro into a one time pivot, safely letting frail teammates like Lycanroc-D, Mienshao, and Thundurus in for free. Lastly, Slowbro can opt for Tera Water to partially keep its typing, getting rid of its weakness to Ghost- and Dark-type attacks and boosting Scald's damage, but it isn't often used due to the defensive merits of Tera Poison and Fairy.
Checks and Counters
====
**Special Walls**: Alolan Muk, Assault Vest Brute Bonnet, and Calm Mind Sylveon are able to keep up with Slowbro's pace to beat it in a matchup, often forcing it to use Tera. Alolan Muk, especially, matches up well into Slowbro, removing its item with Knock Off and threatening it with poison if it has not used Tera Poison.
**Special Breakers**: Strong special wallbreakers such as Chandelure and Choice Specs variants of Noivern and Sylveon can all force Slowbro out due to their unboosted power, but if it has already set up with Calm Mind then they aren't guaranteed to KO. Other sweepers like Nasty Plot Lucario and Scope Lens Kingdra can bait in Slowbro, but they can be exploited by Slowbro's switch-in.
**Dark-types**: Alolan Muk, Krookodile, and Incineroar all pressure Slowbro with their powerful Dark-type attacks. However, they risk getting hit by Scald, and the former two don't want to get burned. users of Tera Dark like Feraligatr are able to KO Slowbro after a boost while Vaporeon is able to wall it thanks to Water Absorb and its new Psychic-type immunity.
**Electric-types**: Thundurus, Oricorio-E, and Raikou can all set up alongside Slowbro due to their threat of a strong Electric-type attack, Oricorio-E is also able to use Taunt to stop Slowbro's set up attempts, but it fears Psychic Noise stopping it from using Roost. Choice Specs users like Magnezone and Toxtricity also threaten an OHKO, but they can lose if Slowbro has set up and has used Tera.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/Lucario.189361/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user3.102/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user4.103/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user5.104/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/user6.105/
Last edited:
