Is Slowpoke Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Galarian Slowpoke was a free update to the base game, available at Wedgehurst Station early in the adventure. Pure Psychic type until you evolve it with the Isle of Armor or Crown Tundra. Can sit on your team as a slow, bulky Psychic for the whole game, but it really wants one of its DLC evolutions to reach its potential.
Slowpoke trades roughly evenly with Milo's team.
Nessa's team hits Slowpoke's weaknesses hard.
Slowpoke has the type edge here and should clean up Kabu's team.
Slowpoke trades roughly evenly with Bea's team.
Slowpoke trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Slowpoke has the type edge here and should clean up Gordie's team.
Piers's team hits Slowpoke's weaknesses hard.
Slowpoke trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Bede's team hits Slowpoke's weaknesses hard.
Slowbro trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Slowbro trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Slowking trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Slowking trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Leon:
Catch Slowpoke on Fields of Honor (overworld, Lv 10-15). All Weather.
Your Slowpoke should hit Level 37 before you reach Leon, at typical leveling pace.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Leon.
How to Get Galarian Slowpoke in Sword & Shield
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 2 locations. Galarian Slowpoke's one of the easier catches on the list. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Where To Catch Slowpoke in SwSh
Step 1Slowpoke ✓Fields of Honor - BeachLv.10-15OverworldRate 100%All WeatherAvailable in-game· 4 pathsPick one
Slowpoke Weakness
Slowpoke's Psychic/Psychic typing leaves it vulnerable to Bug, Ghost, and Dark. Slowpoke's physical bulk (base 65 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Bug, Ghost, Dark |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Psychic |
What is Slowpoke Weak Against
VulnerableBest Pokemon Against Slowpoke
 Stunky PoisonDark | C | |
 Golett GroundGhost | D | |
 Nuzleaf GrassDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Nuzleaf builds →Payback 2x42-50% Astonish 2x18-22% | ||
 Drifloon Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Drifloon builds →Shadow Ball 2x78-92% Brutal Swing 2x28-33% | ||
 Nickit Dark | D | |
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x63-74% Lick 2x19-23% Pin Missile 2x17-20% | ||
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x169-198%KO Crunch 2x40-48% | ||
 Weavile DarkIce | A | |
 Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x63-75% Lick 2x20-23% Pin Missile 2x16-19% | ||
Malamar DarkPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Inkay (Bridge Field Surfing) | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Vikavolt builds →Bug Buzz 2x167-197%KO Crunch 2x40-47% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x89-105%KO | ||
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x61-73% Lick 2x18-21% Pin Missile 2x16-19% | ||
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x104-122%KO Sucker Punch 2x54-64% | ||
 Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x90-107%KO | ||
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x62-74% Lick 2x18-22% Pin Missile 2x16-19% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x105-123%KO Sucker Punch 2x54-64% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x92-109%KO Shadow Claw 2x54-64% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →False Surrender 2x91-108%KO Shadow Claw 2x53-63% | ||
Crawdaunt WaterDark | B | |
Obstagoon DarkNormal | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Obstagoon builds →Night Slash 2x64-75% Shadow Claw 2x43-50% Pin Missile 2x16-19% | ||
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Golisopod builds →First Impression 2x106-125%KO Sucker Punch 2x54-64% Shadow Claw 2x54-64% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x107-127%KO Shadow Claw 2x53-63% | ||
 Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x105-124%KO Shadow Claw 2x52-62% | ||
 Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x100-118%KO Shadow Claw 2x58-69% | ||
 Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x94-111%KO Shadow Claw 2x55-65% Fury Cutter 2x32-38% | ||
Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Pangoro builds →Crunch 2x94-111%KO Shadow Claw 2x55-64% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x107-127%KO Leech Life 2x60-71% Shadow Claw 2x53-63% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x105-124%KO Shadow Claw 2x52-62% | ||
 Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x133-157%KO U-turn 2x48-56% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x100-118%KO Shadow Claw 2x58-69% | ||
Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x94-111%KO Shadow Claw 2x55-65% Fury Cutter 2x32-38% | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Grimmsnarl builds →Foul Play 2x107-127%KO Leech Life 2x60-71% Shadow Claw 2x53-63% | ||
Krookodile GroundDark | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Krookodile builds →Foul Play 2x105-124%KO Shadow Claw 2x52-62% | ||
Hydreigon DarkDragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Hydreigon builds →Dark Pulse 2x133-157%KO U-turn 2x48-56% | ||
Tyranitar RockDark | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Tyranitar builds →Crunch 2x100-118%KO Shadow Claw 2x58-69% | ||
Bisharp DarkSteel | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Bisharp builds →Throat Chop 2x94-111%KO Shadow Claw 2x55-65% Fury Cutter 2x32-38% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Weavile's Knock Off hits Slowpoke for 38-45%. Chandelure deals 82-97% with Shadow Ball.
 Volcarona BugFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Volcarona builds →Psychic16-19% | ||
Weavile DarkIce | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Weavile builds →Knock Off 2x38-45% Ice Shard11-14% | ||
 Chandelure GhostFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemChoice Scarf NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Slowpoke View Chandelure builds →Shadow Ball 2x82-97% Energy Ball31-36% Flamethrower46-55% Psychic15-18% | ||
Slowpoke Evolutions
From here, Slowpoke's line branches into Slowbro and Slowking. That's 2 possible evolutions, each with its own method. The evolved forms gain up to 175 total stats over Slowpoke. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Galar
Galar
SwSh Slowpoke Best Moveset
A preview of one of the best Pokemon in the format, stuck behind stats too low to use. AbilityRegenerator heals a third of HP every switch-out, an incredible ability that Slowbro turns into an S-tier engine. This moveset does nothing with it at 15 Speed and 40 Sp. Atk.
Best Build
Slowpoke best EVs are HP and Defense
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Trick Room
- Slack Off
- Yawn
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breadth over depth defines this movepool. Slowpoke won't stack one type's damage ceiling, but coverage across 10 types means it always has an effective option. Future Sight and Psychic anchor the STAB core.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
Although this Pokémon is normally zoned out, its expression abruptly sharpens on occasion. The cause for this seems to lie in Slowpoke's diet.
Because Galarian Slowpoke eat the seeds of a plant that grows only in Galar, their tails have developed a spicy flavor.
Slowpoke Sword & Shield Guide
No. Slowpoke only evolves into Slowking through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in Sword & Shield. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Slowpoke to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Kings Rock must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
For Sword & Shield, you can run Slowpoke through the first few routes without issues. 315 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Slowbro as fast as you can.
Slowpoke has an Galarian form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 8. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Slowpoke has appeared in 21 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Galarian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwShGalarian
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves