Status: Complete!
Changes:
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/slaking
READ PLEASE! Alright, I removed the Wall Breaker set. It was too ineffective; I deemed it Other Options material instead.
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[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Sucker Punch / Shadow Claw / Pursuit
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
<p>Slaking exhibits great distinction as a physical sweeper because of its Herculean base 160 Attack and its decent base 100 Speed. Slaking's Attack stat is among the highest in the game, tied with Regigigas' and just coming short of Rampardos' in non-Uber play. Slaking's movepool is also unbelievably wide - it has access to all kinds of moves, including the elemental Punches, special elemental attacks (for example, Fire Blast and Ice Beam), and Pursuit. Combine Slaking's tremendous Attack and its interestingly diverse movepool, and you have a behemoth on your hands.</p>
<p>Return coming off 690 Attack and the boost gained from Slaking's STAB is no joke at all, 2HKOing everything that doesn't resist it, at the very least. Needless to say, Return OHKOes a huge list of Pokemon that are not Rock-, Ghost-, or Steel-types. However, it is not recommended that you use Return randomly in the hopes of hitting an opponent hard; Slaking's Truant ability is one of its greatest downfalls and mispredicting could easily waste its existence or provide opportunities for opponents to set up on it. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types exclusively hard, 2HKOing 252 HP/0 Def Steelix, 252 HP/0 Def Regirock, and having a chance to OHKO 252 HP/0 Def Registeel with Stealth Rock in play. Fire Punch hits Steel-types whose additional typing usually safeguard them from taking super effective damage from Earthquake. Examples of such Steel-types include Scizor, Forretress, Bronzong, and Skarmory. Fire Punch OHKOes the first two, while 2HKOing the latter two. Fire Punch also OHKOes weak Levitating Ghost-types like Mismagius and Gengar who hope to come in on Slaking's Return and Earthquake to get a free turn. The last move slot has three appealing options at Slaking's disposal. In today's metagame of fast sweepers and Choiced Scarfed users, Slaking's 299 Speed stat might often be insufficient to outrun other opponents, leaving it at the mercy of revenge killers that are able to exterminate it without much effort. Sucker Punch can make up for this fact by presenting Slaking with a Base 80 power priority Dark-type move. However, be warned that with Sucker Punch, you will have to predict an opponent's moves with more practiced expertise that you initially would without the use of this move. Next comes Shadow Claw, which is your best bet in dealing with Ghost-types like the Rotom Appliances, Dusknoir, Gengar, and Mismagius. Shadow Claw is a "safer" option than Sucker Punch because it is confirmed to hit these Ghost-types at least once, unlike Sucker Punch, which you will need to thoroughly think about before using. Finally, Pursuit can also be used to make Slaking a trapper of sorts. Since Slaking can frequently scare opponents and force them to switch out, Pursuit can heavily wound opponents that are fleeing for their lives.</p>
<p>While Slaking seems like a divine force because of its ability to kill just about anything, it can easily be countered by numerous strategies. The first one is the use of Protect to stall out Slaking's attacking turn, and then striking it on the turn it loafs around. This means that Wish + Protect Chansey or Blissey can easily stall it out, Protecting against Slaking's offending turn, while poisoning it on the next. Chansey and Blissey can subsequently continue to Protect and Seismic Toss or Flamethrower accordingly as Slaking's health depletes. In UU, Yanmega is another example of an effective Protect user that can seriously wreck Slaking. Yanmega is immune to Earthquake and takes only 64% maximum damage from Shadow Claw, thus providing it a reasonable number of chances to switch in (it must, however, beware of Return and Fire Punch). Yanmega can then launch Bug Buzzes to chip off Slaking's health. Another strategy that can be used to defeat Slaking is the use of Substitute. Slaking cannot win against an opponent who is faster than it and begins using Substitute. On the first turn, these opponents set up a Substitute as Slaking breaks it; on the second, they do whatever they wish to that takes advantage of Slaking's failure to attack. In OU, a classic example of a user of this strategy is Breloom, who resists Earthquake and Sucker Punch or Pursuit. Breloom can set up a Substitute and seriously annoy Slaking with Leech Seed and Spore or go for the kill with Focus Punch. In UU, a dangerous example is Calm Mind Mismagius. Calm Mind Mismagius can easily switch in on Slaking's Earthquake, Return, or Sucker Punch and begin Substituting + Calm Minding and can eventually sweep the entirety of your team. Yet another strategy that can be used to defeat Slaking is the use of Pokemon that can take Slaking's hits and use instant recovery moves like Roost and Slack Off. In OU, Skarmory is one of Slaking's best counters because of this scenario: for example, assume that Slaking does manage to catch it off guard with Fire Punch. It can Roost to regain its health on Slaking's attacking turn, and can set up Spikes or use Drill Peck or Brave Bird to wound Slaking on the turn it can do nothing. In UU, Slowbro is an example of a Pokemon that effectively uses this strategy, taking only a maximum of 66% from Return and even less from Shadow Claw or Fire Punch (remember that all Pokemon have two turns of Leftovers recovery against Slaking, which makes shrugging off hits somewhat easier). Slowbro can execute a Slack Off and Calm Mind combo to triumph againt Slaking. For the most part, anything that can "use" Slaking as set-up bait will almost always be able to seriously threaten your team, unless you make the wise move of switching Slaking out when you know you cannot defeat a foe.</p>
<p>Because opponents will gladly set up on Slaking whenever they can, a number of partners can work together with Slaking to counter these nuisances. Having a pHazer on your side can dramatically help in defeating Substitute + Stat Boosting Move users. Gliscor is an example of a harmonious partner because it resists Fighting-type moves that are usually aimed at Slaking. If Gliscor has U-turn, it can use it to hopefully break an opponent's Substitute while you search for an appropriate counter. In the lower tiers, a defensive Hariyama will kill two birds with one stone: first, with Whirlwind, it will be able to pHaze an opponent, and secondly, if Slaking mispredicts against Rock- and Steel-types, Hariyama can use well-powered Close Combats or Force Palms to crumble these enemies. Other Fighting-types like Blaziken are generally good partners with Slaking, as they resist Dark Pulses that are launched from Pokemon like Spiritomb. Blaziken specifically is a great partner since it's immune to Will-O-Wisp. Flying-types are also excellent partners since they can switch in on Fighting-type attacks and threaten the Fighting-type opponents with moves like Brave Bird and Air Slash. Yanmega in particular is a great example of this as it can defeat some of Slaking's counters like Breloom, Slowbro, and Bug/Steel-types that resist both Return and take not too much damage from Earthquake. If these Flying-types can pHaze, that would be a plus for Slaking as well. Zapdos is a good example because it has the resources to defeat Yanmega, Slowbro (if it has not set up too much), and Breloom. For a more offensive partner that is able to deal with Breloom, Chansey, and Blissey, Staraptor is ideal.</p>
