RBY 4U (Under3U) Slowpoke [GP Ready]

Slowpoke
Type: Psychic / Water
Stats: 90 | 65 | 65 | 40 | 15

Introduction

Just like his father in 1U, Slowpoke can be a very dangerous pokemon. It has access to Amnesia which means it can do a lot of damage to the opposite team. It has more set-up opportunities than Slowbro in 1U, and less tools exist to break it, meaning it can be more threatening. On top of that, it’s a good paralysis spreader, and it’s the best Abra answer. When you build a team, you should always figure out a way to handle Slowpoke.

Sets

Tobypoke

Slowpoke
- Amnesia
- Rest
- Thunder Wave
- Psychic

Set Details

Slowpoke can switch-in pokemon such as Blastoise or Fire types, and then use either Thunder Wave or sometimes immediately Amnesia if you think your opponent will predict Thunder Wave and go to Nidoking (Slowpoke 2HKOs at +2). Psychic is the move you go with instead of Surf given the high number of Water types in the tier, plus it can cause a special drop. It is almost unresisted in the metagame, with the only resistances being already vulnerable to it. Rest allows you to keep Slowpoke alive.

Other Options

Reflect is usuable instead of Thunder Wave to help against Nidoking’s Earthquake but that means you have more trouble against the rest of the tier if you’re paralysed since you can’t abuse the Amnesia mechanics. Withdraw, whilst even less effective than Reflect, also grants it a PP advantage in Slowpoke dittos, however it's very unlikely to come in useful giving it great opportunity cost. Surf is only better than Psychic against Abra, the former not being able to do much to Slowpoke anyway.

Checks and Counters

Nidoking can switch-in Thunder Wave and threat to 2HKO with Thunderbolt, or 3HKO with Thunderbolt followed by two Earthquakes. It also has a good critical hit rate. Paralysing Slowpoke helps a lot given that what’s going up against it will usually get paralysed. Tangela can set up and have good odds if Slowpoke isn't already at +4. Doing some damage with whatever you already have in and force Slowpoke to rest after it has set up its amnesias can allow you to bring in something that can 3HKO such as Nidoking or Scyther. Staryu also has a good crit rate and Thunderbolt. The electrics Magneton and Electrode can try to break it but they have to be aware of the opposite Nidoking. Weepinbell does a ton of damage with Razor Leaf but is uncommon and has a Psychic weakness.

 

Note in the set details also that psychic is almost unresisted in the metagame, with the only resistances being already vulnerable to it. Note in OO that Withdraw, whilst even less effective than reflect, also grants it a PP advantage in slowpoke dittos, however it's very unlikely to come in useful giving it great opportunity cost. When is not too late for Tangela? Be a little more specific. Note weepinbell's psychic weakness.