Similarly to our last Trick Room setter Misdreavus, Slowking is fairly unexplored this season; however, with well rounded stats and a vast movepool, Slowking is an interesting option to set your Trick Room this season. The main selling point for Slowking comes through its ability – Oblivious – which grants an immunity to taunt, meaning the only way to prevent Slowking from setting trick room is to either use Fake Out, or knock it out in one hit.
Unfortunately, ChaoticEspeon.com doesn’t have the ability to create a focus herb to prevent flinching; preventing you from being knocked out? Well… that’s something we can help with!
In terms of needing support to set Trick Room, Slowking falls in between Mimikyu and Misdreavus, it’s entirely dependent on the opposing teams. Slowking lacks the ability to survive the most powerful super effective attacks on both the Physical and Special sides at the same time; bring the appropriate support dependent on the spread you choose to use!
Set 1: Physical King
Slowking @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Oblivious
Level: 50
EVs: 196 HP / 252 Def / 60 SpA
Relaxed Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Scald
– Ice Beam
– Trick Room
– Flamethrower
95/80/110 offers outstanding bulk; naturally, the weakness comes from the lowest stat of the three: physical defence. This set maximises physical bulk which ensures that – with the correct support – Slowking can survive some of the most powerful Physical attacks around
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 196 HP / 252+ Def Slowking: 164-194 (84.1 – 99.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Mimikyu Never-Ending Nightmare (140 BP) vs. 196 HP / 252+ Def Slowking: 156-186 (80 – 95.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Life Orb Pheromosa Lunge vs. 196 HP / 252+ Def Slowking: 151-182 (77.4 – 93.3%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 Atk Weavile Black Hole Eclipse (120 BP) vs. 196 HP / 252+ Def Slowking: 162-192 (83 – 98.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
-1 252+ Atk Thick Club Marowak-Alola Shadow Bone vs. 196 HP / 252+ Def Slowking: 128-152 (65.6 – 77.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Because of Slowking’s naturally high base Special Defense, investment isn’t particularly worthwhile if we aren’t trying to survive the hardest hitting attacks. Slowking’s movepool allows for vast amounts of coverage, I opt out of employing double STAB in the form of Scald/Psychic but obviously you should tailor the coverage to what your team needs. Thanks to Slowking’s base 100 SpAtk, it still hits for significant damage despite the absence of a beneficial nature
60 SpA Slowking Scald vs. 252 HP / 68 SpD Marowak-Alola: 108-128 (64.6 – 76.6%) — guaranteed 2HKO
60 SpA Slowking Flamethrower vs. 84 HP / 164 SpD Assault Vest Kartana: 160-192 (110.3 – 132.4%) — guaranteed OHKO
60 SpA Slowking Ice Beam vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Salamence: 176-208 (102.9 – 121.6%) — guaranteed OHKO
60 SpA Slowking Ice Beam vs. 28 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Garchomp: 108-128 (57.7 – 68.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Set 2: Special King
Slowking @ Sitrus Berry
Ability: Oblivious
Level: 50
EVs: 228 HP / 60 SpA / 212 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Scald
– Ice Beam
– Trick Room
– Flamethrower
This set functions in the same way as the physical set; survive powerful attack, set up Trick Room, go on the offensive. Investing more in Slowking’s already naturally high Special Defense grants a few extra survives
252 SpA Life Orb Tapu Koko Thunderbolt vs. 228 HP / 212+ SpD Slowking in Electric Terrain: 172-203 (86.4 – 102%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO
252+ SpA Torkoal Solar Beam vs. 228 HP / 212+ SpD Slowking: 80-96 (40.2 – 48.2%) — guaranteed 3HKO
252+ SpA Lilligant Petal Dance vs. 228 HP / 212+ SpD Slowking: 140-168 (70.3 – 84.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Whilst offering just the same offensively as the previous set.