<p>This set can greatly be helped with the use of three layers of Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes. For example, in UU, Slaking's Earthquake deals a minimum of 62% to 252 HP / 0 Def Careful Regirock. With the assistance of Spikes and Stealth Rock, Regirock finds itself losing (62% + 25% + 12% = ) 99% of its health instead! Similarly, other highly defensive opponents like Tangrowth and Torterra also have chances to be OHKOed with these entry hazards in play. Toxic Spikes can really go the distance in picking off that 6.25% of the opponents' remaining health, but with the abundance of Poison-types in UU, make sure that you check Pokemon like Venusaur, Roserade, and Nidoking before you decide to set them up. Depending on the tier where Slaking is used, a different selection of partners work well with it. In OU, Skarmory is the best partner because of its ability to pHaze opponents, attack Fighting-types with Brave Bird, and set up Spikes at the same time. For Toxic Spikes, Tentacruel is a great partner due to it being able to wall Mixnape, something that Slaking must watch out for. In UU, defensive Drapion is a fantastic partner as it can use Whirlwind to pHaze or threaten Slowbro, CM Mismagius, and set up Toxic Spikes at the same time. Roserade is a solid choice to use Spikes as it sports a resistance to Fighting-type moves, which can seriously jeopardize Slaking's life. However, you should always have a Spin Blocker in your team to prevent opponents from doing away with any entry hazards you might have spent time setting up. Pokemon like Rotom, Dusknoir, and Spiritomb are the best at the job because they are immune to Fighting-type attacks, and Rest + Sleep Talk versions can absorb any status that opponents might have wished to inflict upon Slaking.</p>
[SET]
name: Scarfed Slacker
move 1: Ice Punch
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: ThunderPunch / Fire Punch
move 4: Shadow Claw / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
<p>One's first impression when looking at this set for the first time is probably that Slaking has enough Speed and that the lack of a Choice Band to boost Slaking's Attack is unfavorable. This cannot be further from the truth - Choice Scarf Slaking is designed to use a hit-and-run approach that turns it into a true assassin by picking off threats one by one. While it is true that Slaking loses a great amount of power without a Choice Band, 460 Attack is still commendable. With an Adamant nature, 252 Speed EVs and a Choice Scarf, Slaking reaches 448 Speed, which is enough to outrun quite a number of Pokemon - Modest +1 Yanmega, Jolly Scarf Medicham and Mild Choice Scarf Typhlosion in UU, and Positive Speed-natured +1 Kingdra, Jolly Scarf Heracross, and +1 Jolly Gyarados in OU. Slaking is also faster than Scarf Heatran and non-Positive Speed natured Scarf Lucario. Being faster than Modest Yanmega after one Speed Boost is a huge plus for Slaking, since Yanmega can easily be OHKO'd by Ice Punch if it does not continue to use Protect to gain more Speed Boosts. All of these characteristics allow Slaking to become a great revenge killer that can even take a hit or two when needed.</p>
<p>The absence of STAB Return on this set is a grave concern, but it has been omitted for a good reason - Return, while powerful, is usually unable to knock out the bulky sweepers that Slaking should easily eliminate. Instead, it is a better idea to maximize Slaking's coverage with the many moves that are available to it and pick on opponents' weaknesses. Two great examples of opponents that Slaking cannot OHKO with Return are Salamence and Gyarados. Although Intimidate lowers Slaking's Attack, the appropriate elemental Punches will finish them off without problems. Ice Punch is used to take down Dragon-types, mainly, and fast and offensive versions of Gliscor in OU. In UU, it is useful to revenge kill Rock Polish Torterra and Dragon Dance Altaria, while being your best attack against the bulky Donphan, although you won't be doing too much damage to it anytime soon. Earthquake allows Slaking to respond against Steel- and Rock-types who arrogantly believe that they can come in and wall a Return, Ice Punch, or Shadow Claw. ThunderPunch OHKOes Gyarados in OU, while also hitting Water-types for good damage at the same time. In UU, offensive Milotic, Kabutops, and Azumarill are all OHKOed with three layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock up. Fire Punch, however, OHKOes Scizor. Shadow Claw and Pursuit have already been discussed in the previous set - Shadow Claw hits Ghost- and Psychic-types extremely hard, but Pursuit can catch retreating foes off guard. This set also bids farewell to Sucker Punch, since chances are you won't need a priority attack because Choice Scarf Slaking is already fast enough to work without it.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf Slaking encounters many more problems than Choice Band Slaking does. Primarily used as a Revenge Killer, Slaking cannot really do too much damage to the bulkiest of walls, allowing them to have a very easy time with Slaking. In OU, Skarmory is the best counter to Choice Scarf Slaking, as ThunderPunch does a weak maximum of 41% to it. With access to Roost to heal its HP, Skarmory can use the turn that Slaking's Truant cripples it to set up a few layers of Spikes or even hurt it with Brave Bird or Drill Peck. Suicune will also laugh in the face of Slaking and set up a few Calm Minds before finishing it off with a boosted Surf. In UU, Slowbro is happy to face Scarf Slaking. The lack of damage that Slaking deals to it allows it to set up a few Calm Minds, Slack Off any damage obtained, and cause immense problems for your team. Steelix, Regirock, and Registeel won't take too much damage from even Earthquake; Tangrowth can take whatever Slaking decides to use against it and possibly use Leech Seed to drain Slaking's HP or use its forceful Power Whip to hurt it. The key to using Choice Scarf Slaking is to realize one very important thing: even with 460 Attack, Slaking still loses to a whole lot of opponents. Therefore, it would be clever to analyze your opponent's team, know what Slaking can and can't kill, take down the things it can't severely harm, and then send it in. It never does any good to use up many turns to try to KO the opponent sooner or later; chances are, these opponents will have done some productive things before they fall.