Natan
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[OVERVIEW]
Slowbro's useful resistances and good physical bulk allow it to check threats such as Emboar and Hitmonlee. Thanks to Regenerator, Slack Off, and an extremely low-risk move in Scald, Slowbro can work extremely well as a defensive pivot for its team. Access to Toxic further helps Slowbro wear the opposing team down, while Calm Mind allows it to work as a late-game sweeper. Slowbro has useful resistances to Fighting, Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Water, but its typing also leaves it weak to a lot of special attackers in the tier such as Vanilluxe, Rotom-C, Sceptile, Guzzlord, and Vikavolt. Its low Speed means Slowbro will almost always take a hit before moving. Finally, its susceptibility to status and Taunt makes it harder for Slowbro to win games with Calm Mind.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic / Calm Mind / Magic Coat
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Waterium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic is an option that punishes bulky Water-types such as Seismitoad and Vaporeon and helps wear down most of Slowbro's switch-ins. Calm Mind allows Slowbro to act as a bulky sweeper by boosting its Special Attack and Special Defense. Magic Coat allows Slowbro to redirect status moves like Toxic from Pokemon such as Seismitoad and Vaporeon as well as entry hazards. Scald is a reliable STAB move with a 30% chance to burn. Psyshock is a secondary STAB move that allows Slowbro to hit an opposing Pokemon's Defense, allowing it to OHKO Hitmonlee without any boost and win Calm Mind wars. Slack Off provides reliable recovery, making it harder to wear down Slowbro.
Set Details
========
Regenerator recovers Slowbro's HP once it switches out. 252 EVs in Defense and HP maximize Slowbro's physical bulk, allowing it to check Pokemon such as Sneasel and Emboar. Waterium Z weakens Knock Off, blocks Trick, and gives Slowbro a powerful Z-Move, helping it weaken its checks. Colbur Berry can be used to help Slowbro against Pokemon with Dark-type attacks like Sneasel and Houndoom; it also helps Slowbro check most Fighting-types in the tier, since they usually carry Knock Off.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro works very well as a defensive pivot, switching into Pokemon it can check such as Emboar and Hitmonlee and forcing them to switch. It should be used as a pivot and a blanket check to physical attackers in the early- or mid-game, spamming its STAB moves or Toxic. Thanks to Regenerator, it can afford to attack instead of using Slack Off after taking some damage, but it's still recommended to use Slack Off once Slowbro's HP becomes too low for Regenerator to keep it healthy. If Calm Mind is chosen, use it only once Slowbro's checks are either removed or severely weakened. Be aware of Toxic, as being poisoned will limit Slowbro's longevity and its chances to win the game with Calm Mind. Slowbro also shouldn't stay in against powerful special attackers such as Vikavolt, Sceptile, and Rotom-C, as they can beat even a boosted Slowbro with their powerful attacks.
Team Options
========
Steelix is a great teammate, as it can provide Stealth Rock support and take Toxic and Electric- and Bug-type attacks aimed at Slowbro, while Slowbro can check most Fighting-, Fire-, and Water-type Pokemon in the tier. Similarly, Slowbro can check Fire- and Fighting-types for Togedemaru, which can take Electric-, Bug-, and Grass-type attacks for Slowbro, checking threatening Pokemon such as Vikavolt without Hidden Power Ground. Vanilluxe and Emboar can pressure most of Slowbro's checks such as Vikavolt and Guzzlord, while Slowbro can cover most of their weaknesses. Garbodor, Qwilfish, and Froslass can provide Spikes support, making it easier to weaken Slowbro's checks. Heal Bell support from Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Aromatisse can help Slowbro by curing it from status, notably poison. Mega Audino in particular can help Slowbro spread Toxic poison on the opposing team, benefits from Slowbro checking threats such as Klinklang, which can set up on Audino, and can form a Regenerator core with Slowbro early-game before Mega Evolving.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Leftovers can be used to give Slowbro a passive recovery option, but it's usually a worse option, as it leaves Slowbro weaker to Knock Off. Thunder Wave is an option to cripple Pokemon such as Sceptile and Delphox that rely on their Speed. Signal Beam in tandem with Buginium Z allows Slowbro to KO Grass-types such as Sceptile and Rotom-C after some prior damage while also beating Malamar and weakening Guzzlord. Similarly, Fire Blast can be used to weaken Grass-types, Vanilluxe, and Vikavolt, but both are inferior to Slowbro's STAB coverage. Ice Beam is an option to hit Grass-types and Guzzlord, KOing Alolan Exeggutor after some prior damage, but it does very little damage to Guzzlord and will only 2HKO Rotom-C and Sceptile. Grass Knot allows Slowbro to do massive damage to Seismitoad and threaten Jellicent after a few boosts, but it doesn't offer much besides that.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Guzzlord**: Guzzlord can take any of Slowbro's attacks with ease and beat even Colbur Berry variants with Dark Pulse.
