Slowking (Japanese: ヤドキング Yadoking) is a Psychic-type Stage 1 Pokémon card. It is part of the Neo Genesis set.
Card text
Pokémon Power
| [Pokémon Power]
| Mind Games
|
|
| Whenever your opponent plays a Trainer card, you may flip a coin. If heads, that card does nothing. Put it on top of your opponent's deck. This power can't be used if Slowking is Asleep, Confused, or Paralyzed.
|
Attacks
| Mind Blast
| 20+
|
| Flip a coin. If heads, this attack does 20 damage plus 10 more damage and the Defending Pokémon is now Confused. If tails, this attack does 20 damage.
|
Pokédex data
| Species
| Royal Pokémon
|
| Length
| 6'7" (2.0m)
|
| Weight
| 175 lbs (79.5kg)
|
| Pokémon No.
| 199
|
| Entry
| When its head was bitten, toxins entered Slowpoke’s head and unlocked an extraordinary power.
|
Impact of Pokémon Power
Slowking's Pokémon Power was intentionally altered when it was brought to the US. In the Japanese version, Mind Games only worked when Slowking was the Active Pokémon. In its final US form, it could be used from the bench, allowing players to use multiple Slowkings to further reduce the odds of a Trainer card being successfully played (possibly down to 1 in 16). As a result, Slowking became extremely popular, with games often coming down to who could lay down Slowking first. Due its widely perceived negative influence on gameplay, the card was banned from the Modified Format at the end of 2002.
Trivia
Slowking was one of three cards to ever be banned from the Pokémon Trading Card Game because they were too good. Its Pokémon Power was simply taking over the game, as can be seen in the Riptide deck archetype.
Origin
H