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Slaking still has an array of teammates that can assist it in the process of taking down opponents. This set has great problems against the countless number of Steel- and Rock-types that switch in on Slaking. To trap Steel-types, Magnezone, Probopass, and Dugtrio are sensational options to help KO them and prevent them from troubling Slaking later in the match. Magnet Rise Magnezone can easily dispatch Skarmory, Steelix, Metagross, Scizor, Forretress, and Registeel if played correctly. Probopass is more prone to getting killed before it is able to do anything, so it should only be used in the lower tiers, and still preferably be used as Magnet Rise variants. UU's latest weapon, Dugtrio, is a great consideration to revenge kill Registeel at low health, Moltres, and Blaziken, all of which Slaking dislikes and prays to have removed from the match. As with Choice Band Slaking, pHazers help Slaking deal with Stat Boosting users. Zapdos specifically helps Slaking out to wall Fighting-type attacks, be able to damage Skarmory with Thunderbolt and other Steel-types with Heat Wave, and Roar anything that might have set up on Slaking. Although Staraptor does not commonly use Whirlwind, it can help break Substitutes that have been thrown in on Slaking with the use of U-turn. Staraptor also helps deal with Fighting-types that tend to scare Slaking off, in addition to being able to slam Steel-types around with Close Combat. Although entry hazards are more important for Choice Band Slaking, they can help Choice Scarf Slaking turn 2HKOs against non-defensively oriented Pokemon into OHKOs. Roserade is a good choice to set up Toxic Spikes or Spikes since it can still OHKO 252 HP / 252 Def Slowbro with Leaf Storm after a Calm Mind. Roserade can also take Tangrowth's Power Whips all day long and use Sludge Bomb to OHKO it. In the higher tiers, Skarmory can help Slaking pHaze and set up Spikes, while Tentacruel can help Slaking against Infernape and set up Toxic Spikes. Another thing that Slaking loathes is getting induced by status, no matter if it's paralysis, burn, sleep, poison, or freeze. Bulky Rest + Sleep Talk Ghost-types, like Mono-Attacker Spiritomb, are great Slaking partners that can not only able to absorb status, notably Will-O-Wisp and sleep-inducing Moves, but also block Fighting-type moves aimed at Slaking. Many of these Ghosts are able to deal with some of Slaking's counters, like Breloom and Machamp; the Rotom Appliances, Rotom-H in particular, deserve a special mention as they can wall and damage Steel-types with ease.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Slaking has a whole lot of other options that it can use. Aside from Return, Slaking has three other decent STAB moves that can be used in its place; the first option is Body Slam. Body Slam may sound like a good idea because of its 30% paralysis rate; however, Slaking is actually fast enough and almost always prefers the extra power that Return offers. The second option is Double-Edge. While Double-Edge is more powerful than Return, its 1/3 recoil is something that many players dislike. Still, Double-Edge is still a viable option as Slaking has massive HP. The final and most controversial option is Giga Impact. Many players dislike the fact that Giga Impact renders Slaking immobile on the turn after it is used. This may not sound bothersome, but Giga Impact's downfall is that you will be unable to switch out Slaking after you use it, unlike Return. For this reason, players that enjoy switching in and out hate Giga Impact, but it is without question Slaking's most powerful and dangerous attack.</p>
<p>Slack Off and Rest are options to keep Slaking healthy. However, you are better off sticking to attacking moves instead, since the recovery is normally negated while Slaking loafs around. Slaking also has access to Rock Slide, but most of the time the elemental Punches offer greater coverage.</p>
<p>For a huge surprise, Encore can be used. If Pokemon decide to continuously set up Substitutes or use set up moves, Encore can cripple them. Night Slash can be used in the place of Shadow Claw as there is really no difference between the two moves. For a more reliable Fighting-type move, Brick Break can be used. Toxic Orb or Flame Orb can be equipped on Slaking, which can then be paired with Facade. A status-boosted Facade deals damage very similar to Giga Impact, so that can also be used as an offensive option. Gunk Shot is a very unusual option for Slaking, but is only a gimmick at the very best. Yawn is also unexpected on Slaking, but many opponents will find themselves switching out of many of Slaking's attacks anyway.</p>
<p>As of the moment, there is only one way of getting rid of Slaking's Truant ability, and this strategy only works in Double battles. Have a partner use Skill Swap to exchange Slaking's ability with its own, allowing Slaking to attack every turn. To take it one step further, the partner with the Skill Swap ability should then transfer the Truant ability to an opponent, limiting them from being able to move every turn. Do note that this strategy is very predictable, but if you manage to accomplish it, Slaking can become a real force to be reckoned with. Slaking can become more threatening if it can use Earthquake and Rock Slide, which attack both opponents in the field (Earthquake attacks your partner too, so watch out).</p>
<p>Slaking can also be used as a Wall Breaker with a Rash nature and 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 Def EVs. A moveset that finely complements such a Slaking would include something along the lines of Fire Blast/Ice Beam/Thunderbolt/Return. Such a set has a huge surprise factor, but clever opponents will take advantage of this in any way they can. Other than scoring an occasional OHKO on the likes of Tangrowth and Donphan, this set is significantly easier to wall than any of Slaking's other sets, and don't rely on it to work everytime.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Slaking's EVs tend to be very simple to understand. Always max out Speed EVs to allow Slaking to tie with other Pokemon with 100 base Speed. On physical sets, maximize Attack EVs; on special sets, maximize Special Attack EVs. For the Choice Scarf set, Slaking can run an alternative EV spread of 252 Atk / 216 Spe / 40 Def to outrun everything up to threats like Choice Scarf Medicham and Choice Scarf Gallade.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Slaking welcomes the assistance of Pokemon with these roles with open arms:</p>
<h4>pHazer</h4>
<p>Mispredicting will make Slaking extremely susceptible to the wrath of Substitute users. Many Substitute users also tend to carry Stat Boosting moves with them - Mismagius, for one, is an example of this. Having a pHazer by your side can help you prevent from getting swept should something manage to set up on Slaking. Situations like these are not infrequent, so keep your eyes peeled at all times. pHazers that work well with Slaking include Gliscor and Zapdos - both of them have resistances to Fighting-type moves that are the bane of Slaking's existence. Both of them can also use U-turn to break Substitues whenever necessary, while also having ways (using Earthquake and Heat Wave or Thunderbolt respectively) to deal with Steel-types that can easily wall Slaking (for example, Skarmory).</p>
<h4>Pokemon that Set Up Entry Hazards</h4>
<p>Slaking desperately needs 2HKOes to turn into OHKOes. Opponents with instant recovery moves can beat Slaking versions that rely on 2HKOes to win. With the help of entry hazards, Slaking's wish can come true. If Slaking is used correctly, it usually deals damage in the 65% range, which can be boosted with the help of Spikes and Stealth Rock. Toxic Spikes can eventually bring opponents down as well. In OU, Skarmory is one of the best Spikers around to partner up with Slaking - not only can it set up Spikes and/or Stealth Rock, but it can also pHaze opponents away with Whirlwind! In UU, Roserade is arguably Slaking's best partner to set up Spikes or Toxic Spikes, as it threatens some of Slaking's common counters like Tangrowth and Slowbro while still having a Fighting-type resistance as well.</p>
