Galarian Slowking - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

This is a strategy guide for using Galarian Slowking in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Galarian Slowking, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Galarian Slowking - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Build for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Galarian Slowking

Types and Abilities

Pokemon	Type 1	Type 2
Galarian Slowking
Abilities
Curious Medicine	When a Pokemon with this Ability enters the battlefield, allies’ stat changes are reset.
Own Tempo	Prevents the Pokemon from becoming confused.
Regenerator (Hidden)	Restores a little HP when withdrawn from battle.

Galarian Slowking Weaknesses and Resistances

	Type
Takes 4x damage	-
Takes 2x damage
Takes 0.5x damage
Takes 1/4x damage
Takes 0x damage	-

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP	Attack	Defense	Sp. Atk	Sp. Def	Speed
95	65	80	110	110	30

Best Nature for Galarian Slowking

Best Natures
Bold (+Def, -Atk)	Quiet (+Sp.Atk, -Spd)	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)

Singles Movesets for Galarian Slowking

Defensive Calm Mind Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Bold (+Def, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 202 / Def 145 / Sp.Atk 130 / Sp.Def 131 / Spd. 50
Ability	Regenerator
Held Item	Black Sludge
Moveset	・Eerie Spell ・Scald ・Calm Mind ・Slack Off

Galarian Slowking can run an effective Calm Mind set due to its natural bulk and great base Special Attack stat. It's unique dual typing, while odd, gives it many chances to switch in to the very common Fairy-type Pokemon common in the current metagame.

About Galarian Slowking's Moves

Eerie Spell is Galarian Slowking's main STAB move, and has the secondary effect of lowering the PP of the opposing Pokemon's last move by 3. This move allows the Hexpert Pokemon to potentially stall sweepers that have high-powered but low PP moves, such as Cinderace.

Scald is its secondary attacking move. While Galarian Slowking no longer gets STAB from it, it's 30% chance to inflict a burn is very useful and patches up its Defense Stat.

Calm Mind boosts Galarian Slowking's great Special Attack and Special Defense stat by one stage, allowing it to better handle special attacks and hit harder with its own moves. It's last move is Slack Off and is a reliable healing move that allows Galarian Slowking to stay in the battle for a longer time.

About Galarian Slowking's EV Spread

We're using a standard defensive EV spread for Galarian Slowking with full HP and Defense investment. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to round off its bulk.

Note: Galarian Slowking has a lower Defense Stat, but with a Bold Nature and full EV investment, it has 145 Defense at Level 50. With a few Calm Mind boosts, the Hexpert Pokemon can take physical and special attacks better!

About Galarian Slowking's Ability

Regenerator is the recommended ability for this Galarian Slowking build. When it switches out, it restores 1/3 of its maximum HP.

While the point of Calm Mind sets is to stay in battle for as long as possible, this ability is very useful if Galarian Slowking needs to switch out from one of its counters. With the health recovery, it can switch back in at better health and resume boosting with Calm Mind.

About Galarian Slowking's Held Item

We're giving this Galarian Slowking Black Sludge for some much-needed passive recovery at the end of every turn.

Other Viable Moves

Stored Power	A potentially stronger alternative to Eerie Spell and is the better choice if you can guarantee at least 3 or more Calm Mind boosts.
Sludge Wave	An alternative to Scald if you want a secondary STAB. Note: This move hits all targets, so it's best used in Singles. For Doubles, Sludge Bomb is the safer choice.

Trick Room Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Quiet (+Sp.Atk, -Spd)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4
Final Stat Values	HP 202 / Def 100 / Sp.Atk 178 / Sp.Def 131 / Spd 31
Ability	Regenerator
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Trick Room ・Sludge Wave ・Eerie Spell ・Fire Blast

Galarian Slowking is a fearsome sweeper in Trick Room, and can fill the role of primary setter or back-up setter as well.

About Galarian Slowking's Moves

Trick Room reverses the move order, allowing Galarian Slowking to outspeed faster threats. With a Quiet Nature and 0 Speed IVs, it has an effective speed stat of 31 at Level 50.

Sludge Wave is its strongest STAB move, and hits Fairy-types and Grass-types like Hatterene and Rillaboom for super effective damage. Eerie Spell is its secondary attacking move and has the secondary effect of lowering the PP of the opposing Pokemon's last move by 3.

Fire Blast is its last move and is important for coverage since Galarian Slowking is easily walled by Steel-types.

