Special
Balanced
315Low
15Very Slow
CTier

Mid-stage Pokemon like Slowpoke rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Slowbro, which is where the real potential kicks in. Known as the Dopey Pokemon. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.

HP and Attack carry most of Slowpoke's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 HP EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
315Avg
HP90
B
Attack65
C
Defense65
C
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed15
F
Total315
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Slowpoke yields +1 HP
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP1.2m / 3'11"36kg / 79.4 lbs63Base XP
Pokedex Entries

There are some places where Slowpoke is worshiped because of a long-standing belief that whenever Slowpoke yawns, it rains.

Ultra Sun

Although their tails, which fall off naturally, can easily be found lying around, they’re a precious ingredient for cooking.

Ultra Moon

Slowpoke Weakness

Vulnerable

Slowpoke's Water/Psychic typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark moves. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Slowpoke's physical bulk (base 65 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
5Weak
6Resist
0Immune
Scorei-4
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
ObliviousPrevents infatuation and protects against captivate.
Own TempoPrevents confusion.
RegeneratorHAHeals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.

From here, Slowpoke's line branches into Slowbro and Slowking. That's 2 possible evolutions, each with its own method. The evolved forms gain up to 175 total stats over Slowpoke.

How to Evolve

2 Evolutions
Slowbro
#080Slowbro
Level 37
Slowking
#199Slowking
Trade + Kings Rock
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Slowpoke
WaterPsychic
Slowbro
WaterPsychic
Slowking
WaterPsychic
HP
90
95+5
95+5
ATK
65
75+10
75+10
DEF
65
110+45
80+15
SP.ATK
40
100+60
100+60
SP.DEF
40
80+40
110+70
SPE
15
30+15
30+15
BST
315C-Tier
490A-Tier+175
490B-Tier+175
ROLE
Balanced
Tank
Tank
TYPE
Physical
Special
Special
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Slowpoke easily from the Monster and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Belch, Belly Drum, Block and 8 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
MonsterWater1
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
11moves

Don't let the NFE status fool you. Slowpoke with Eviolite hits bulk numbers that compete with final forms. HP-heavy investment EVs and Careful nature maximize that, and Oblivious handles the rest.

Best Build

Bulky Support
Ability
Oblivious
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Careful+SPD
EVs

Best Slowpoke Moveset

  • Trick RoomSTAB
  • Heal PulseSTAB
  • SurfSTAB
  • DisableUtility

Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Slowpoke won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 10 types means it always has an effective option. Future Sight and Dream Eater anchor the STAB core.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Curse
10Ghost
Lv 1
Tackle
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Yawn
10Normal
Lv 5
Growl
10040Normal
Lv 9
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 14
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 19
Disable
10020Normal
Lv 23
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Lv 28
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 32
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 36
Slack Off
10Normal
Lv 41
Amnesia
20Psychic
Lv 45
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Lv 49
Rain Dance
5Water
Lv 54
Psych Up
10Normal
Lv 58
Heal Pulse
10Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM78
Bulldoze
6010020Ground
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM85
Dream Eater
10010015Psychic
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM49
Echoed Voice
4010015Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
110855Fire
TM35
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM86
Grass Knot
10020Grass
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM03
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM20
Safeguard
25Normal
TM55
Scald
8010015Water
TM30
Shadow Ball
8010015Ghost
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM94
Surf
9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
8515Normal
TM73
Thunder Wave
9020Electric
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
5Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Belch
1209010Poison
Egg
Belly Drum
10Normal
Egg
Block
5Normal
Egg
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Egg
Me First
20Normal
Egg
Mud Sport
15Ground
Egg
Sleep Talk
10Normal
Egg
Snore
5010015Normal
Egg
Stomp
6510020Normal
Egg
Wonder Room
10Psychic
Egg
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
After You
15Normal
Tutor
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Tutor
Block
5Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Tutor
Magic Coat+4
15Psychic
Tutor
Recycle
10Normal
Tutor
Signal Beam
7510015Bug
Tutor
Skill Swap
10Psychic
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Telekinesis
15Psychic
Tutor
Trick
10010Psychic
Tutor
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Tutor
Wonder Room
10Psychic
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 1
Bide+1
10Normal
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 4
Brine
6510010Water
Gen 1
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 6
Dig
8010010Ground
Gen 6
Dive
8010010Water
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 4
Endure+4
10Normal
Gen 1
Fissure
305Ground
Gen 6
Flash
10020Normal
Gen 6
Incinerate
6010015Fire
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Gen 4
Natural Gift
10015Normal
Gen 2
Nightmare
10015Ghost
Gen 1
Pay Day
4010020Normal
Gen 1
Psywave
10015Psychic
Gen 1
Rage
2010020Normal
Gen 1
Reflect
20Psychic
Gen 6
Secret Power
7010020Normal
Gen 1
Skull Bash
13010010Normal
Gen 6
Strength
8010015Normal
Gen 4
Swift
6020Normal
Gen 1
Take Down
908520Normal
Gen 1
Teleport-6
20Psychic
Gen 1
Tri Attack
8010010Normal
Gen 4
Whirlpool
358515Water
Gen 2
Zap Cannon
120505Electric

decent spawn rates across 16 locations for Slowpoke in early-game routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.

Best Locations

Slowpoke's encounter pool splits between Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun. You've got 16 walking and gift spots at Lv. 4-55 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.

Route 1 - Hau'oli Outskirts
Ultra MoonGrassLv.4-720%EarlyRoute
EASY
Route 1 - Hau'oli Outskirts
Ultra SunGrassLv.4-720%EarlyRoute
EASY
Kala'e Bay
Ultra MoonGrassLv.15-1820%EarlyWater
EASY
Kala'e Bay
Ultra SunGrassLv.15-1820%EarlyWater
EASY
Route 15
Ultra MoonGrassLv.30-3320%MidRoute
EASY
Route 15
Ultra SunGrassLv.30-3320%MidRoute
EASY
Poké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reached
Ultra SunGift from NPCLv.21-275%Mid
EASY
Poké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reached
Ultra MoonGift from NPCLv.21-275%Mid
EASY
Route 16 - East
Ultra MoonGrassLv.32-3520%LateRoute
EASY
Route 16 - East
Ultra SunGrassLv.32-3520%LateRoute
EASY
Route 16 - West
Ultra MoonGrassLv.32-3520%LateRoute
EASY
Route 16 - West
Ultra SunGrassLv.32-3520%LateRoute
EASY
Poké Pelago - Poni Island reached
Ultra SunGift from NPCLv.37-435%Late
EASY
Poké Pelago - Poni Island reached
Ultra MoonGift from NPCLv.37-435%Late
EASY
Poké Pelago - Elite Four defeated
Ultra SunGift from NPCLv.49-554%Post
MODERATE
Poké Pelago - Elite Four defeated
Ultra MoonGift from NPCLv.49-552%Post
MODERATE
  • Slowpoke is meant to evolve into Slowbro. At 315 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric), Venusaur (Grass), and Pinsir (Bug) when using Slowpoke. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Ghost and Dark-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. At base 15 Speed, Slowpoke won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.

  • Slowpoke can evolve into Slowbro, Slowking, Galarian Slowbro, and Galarian Slowking depending on the method. Slowpoke is the base form in a 5-stage evolutionary line.

  • Regenerator is what you want on Slowpoke. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Oblivious, Own Tempo) work on paper but Regenerator is what makes Slowpoke worth using.

  • Base 15 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Slowpoke is a special attacker with base 40 Sp. Atk.

  • Slowpoke appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Slowpoke has appeared in 21 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Galarian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.