<h4>Spin Blockers</h4>
<p>Once your entry hazards are set up, it would be essential to keep them that way, especially in Slaking's case. Spin Blockers can help prevent Rapid Spinning attempts that would, in reverse, turn needed OHKOes into 2HKOes. Bulky Rest + Sleep Talk Spin Blockers are recommended because they are also able to absorb status. Thanks to being Ghost-type, they are immune to moves like Aura Sphere and Close Combat too. A good example of a bulky Spin Blocker would be Spiritomb; a good example of an offensive Spin Blocker would be Specs Rotom. Whatever the case, Spin Blockers will both help Slaking out defensively and offensively, and the "Lazy Pokemon" as it is known as can always be thankful for that fact.</p>
<h4>Fighting-type Partners</h4>
<p>If Slaking is caught off guard by using an incorrect Choiced move on opposing Rock- or Steel-types, Fighting-type partners can help it take care of them. In OU, Infernape can use its deadly dual-STAB to threaten any kind of Rock- or Steel-type Pokemon, while Blaziken can do the same in UU. Hariyama's ability to pHaze with Whirlwind and use Close Combat or Force Palm makes is another excellent Slaking partner. The first two are immune to Will-O-Wisp, while Hariyama doesn't mind getting burnt if it has the Guts ability. Similarly, Heracross is a more offensive option that can make use of Guts to send an opponent into a world of pain.</p>
<h4>Scouts</h4>
<p>It can be argued that scouts are useful for any type of team, but scouts can specifically help Slaking better than they can help other common Pokemon. Scouts are designed to expose vital information about an opponent's team, a huge bonus for Choiced users. With enough scouting, Slaking will have a general idea as to what it hopes to hit before it makes a move. Scouts that work well with Slaking include U-turn Scizor, Stallbreaker Gliscor, or anything that can dry pass (Baton Passing for scouting purposes), like Celebi, who also has a Fighting-type resistance.
<p>Slaking has been demoted to NU, but its flexibility between non-Uber tiers is still intact. Different tiers obviously call for different partners, though. Try to find partners that can fulfill all of the roles of the five jobs described above. In UU, good examples are Yanmega, Blaziken, and Spiritomb. In OU, good examples are Zapdos, Infernape, and a Rotom Appliance. Despite Slaking's impressive Base Stats, little to no attempts have been made to promote Slaking's usage in the Ubers tier. This is probably because the prevalent forces of Kyogre, Girartina-O, and other famous Ubers are too much for even Slaking to handle.</p>
<p>While it seems that Slaking is easily revenge killed, this is not always the case. For example, Choice Band Dugtrio's Earthquake will only deal 48% maximum to it, meaning that even if Slaking cannot attack due to Truant, it will still be able to kill Dugtrio in its next turn. If Substitute Dugtrio comes into play to trap Slaking, however, the ape is doomed to die. Nonetheless, Slaking's bulk cannot be ignored; never underestimate its ability to take hits. In Doubles battles, you will want a teammate that can Skill Swap a decent ability to Slaking. A large number of Skill Swap users are Psychic-types, and many of them have the ability Levitate, so it can possibly come in useful. In Single battles, players may choose to design a team that revolves around Slaking. The strategy behind such a team is simple: send Slaking in on an opponent, kill it, switch out, and repeat. Good defensive support is required for a Slaking-based team - cushioning hits aimed at it on the turn it switches out is of great importance. Scouting moves like Protect, U-turn, and Baton Pass are great assets in helping to reveal an opponent's team and can find opportunities for Slaking to come back in and do its job. Slaking-oriented teams can be remarkably useful in the lower tiers, where common walls are not as strong as the standard ones in OU play.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Players require great prediction skills to successfully use Choiced Pokemon, but with Slaking this is of even greater importance. Slaking can be your greatest weapon or your least valuable player, depending on how and with what you use it. When facing Slaking in battle, you will have to outpredict it at all costs. Failure in doing so may result in the death of team members of your own, and if you are unable to check or defeat it quickly enough it will continue to progressively haunt your entire team as long as it remains alive. Slaking's very presence tends to cause psychological warfare to stir up between players. Only one Pokemon will emerge alive; the Pokemon that makes the wrong move shall die.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Specific strategies that can counter this beast have been explained in the Choice Band set. There are three main ways to counter Slaking. The use of Substitute is one of them (make sure that the user is faster than Slaking, though). Fast Pokemon with Substitute can then set up on Slaking without worry - examples are Calm Mind Mismagius or Agility SubPetaya Empoleon. The second strategy is to use Protect. Protect is a safer option than Substitute, as the Speed of the user does not matter. An annoying combo of Substitute + Protect can be used to really waste Slaking. Examples of Protect users are Chansey or Blissey and Ninjask. The third strategy is to use a bulky Pokemon that can take Slaking's hits and use instant recovery moves. Examples of these are Slowbro and Hippowdon. The idea between all these sets is that on Slaking's attacking turn, Substitute, Protect, and instant recovery are used as protection for their users, while on Slaking's next turn, opponents are free to do whatever they want.</p>
<p>Skarmory, Gliscor, and Hippowdon are all excellent counters to physical Slaking variants. All three must beware of Fire Blast and Ice Beam on the rare Special Offensive Slaking set, however. Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types are always useful to have since they for the most part handle attacks like Return and Ice Punch with ease. Ninjask is something to worry about if it manages to switch into you without taking any damage. Slaking's best revenge killer still continues to be Substitute Dugtrio, who can keep using Substitute + Earthquake until Slaking is dead.</p>
<p>The bottom line, however, is that few Pokemon enjoy switching into Slaking for fear of getting OHKOed by its powerful moves. Stick with the three strategies mentioned in the first paragraph of this section and you will be fine most of the time.</p>
Changes:
- "Team Options" in blue
- I completely rewrote the Choice Band set
- I completely rewrote the Choice Scarf set
- Wall Breaker set...? (edit: it's now Other Options)
- I rewrote all Sub-Sections and added a "Team Options" Sub-Section
http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/slaking
READ PLEASE! Alright, I removed the Wall Breaker set. It was too ineffective; I deemed it Other Options material instead.
