[SET]
name: Shadow Tag
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Low Kick / Encore / Taunt
move 4: Spikes
item: Silk Scarf / Leftovers
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Tag Slaking performs a similar role to Shadow Tag Regigigas and differentiates itself with its higher physical bulk, which allows it to survive hits like Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Knock Off and boosted Mold Breaker Primal Groudon's Thousand Arrows. Fake Out and Extreme Speed are crucial due to the former chipping foes with no drawback and the latter finishing off weakened foes, especially if their Defense is lowered from using Shell Smash. Slaking values coverage to hit physical threats, in particular Huge Power Mega Gyarados, more than Regigigas does, as it can take a hit more easily. Low Kick has a good chance to 2HKO Wonder Guard Slaking after Stealth Rock and Arceus from full, and it KOes Mega Gyarados after a Silk Scarf-boosted Fake Out. Encore allows Slaking to lock slower Wonder Guard users into a move, in particular Substitute + Baton Pass Xerneas, which seldom runs Shed Shell or invests in Speed. Alternatively, Taunt disrupts passive Wonder Guard users that are otherwise safe switch-ins to Slaking, like Mega Audino and Primal Kyogre. Spikes capitalizes on passive foes, especially if Slaking opts for Encore or Taunt, as locking the foe into a useless move and denying hazard removal and utility allows Slaking to set up multiple Spikes layers unobstructed. Silk Scarf boosts Fake Out's and Extreme Speed's damage, allowing Slaking to revenge kill foes like weakened Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X, uninvested Mega Latios, and boosted Mold Breaker Xerneas lacking King's Shield, while Leftovers increases Slaking's longevity by allowing it to recover health when using Fake Out and on turns where the foe is locked into a move via Encore. The given EV spread allows Slaking to hit as hard as possible while maximizing its physical bulk, which is crucial for letting it live both Lum Berry and Dread Plate Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock.
Slaking functions well on teams that appreciate its ability to both revenge kill frailer foes and set Spikes, that can also compensate for its inability to threaten Mega Gengar. Huge Power Mega Gyarados is a great partner, as it can weaken sweepers running King's Shield for Slaking if needed, has a hard time fitting entry hazards so appreciates Slaking's ability to do so, and can switch into and threaten most special Mold Breaker users, including Mega Gengar and Mega Latios. Mega Gyarados also threatens Mold Breaker Primal Groudon, which is too bulky for most Slaking sets to threaten if healthy. Magic Bounce Giratina can Imposter-proof all sets with ease, though it is hard to fit on teams due to Prankster Giratina being difficult to forgo. A support Wonder Guard user not weak to coverage Slaking is running, such as Mega Audino, Primal Kyogre, or Mega Swampert, is essential, as while it must be wary of Encore and Taunt, it can run Defog to remove Spikes set by opposing Imposter users Transformed into Slaking. Prankster Giratina is good setup deterrence and can annoy Imposter users Transformed into Slaking with Spore, Will-O-Wisp, Glare, and Curse. A robust offensive presence is integral; two Mold Breaker users is ideal, as two Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X are hard to fit, though a single Mold Breaker is also workable if two cannot be fit onto a team.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aerobee.515077/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ntothen.569731/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rl.554093/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Wonder Guard Slaking has several other options; for example, Magic Coat can be used in either of the last two moveslots, reflecting status moves such as Spore, Dark Void, Glare, Encore, Taunt, and entry hazards aimed at Slaking. Stealth Rock is an alternative to Spikes, trading the possibility of multiple layers of hazards for the ability to pressure Flying-types. Lum Berry can be used over Safety Goggles to cure sleep from Dark Void, but its one-time use stipulation makes it an inferior option. U-turn is a more uncommon pivot move that is importantly ineffective into opposing Wonder Guard users but heavily chips offensive Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados and Mega Mewtwo Y and is not stopped by Taunt. Knock Off annoys Giratina for a teammate, removing its Safety Goggles and making it vulnerable to Spore, and usually allows Slaking to beat non-Sludge Wave variants of Mega Gengar if healthy. However, Giratina having its item removed means Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Knock Off will not OHKO it. A set of Fake Out + Extreme Speed can be used in tandem with the alternate spread 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD and an Adamant nature to compress the roles of Wonder Guard and revenge killer into one teamslot if it is desperately needed, but this loses out on pivot and cleric capabilities as a result.