Out of the two I would probably plump for the physically defensive set. Being able to prevent Tapu Koko from ohkoing Slowking is easier than surviving the physical attacks listed for set one. However, if you want that added insurance, feel free to trial the second spread.
Set 3: Defenses? Who needs that?
Ability: Oblivious/Regenerator .
Level: 50
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Scald
– Ice Beam
– Trick Room
– Flamethrower/Grass Knot
Sometimes, the main issue with Trick Room is a lack of offense immediately from the get go. Unless the setter can contribute to whatever situation may be faced on the other side of the field, you’ll have to waste a turn switching around; this won’t be the case with this Slowking. Base 100 Special Attack is monsterous. Combine that with a beneficial nature and the life orb, your Trick Room setter is going to offer serious offensive pressure from the start. Earlier, I mentioned that a huge selling point of Slowking was access to the Oblivious ability. But if you can partner Slowking with something which can prevent taunts coming its way Regenerator could be a decent option, allowing Slowking to recover a portion of damage dealt its way whilst being able to switch back in later in the game to set an extra Trick Room. The maximum investment allows a few extra knock outs or chances to ohko targets
252+ SpA Life Orb Slowking Scald vs. 252 HP / 68 SpD Marowak-Alola: 179-213 (107.1 – 127.5%) — guaranteed OHKO
252+ SpA Life Orb Slowking Scald vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Mudsdale: 125-148 (60.3 – 71.4%) — guaranteed 2HKO
Bonus Set….
Enter Slowbro!
Slowbro @ Expert Belt
Ability: Oblivious/Regenerator
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 76 Def / 188 SpA
Quiet Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Scald
– Ice Beam
– Fire Blast
– Trick Room
Sadly, Mega Slowbro isn’t available this season. However, Slowbro has just as respectable physical bulk. If Kartana is a concern to your plans and you still value offensive output on your Trick Room setter, give Slowking’s Bro a whirl!
188+ SpA Expert Belt Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 164+ SpD Celesteela: 103-122 (50.4 – 59.8%) — 84.4% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
188+ SpA Expert Belt Slowbro Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Metagross: 144-170 (77 – 90.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252+ Atk Mudsdale High Horsepower vs. 244 HP / 76 Def Slowbro: 75-88 (37.3 – 43.7%) — guaranteed 3HKO
188+ SpA Expert Belt Slowbro Scald vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Assault Vest Mudsdale: 108-130 (52.1 – 62.8%) — guaranteed 2HKO
188+ SpA Expert Belt Slowbro Ice Beam vs. 28 HP / 52 SpD Assault Vest Garchomp: 158-187 (84.4 – 100%) — 6.3% chance to OHKO
So there we have it, two brothers vying for the same spot on your teams. Play around with them and see which benefits your team most! Perhaps, if you’re feeling bold, you could find room for both on a hard Trick Room team…
Set 5: Or all three?
Slowpoke @ Eviolite
Ability: Oblivious
Level: 50
EVs: 244 HP / 92 Def / 172 SpD
Sassy Nature
IVs: 0 Atk / 0 Spe
– Scald/Toxic
– Disable/Slack Off
– Heal Pulse
– Trick Room
252 Atk Kartana Leaf Blade vs. 244 HP / 92 Def Eviolite Slowpoke: 164-194 (83.6 – 98.9%) — guaranteed 2HKO
252 SpA Raichu-Alola Thunderbolt vs. 244 HP / 172+ SpD Eviolite Slowpoke in Electric Terrain: 168-200 (85.7 – 102%) — 12.5% chance to OHKO
Burn chances and disruption? Opt for Scald and Disable. Stall? Toxic and Slack Off is your option. Heal Pulse offers additional support to Slowpoke’s team mate.
But yeah… Probably don’t use this set competitively… use one of the other four…
Remember the first rule of Trick Room… Keep it slow.
*damage calculations were calculated through the renamed Trainer Tower Damage Calc*
GoldenrodPress 
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