Slowbro Guide: Builds and Best Items | Pokemon UNITE

The best guide on how to play Slowbro in Pokemon UNITE for Nintendo Switch and Mobile. Check here for the best builds, Held and Battle items, movesets, as well as the latest nerfs, buffs, counters, matchups, and more!

Slowbro Latest Nerfs & Buffs (10/20)

December 20 Update

Slowbro Move Changes (December 20)
Oblivious	• Move description text change to: Has the Pokemon Store up lost HP for a short time. When hitting an opposing Pokemon with a move, the Pokemon restores some of its HP using the stored-up HP, and it also decreases the opposing Pokemon's Sp. Def for a short time.
Scald	• Damage increased from 2042 → 2163 (+6%) • Effects on user increased • Effects on opposing Pokemon increased

Slowbro Basic Info

Slowbro
	Tier Rating: Role: Defender Attack Type: Ranged Damage Type: Special Difficulty: Intermediate Cost: 6000 / 345
"No matter the situation, Slowbro goes about life at its own pace. With its characteristic high defense and blissful unawareness, Slowbro is unfazed by opponents’ attacks."

Pokemon Unite Tier List

Slowbro Best Lanes

Top	Jungle	Bottom

Tips & Strategies for Every Lane

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
✔︎ Good range ✔︎ Great support skills Can vary builds based on moveset	✖︎ Low damage output ✖︎ Low HP for a Defender

Best Builds for Slowbro

Builds
Tank Build	Support Build
Offense Build

Tank Build

Tank Build
Moveset	Held Items
Surf Telekinesis	Focus Band Score Shield Buddy Barrier
Battle Item
Potion
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Defense: +30 Sp. Def: +30 HP: +1050

This is a defensive build centered on tanking damage and disabling targets using Surf and Telekinesis.

Focus Band, Score Shield, and Unite Barrier are standard tanking items, giving you more durability and survivability. Assault Vest can be a substitute for Score Shield if you're less focused on scoring.

Potion gives Slowbro a much needed health boost when in a pinch. What more, the recent buff on Potion makes sure that Slowbro can survive for longer inside clashes.

Support Build

Support Build
Moveset	Held Items
Surf Telekinesis	Energy Amplifier Shell Bell Exp. Share
Battle Item
Eject Button
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +24 Movement Speed: +150 HP: +240 Cooldown: -9% Unite Move Charge Rate: +6%

This is a similar build to the previous one but leans more towards supporting rather than tanking. It's centered on the constant use of Surf and Telekinesis to set up kills for your team.

Energy Amplifier and Shell Bell reduces your moves' cooldown and your Unite Move's recharge rate, allowing you to use them more frequently in fights. Exp. Share the core supportive item that also gives a movement speed boost.

Eject Button serves the same purpose as the previous build.

Offense Build

Offense Build
Moveset	Held Items
Scald Amnesia	Wise Glasses Choice Specs Shell Bell
Battle Item
Potion
Item Effects (at Level 30)
Sp. Atk: +102 Cooldown: -4.50%

This build does not make use of Slowbro's disabling moves. Instead, it sacrifices utility for an offense-focused playstyle by taking advantage of Scald's fast and long rage damage to continuously pressure the opponent's HP. Amnesia will be Slowbro's burst of defense when it is being targeted by opponents.

Equipping both Wise Glasses and Choice Specs significantly increases Slowbro's Sp. Attack stat, which contributes to amplifying Scald's overall damage output. Not only will Shell Bell give more Sp. Attack, it also gives HP recovery when you hit enemies with Scald and reduces your move cooldowns slightly.

Potion will make sure that Slowbro is topped off in HP as he Scalds his way through opponents. Combine that with extra healing from Amnesia and you can brush off most burst combos from the enemy!

Slowbro Best Items & Moveset

Best Held Items

Item	Description
Exp. Share	While the Pokemon has the fewest Exp. Points on the team, it gains (2/3/4) Exp. Points per second. In addition, when a nearby teammate defeats a wild Pokemon, that teammate gains slightly more Exp. Points.
Buddy Barrier	When the Pokemon uses its Unite Move, that Pokemon and the nearby ally Pokemon with the lowest HP are each granted a shield equal to (20/30/40)% of their max HP.
Energy Amplifier	After the Pokemon uses its Unite Move, the damage the Pokemon deals is increased by (7/14/21)% for a short time.
Focus Band	When the Pokemon drops to low HP, then each second for three seconds, it recovers (8/11/14)% of the HP it has lost.
Shell Bell	Recovers a minimum of (45/60/75) HP when a move hits an enemy. You will recover more HP if your Sp Attack stat is higher.