**Grass-types**: Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Alolan Exeggutor resist Scald and can hit Slowbro with a super effective STAB move in return.
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Thanks to Slowbro's poor Special Defense stat, powerful special wallbreakers such as Vikavolt, Rotom, and Vanilluxe can take a hit from Slowbro and beat it with their powerful STAB moves.
**Super Effective Coverage**: While Slowbro can beat most physical attackers in the tier, it has to watch out for Pokemon with super effective coverage such as Savage Spin-Out Samurott and Gigavolt Havoc Emboar.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon and Seismitoad can switch into Slowbro and cripple it with Toxic. However, they have to be careful with Slowbro's own Toxic.
**Toxic Users**: Pokemon such as Steelix and Golbat can use Toxic against Slowbro, limiting its longevity and forcing it to use Slack Off and switch out more often. This makes it unable to work as a late-game sweeper and makes it harder for Slowbro to check some threats such as Choice Scarf Emboar.
Slowbro's useful resistances and good physical bulk allow it to check threats such as Emboar and Hitmonlee. Thanks to Regenerator, Slack Off, and an extremely low-risk move in Scald, Slowbro can work extremely well as a defensive pivot for its team. Access to Toxic further helps Slowbro wear the opposing team down, while Calm Mind allows it to work as a late-game sweeper. Slowbro has useful resistances to Fighting, Fire, Ice, Psychic, and Water, but its typing also leaves it weak to a lot of special attackers in the tier such as Vanilluxe, Rotom-C, Sceptile, Guzzlord, and Vikavolt. Its low Speed means Slowbro will almost always take a hit before moving. Finally, its susceptibility to status and Taunt makes it harder for Slowbro to win games with Calm Mind.
[SET]
name: Defensive Pivot
move 1: Toxic / Calm Mind / Magic Coat
move 2: Scald
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Slack Off
item: Waterium Z / Colbur Berry
ability: Regenerator
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Toxic is an option that punishes bulky Water-types such as Seismitoad and Vaporeon and helps wear down most of Slowbro's switch-ins. Calm Mind allows Slowbro to act as a bulky sweeper by boosting its Special Attack and Special Defense. Magic Coat allows Slowbro to redirect status moves like Toxic from Pokemon such as Seismitoad and Vaporeon as well as entry hazards. Scald is a reliable STAB move with a 30% chance to burn. Psyshock is a secondary STAB move that allows Slowbro to hit an opposing Pokemon's Defense, allowing it to OHKO Hitmonlee without any boost and win Calm Mind wars. Slack Off provides reliable recovery, making it harder to wear down Slowbro.
Set Details
========
Regenerator recovers Slowbro's HP once it switches out. 252 EVs in Defense and HP maximize Slowbro's physical bulk, allowing it to check Pokemon such as Sneasel and Emboar. Waterium Z weakens Knock Off, blocks Trick, and gives Slowbro a powerful Z-Move, helping it weaken its checks. Colbur Berry can be used to help Slowbro against Pokemon with Dark-type attacks like Sneasel and Houndoom; it also helps Slowbro check most Fighting-types in the tier, since they usually carry Knock Off.