Shadow Tag Slaking can run coverage moves to target different Wonder Guard users, like Gunk Shot for Xerneas and Mega Audino; Sacred Fire for Mega Scizor; Thousand Arrows for Mega Manectric, Skuntank, and Drapion; and Bolt Strike for Huge Power Mega Gyarados, Primal Kyogre, and Gyaradosite Gyarados. Water Shuriken is an option for revenge killing Mold Breaker Primal Groudon in particular, but it requires five hits to OHKO after Shell Smash and has very limited uses outside of this. Perish Song, Spore, and Stealth Rock can be used over Spikes if the team already has a Spikes user. One may choose to run three or more Slaking, as this greatly enhances the unpredictability factor for the opponent, with the Slaking running abilities like Wonder Guard, Huge Power, Prankster, Prankster, and Imposter.
Slaking can also run a fringe Mold Breaker + Belly Drum set with Extreme Speed, one of Ice Shard or Shadow Sneak; one of King's Shield, Taunt, or Dark Void; and one of Lum Berry, Mental Herb, or Sitrus Berry, but it is inconsistent due to getting the initial Belly Drum off being difficult and Pixilate Mega Diancie reliably revenge killing chipped Slaking.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Powerful Fighting-type coverage from Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Latios, and Mega Mewtwo Y exploits Slaking's one weakness and threatens it with huge damage or an OHKO. King's Shield variants of Slaking somewhat offset this vulnerability, allowing it to relatively safely scout for an unfavorable matchup.
**Shadow Tag Users**: Wonder Guard Slaking is vulnerable to being trapped by Shadow Tag users and eliminated with powerful Fighting-type coverage or Perish Song if it doesn't have a Shed Shell. Shadow Tag Slaking is similarly trapped by opposing Arena Trap users, but its lack of passivity can give it a favorable matchup against these Pokemon.
**Mold Breaker Users**: Powerful Mold Breaker users, especially special attacking ones, take advantage of their ability to bypass Wonder Guard and Slaking's relative passivity to scare it out and potentially set up a Shell Smash, even if Whirlwind dissuades the latter. Mold Breaker Mega Rayquaza can threaten Slaking with Oblivion Wing, and Mega Gengar is immune to Slaking's Fake Out and Extreme Speed and can threaten it with a boosted Secret Sword or Psystrike, though Mega Gengar has to watch out for potential coverage variants.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users completely shut down Wonder Guard Slaking, forcing it to switch lest it use Struggle. Fast Taunt users, in particular Wonder Guard Mega Beedrill, can prevent Slaking from setting Spikes, hindering its function.
**Trick Users**: Wonder Guard Slaking is crippled if it is given a Choice item from Trick, locking it into one move—forcing it to either use a pivot move or give up momentum—and negating the benefits of Shed Shell or Safety Goggles. Shadow Tag Slaking also dislikes Trick due to losing the ability to use Fake Out into Extreme Speed when revenge killing foes and Encore into Spikes.
**Dark Void**: Wonder Guard Slaking typically cannot avoid being put to sleep by Dark Void, meaning its teammates won't receive its valuable support until it wakes up. This can be somewhat mitigated by Magic Coat, however.
**Giratina**: Giratina forces Wonder Guard Slaking to switch out by threatening to status it and pressuring it with Curse and Encore, with Magic Bounce variants also turning Parting Shot against it.
**Other Ghost-types**: Ghost-types are unable to be trapped and are immune to Fake Out and Extreme Speed. A Ghost-type other than Giratina may also not be necessary, due to Prankster Giratina being a great pick for most teams.
