I think I may've found Slaking's true niche..?

Question

After answering Trachy's question regarding Taunt and Encore, I realized how great of a strategy it would be, and it got me thinking...

Could this be Slaking's true niche? Just take a look at this set, and you may see what I mean. I call it, "Lock-King."

HOLD ITEM: Leftovers

NATURE: Adamant

Taunt (Lock the foe into a Stat move.)

Encore (trap the opponent)

Earthquake (deals with Electric, Rock, Poison, and Steel-types.)

Rock Slide / Giga Impact (Gives additional coverage against whatever Earthquake can't hit.)

Slaking is hindered greatly by Truant, but how could have we all been so blind? If you can't get rid of the ability, then OUTHINDER the opponent by locking them into a "tauncore" (Taunt and Encore. See what I did there? :P).

I'm sure that, after seeing Trachy's question, you probably had this run through your heads, but I felt I had to bring this to the table. What do you guys think about this set? Anything that may make it better? Maybe it just can't be done?

Comments

Umm... Taunt stops the opponent from using Status moves, it doesn't force them to use them. Also, that encore trick would only really work once, unless you outspeed the opponent and encore ends on one of Slaking's movement turns. After the first time, the opponent will anticipate it and it is very hard to pull off again. Lastly, that trick works much more effectively on a very fast Pokemon such as Alakazam. With his 200 odd speed at lv. 50 you easily outspeed anything and can lock it into stat boosting or using Sucker Punch or whatever. Combine with Calm Mind and the bonus turns don't go to waste like they do with Slaking.

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THIS SET IS AWESOME I AM DIFFIDENTLY GETTING A SLACKING WITH THIS MOVE SET. i just read the the other comment
and i realize this set is impossible... sorry

Answer 1

Most people use stat moves or risk moves like focus punch during Slaking's truant turn. but If you can get them to use a stat move, I'd say this can work well! Takes precise timing though.

Sucker punch-Like Trachy said

Facade-doesn't get picked up. Perhaps holding an item like toxic orb to increase power

encore- need these to set up. force the opponent into a stat raiser.

punishment-since the idea is to get your opponent to use a stat move over and over, why not use this, it can cap at 200 base power. since your opponent has their stat move, after encore, they would have used it several times, adding more power to punishment.

Comments

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Prediction would be crucial for this to work.

I was thinking this could be great for a Stall-breaker, seeing as you could switch in Slaking when the stall is using Protect, to throw off their timing.

But even then: prediction, prediction...=/

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I was working on a Slaking strategy of my own, mine frees him of his ability, then destroy the opponent, perhaps combining both of our strategies? the Only problem is how long it would take to set up, plus min only works in 2 on 2 battles.



http://pokemondb.net/pokebase/5260/can-truant-be-traced-or-skill-swapped

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Oh, don't worry, DT, I had to write a Slaking article for my blog last week, and every forum I went to mentioned Skill Swap Bliss and Power Slaking. xD

The only problem is that the strategy is worn, and like you said, only viable in 2 vs. 2; not to mention, everyone will expect it. That's why, with its ability, rather than thinking 160 Attack should mean "Sweeper," it should mean "Stallbreaker," which is where switching into a Stall should, theoretically, be where Slaking shines, since no Stall would attack on the first turn.

Maybe not even use Taunt, but just use encore, if you predict the opponent will use Block. The idea of this theory is dumb down the opponent so much, that its immobility is worse than Truant, which encoring Toxic (with Facade), Protect (due to rising fail rate), entry hazards, and Block will achieve.

Sorry for the long comment. :P

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I see your point. But my point is that  because they see that you have a slaking and skill swap, they will think you're doing the same overused strategy of turn him into a sweeper. Little do they know that skill swap is actually to give them forewarn. Once they see you have no sweeping moves, they'll have no idea what you have planned. that's when the "tauncore" part comes in.

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More mind games. I kind of think this might be to situational to be of use (or not, have to see how this works out.)

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Hypno can also use Torment. This will make it easier to make the foe use a STAT move (if they have only one attacking move that works well on Slaking).

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DT...
This might just be the perfect combination of Trachy's mind game, and Tauncore.

I might just need to go on Shoddy Battle, and try this Slaking out.
I'm thinking this, as a moveset:

Taunt / Encore (I've had a thought: if this is to be built like a stall-breaker, you'll probably only need to use one of these.)
Facade (STAB, doesn't get picked up by Forewarn, and if you Taunt/Encore into Toxic, you get the double Base Power without facing consequences.)
Sucker Punch (Gets picked up by Forewarn, and is there to hit Ghosts, and give you opponent that "False Sense of Security.")
Rock Slide (Also dodges forewarn, and gives some coverage.)