Usage Tips
========
Slowbro works very well as a defensive pivot, switching into Pokemon it can check such as Emboar and Hitmonlee and forcing them to switch. It should be used as a pivot and a blanket check to physical attackers in the early- or mid-game, spamming its STAB moves or Toxic. Thanks to Regenerator, it can afford to attack instead of using Slack Off after taking some damage, but it's still recommended to use Slack Off once Slowbro's HP becomes too low for Regenerator to keep it healthy. If Calm Mind is chosen, use it only once Slowbro's checks are either removed or severely weakened. Be aware of Toxic, as being poisoned will limit Slowbro's longevity and its chances to win the game with Calm Mind. Slowbro also shouldn't stay in against powerful special attackers such as Vikavolt, Sceptile, and Rotom-C, as they can beat even a boosted Slowbro with their powerful attacks.
Team Options
========
Steelix is a great teammate, as it can provide Stealth Rock support and take Toxic and Electric- and Bug-type attacks aimed at Slowbro, while Slowbro can check most Fighting-, Fire-, and Water-type Pokemon in the tier. Similarly, Slowbro can check Fire- and Fighting-types for Togedemaru, which can take Electric-, Bug-, and Grass-type attacks for Slowbro, checking threatening Pokemon such as Vikavolt without Hidden Power Ground. Vanilluxe and Emboar can pressure most of Slowbro's checks such as Vikavolt and Guzzlord, while Slowbro can cover most of their weaknesses. Garbodor, Qwilfish, and Froslass can provide Spikes support, making it easier to weaken Slowbro's checks. Heal Bell support from Pokemon such as Mega Audino and Aromatisse can help Slowbro by curing it from status, notably poison. Mega Audino in particular can help Slowbro spread Toxic poison on the opposing team, benefits from Slowbro checking threats such as Klinklang, which can set up on Audino, and can form a Regenerator core with Slowbro early-game before Mega Evolving.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Leftovers can be used to give Slowbro a passive recovery option, but it's usually a worse option, as it leaves Slowbro weaker to Knock Off. Thunder Wave is an option to cripple Pokemon such as Sceptile and Delphox that rely on their Speed. Signal Beam in tandem with Buginium Z allows Slowbro to KO Grass-types such as Sceptile and Rotom-C after some prior damage while also beating Malamar and weakening Guzzlord. Similarly, Fire Blast can be used to weaken Grass-types, Vanilluxe, and Vikavolt, but both are inferior to Slowbro's STAB coverage. Ice Beam is an option to hit Grass-types and Guzzlord, KOing Alolan Exeggutor after some prior damage, but it does very little damage to Guzzlord and will only 2HKO Rotom-C and Sceptile. Grass Knot allows Slowbro to do massive damage to Seismitoad and threaten Jellicent after a few boosts, but it doesn't offer much besides that.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Guzzlord**: Guzzlord can take any of Slowbro's attacks with ease and beat even Colbur Berry variants with Dark Pulse.
**Grass-types**: Sceptile, Rotom-C, and Alolan Exeggutor resist Scald and can hit Slowbro with a super effective STAB move in return.
**Strong Special Wallbreakers**: Thanks to Slowbro's poor Special Defense stat, powerful special wallbreakers such as Vikavolt, Rotom, and Vanilluxe can take a hit from Slowbro and beat it with their powerful STAB moves.
**Super Effective Coverage**: While Slowbro can beat most physical attackers in the tier, it has to watch out for Pokemon with super effective coverage such as Savage Spin-Out Samurott and Gigavolt Havoc Emboar.
**Bulky Water-types**: Bulky Water-types such as Vaporeon and Seismitoad can switch into Slowbro and cripple it with Toxic. However, they have to be careful with Slowbro's own Toxic.
**Toxic Users**: Pokemon such as Steelix and Golbat can use Toxic against Slowbro, limiting its longevity and forcing it to use Slack Off and switch out more often. This makes it unable to work as a late-game sweeper and makes it harder for Slowbro to check some threats such as Choice Scarf Emboar.
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