**Magic Bounce**: Shadow Tag Slaking is unable to use Encore or Spikes against Magic Bounce foes, and the most common Magic Bounce users are immune to Extreme Speed.
name: Shadow Tag
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Extreme Speed
move 3: Low Kick / Encore / Taunt
move 4: Spikes
item: Silk Scarf / Leftovers
ability: Shadow Tag
nature: Adamant
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Def
[SET COMMENTS]
Shadow Tag Slaking performs a similar role to Shadow Tag Regigigas and differentiates itself with its higher physical bulk, which allows it to survive hits like Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Knock Off and boosted Mold Breaker Primal Groudon's Thousand Arrows. Fake Out and Extreme Speed are crucial due to the former chipping foes with no drawback and the latter finishing off weakened foes, especially if their Defense is lowered from using Shell Smash. Slaking values coverage to hit physical threats, in particular Huge Power Mega Gyarados, more than Regigigas does, as it can take a hit more easily. Low Kick has a good chance to 2HKO Wonder Guard Slaking after Stealth Rock and Arceus from full, and it KOes Mega Gyarados after a Silk Scarf-boosted Fake Out. Encore allows Slaking to lock slower Wonder Guard users into a move, in particular Substitute + Baton Pass Xerneas, which seldom runs Shed Shell or invests in Speed. Alternatively, Taunt disrupts passive Wonder Guard users that are otherwise safe switch-ins to Slaking, like Mega Audino and Primal Kyogre. Spikes capitalizes on passive foes, especially if Slaking opts for Encore or Taunt, as locking the foe into a useless move and denying hazard removal and utility allows Slaking to set up multiple Spikes layers unobstructed. Silk Scarf boosts Fake Out's and Extreme Speed's damage, allowing Slaking to revenge kill foes like weakened Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X, uninvested Mega Latios, and boosted Mold Breaker Xerneas lacking King's Shield, while Leftovers increases Slaking's longevity by allowing it to recover health when using Fake Out and on turns where the foe is locked into a move via Encore. The given EV spread allows Slaking to hit as hard as possible while maximizing its physical bulk, which is crucial for letting it live both Lum Berry and Dread Plate Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Sucker Punch after Stealth Rock.
Slaking functions well on teams that appreciate its ability to both revenge kill frailer foes and set Spikes, that can also compensate for its inability to threaten Mega Gengar. Huge Power Mega Gyarados is a great partner, as it can weaken sweepers running King's Shield for Slaking if needed, has a hard time fitting entry hazards so appreciates Slaking's ability to do so, and can switch into and threaten most special Mold Breaker users, including Mega Gengar and Mega Latios. Mega Gyarados also threatens Mold Breaker Primal Groudon, which is too bulky for most Slaking sets to threaten if healthy. Magic Bounce Giratina can Imposter-proof all sets with ease, though it is hard to fit on teams due to Prankster Giratina being difficult to forgo. A support Wonder Guard user not weak to coverage Slaking is running, such as Mega Audino, Primal Kyogre, or Mega Swampert, is essential, as while it must be wary of Encore and Taunt, it can run Defog to remove Spikes set by opposing Imposter users Transformed into Slaking. Prankster Giratina is good setup deterrence and can annoy Imposter users Transformed into Slaking with Spore, Will-O-Wisp, Glare, and Curse. A robust offensive presence is integral; two Mold Breaker users is ideal, as two Huge Power Mega Mewtwo X are hard to fit, though a single Mold Breaker is also workable if two cannot be fit onto a team.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aerobee.515077/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ntothen.569731/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/rl.554093/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/wrathoftheleopard.511181/
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Wonder Guard Slaking has several other options; for example, Magic Coat can be used in either of the last two moveslots, reflecting status moves such as Spore, Dark Void, Glare, Encore, Taunt, and entry hazards aimed at Slaking. Stealth Rock is an alternative to Spikes, trading the possibility of multiple layers of hazards for the ability to pressure Flying-types. Lum Berry can be used over Safety Goggles to cure sleep from Dark Void, but its one-time use stipulation makes it an inferior option. U-turn is a more uncommon pivot move that is importantly ineffective into opposing Wonder Guard users but heavily chips offensive Pokemon such as Mega Gyarados and Mega Mewtwo Y and is not stopped by Taunt. Knock Off annoys Giratina for a teammate, removing its Safety Goggles and making it vulnerable to Spore, and usually allows Slaking to beat non-Sludge Wave variants of Mega Gengar if healthy. However, Giratina having its item removed means Huge Power Mega Gyarados's Knock Off will not OHKO it. A set of Fake Out + Extreme Speed can be used in tandem with the alternate spread 248 HP / 252 Atk / 8 SpD and an Adamant nature to compress the roles of Wonder Guard and revenge killer into one teamslot if it is desperately needed, but this loses out on pivot and cleric capabilities as a result.