About Galarian Slowking's EV Spread

We're using a bulky special attacking EV spread with full investment in HP and Special Attack. The remaining 4 EVs are placed in Special Defense to boost its naturally high special bulk.

About Galarian Slowking's Ability

Regenerator is the recommended ability for this Galarian Slowking build. When it switches out, it restores 1/3 of its maximum HP.

About Galarian Slowking's Held Item

Life Orb is the best item for this Galarian Slowking, boosting the power of its moves at the cost of some residual damage. This recoil damage is ultimately negated by Regenerator.

Other Viable Moves

Psyshock	An alternative to Eerie Spell that allows Galarian Slowking to hit Specially Defensive Pokemon on their weaker Defense stat.
Ice Beam	An alternative to Fire Blast and is more useful if you can already cover Steel-types. This move allows Galarian Slowking to hit Ground-types like Garchomp and Hippowdon for super effective damage.
Sludge Bomb	The safer alternative to Sludge Wave if using this Galarian Slowking in a Doubles team.

Doubles Movesets for Galarian Slowking

Doubles Expanding Force Sweeper Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Modest (+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread	HP 100 / Def 76 / Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 76
Final Stat Values	HP 183 / Def 110 / Sp.Atk 178 / Sp.Def 140 / Spd 35
Ability	Regenerator
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・Expanding Force ・Sludge Wave ・Fire Blast ・Nasty Plot

Expanding Force allows Galarian to function as a bulky sweeper in Doubles, with its natural bulk and unique resistances giving it plenty of opportunities to switch in.

About Galarian Slowking's Moves

Expanding Force is Galarian Slowking's strongest move, and hits both opposing Pokemon in Doubles. Sludge Wave is its secondary attacking move, hitting both oppenents and its teammate. Galarian Slowking's partner must have Protect or is a Steel-type so it can use this move safely.

Fire Blast is its main coverage move, allowing it to hit Steel-types that resist or are immune to its STAB moves. It's last move is Nasty Plot, which raises Galarian Slowking's Special Attack by two stages and allows it to threaten more Pokemon.

About Galarian Slowking's EV Spread

We're using a modified EV spread for this Galarian Slowking, emphasizing its natural bulk and special Attack. 100 HP EVs and split 76 EVs in Defense and Special Defense make it as bulky as possible, while full investment in Special Attack lets it hit hard even without a Nasty Plot boost.

About Galarian Slowking's Ability

Regenerator is the recommended ability for this Galarian Slowking build. When it switches out, it restores 1/3 of its maximum HP.

About Galarian Slowking's Held Item

Life Orb is the best item for this Galarian Slowking, boosting the power of its moves at the cost of some residual damage. This recoil damage is ultimately negated by Regenerator.

Other Viable Moves

Sludge Bomb	A safer alternative to Sludge Wave that doesn't hit Galarian Slowking's ally.
Ice Beam	An alternative to Fire Blast that hits Ground-types and Dragon-types.
Icy Wind	A weaker Ice alternative but allows Galarian Slowking to provide some form of speed control.

How to Use Galarian Slowking Effectively

A Defensive Pokemon with Key Resistances

Much like its Kantonian counterpart, Galarian Slowking is a great defensive Pokemon thanks to its natural bulk. What separates it from regular Slowking though is its unique resistances.

With key resistances to Grass, Poison, Fairy, as well as a quadruple resistance to Fighting-types, it's easy to switch in and can wall commonly used Pokemon in the metagame such as Rillaboom, Toxtricity, Hatterene, and Kommo-o to name a few.

A Bulky Sweeper

Whether it's running a Calm Mind, Nasty Plot, or Trick Room, Galarian Slowking can also go on the offensive and has a surprisingly good coverage with just its two STAB moves alone.

In a metagame filled with powerful Fairy-types, Galarian Slowking can switch into any Fairy-move thanks to its Poison typing and threaten a KO with Sludge Wave.

How to Build a Team with Galarian Slowking

Galarian Slowking has a niche in many Singles and Doubles team. As a defensive Pokemon, it's great Poison-typing makes it a good choice for both offensive and defensive teams in need of a Fairy resist.

On the offensive side, Galarian Slowking is best used in a dedicated Trick Room team. It can either fill the role of a sweeper, back-up setter, or both!

Use it in a Defensive Core in Singles

Physically defensive versions of Galarian Slowking is easy to fit in teams using an unorthodox defensive core.