Held Item Tier List: Best Items to Equip

Slowbro's a Defender who plays similarly to Pokemon in the Supporter Role, meaning your actions should revolve around creating opportunities for your teammates. Items that grant cooldown reduction such as Energy Amplifier and Shell Bell help you spam your Surf and Telekenesis more often, allowing you to make more openings for your teammates to either apply damage or escape.

Once you get into a fight you need to remember that Slowbro isn't as bulky as other Defender Pokemon, so if you're having trouble staying alive you can beef him up with a defensive item such as Focus Band or even Buddy Barrier to give even more support to your teammates.

Best Battle Items

Item	Description
Eject Button	Makes your Pokemon move quickly in the specified direction.

Eject Button is good as an escape tool, but in the hands of Slowbro it's invaluable as an initiating tool. The item lets you start fights by blinking in, following it up with a Surf, and then chaining it with either a Telekinesis or a Slowbeam, effectively surprising and crippling any unlucky opponent caught in this combo.

Best Moveset

Move	Description
Telekinesis	Fires a beam that causes the enemy it hits to float in the air for 2 seconds. Activating the Move again will pull the floating enemy towards the user. Upgrade: Cast range and pull speed of the Move is increased.
Surf	Surfs to a target area, creating a wave that knocks up enemies. 2 additional waves follow shortly after, dealing additional damage. Upgrade: The second and third wave increase in size and will also knock up enemies.

Telekinesis is a powerful crowd control move that lets you immoblize an enemy for a good amount of time. Its projectile speed is a bit on the slow side, but if it hits the enemy will be immoblized for long enough that if your team focuses damage on it it'll most likely get taken out if it's not a Defender type.

Surf is a versatile move that can be used for either initiating or getting out of a fight. Its fairly low cooldown also ensures that you can use it frequently compared to other moves.

Which Moveset Do You Think is Best for Slowbro?

Let us know why in the comments!

Previous Poll Result

How to Play Slowbro

Change Playstyle When Needed

Slowbro is a Defender by role but can act as an Attacker or Supporter. Harass enemies with Surf, only take Wild Pokemon assists, and focus on zoning enemies and preventing them from killing your ally. If you can manage to steal enemy camps with a well-placed Scald, even better!

On the other hand , Slowbro is a great as a single-target disabler with Telekinesis and its Unite Move. It is best to around others as you can't deal the damage needed to defeat opponents on your own. Using Slowbro's skills, you can target their damage dealers and leave them open for your allies to finish off. With your disabling skills, you should be targeting the high profile damage dealers of the enemy team, both stopping them from dealing damage and allowing them to be picked off by your teammates.

Poke Enemies During Early Game

Slowbro's Water Gun has a long range that can be used to steal camps from enemy laners as well as poke them. Harass the enemy laners while your attacker farms safely from a distance. Slowbro also gains access to Surf or Scald at a very early Level 4, so you can use this early advantage to dive your opponents while their attacks and moves are still weak.

Stay in the Fight Longer with Slack Off

When fighting for the lane in the early game, you can save trip back to base by recovering HP with Slack Off. Make sure to use it at a safe place like inside a patch of Tall Grass or, better yet, inside an allied goal zone to get a speedy recovery!

Use Amnesia to Increase Survivability

Amnesia is a great tool for brushing off enemy attack while also amplifying your move damage. It may not give Slowbro full invulnerability against incoming damage, but that extra window of protection and HP recovery is enough to keep opponents engaged for your allies to intercept. It is best to save Amnesia in the middle of fights for an extra boost in defense!

Focus on Locking Down Key Threats

As a Defender, your job is to prevent your allies from getting wiped out. Your disabling skills are perfect for stopping high damage dealers such as Attackers and Speedsters dead in their tracks, essentially making them sitting ducks for your team to wipe out.

Slowbro Combos

Initiating Combo

Initiating Combo
►
Surf ► Telekinesis
This is Slowbro's bread and butter combo, especially if you're starting a fight. Use Surf to close the distance and knock up opponents, and follow up with Telekinesis to immobilize an opponent and prevent them from recovering. You can also choose to use Eject Button at the start to surprise your opponents.

