Slowking

Slowking in the games: Slowpoke's other evolution

Slowking debuted in Generation II as a Water and Psychic type, 2.0 meters tall and 79.5 kilograms. Slowpoke becomes Slowbro at level 37, but traded while holding a King's Rock it becomes Slowking instead. Galarian Slowpoke has its own route: a Galarica Wreath turns it into Galarian Slowking, a Poison and Psychic form. In the lore, the Shellder that bites Slowking's head releases a venom that gives it remarkable intelligence.

Its standard abilities are Oblivious, which blocks infatuation and taunting, and Own Tempo, which prevents confusion. Its hidden ability, Regenerator, restores some HP each time it switches out.

In the anime, a Slowking that can talk appears in the movie The Power of One (Pokémon the Movie 2000), where it advises Ash on finding the Island Treasures.

Slowking on cards: Neo Genesis, Southern Islands and Dark Slowking

Slowking's first card is Neo Genesis #14 (December 2000), a holo Rare illustrated by Ken Sugimori. The 2001 Southern Islands collection included a Slowking by Naoyo Kimura. In Japan that card was printed with a square Evolution box, a design no other post-Generation I Pokémon received there, while the English release used the round Neo-era box.

Dark Slowking appeared twice: Neo Destiny (2002) by Tomokazu Komiya and Team Rocket Returns (2004) by Kouki Saitou. Dark Pokémon debuted in the Team Rocket set and returned in both of those expansions. Aquapolis (2003) printed two more, a Rare (#34) and a Holo Rare (#H22), both by Aya Kusube.

Slowking Prime and the Galarian V and VMAX

Undaunted (2010) gave Slowking a Pokémon Prime card, #85, illustrated by Noriko Hotta. Prime cards, printed across the HeartGold & SoulSilver era sets, carry holofoil borders, gold foil names and a close-up 3D illustration of the Pokémon.

Chilling Reign (2021) was Galarian Slowking's showcase: a regular holo, a Galarian Slowking V and VMAX, a full art V by 5ban Graphics, a full-card V illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya (#179), and a rainbow Secret Rare VMAX (#207) numbered above the set's 198 cards. Paldea Evolved (2023) then brought Slowking ex, including an Ultra Rare version.

Cards to know

• Slowking (Neo Genesis #14)

  Slowking's first card, a 2000 holo Rare illustrated by Ken Sugimori.

• Slowking (Southern Islands #14)

  From the 2001 Southern Islands collection; its Japanese version is the only post-Generation I Pokémon card there with a square Evolution box.

• Dark Slowking (Neo Destiny #20)

  Slowking's first Dark Pokémon card, illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya.

• Slowking (Undaunted #85)

  Slowking's Pokémon Prime card, illustrated by Noriko Hotta.

• Galarian Slowking V (Chilling Reign #179)

  A full-card Ultra Rare of the Poison and Psychic Galarian form, illustrated by Tomokazu Komiya.

• Galarian Slowking VMAX (Chilling Reign #207)

  The rainbow Secret Rare version of Galarian Slowking VMAX, by 5ban Graphics.