How does this look, guys?

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Are you going to use the Hypno I suggested? Also, what should the other move for this Slaking be if no Taunt? Not something with high power of course. Maybe Bulk Up to make Facade and Sucker Punch more powerful? Slack Off in case Poison gets too bad? Reversal if the Toxic gets too bad? If you have to choose between Taunt and Encore, I would go with Encore so the foe doesn't attack. Taunt might not be needed in most cases.

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Maybe Brick Break instead of Rock Slide. This way you are able to hurt Steel types.

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I got it! what about punishment! it's normal base power won't get picked up by forewarn, and if you force the opponent to raise their stats with encore, then you can destroy them with it. It gains 20 power points for every stat raise. Might as well use that stat move to our advantage even more.

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Hypno...I'm not sure. Hypno skill-swapping Forewarn may give the stall too much time to set up. Plus, it'll make the opponent get suspicious, and will likely force a switch (Not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not my aim).

Sorry about that, I added Rock Slide in, for coverage. Reversal may be good too, though...
Block may be a good possibility too, to keep that "trapping" dream alive.

And I agree. Encore is probably the better choice, so the opponent doesn't get a chance to retaliate.

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Punishment is a good idea. Would anybody guess about the Forewarn being just a trick? Block would also work well. I think this is getting lots of comments quickly because Slaking has such good stats. With a way past its ability, you may have an Standard, Overused, or even an Uber Pokemon.

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Maybe wait until you come across an opponent with a good ability, to lower suspicion about forewarn. I mean, who wouldn't use skill swap on a Rampardos for instance. You opponent will just think you're trying to swap it for yourself.

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That could work!

We're kind of wandering from the original idea though. Rampardos would be a bad example for this strategy, because Rampardos would never try to use a tactical move, it'd just sweep. We need to make sure that it's very likely that the opponent will use a non-damaging attack. This way, Encore will help you with disabling your opponent.

Say...Maybe this would make a good Anti-Lead! Every Lead (Well, 85% of them) in the metagame is used for setting up Stealth Rock, and with Encore Slaking paired with Block, the opponent is stuck in an inescapable cycle of rock-laying!

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True narwhals1. I just used rampardos as an example just for his ability. You wouldn't be suspicious if your opponent skill swapped to get mold breaker. But my point is to use it on a good ability to bypass any suspicion. If you used it on a pointless ability, the opponent will wonder why you gave up forewarn for it. And they'll think you gave it to them on purpose.

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It would be a good anti-lead. However, you get one shot at Encore. It will be a surprise when you use it (like Heat Proof on Bronzong) but after that it won't be of as much use.

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Serebii.net has Encore as one of the other options for Slaking. However, they write it off fairly quickly.

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Well, keep in mind that my aim is to improve Slaking, not make him the best. Plus, I think it's impossible to FLAWLESSLY work around Truant, unless you swap it in 2 vs. 2.

There are lots of one-trick ponies out there, like Trick/Item Swap sets, Walls and Stalls lose their usefulness over the duration of battle, because they wear a little at a time. And annoyers lose their usefulness against overly powerful opponents. They all have Achilles heels, in their own way.

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this is MAAAANY comments  XD

Answer 2

What is the best way to get the foe to not attack is what we must think now. I didn't think of this at all for Slaking and I have been thinking of ways to overcome this Pokemon's weakness (same with Regigigas) for a good amount of time. This might just work as a way to get Slaking upped a tier. Great thinking narwhals!

Edit: I think I might have a way to make the foe more likely to not attack. Sucker Punch! If you use this move at first during your first couple of times you are able to attack, you might be able to lull the foe into a false sense of security. This would work great when facing a foe that is resistant to Dark, they might think this is your only attacking move.

Comments

How to win an Ou/uber game

1.use stealth rock, spikes, and toxic spikes
2. send out skarmory or blissey
3. use earthquake
4.switch to garchomp/legendary
5. use leftovers/Choice item
6. win your battle then brag about how strategic your team is, and how you legitimately caught 6 shiny legendary pokemon.

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@ trachy: it's seen as too cheap, and everyone would be doing it.

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Are all 6 of them shiny?

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That's amazing to have 6 shinies!! But on most online battles, I see people with something like all shinies, or 6 shiny arceus, and try to say they're real. that is the life of an OU/Uber player.

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Meh seriously id get 5000 shinies in one day via cheats but im not gonaa tell my friends even if i actually got em theyd be all gimme gimme