Physiology
Slowking are Slowpoke who were bitten on the head by a Shellder. This is often the result of a Slowpoke holding a King's Rock because a Slowpoke holding this item will attract Shellder to bite its head, rather than its tail. The resulting poison that the Shellder secretes reaches Slowpoke's brain, causing it to become extremely intelligent. Upon evolving, the lighter-coloration on the tip of Slowpoke’s tail disappears, and, like Slowbro, Slowking has a scaled underbelly.
In appearance, Slowking looks much like a bipedal Slowpoke with its Shellder resembling a crown, although the shape of Slowking's eyes and the scales on its belly cause it to differ from its pre-evolution. There is a small red gem on the upper part of the "crown." Slowking also somehow gains a red and white ruff around its neck to emphasize its "regality."
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Due to the way Shellder's poison reacted with its brain, Slowking possess an amazing intelligence, to the point that it can match that of a human's and can understand and speak the human language. They can plan situations with effective results. Every time Slowking yawns, Shellder injects more poison into it, making it even more intelligent.
Slowking has a weaker Defense stat than Slowbro's, as a trade-off to having strong Special Defense. Slowking can use Nasty Plot and the rarely seen Trump Card attack while being unable to learn Slack Off and Amnesia on its own (those two moves would have to come from the Slowpoke it evolved from).
Behavior
Because Slowking is much more intelligent than Slowpoke or Slowbro, wild Slowking must lead colonies of wild Slowpoke and Slowbro in times of crisis. According to The Complete Pokémon Pocket Guide, it has such an easy-going personality that it never gets stressed.
Habitat
Slowking lives with the Slowpoke and Slowbro at their paradise to lead them.
Diet
- Main article: Pokémon food
It is very likely that Slowking is a carnivore, like Slowpoke and Slowbro, and feeds on river fish. However, in Slowking's Day, Slowking was shown eating seaweed and drinking coconut milk.
Major appearances
Slowking first appeared in The Power of One. This talking Slowking gave Ash advice on where to find the orbs. This same Slowking made another appearance in a special episode called Slowking's Day that showed what he does on a daily basis.
Other
Slowking made its first anime appearance in A Crowning Achievement, where a colony of Slowpoke are attempting to reach the King's Rock in order to evolve into one so that they could help save the colony from a drought. The Slowpoke were faced with many problems since the King's Rock was also surrounded by Shellder and when ever they fail to reach it they evolve into a Slowbro instead. One Slowpoke named Arthur, which was owned by Alice, tries and eventually succeeds. In the end, he leaves Alice in order to be the leader for the colony.
A Slowking belonging to Conway appeared in Tag! We're It...!. It reappeared in Up Close and Personable!.
Minor appearances
A Slowking appeared in Larvitar and Unown's vision in the episode Address Unown. As all the Pokémon in this vision were seen recently, it is possibly the same one that appeared three episodes beforehand.
A Slowking appeared in the opening scenes of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Pokédex entries
| Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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| EP260
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Slowking
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Ash's Pokédex
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Slowking, the Royal Pokémon. Slowking possess great knowledge and inspiration, and are known for maintaining a level head in any circumstances.
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Pokémon Adventures
A hint of Slowking's existence first appeared in Volume 7, while Lorelei was musing on Slowbro's enhanced abilities after it had been bitten by Shellder. She remarked that Slowpoke would likely have further improved abilities if it was bitten on its head.
However, Slowking's proper debut was in Volume 13, under the ownership of Sham. It was able to use its Snore alongside Carl's Magcargo to attack even when asleep. However, a double Giga Drain defeated them both.
Slowking appeared once more under the ownership of Lorelei herself in Volume 23, and was used to escape the Icefall Cave when Carr detonated his Forretress, as well as to battle Sird.
- In the anime, Slowking is one of the few Pokémon who talks like a human without telepathy, along with Team Rocket's Meowth.
- Slowking is the only Pokémon with a catch rate of 70.
- In the TCG, Slowking's Southern Islands card is the only card depicting a Pokémon introduced after Generation I to have a square evolution box, in Japan only. In English, the Southern Islands collection used the Neo-era designs, which, like all later card layouts, feature a circular evolution box.
- The Shellder of Slowbro's shiny form is gold, like a shiny Shellder. This is not so for shiny Slowking.
- Despite being Slowking, Slowking can be female. This also occurs with Slowpoke's other evolution, Slowbro, with bro being short for brother.
Origin
Slowking's shell makes it similar to hermit crabs, though it is physically similar to sea otters and hippopotamuses. Its shell "crown" may also be a reference to the mythical sazae-oni, a magical sea demon of Japanese folklore distinguished by its spiny "sazae" or "turban shaped" snail shell. It is also based on a king, as the growth around its neck is based on a king's ruff while its shell is similar to a crown.
Name origin
Slowking's name is a combination of slow and king. Its Japanese name is a combination of 宿主 yadonushi, (parasitic) host, and English king. The Yado part of Slowking's Japanese name may also refer to 宿借り yadokari, hermit crab.
King's Rock (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Slowking images on Bulbagarden Archives.