Mid-Late Game: Lockdown Combo

Lockdown Combo
► ►
Surf ► Telekinesis ► Slowbeam
This is similar to the Initiator Combo, but with the addition of Slowbeam to ensure that the unlucky Pokemon caught in this combo will stay glued to one spot. Prioritize landing this combo on high damage dealing opponents like Speedsters and Attackers. If this combo connects during a teamfight, your team can practically wipe out the target with little effort.

Matchups & Counters for Slowbro

Slowbro Matchups

✘ : Counter | = : Even | ✓ : Advantageous
1. The chart is based on our own experience playing Slowbro.
2. Pokemon within each tier are unordered
3. Any Pokemon not shown here are still under investigation.

Counter with Long Range, Immunity, or High Durability

Although a durable Pokemon, Slowbro has poor mobility, making Slowbro vulnerable to long ranged attacks. Pokemon with immunity have prevents Slowbro from disabling them. Lastly, Slowbro's damage is not on par with other Pokemon, making Slowbro weak against high durability Pokemon.

Best Counters

Pokemon	Explanation
Cinderace	Rating: ★★★★★ Cinderace's insane attack speed, damage output, and long range are too much for Slowbro.
Pikachu	Rating: ★★★★★ Although not known for high attack damage like Cinderace, Pikachu's long cast range and high damage moves are also too much for Slowbro.
Crustle	Rating: ★★★★★ Crustle's high durability is too strong for Slowbro's damage. Also, Curstle's moves do more damage and is more effective compared to Slowbro.
Machamp	Rating: ★★★★ Machamp's arsenal of immunity-granting moves puts Slowbro's disabling moves to waste. Machamp has no problem going straight for Slowbro and beat Slowbro down.

Even Matchups

Even matchups for Slowbro are scenarios where the odds of winning are 50-50, or when neither side can take each other out properly. Slowbro's Telekenesis is a powerful disable, but leaves Slowbro unable to do anything else like applying damage through standard attacks. It's therefore highly advised that Slowbro starts fights only when teammates are nearby.

Burst Type Pokemon

Pokemon such as Alolan Ninetales or Gardevoir can burst down Slowbro, but they're also squishy enough to be taken out by Slowbro even with its low damage output. You'll generally want to wait for a good opportunity to strike, then jump in with your Eject Button to close the distance and unload your combos.

Support Type Pokemon

These Pokemon typically build their moveset to support their teammates in a fight, and as such lack the damage needed to take Slowbro down. They are also relatively hardy or annoying Pokemon that you can't quite finish off by yourself, so it's advised that you wait for a teammate to arrive before locking these opponents down with your disables.

Best Matchups for Slowbro

Susceptible to Disables

Susceptible to Disables

These Pokemon like to dive recklessly into fights in the hopes of bursting a target. However, this makes them vulnerable to Slowbro's disabling moves, preventing them from dealing damage or setting up for their team.

Not Fast Enough to Pressure HP

Pokemon with High Damage Output

These Pokemon can easily pressure their opponent's HP with consistent attacks and moves. But, thanks to Slowbro's sturdiness and a simple Amnesia, it will take them a lot of time to deplete Slowbro's HP effectively, allowing Slowbro to escape - or even fight back!

Best Teammates for Slowbro

Pokemon	Explanation
Alolan Ninetales Cinderace	Can deal the damage Slowbro lacks
	Slowbro's low damage output means that he'll enjoy having any companion that can deal high amounts of damage. Attacker Pokemon in particular love it when Slowbro turns opponents into piñatas for them to whack.
Wigglytuff	Can chain disables together
	Slowbro has powerful disables that can keep enemy Pokemon unable to act, and so does Wigglytuff. You can use each other's disables to setup your own disable, and keep the opponenet disabled for much longer.

Looking for teammates to synergize with you? Head over to our Friend Request Board to find other trainers to join you in your grind or just to hang out with!

Friend Request Board

Slowbro Moves

Move Slot 1 (R)

Water Gun (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Melee Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 642 (Lv. 3)
Slowbro charges up and shoots water. This Move will slow and damage any Pokemon hit by it. The longer Slowbro charges this Move, the more damage and farther the range it will have.
Surf (Lv. 4) Upgrade Lv. 11	Move Type: Dash Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 9s Total Damage: 1035 (Lv. 4) / 2151 (Lv. 15)
Surfs to a target area, creating a wave that knocks up enemies. 2 additional waves follow shortly after, dealing additional damage. Upgrade: The second and third wave increase in size and will also knock up enemies.
Scald (Lv. 4) Upgrade Lv. 11	Move Type: Melee Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 5s Total Damage: 955 (Lv. 4) / 2163 (Lv. 15)
Fires boiling water, damaging enemies hit and creating a small area of steam upon hitting. The steam area continually slows and burns enemies in it for 4 seconds. Upgrade: The steam area increases in size.