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[SET]
name: Choice Band
move 1: Return
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Fire Punch
move 4: Sucker Punch / Shadow Claw / Pursuit
item: Choice Band
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
<p>Slaking exhibits great distinction as a physical sweeper because of its Herculean base 160 Attack and its decent base 100 Speed. Slaking's Attack stat is among the highest in the game, tied with Regigigas' and just coming short of Rampardos' in non-Uber play. Slaking's movepool is also unbelievably wide - it has access to all kinds of moves, including the elemental Punches, special elemental attacks (for example, Fire Blast and Ice Beam), and Pursuit. Combine Slaking's tremendous Attack and its interestingly diverse movepool, and you have a behemoth on your hands.</p>
<p>Return coming off 690 Attack and the boost gained from Slaking's STAB is no joke at all, 2HKOing everything that doesn't resist it, at the very least. Needless to say, Return OHKOes a huge list of Pokemon that are not Rock-, Ghost-, or Steel-types. However, it is not recommended that you use Return randomly in the hopes of hitting an opponent hard; Slaking's Truant ability is one of its greatest downfalls and mispredicting could easily waste its existence or provide opportunities for opponents to set up on it. Earthquake hits Rock- and Steel-types exclusively hard, 2HKOing 252 HP/0 Def Steelix, 252 HP/0 Def Regirock, and having a chance to OHKO 252 HP/0 Def Registeel with Stealth Rock in play. Fire Punch hits Steel-types whose additional typing usually safeguard them from taking super effective damage from Earthquake. Examples of such Steel-types include Scizor, Forretress, Bronzong, and Skarmory. Fire Punch OHKOes the first two, while 2HKOing the latter two. Fire Punch also OHKOes weak Levitating Ghost-types like Mismagius and Gengar who hope to come in on Slaking's Return and Earthquake to get a free turn. The last move slot has three appealing options at Slaking's disposal. In today's metagame of fast sweepers and Choiced Scarfed users, Slaking's 299 Speed stat might often be insufficient to outrun other opponents, leaving it at the mercy of revenge killers that are able to exterminate it without much effort. Sucker Punch can make up for this fact by presenting Slaking with a Base 80 power priority Dark-type move. However, be warned that with Sucker Punch, you will have to predict an opponent's moves with more practiced expertise that you initially would without the use of this move. Next comes Shadow Claw, which is your best bet in dealing with Ghost-types like the Rotom Appliances, Dusknoir, Gengar, and Mismagius. Shadow Claw is a "safer" option than Sucker Punch because it is confirmed to hit these Ghost-types at least once, unlike Sucker Punch, which you will need to thoroughly think about before using. Finally, Pursuit can also be used to make Slaking a trapper of sorts. Since Slaking can frequently scare opponents and force them to switch out, Pursuit can heavily wound opponents that are fleeing for their lives.</p>
<p>While Slaking seems like a divine force because of its ability to kill just about anything, it can easily be countered by numerous strategies. The first one is the use of Protect to stall out Slaking's attacking turn, and then striking it on the turn it loafs around. This means that Wish + Protect Chansey or Blissey can easily stall it out, Protecting against Slaking's offending turn, while poisoning it on the next. Chansey and Blissey can subsequently continue to Protect and Seismic Toss or Flamethrower accordingly as Slaking's health depletes. In UU, Yanmega is another example of an effective Protect user that can seriously wreck Slaking. Yanmega is immune to Earthquake and takes only 64% maximum damage from Shadow Claw, thus providing it a reasonable number of chances to switch in (it must, however, beware of Return and Fire Punch). Yanmega can then launch Bug Buzzes to chip off Slaking's health. Another strategy that can be used to defeat Slaking is the use of Substitute. Slaking cannot win against an opponent who is faster than it and begins using Substitute. On the first turn, these opponents set up a Substitute as Slaking breaks it; on the second, they do whatever they wish to that takes advantage of Slaking's failure to attack. In OU, a classic example of a user of this strategy is Breloom, who resists Earthquake and Sucker Punch or Pursuit. Breloom can set up a Substitute and seriously annoy Slaking with Leech Seed and Spore or go for the kill with Focus Punch. In UU, a dangerous example is Calm Mind Mismagius. Calm Mind Mismagius can easily switch in on Slaking's Earthquake, Return, or Sucker Punch and begin Substituting + Calm Minding and can eventually sweep the entirety of your team. Yet another strategy that can be used to defeat Slaking is the use of Pokemon that can take Slaking's hits and use instant recovery moves like Roost and Slack Off. In OU, Skarmory is one of Slaking's best counters because of this scenario: for example, assume that Slaking does manage to catch it off guard with Fire Punch. It can Roost to regain its health on Slaking's attacking turn, and can set up Spikes or use Drill Peck or Brave Bird to wound Slaking on the turn it can do nothing. In UU, Slowbro is an example of a Pokemon that effectively uses this strategy, taking only a maximum of 66% from Return and even less from Shadow Claw or Fire Punch (remember that all Pokemon have two turns of Leftovers recovery against Slaking, which makes shrugging off hits somewhat easier). Slowbro can execute a Slack Off and Calm Mind combo to triumph againt Slaking. For the most part, anything that can "use" Slaking as set-up bait will almost always be able to seriously threaten your team, unless you make the wise move of switching Slaking out when you know you cannot defeat a foe.</p>
<p>Because opponents will gladly set up on Slaking whenever they can, a number of partners can work together with Slaking to counter these nuisances. Having a pHazer on your side can dramatically help in defeating Substitute + Stat Boosting Move users. Gliscor is an example of a harmonious partner because it resists Fighting-type moves that are usually aimed at Slaking. If Gliscor has U-turn, it can use it to hopefully break an opponent's Substitute while you search for an appropriate counter. In the lower tiers, a defensive Hariyama will kill two birds with one stone: first, with Whirlwind, it will be able to pHaze an opponent, and secondly, if Slaking mispredicts against Rock- and Steel-types, Hariyama can use well-powered Close Combats or Force Palms to crumble these enemies. Other Fighting-types like Blaziken are generally good partners with Slaking, as they resist Dark Pulses that are launched from Pokemon like Spiritomb. Blaziken specifically is a great partner since it's immune to Will-O-Wisp. Flying-types are also excellent partners since they can switch in on Fighting-type attacks and threaten the Fighting-type opponents with moves like Brave Bird and Air Slash. Yanmega in particular is a great example of this as it can defeat some of Slaking's counters like Breloom, Slowbro, and Bug/Steel-types that resist both Return and take not too much damage from Earthquake. If these Flying-types can pHaze, that would be a plus for Slaking as well. Zapdos is a good example because it has the resources to defeat Yanmega, Slowbro (if it has not set up too much), and Breloom. For a more offensive partner that is able to deal with Breloom, Chansey, and Blissey, Staraptor is ideal.</p>
