Pokemon Sword and Shield

Galarian Slowking - Movesets & Best Build for Ranked Battle

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Galarian Slowking - Movesets and Counters.png
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
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

Basic Information for Galarian Slowking

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Pokemon Sword and Shield - Poison Type Pokemon Sword and Shield - Psychic Type
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Regenerator (Hidden) Restores a little HP when withdrawn from battle.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
Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image
Takes 0.5x damage
Pokemon Grass Image Pokemon Poison Image Pokemon Fairy Image
Takes 1/4x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image
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

Defensive Calm Mind Galarian Slowking.png

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

Trick Room Sweeper Galarian Slowking.png

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

Doubles Expanding Force Sweeper Galarian Slowking.png

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
Pokemon SWSH - Corviknight ImageCorviknight Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking ImageGalarian Slowking Pokemon SWSH - Incineroar ImageIncineroar
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 (female).png
Indeedee
Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowking ImageGalarian 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

Galarian Slowking
Weakness Pokemon Ground Image Pokemon Ghost Image Pokemon Dark Image

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
Pokemon SWSH - Incineroar ImageIncineroar 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
Pokemon SWSH - Aegislash ImageAegislash 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
Pokemon SWSH - Tyranitar ImageTyranitar 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
Pokemon SWSH - Garchomp ImageGarchomp 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
Pokemon SWSH - Mimikyu ImageMimikyu 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
Pokemon SWSH - Gengar ImageGengar 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

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