Move Slot 2 (ZR)

Slack Off (Lv. 1 or 3)	Move Type: Recovery Damage Type: Status Cooldown: 11s
Slowbro lies down and rests while continuously restoring HP. If Slowbro is attacked while resting, the restoration effect decreases.
Telekinesis (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 13	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Status Cooldown: 11s
Fires a beam that causes the enemy it hits to float in the air for 2 seconds. Activating the Move again will pull the floating enemy towards the user. Upgrade: Cast range and pull speed of the Move is increased.
Amnesia (Lv. 6) Upgrade Lv. 8	Move Type: Recovery Damage Type: Status Cooldown: 8s
Allows the user to nulify some damage before it takes effect. For a short time after using this move, the user becomes immune to hindrances and gain increased Defense. This move also increases the damage dealt by the next use of Scald or Surf. Upgrade: Increases Sp. Def.

Unite Moves (ZL)

Slowbeam (Lv. 9)	Move Type: Hindrance Damage Type: Special Cooldown: 134s Total Damage: 1418 (Lv. 9) / 2487 (Lv. 15)
Channels a beam at a target Pokemon, immobilizing them while dealing damage over 3 seconds. The user gains a shield and becomes unstoppable during the channel.

Standard Attack

Standard Attack	Becomes a boosted attack with every third attack. When this boosted attack hits, it splashes, dealing damage to nearby opposing Pokemon and decreasing their movement speed for a short time.

Ability (Passive)

Oblivious	When taking damage, HP loss is gradual. Slowbro can nullify some of the damage taken by hitting enemies with Moves. This also decreases the Sp. Defense of the enemy Pokemon for 2 seconds.

Slowbro Stats & Evolutions

Slowbro Evolutions

1st Evolution	Final Evolution
Slowpoke (Lv. 1)	Slowbro (Lv. 4)

Slowbro Stats

Level	HP	Defense	Special Defense	Attack Damage
1	3241	70	60	150
2	3378	78	67	153
3	3535	87	75	157
4	4334	132	114	175
5	4543	144	124	180
6	4783	158	136	186
7	5058	174	149	192
8	5375	192	164	199
9	5740	213	182	207
10	6160	237	202	217
11	6643	264	225	228
12	7199	295	252	241
13	7838	331	283	256
14	8572	373	319	273
15	9416	421	360	292

Attack Damage is the damage of the Basic Attack as tested against the Training Dummy.

Slowbro In-Game Stat Listings

Offense	Endurance	Mobility	Scoring	Support

Slowbro Skins (Holowear)

Holowear
Training Style 400	Bonfire Style 350 / 18
Tuxedo Style 400

All Pokemon Skins (Holowear)

Pokemon UNITE Related Guides

List of All Pokemon

All Pokemon Guides and Builds

Best Build for Each Pokemon

Pokemon Roster
Absol	Alolan Ninetales	Blastoise	Blissey
Charizard	Cinderace	Cramorant	Crustle
Decidueye	Dragonite	Eldegoss	Garchomp
Gardevoir	Gengar	Greedent	Greninja
Lucario	Machamp	Mamoswine	Mr. Mime
Pikachu	Slowbro	Snorlax	Sylveon
Talonflame	Trevenant	Tsareena	Venusaur
Wigglytuff	Zeraora
Upcoming Pokemon
No Confirmed Upcoming Pokemon!

Top 5 Master Rank Picks & Win Rate

All data is based on Season 02 Master Rank Top 100. Last Updated: January 10, 2021

Pokemon	Tier	Most Played	Average Win	Best Lane
Lucario		22%	78%	Bot
Eldegoss		9%	81%	Bot
Dragonite		9%	77%	Jungle
Greedent		8%	77%	Top
Mr. Mime		7%	82%	Bot

Top Picked Pokemon Per Role

Attacker	Supporter	All- Rounder	Defender	Speedster
Venusaur	Eldegoss	Lucario	Greedent	Zeraora

Master Rank: Top Ranked Win Rates

Pokemon by Role

All Pokemon Roles
Attackers		All-Rounders		Defenders
Speedsters			Supporters

Pokemon by Characteristics

Attack Type
Melee Pokemon	Ranged Pokemon
Physical Pokemon	Special Pokemon
Stat Rankings
HP Ranking	Defense Ranking
Sp. Def. Ranking	Basic Attack Ranking