<p>This set can greatly be helped with the use of three layers of Spikes, Stealth Rock, and Toxic Spikes. For example, in UU, Slaking's Earthquake deals a minimum of 62% to 252 HP / 0 Def Careful Regirock. With the assistance of Spikes and Stealth Rock, Regirock finds itself losing (62% + 25% + 12% = ) 99% of its health instead! Similarly, other highly defensive opponents like Tangrowth and Torterra also have chances to be OHKOed with these entry hazards in play. Toxic Spikes can really go the distance in picking off that 6.25% of the opponents' remaining health, but with the abundance of Poison-types in UU, make sure that you check Pokemon like Venusaur, Roserade, and Nidoking before you decide to set them up. Depending on the tier where Slaking is used, a different selection of partners work well with it. In OU, Skarmory is the best partner because of its ability to pHaze opponents, attack Fighting-types with Brave Bird, and set up Spikes at the same time. For Toxic Spikes, Tentacruel is a great partner due to it being able to wall Mixnape, something that Slaking must watch out for. In UU, defensive Drapion is a fantastic partner as it can use Whirlwind to pHaze or threaten Slowbro, CM Mismagius, and set up Toxic Spikes at the same time. Roserade is a solid choice to use Spikes as it sports a resistance to Fighting-type moves, which can seriously jeopardize Slaking's life. However, you should always have a Spin Blocker in your team to prevent opponents from doing away with any entry hazards you might have spent time setting up. Pokemon like Rotom, Dusknoir, and Spiritomb are the best at the job because they are immune to Fighting-type attacks, and Rest + Sleep Talk versions can absorb any status that opponents might have wished to inflict upon Slaking.</p>
[SET]
name: Scarfed Slacker
move 1: Ice Punch
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: ThunderPunch / Fire Punch
move 4: Shadow Claw / Pursuit
item: Choice Scarf
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 252 Spe / 4 Def
<p>One's first impression when looking at this set for the first time is probably that Slaking has enough Speed and that the lack of a Choice Band to boost Slaking's Attack is unfavorable. This cannot be further from the truth - Choice Scarf Slaking is designed to use a hit-and-run approach that turns it into a true assassin by picking off threats one by one. While it is true that Slaking loses a great amount of power without a Choice Band, 460 Attack is still commendable. With an Adamant nature, 252 Speed EVs and a Choice Scarf, Slaking reaches 448 Speed, which is enough to outrun quite a number of Pokemon - Modest +1 Yanmega, Jolly Scarf Medicham and Mild Choice Scarf Typhlosion in UU, and Positive Speed-natured +1 Kingdra, Jolly Scarf Heracross, and +1 Jolly Gyarados in OU. Slaking is also faster than Scarf Heatran and non-Positive Speed natured Scarf Lucario. Being faster than Modest Yanmega after one Speed Boost is a huge plus for Slaking, since Yanmega can easily be OHKO'd by Ice Punch if it does not continue to use Protect to gain more Speed Boosts. All of these characteristics allow Slaking to become a great revenge killer that can even take a hit or two when needed.</p>
<p>The absence of STAB Return on this set is a grave concern, but it has been omitted for a good reason - Return, while powerful, is usually unable to knock out the bulky sweepers that Slaking should easily eliminate. Instead, it is a better idea to maximize Slaking's coverage with the many moves that are available to it and pick on opponents' weaknesses. Two great examples of opponents that Slaking cannot OHKO with Return are Salamence and Gyarados. Although Intimidate lowers Slaking's Attack, the appropriate elemental Punches will finish them off without problems. Ice Punch is used to take down Dragon-types, mainly, and fast and offensive versions of Gliscor in OU. In UU, it is useful to revenge kill Rock Polish Torterra and Dragon Dance Altaria, while being your best attack against the bulky Donphan, although you won't be doing too much damage to it anytime soon. Earthquake allows Slaking to respond against Steel- and Rock-types who arrogantly believe that they can come in and wall a Return, Ice Punch, or Shadow Claw. ThunderPunch OHKOes Gyarados in OU, while also hitting Water-types for good damage at the same time. In UU, offensive Milotic, Kabutops, and Azumarill are all OHKOed with three layers of Spikes and Stealth Rock up. Fire Punch, however, OHKOes Scizor. Shadow Claw and Pursuit have already been discussed in the previous set - Shadow Claw hits Ghost- and Psychic-types extremely hard, but Pursuit can catch retreating foes off guard. This set also bids farewell to Sucker Punch, since chances are you won't need a priority attack because Choice Scarf Slaking is already fast enough to work without it.</p>
<p>Choice Scarf Slaking encounters many more problems than Choice Band Slaking does. Primarily used as a Revenge Killer, Slaking cannot really do too much damage to the bulkiest of walls, allowing them to have a very easy time with Slaking. In OU, Skarmory is the best counter to Choice Scarf Slaking, as ThunderPunch does a weak maximum of 41% to it. With access to Roost to heal its HP, Skarmory can use the turn that Slaking's Truant cripples it to set up a few layers of Spikes or even hurt it with Brave Bird or Drill Peck. Suicune will also laugh in the face of Slaking and set up a few Calm Minds before finishing it off with a boosted Surf. In UU, Slowbro is happy to face Scarf Slaking. The lack of damage that Slaking deals to it allows it to set up a few Calm Minds, Slack Off any damage obtained, and cause immense problems for your team. Steelix, Regirock, and Registeel won't take too much damage from even Earthquake; Tangrowth can take whatever Slaking decides to use against it and possibly use Leech Seed to drain Slaking's HP or use its forceful Power Whip to hurt it. The key to using Choice Scarf Slaking is to realize one very important thing: even with 460 Attack, Slaking still loses to a whole lot of opponents. Therefore, it would be clever to analyze your opponent's team, know what Slaking can and can't kill, take down the things it can't severely harm, and then send it in. It never does any good to use up many turns to try to KO the opponent sooner or later; chances are, these opponents will have done some productive things before they fall.