Galarian Slowking arriving in Pokemon GO for Halloween

Galarian Slowking is finally set to arrive in Pokemon GO.

Halloween isn’t just going to be about ghost-type Pokemon this year, as the creepy regional version of Slowking added in Pokemon Sword and Shield’s Crown Tundra DLC will be joining the fray as well. The Pokemon’s arrival is part of the Season of Mischief event, but Slowking will be a permanent part of the game moving forward. Galarian Slowking’s addition to the game is being credited to Hoopa, suggesting players aren’t quite done yet with the mischievous mythical Pokemon.

Galarian Slowking was an interesting option in Pokemon Sword and Shield because of its unique psychic-poison typing and diverse moveset. It also has a signature move in Eerie Spell, which dealt damage and was capable of shaving PP off the last move used by opponents.

The mechanics that make the Pokemon interesting in Sword and Shield don’t translate to Pokemon GO, but does that mean that it’s bad? Here’s all you need to know about Galarian Slowking.

How to get Galarian Slowking in Pokemon GO

To get Galarian Slowking, put a Galarian Slowpoke in the buddy spot and catch 30 psychic Pokemon, then evolve it with 50 Slowpoke candy.

Galarian Slowking is an evolution of Galarian Slowpoke, the eighth-generation regional variant of Kanto’s Slowpoke. Galarian Slowpoke can be differentiated from its original version by the yellow, scaly patch on the top of its head, and has only been catchable in raids to this point.

As with Kantonian Slowpoke, Galarian Slowpoke can be evolved in two different ways. If Galarian Slowpoke doesn’t fulfill that buddy achievement, Galarian Slowpoke evolves into Galarian Slowbro with 50 candies.

How to catch Galarian Slowpoke

As with many other regional variant Pokemon, Galarian Slowpoke has been exclusively obtainable through raids and by hatching eggs.

As part of the season of Mischief, Galarian Slowpoke will be available in one-star raids for a limited time. This span will run from October 15 to October 22. Alongside Galarian Slowpoke, Murkrow, Scraggy, Yamask, and Espurr will be available in one-star raids. Shiny versions of Murkrow and Yamask are also included in encounters after raids.

Is Galarian Slowking any good in Pokemon GO?

Galarian Slowking has a good moveset, but tops out at an underwhelming 3,072 CP at level 50.

For both its charged move and fast move, Galarian Slowking can choose from poison, psychic, and ghost attacks. This gives it wide-ranging coverage that can check poison, psychic, fairy, grass, and fighting Pokemon. It has weaknesses to ground, ghost, and dark attacks.

At very high levels, it’s a decent option in raids and against Team GO Rocket grunts but for most people, it’s best suited to Great League battling.

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The trouble with Galarian Slowking is that there is simply a great deal of competition when it comes to strong psychic-type Pokemon. The Pokemon just can’t match the potential of psychic-type mythicals such as Celebi and Mew, and strong three-stage psychic-type Pokemon like Alakazam and Metagross.

Galarian Slowking best moveset

Galarian Slowking’s best moveset is likely Confusion for its fast move and Sludge Wave for its charge move.

Confusion offers the best DPS of any fast move and has STAB on top of it. Sludge Wave offers good DPS and STAB, and more importantly differentiates it from other psychic options.

Though there are ghost-type options in both categories of moves, ghost moves only hit psychic and ghost Pokemon for increased damage. Though there is some value there for Galarian Slowking, poison offers the better coverage and lets it actually have a niche rather than being a worse version of Mewtwo or Espeon.