#0199 · Johto · Generation 2

Slowking

Royal Pokémon · Water/Psychic-type

Slowking is a Water/Psychic-type Pokémon, the Royal Pokémon, number 199 (#0199) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 2 m tall and weighs 79.5 kg.

Slowking is the Royal Pokémon: a Slowpoke whose head was bitten by a Shellder, whose venom is said to unlock extraordinary intelligence. It can solve any problem, yet no one can understand a word it says.

How to pronounce Slowking

Slowking is pronounced SLOH-king. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Slowking said out loud:

In Japanese it is ヤドキング (Yadoking).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Slowking is a pink, upright Pokémon 2.0 m (6'07") tall and 79.5 kg (175.3 lbs), with a pale yellow muzzle, a red-and-white striped ruff and a Shellder worn on its head like a crown, with a red gem in the middle. The Pokédex says the Shellder's venom unlocks its mind, and each yawn injects more. If the Shellder comes off, Slowking forgets everything and goes back to being a Slowpoke.

Behaviour

Slowking stays calm in any situation and has sharp intuition, and Bulbapedia says its intellect can match a human's. In the film 'The Power of One' it speaks human language, unlike its game self.

Habitat

Bulbapedia calls Slowking rare in the wild, but says it can be found at the water's edge. In Scarlet and Violet it appears in Tera Raids, and in Legends: Z-A you evolve a Slowpoke, with the Mega Dimension DLC adding Hyperspace Lumiose.

Diet

Bulbapedia notes seaweed and coconut milk among the things it has been seen consuming.

Powers

Its Abilities are Oblivious and Own Tempo, with Regenerator hidden. It casts Psychic, Nasty Plot and Power Gem, and Bulbapedia says only Slowking is known to learn Chilly Reception. Galarian Slowking is a Poison and Psychic type: its Shellder has grown dominant and takes control, and it chants spells and brews potions, with the Ability Curious Medicine and the move Eerie Spell. Base Special Defense 110 and Special Attack 100 make it a bulky special attacker.

Name origin

Slowking is probably 'slow' plus 'king'. The Japanese name is Yadoking (ヤドキング), a mix of yadokari ('hermit crab'), yadonushi ('parasitic host') and 'king'.

Design inspiration

The ruff and Shellder may suggest a king's collar and crown, or a guru's turban. Galarian Slowking may draw on tales of sorcerers, its shell a pointed hat and its ruff a dark robe. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Slowpoke turns into Slowking if it is traded carrying a King's Rock, whereas Galarian Slowpoke needs a Galarica Wreath.

In the games

Slowking has no major story role. Gold and Silver introduced it as the King's Rock trade evolution of Slowpoke, and Galarian Slowking arrived in The Crown Tundra.

In the anime

A talking Slowking debuted in the film 'The Power of One', advising Ash on finding the Island Treasures. In 'A Crowning Achievement', Alice Telesu's Slowpoke, Arthur, evolved into a Slowking and led a colony.

Fun facts

• Slowking, Donphan and Ampharos were officially unveiled together in the May 1997 issue of CoroCoro.
• In the Spaceworld '97 demo, Slowking evolved from a Slowbro that was traded while holding a King's Rock.
• A glitch gave Galarian Slowking sent from Pokémon GO to HOME the Ability Unseen Fist, from 11 June to 14 December 2022.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Slowking (Pokémon) · Serebii: Slowking (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 95
• Attack: 75
• Defense: 80
• Sp. Atk: 100
• Sp. Def: 110
• Speed: 30

Slowking’s base stat total is 490. Its highest stat is Sp. Def.

Type matchups

What is Slowking weak to?

Slowking takes extra damage from Electric (2×), Grass (2×), Bug (2×), Ghost (2×), Dark (2×) moves.

It resists Fire (½×), Water (½×), Ice (½×), Fighting (½×), Psychic (½×), Steel (½×).

Evolution

What does Slowking evolve from?

Slowking evolves from Slowpoke (Trade holding King’s Rock; Galarian Slowpoke: Galarica Wreath).

Slowking is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Slowpoke, Slowbro, Slowking.

• Slowpoke evolves into Slowbro (Level 37; Galarian Slowpoke: Galarica Cuff).

Forms

• Galarian Slowking (Galarian form): Poison/Psychic-type, base stat total 490 (HP 95, Attack 65, Defense 80, Sp. Atk 110, Sp. Def 110, Speed 30). Abilities: Curious Medicine, Own Tempo, Regenerator (hidden).

Abilities

• Oblivious: Prevents infatuation and protects against Captivate.
• Own Tempo: Prevents confusion.
• Regenerator (hidden ability): Heals for 1/3 max HP upon switching out.

Moves

Moves Slowking learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

TM moves (72)

Slowking can learn 72 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Protect, Water Pulse, Psybeam, Chilling Water, Facade, Bulldoze, Swift, Icy Wind, Mud Shot, Rock Tomb, Stored Power, Fling, Avalanche, Endure, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Snowscape, Psyshock, Dig, Brick Break, Zen Headbutt, Foul Play, Body Slam, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Sleep Talk, Drain Punch, Reflect, Light Screen, Waterfall, Metronome, Grass Knot, Thunder Wave, Rest, Rock Slide, Imprison, Skill Swap, Power Gem, Substitute, Iron Defense, Trick, Liquidation, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Surf, Flamethrower, Amnesia, Calm Mind, Ice Beam, Psychic Terrain, Nasty Plot, Fire Blast, Hydro Pump, Blizzard, Earthquake, Giga Impact, Focus Blast, Trick Room, Hyper Beam, Tera Blast, Scald, Focus Punch, Weather Ball, Psych Up, Whirlpool, Muddy Water, Future Sight, Expanding Force, Curse, Psychic Noise.

Egg moves (2):Chilly Reception, Future Sight.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Monster, Water 1.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 70 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 2 Sp. Def effort values.
• Base experience yield: 172.

Pokédex entries

Slowking can solve any problem presented to it, but no one can understand a thing Slowking says. (Shield)

Miraculously, this former Slowpoke's latent intelligence was drawn out when Shellder poison raced through its brain. (Sword)

It's called “the sage of the sea.” It engages in battles of wits with Oranguru, but the result is usually a draw. (Ultra Moon)

It's constantly coming up with new ideas that would change the world, but as soon as it hits upon a new idea, it forgets it. (Ultra Sun)

This Pokémon is so famed for its intellect that a proverb still persists in some regions: “When in doubt, ask Slowking.” (Moon)

A poisonous bite reacted with its system, blessing it with the enhanced intellect of a genius. It has full control of its psychic powers. (Sun)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Slowest Psychic type in Gen 2: 30 Speed.
• Taller than 87% of all Pokémon (2 m).
• Heavier than 77% of all Pokémon (79.5 kg).
• Base stat total 490, ranked #338 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Sp. Def, ranked #71 of 1,025.
• One of 6 Pokémon that are both Water and Psychic.
• One of 60 pink Pokémon.
• Number 48 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 83 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 70: about 9.2% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 12 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Slowking (Pokémon), Serebii: Slowking (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (SLOH-king): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Water-type Pokémon · Psychic-type Pokémon · Water/Psychic weaknesses and matchups · Slowking vs Slowbro · Johto region guide · Oblivious ability · Own Tempo ability · Regenerator ability · Compare Slowking · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 2 Water-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Psychic-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Pink Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Water 1 egg group · Pokémon that start with S

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