Hi there. In this Pokemon TCG post, I cover the cards Slowpoke and Slowking from the upcoming Stellar Miracle set in Japan and internationally.
Slowpoke
Slowpoke is a Basic 80 HP Psychic Pokemon with two retreat cost. Because Slowpoke is 80 HP you cannot use the popular Pokemon search card Buddy Buddy Poffin to go from deck to bench. You would need Nest Ball or the stadium card Artazon instead.
The second attack of Tackle is not great. It requires one Psychic energy and one colourless energy to do 30 damage. Slowpoke's first attack of Hanging Tail for one Colourless energy can be useful in certain situations. This first attack does not do any damage but it retrieves one Pokemon from the discard pile into your hand.
Slowking
Slowking is Stage 1 Psychic Pokemon that evolves from Slowpoke. Slowking has 120 HP with a large three retreat cost. The second attack of Super Psy Bolt does 120 damage with the cost of two Psychic energy and one colourless energy.
Slowking's first attack is too interesting to ignore. This attack is unique it combines discarding from your deck and a Metronone style copying attack. For one Psychic energy and one Colourless energy, the Inspirational Challenge attack makes you discard the top card of your own deck. If this discarded card is a Pokemon without a Rule Box (Rule Box Pokemon include V, VStars, VMax, Radiant Pokemon and Pokemon ex), then you can copy one of the attacks and Slowking does that attack. This attack does seem random but there are combos to be explored.
Possible Combos & Attackers To Copy With Slowking's Inspirational Challenge Attack
Meeting the energy requirement for the Inspirational Challenge attack can be tricky sometimes. Outside of Xatu there is not Psychic Energy acceleration abilities out there. Since Slowking is a non-rule Box Pokemon you can use Reversal Energy to get 3 Energy of any type as long as its on a non-rule Box Pokemon and you are behind in Prizes.
There are two ways that I know of of getting a certain non-rule Box Pokemon to the top of your deck. The Night Academy Stadium card allows either player once per turn put one card from their hand to the top of their deck. If you have a suitable Pokemon attacker from the hand, you can use Night Academy to put that Pokemon from hand to deck and attack with Slowking.
The second way is through the Supporter card Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking. You can search your deck for 2 cards, shuffle your deck and put those two cards on the top in any order you like. This ensures that you get the attacker you need from your deck.
Possible Attackers
I think there are many good choices for attackers that go with Slowking's Inspirational Challenge Attack. Here are a couple that I have thought of from the sets up to Twilight Masquerade from F, G, H regulation blocks.
Conkeldurr
Copy the Gutsy Swing attack to do 250 damage. Since it is a Stage 2 card the downside is that this card can be a not so useful card.
Poliwrath
Copy the Jumping Uppercut attack to do 120 damage with the option of 240 damage. If you do 240 damage then shuffle the Pokemon and attached cards back into the deck. A hit and run style attack.
Chandelure
Chandelure has an interesting attack that could be worth copying. It is Mind Ruler. You do 30 damage for each card in your opponent's hand. There are times when the opponent's hand size gets super large. This is a punish style attack that does big damage if the opponent has something like 10 cards in hand.
Annihilape
Annihilape's Rage Fist attack is something to consider. Rage Fist does 70 times the number of prize cards your opponent has taken. If the opponent has taken 4 prize cards then Rage Fist does 280 damage. If the opponent has taken 5 prize cards and has one left then Rage Fist does 350 damage.
Aerodactyl
Aerodactyl could be an interesting choice with the Devolution Ray attack. Do 100 damage and de-evolve the opponent's Active Pokemon which can result in a knockout.
Dodrio
Dodrio has an interesting attack where it does 30 more damage for each damage counter on it. If Slowking is heavily damaged you can use Inspirational Challenge with Dodrio to do heavy damage. This could be difficult to pull off.
Dragonite With Energy Hurricane
This Dragonite from the Silver Tempest set is too good to ignore. The Energy Hurricane attack does 180 damage with the additional effect of searching your deck for 3 basic Energy cards and attach them to your Pokemon in any way you like.
Crobat
Crobat could be an interesting attacker choice. The Critical Bite attack allows for attacking the Bench. If you score a Knockout from this attack you take 2 more Prize cards. This upside is very powerful if you pull off the knockout.
Armaldo
Armaldo could be an okay attacker. The first attack has an auto knockout effect if the opponent's Active Pokemon has 100 HP or less. The second attack is okay as it does 160 damage which does not one hit most 2 prize Pokemon but it is sizeable damage.
Gengar
Gengar's attack could be good in certain situations. Poltergeist does big damage if there are a lot of Trainer cards in the opponent's hand. It is a good probability play to use the Poltergeist attack on large hands. The second attack of Hollow Dive can have the slight chance of multiple knockouts.
Slowbro With Twilight Inspiration
If you are using Slowpokes and Slowking then Slowbro does make a lot of sense as an extra Stage 1 Pokemon choice. If you pull it off the Twilight Inspiration attack is quite powerful as you can win in the late game. As long as the opponent has 1 prize remaining, Twilight Inspiration allows you to take 2 prize cards. If you are able to trap an opponent's Pokemon that does not attack you can use Twilight Inspiration in the one turn and then again in the next turn.
Pros & Cons Of Slowking
Pros
- Combos With Different Attackers Of Your Choosing
- Can Deal Big Damage From Inspirational Challenge Attack
- Compatible with Reversal Energy
Cons
- Needs Other Cards Like Reversal Energy, Night Academy/Ciphermaniac's Codebreaking To Choose Slowking's Attacker
- 120 HP is Low As Many Competitive Decks Attack For Big Damage
- Deck Building May Not Be Easy, Find Right Balance Of Attackers and Slowking's Candidate Attackers.