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Slaking still has an array of teammates that can assist it in the process of taking down opponents. This set has great problems against the countless number of Steel- and Rock-types that switch in on Slaking. To trap Steel-types, Magnezone, Probopass, and Dugtrio are sensational options to help KO them and prevent them from troubling Slaking later in the match. Magnet Rise Magnezone can easily dispatch Skarmory, Steelix, Metagross, Scizor, Forretress, and Registeel if played correctly. Probopass is more prone to getting killed before it is able to do anything, so it should only be used in the lower tiers, and still preferably be used as Magnet Rise variants. UU's latest weapon, Dugtrio, is a great consideration to revenge kill Registeel at low health, Moltres, and Blaziken, all of which Slaking dislikes and prays to have removed from the match. As with Choice Band Slaking, pHazers help Slaking deal with Stat Boosting users. Zapdos specifically helps Slaking out to wall Fighting-type attacks, be able to damage Skarmory with Thunderbolt and other Steel-types with Heat Wave, and Roar anything that might have set up on Slaking. Although Staraptor does not commonly use Whirlwind, it can help break Substitutes that have been thrown in on Slaking with the use of U-turn. Staraptor also helps deal with Fighting-types that tend to scare Slaking off, in addition to being able to slam Steel-types around with Close Combat. Although entry hazards are more important for Choice Band Slaking, they can help Choice Scarf Slaking turn 2HKOs against non-defensively oriented Pokemon into OHKOs. Roserade is a good choice to set up Toxic Spikes or Spikes since it can still OHKO 252 HP / 252 Def Slowbro with Leaf Storm after a Calm Mind. Roserade can also take Tangrowth's Power Whips all day long and use Sludge Bomb to OHKO it. In the higher tiers, Skarmory can help Slaking pHaze and set up Spikes, while Tentacruel can help Slaking against Infernape and set up Toxic Spikes. Another thing that Slaking loathes is getting induced by status, no matter if it's paralysis, burn, sleep, poison, or freeze. Bulky Rest + Sleep Talk Ghost-types, like Mono-Attacker Spiritomb, are great Slaking partners that can not only able to absorb status, notably Will-O-Wisp and sleep-inducing Moves, but also block Fighting-type moves aimed at Slaking. Many of these Ghosts are able to deal with some of Slaking's counters, like Breloom and Machamp; the Rotom Appliances, Rotom-H in particular, deserve a special mention as they can wall and damage Steel-types with ease.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>Slaking has a whole lot of other options that it can use. Aside from Return, Slaking has three other decent STAB moves that can be used in its place; the first option is Body Slam. Body Slam may sound like a good idea because of its 30% paralysis rate; however, Slaking is actually fast enough and almost always prefers the extra power that Return offers. The second option is Double-Edge. While Double-Edge is more powerful than Return, its 1/3 recoil is something that many players dislike. Still, Double-Edge is still a viable option as Slaking has massive HP. The final and most controversial option is Giga Impact. Many players dislike the fact that Giga Impact renders Slaking immobile on the turn after it is used. This may not sound bothersome, but Giga Impact's downfall is that you will be unable to switch out Slaking after you use it, unlike Return. For this reason, players that enjoy switching in and out hate Giga Impact, but it is without question Slaking's most powerful and dangerous attack.</p>
<p>Slack Off and Rest are options to keep Slaking healthy. However, you are better off sticking to attacking moves instead, since the recovery is normally negated while Slaking loafs around. Slaking also has access to Rock Slide, but most of the time the elemental Punches offer greater coverage.</p>
<p>For a huge surprise, Encore can be used. If Pokemon decide to continuously set up Substitutes or use set up moves, Encore can cripple them. Night Slash can be used in the place of Shadow Claw as there is really no difference between the two moves. For a more reliable Fighting-type move, Brick Break can be used. Toxic Orb or Flame Orb can be equipped on Slaking, which can then be paired with Facade. A status-boosted Facade deals damage very similar to Giga Impact, so that can also be used as an offensive option. Gunk Shot is a very unusual option for Slaking, but is only a gimmick at the very best. Yawn is also unexpected on Slaking, but many opponents will find themselves switching out of many of Slaking's attacks anyway.</p>
<p>As of the moment, there is only one way of getting rid of Slaking's Truant ability, and this strategy only works in Double battles. Have a partner use Skill Swap to exchange Slaking's ability with its own, allowing Slaking to attack every turn. To take it one step further, the partner with the Skill Swap ability should then transfer the Truant ability to an opponent, limiting them from being able to move every turn. Do note that this strategy is very predictable, but if you manage to accomplish it, Slaking can become a real force to be reckoned with. Slaking can become more threatening if it can use Earthquake and Rock Slide, which attack both opponents in the field (Earthquake attacks your partner too, so watch out).</p>
<p>Slaking can also be used as a Wall Breaker with a Rash nature and 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 6 Def EVs. A moveset that finely complements such a Slaking would include something along the lines of Fire Blast/Ice Beam/Thunderbolt/Return. Such a set has a huge surprise factor, but clever opponents will take advantage of this in any way they can. Other than scoring an occasional OHKO on the likes of Tangrowth and Donphan, this set is significantly easier to wall than any of Slaking's other sets, and don't rely on it to work everytime.</p>
[EVs]
<p>Slaking's EVs tend to be very simple to understand. Always max out Speed EVs to allow Slaking to tie with other Pokemon with 100 base Speed. On physical sets, maximize Attack EVs; on special sets, maximize Special Attack EVs. For the Choice Scarf set, Slaking can run an alternative EV spread of 252 Atk / 216 Spe / 40 Def to outrun everything up to threats like Choice Scarf Medicham and Choice Scarf Gallade.</p>
[Team Options]
<p>Slaking welcomes the assistance of Pokemon with these roles with open arms:</p>
<h4>pHazer</h4>
<p>Mispredicting will make Slaking extremely susceptible to the wrath of Substitute users. Many Substitute users also tend to carry Stat Boosting moves with them - Mismagius, for one, is an example of this. Having a pHazer by your side can help you prevent from getting swept should something manage to set up on Slaking. Situations like these are not infrequent, so keep your eyes peeled at all times. pHazers that work well with Slaking include Gliscor and Zapdos - both of them have resistances to Fighting-type moves that are the bane of Slaking's existence. Both of them can also use U-turn to break Substitues whenever necessary, while also having ways (using Earthquake and Heat Wave or Thunderbolt respectively) to deal with Steel-types that can easily wall Slaking (for example, Skarmory).</p>
<h4>Pokemon that Set Up Entry Hazards</h4>
