Slaking, The Lazy Pokémon. Slaking spends all day lying down and lolling about. It eats grass growing within its reach. If it eats all the grass it can reach, this Pokémon reluctantly moves to another spot. Wherever Slaking live, rings of over a yard in diameter appear in grassy fields. They are made by the Pokémon as it eats all the grass within reach while lying prone on the ground.
Overview
The ace of the one father figure in all the Pokemon games, Norman. Slaking has a special place in the hearts of people who grew up with Gen 3 being their first games as it acted as a road block due to its massive stats. Slaking is unfortunately a Pokemon that is a case of lore taking priority over effectiveness as due to it being based on a sloth, it got the ability Truant making it move every other turn. Anyone who's played competitive matches or even some in game can tell you why this ability is rough and how it really holds Slaking back, as it has the stats to be a powerful wall breaker, but is just so limited due to Truant. And before you mention it, the future Galarian Weezing probably won't make it much more appealing either.
Positives
Wall Breaking - Even with Truant, 160 base attack needs to be respected especially when backed with a Life Orb or Choice Band. This combined with Slaking's good coverage options makes it something that, while giving a free switch in, can easily remove a Pokemon if played right.
Negatives
Truant - Truant allows to much to get in for free and create momentum swings for the opponent. Truant can make it easy for boosting sweepers to get in and get a free boost off of Slaking on the Truant turn and then counter sweep the Slaking user's team. If in Doubles, you can get rid of the ability using other moves or abilities, then Slaking has few negatives.
Abilities
Truant - Skips the Pokemon's turn every other turn - This is one of those terrible abilities like Slow Start and Defeatist, and it completely cripples Slaking just as much as the others do their respective Pokemon.
Movesets
Wallbreaker
-Return / Retaliate
-Pursuit / Sucker Punch
-Earthquake
-Fire Blast / Fire Punch
Item Attached: Life Orb / Choice Band
Ability: Truant
EVs and Nature:
252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly / Naive Nature
With Return or Retaliate as the main STAB, Slaking can easily apply pressure to the opponent. Return is more reliable damage while Retaliate does more if you just lost a Pokemon. Pursuit it a nice option for Slaking as not much will want to take a hit and look to switch which can be punished, but the utility of Sucker Punch is nothing to forget as it checks boosting sweepers. Earthquake is just a solid third move with 100 base power and accuracy and lets Slaking hit Rock types for super effective damage. Fire Blast or Fire Punch round out the set with the option to melt Steels such as Silvally and Steelix. Slaking actually has an acceptable Special Attack stat so an uninvested Fire Blast might be more appealing against the primarily physically bulky Steel-types.
Slaking sits in the highly competitive base 100 Speed tier so boosting it helps a lot, Naive nature only being in consideration if you're using Fire Blast. Life Orb gives Slaking good overall power that also boosts Fire Blast, though Choice Band is also valid since Slaking is likely not staying in for too many turns at a time.
Other Options
- Red Card - Not much will hit Slaking on the turn it attacks and can be a very gimmicky way to get around Truant once, but it is far outclassed by Life Orb.
Partners
Sweepers - With Slaking's ability to break walls quite well, physical attackers love having it around to break or cripple walls for late game. Nasty Plot Alolan Persian is a nice option and if it has the space for Parting Shot it can support Slaking in the mid game. Alolan Raichu is also an option due to its ability to switch into the Fighting types Slaking tends to bait in.
Countering Slaking
Hyper Offensive - Hyper Offensive teams can feast on Slaking as while none want the hit, they love the free turn to set up a boost and look to blow holes in a team or sweep outright.
Fighting types - Pokemon such as Hitmonchan and Crabominable can break Slaking on its Truant turn with little concern while being able to somewhat switch in due to their decent bulk, especially Crabominable. Gurdurr is also an option due to its high bulk with Eviolite and tendency to make use of Bulk Up and Drain Punch.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Not in game
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Vigoroth
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Colosseum/XD:
Trade from Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Vigoroth
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Vigoroth
Black/White:
Evolve Vigoroth(White)
Trade from White/Black 2/White 2 (Black)
Black 2/White 2:
Pinwheel Forest
X/Y:
Trade from Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Evolve Vigoroth
Sun/Moon:
Evolve Vigoroth
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Trade from Sun/Moon
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Animé Appearences
