The lazy Water/Psychic-type is number 79 in the Pokedex. It has played significant roles in the series' mainline games, with Johto’s Slowpoke Well known for being the location Team Rocket tried cutting off Slowpoke tails for profit. This popularity has also bled into real life with Slowpoke becoming a mascot of Japan’s Kagawa prefecture, leading to merchandise and aSlowpoke-themed mail box opening in Takamatsu Cityearlier this year.
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WithPokemon GOteasing the addition of Galarian Slowking, older fans who jumped back into the series with the launch of Niantic’s mobile game in 2016 may be wondering what the deal is with Slowpoke’s multiple branching evolutionary lines. It’s relatively straightforward, as these evolutions have been doled out across different Generations.
Slowbro
Slowbro is Slowpoke’s original evolution, also a Water/Psychic-type introduced in Generation 1. Mechanically, Slowpoke evolves upon reaching level 37. In terms of lore, it’s explained that the shell biting Slowbro’s tail is another Pokemon named Shellder that latched on when Slowpoke used the sweet sap its tail secretes to catch prey in the water. According to multiple Pokedex entries, Shellder’s poisonous bite causes Slowbro to no longer feel pain - which may explain its naturally high defensive stats.Slowbro is a playable character in the MOBAPokemon Unite.
Slowking
Generation 2 introduced a number of baby Pokemonacting as pre-evolutions, as well as new branching paths for monsters like Eevee. Slowking is the latter, a second evolution that players can obtain by trading a Slowpoke while it holds the King’s Rock item. This evolution retains its Water/Psychic typing, but flips the script with higher Special Attack and Defense than its physical counterpart.
In series lore, Slowking is said to be the result of Shellder biting Slowpoke’s head instead of its tail, with that same numbing poison instead unlocking a more extreme intelligence. Fans ofPokemon The Movie 2000will likely remember the talkingSlowking who helps Ash Ketchum rescue Lugia.
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Mega Slowbro
Generation 6 brought the advent of Mega Evolution, new forms for certain Pokemon that only last for the duration of a single battle. This brought new life to a lot of less-powerful Pokemon such as Mawile or Beedrill, and Slowbro received a Mega inPokemon Omega RubyandAlpha Sapphire. Mega Slowbro is still Water/Psychic-type, and it’s said that all the energy of the Slowbronite goes directly to Shellder. As a result, the hardened mollusk engulfs Slowbro’s body and its defenses skyrocket. However,Megas were removed inSwordandShield, making this form no longer available.
Galarian Slowbro
On the bright side,SwordandShieldgave Slowpoke new life to make up for the loss of Megas. The first new Pokemon introduced for their DLC expansion pass was Galarian Slowpoke, a regional variant native to Galar’s Isle of Armor. Players couldcatch the Psychic-type Galarian Slowpoke prior toThe Isle of ArmorDLCreleasing.
Galarian Slowpoke evolves into Galarian Slowbro using the Galarica Cuff, a new item obtained by trading eightnaturally occuring Galarica Twigsto a woman in Isle of Armor’s Workout Sea. This new version of Slowbro is a Poison/Psychic-type, wearing Shellder like a hand cannon reminiscent of Mega Man or Samus Aran. Slowbro can apparently pull Shellder’s tongue to make it shoot poison, and has a signature Ability called Quick Draw that acts like a Quick Claw item; allowing it to sometimes move first.
Galarian Slowking
The second wave ofSwordandShield’s DLC introduced another new evolution for Slowpoke fans. Galarian Slowking is another Poison/Psychic-type regional variant obtained using the Galarica Wreath - requiringPokemonplayers trade 15 Galarica Twigs to a woman in the Crown Tundra’s Roaring-Sea Caves.
This second version of Slowking is just as, if not more intelligent than its base form. However, it is seemingly more malicious, with Shellder taking control and using its toxins to create noxious potions while “chanting strange spells.” Curious Medicine is its signature Ability, allowingGalarian Slowking to clear all allied stat changesupon entering battle. Adding to this supportive role is Eerie Spell, an attack learned upon evolving that deals damage and lowers the PP of its opponent’s last-used move.
Pokemon SwordandShieldare available now on Nintendo Switch.
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