Shadow Tag Slaking can run coverage moves to target different Wonder Guard users, like Gunk Shot for Xerneas and Mega Audino; Sacred Fire for Mega Scizor; Thousand Arrows for Mega Manectric, Skuntank, and Drapion; and Bolt Strike for Huge Power Mega Gyarados, Primal Kyogre, and Gyaradosite Gyarados. Water Shuriken is an option for revenge killing Mold Breaker Primal Groudon in particular, but it requires five hits to OHKO after Shell Smash and has very limited uses outside of this. Perish Song, Spore, and Stealth Rock can be used over Spikes if the team already has a Spikes user. One may choose to run three or more Slaking, as this greatly enhances the unpredictability factor for the opponent, with the Slaking running abilities like Wonder Guard, Huge Power, Prankster, Prankster, and Imposter.
Slaking can also run a fringe Mold Breaker + Belly Drum set with Extreme Speed, one of Ice Shard or Shadow Sneak; one of King's Shield, Taunt, or Dark Void; and one of Lum Berry, Mental Herb, or Sitrus Berry, but it is inconsistent due to getting the initial Belly Drum off being difficult and Pixilate Mega Diancie reliably revenge killing chipped Slaking.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-type Coverage**: Powerful Fighting-type coverage from Mega Mewtwo X, Mega Latios, and Mega Mewtwo Y exploits Slaking's one weakness and threatens it with huge damage or an OHKO. King's Shield variants of Slaking somewhat offset this vulnerability, allowing it to relatively safely scout for an unfavorable matchup.
**Shadow Tag Users**: Wonder Guard Slaking is vulnerable to being trapped by Shadow Tag users and eliminated with powerful Fighting-type coverage or Perish Song if it doesn't have a Shed Shell. Shadow Tag Slaking is similarly trapped by opposing Arena Trap users, but its lack of passivity can give it a favorable matchup against these Pokemon.
**Mold Breaker Users**: Powerful Mold Breaker users, especially special attacking ones, take advantage of their ability to bypass Wonder Guard and Slaking's relative passivity to scare it out and potentially set up a Shell Smash, even if Whirlwind dissuades the latter. Mold Breaker Mega Rayquaza can threaten Slaking with Oblivion Wing, and Mega Gengar is immune to Slaking's Fake Out and Extreme Speed and can threaten it with a boosted Secret Sword or Psystrike, though Mega Gengar has to watch out for potential coverage variants.
**Taunt Users**: Taunt users completely shut down Wonder Guard Slaking, forcing it to switch lest it use Struggle. Fast Taunt users, in particular Wonder Guard Mega Beedrill, can prevent Slaking from setting Spikes, hindering its function.
**Trick Users**: Wonder Guard Slaking is crippled if it is given a Choice item from Trick, locking it into one move—forcing it to either use a pivot move or give up momentum—and negating the benefits of Shed Shell or Safety Goggles. Shadow Tag Slaking also dislikes Trick due to losing the ability to use Fake Out into Extreme Speed when revenge killing foes and Encore into Spikes.
**Dark Void**: Wonder Guard Slaking typically cannot avoid being put to sleep by Dark Void, meaning its teammates won't receive its valuable support until it wakes up. This can be somewhat mitigated by Magic Coat, however.
**Giratina**: Giratina forces Wonder Guard Slaking to switch out by threatening to status it and pressuring it with Curse and Encore, with Magic Bounce variants also turning Parting Shot against it.
**Other Ghost-types**: Ghost-types are unable to be trapped and are immune to Fake Out and Extreme Speed. A Ghost-type other than Giratina may also not be necessary, due to Prankster Giratina being a great pick for most teams.
**Magic Bounce**: Shadow Tag Slaking is unable to use Encore or Spikes against Magic Bounce foes, and the most common Magic Bounce users are immune to Extreme Speed.
Last edited:
QC 2/2