<p>Slaking desperately needs 2HKOes to turn into OHKOes. Opponents with instant recovery moves can beat Slaking versions that rely on 2HKOes to win. With the help of entry hazards, Slaking's wish can come true. If Slaking is used correctly, it usually deals damage in the 65% range, which can be boosted with the help of Spikes and Stealth Rock. Toxic Spikes can eventually bring opponents down as well. In OU, Skarmory is one of the best Spikers around to partner up with Slaking - not only can it set up Spikes and/or Stealth Rock, but it can also pHaze opponents away with Whirlwind! In UU, Roserade is arguably Slaking's best partner to set up Spikes or Toxic Spikes, as it threatens some of Slaking's common counters like Tangrowth and Slowbro while still having a Fighting-type resistance as well.</p>
<h4>Spin Blockers</h4>
<p>Once your entry hazards are set up, it would be essential to keep them that way, especially in Slaking's case. Spin Blockers can help prevent Rapid Spinning attempts that would, in reverse, turn needed OHKOes into 2HKOes. Bulky Rest + Sleep Talk Spin Blockers are recommended because they are also able to absorb status. Thanks to being Ghost-type, they are immune to moves like Aura Sphere and Close Combat too. A good example of a bulky Spin Blocker would be Spiritomb; a good example of an offensive Spin Blocker would be Specs Rotom. Whatever the case, Spin Blockers will both help Slaking out defensively and offensively, and the "Lazy Pokemon" as it is known as can always be thankful for that fact.</p>
<h4>Fighting-type Partners</h4>
<p>If Slaking is caught off guard by using an incorrect Choiced move on opposing Rock- or Steel-types, Fighting-type partners can help it take care of them. In OU, Infernape can use its deadly dual-STAB to threaten any kind of Rock- or Steel-type Pokemon, while Blaziken can do the same in UU. Hariyama's ability to pHaze with Whirlwind and use Close Combat or Force Palm makes is another excellent Slaking partner. The first two are immune to Will-O-Wisp, while Hariyama doesn't mind getting burnt if it has the Guts ability. Similarly, Heracross is a more offensive option that can make use of Guts to send an opponent into a world of pain.</p>
<h4>Scouts</h4>
<p>It can be argued that scouts are useful for any type of team, but scouts can specifically help Slaking better than they can help other common Pokemon. Scouts are designed to expose vital information about an opponent's team, a huge bonus for Choiced users. With enough scouting, Slaking will have a general idea as to what it hopes to hit before it makes a move. Scouts that work well with Slaking include U-turn Scizor, Stallbreaker Gliscor, or anything that can dry pass (Baton Passing for scouting purposes), like Celebi, who also has a Fighting-type resistance.
<p>Slaking has been demoted to NU, but its flexibility between non-Uber tiers is still intact. Different tiers obviously call for different partners, though. Try to find partners that can fulfill all of the roles of the five jobs described above. In UU, good examples are Yanmega, Blaziken, and Spiritomb. In OU, good examples are Zapdos, Infernape, and a Rotom Appliance. Despite Slaking's impressive Base Stats, little to no attempts have been made to promote Slaking's usage in the Ubers tier. This is probably because the prevalent forces of Kyogre, Girartina-O, and other famous Ubers are too much for even Slaking to handle.</p>
<p>While it seems that Slaking is easily revenge killed, this is not always the case. For example, Choice Band Dugtrio's Earthquake will only deal 48% maximum to it, meaning that even if Slaking cannot attack due to Truant, it will still be able to kill Dugtrio in its next turn. If Substitute Dugtrio comes into play to trap Slaking, however, the ape is doomed to die. Nonetheless, Slaking's bulk cannot be ignored; never underestimate its ability to take hits. In Doubles battles, you will want a teammate that can Skill Swap a decent ability to Slaking. A large number of Skill Swap users are Psychic-types, and many of them have the ability Levitate, so it can possibly come in useful. In Single battles, players may choose to design a team that revolves around Slaking. The strategy behind such a team is simple: send Slaking in on an opponent, kill it, switch out, and repeat. Good defensive support is required for a Slaking-based team - cushioning hits aimed at it on the turn it switches out is of great importance. Scouting moves like Protect, U-turn, and Baton Pass are great assets in helping to reveal an opponent's team and can find opportunities for Slaking to come back in and do its job. Slaking-oriented teams can be remarkably useful in the lower tiers, where common walls are not as strong as the standard ones in OU play.</p>
[Opinion]
<p>Players require great prediction skills to successfully use Choiced Pokemon, but with Slaking this is of even greater importance. Slaking can be your greatest weapon or your least valuable player, depending on how and with what you use it. When facing Slaking in battle, you will have to outpredict it at all costs. Failure in doing so may result in the death of team members of your own, and if you are unable to check or defeat it quickly enough it will continue to progressively haunt your entire team as long as it remains alive. Slaking's very presence tends to cause psychological warfare to stir up between players. Only one Pokemon will emerge alive; the Pokemon that makes the wrong move shall die.</p>
[Counters]
<p>Specific strategies that can counter this beast have been explained in the Choice Band set. There are three main ways to counter Slaking. The use of Substitute is one of them (make sure that the user is faster than Slaking, though). Fast Pokemon with Substitute can then set up on Slaking without worry - examples are Calm Mind Mismagius or Agility SubPetaya Empoleon. The second strategy is to use Protect. Protect is a safer option than Substitute, as the Speed of the user does not matter. An annoying combo of Substitute + Protect can be used to really waste Slaking. Examples of Protect users are Chansey or Blissey and Ninjask. The third strategy is to use a bulky Pokemon that can take Slaking's hits and use instant recovery moves. Examples of these are Slowbro and Hippowdon. The idea between all these sets is that on Slaking's attacking turn, Substitute, Protect, and instant recovery are used as protection for their users, while on Slaking's next turn, opponents are free to do whatever they want.</p>
<p>Skarmory, Gliscor, and Hippowdon are all excellent counters to physical Slaking variants. All three must beware of Fire Blast and Ice Beam on the rare Special Offensive Slaking set, however. Ghost-, Rock-, and Steel-types are always useful to have since they for the most part handle attacks like Return and Ice Punch with ease. Ninjask is something to worry about if it manages to switch into you without taking any damage. Slaking's best revenge killer still continues to be Substitute Dugtrio, who can keep using Substitute + Earthquake until Slaking is dead.</p>
<p>The bottom line, however, is that few Pokemon enjoy switching into Slaking for fear of getting OHKOed by its powerful moves. Stick with the three strategies mentioned in the first paragraph of this section and you will be fine most of the time.</p>