Team Options for Galarian Slowking

Singles Defensive Core
Corviknight	Galarian Slowking	Incineroar
Ability
Mirror Armor	Regenerator	Intimidate
Held Item
Rocky Helmet	Black Sludge	Heavy-Duty Boots
Nature
Bold	Bold	Careful
EV Spread
HP 252 / Def 252 / 4 Sp.Def	HP 252 / Def 252 / 4 Sp.Def	HP 248 / Sp.Def 200 / Spd 60
Moveset
・Iron Defense ・Body Press ・Roost ・U-Turn	・Eerie Spell ・Scald ・Calm Mind ・Slack Off	・Drain Punch ・Darkest Lariat ・Taunt ・Parting Shot

Corviknight covers Galarian Slowking's Ground-type Weakness. Meanwhile, Galarian Slowking's naturally high special defense allows it to shrug off Electric-type attacks directed at Corviknight, even without a Calm Mind boost.

Incineroar functions as the third part of the defensive core, resisting Ghost and Dark-type moves directed as Galarian Slowking, as well as Fire-type moves directed at Corviknight. Galarian Slowking, in turn, resists Fighting-type moves directed at Incineroar.

Both Corviknight and Incineroar can easily pivot with U-Turn and Parting Shot respectively, while Galarian Slowking benefits from switching out thanks to its Regenerator ability.

Check out our full article below to learn more about building defensive cores in Singles.
Basics of Competitive Singles Team Building

Pair it with a Psychic Terrain Setter in Doubles

Expanding Force variants of Galarian Slowking are best partnered with Pokemon that can automatically set up Psychic Terrain with their abilities.

Team Options for Galarian Slowking

Doubles Team
Pokemon	Indeedee	Galarian Slowking
Ability	Psychic Surge	Regenerator
Held Item	Focus Sash	Life Orb
Nature	Sassy	Modest
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 212 / Sp.Def 44	HP 100 / Def 76 / Sp.Atk 252 / Sp.Def 76
Moveset	・Follow Me ・Helping Hand ・Expanding Force ・Protect	・Expanding Force ・Sludge Wave ・Fire Blast ・Nasty Plot

Indeedee (Female) is the perfect partner for Galarian Slowking. Not only does it instanty set Psychic Terrain with its ability, it has a plethora of support moves and provides valuable redirection support.

It can use Follow Me so that Galarian Slowking can set up with Nasty Plot, and Protect so that it doesn't get hit by Sludge Wave. Indeedee can also provide valuable chip damage with its own Expanding Foce or boost Galarian Slowking's attacks with Helping Hand.

Check out our full article blow to learn how to build a Doubles Team.
How to Build a Doubles Team

Counters for Galarian Slowking

Weakness

Counter it With a Ghost or Dark-Type

Both offensive and defensive versions of Galarian Slowking can't do much against Ghost and Dark-types, especially ones that have a secondary typing that give it further resistances to the Hexpert Pokemon's STAB or coverage moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Incineroar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Immune to Eerie Spell and can survive a Sludge Wave ・Bulk Up variants can KO it with Darkest Lariat or force it to switch Moveset & Best Build for Incineroar
Aegislash	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists Eerie Spell and is immune to Sludge Wave and set up Swords Dance ・Easily KOs Galarian Slowking with STAB Shadow Claw Moveset & Best Build for Aegislash
Tyranitar	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Sand Stream boosts its Special Defense and damages Galarian Slowking every turn ・Immune to Eerie Spell and resists Sludge Wave ・Easily KOs Galarian Slowking with Crunch or can use it to set up Dragon Dance Moveset & Best Build for Tyranitar

Check it With a Faster Sweeper

Faster sweepers can check Galarian Slowking, forcing it to switch or risk a KO from their super effective moves.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Garchomp	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Outspeeds Galarian Slowking and can use it to set up Swords Dance thanks to its natural bulk ・Easily KOs Galarian Slowking with Earthquake Moveset & Best Build for Garchomp
Mimikyu	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Disguise guarantees it a free Swords Dance boost ・KOs Galarian Slowking with Shadow Claw after a boost ・Can use Shadow Sneak to "outspeed" Galarian Slowking in Trick Room Moveset & Best Build for Mimikyu
Gengar	Ranking: ★★★★☆ ・Outspeeds Galarian Slowking and threatens it with Shadow Ball ・Needs a Focus Sash to reliably set up Nasty Plot Moveset & Best Build for Gengar

Related Links

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
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Doubles Tier List		Team Building		Rental Teams

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