Slow Start (Ability)

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Slow Start スロースタート
Slow Start
Flavor text
Generation IV
Temporarily halves Attack and Speed.
Generation V
Temporarily halves Attack and Speed.
Generation VI
Temporarily halves the Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats.
Generation VII
For five turns, the Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved.
Generation VIII
For five turns, the Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved.SwShBDSP
The Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved until it gets going.LA
Generation IX
For five turns, the Pokémon's Attack and Speed stats are halved.

Slow Start (Japanese: スロースタート Slow Start) is an Ability introduced in Generation IV. Prior to Generation IX, it was the signature Ability of Regigigas.

Effect

In battle

Slow Start halves the user's Attack and Speed stats during the first five turns in battle. This counter is reset if the Pokémon is switched out.

Replacing or suppresing Slow Start (such as from Skill Swap or Worry Seed) removes its Attack and Speed modifiers.

Because Slow Start is not a stat stage change, it halves the effective Attack stat of Foul Play and Body Press done by the user despite the moves using another stat instead of the user's Attack.

If the user holds a typed Z-Crystal and uses a Z-Move based on a special move, Slow Start will also reduce the Special Attack stat for the duration of that move only.

Generation IV

385Jirachi.png This Ability effect may be in need of research.
Reason: How the Ability functions in link battles between Japanese DP and other Generation IV games, effect in Pokémon Battle Revolution
You can discuss this on the talk page.

In the Japanese version of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, removing Slow Start does not undo the Attack and Speed drop; it must still wait five turns. This was changed in localized versions as well as in Pokémon Platinum.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Abilities do not occur in normal gameplay. However, Slow Start has been reworked into a status condition exclusive to Regigigas. Regigigas will gain the Slow Start status condition upon entering battle for its first five turns, halving its Attack and Speed stats. Due to the different way damage is calculated in this game, Slow Start's effect on Attack is much less impactful on damage output than in other games.

Outside of battle

Slow Start has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Slow Start

# Pokémon Types First Ability Second Ability Hidden Ability
0486 Regigigas Regigigas
Normal Normal Slow Start None None
0965 Varoom Varoom
Steel Poison Overcoat None Slow Start
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later.
  • For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other games

Pokémon Rumble World

In Pokémon Rumble World, Regigigas has the Slow Start ability, reducing its attack power and movement speed until it has defeated 10 opposing Pokémon, resetting every screen. This effect is also seen in Pokémon Rumble Blast, though in the form of the Special Trait Slow-Starting.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

When the Pokémon enters a dungeon floor, its Travel Speed is reduced for 15 turnsTDS or 5 turnsSMD. The Pokémon's Attack is not affected.

Description

Games Description
MDTDS Limits the Pokémon's Movement Speed at the start.
BSL はじめは いどうそくどが おそい
MDGtI Unavailable
SMD When the Pokémon goes to a different floor, its Travel Speed goes down! It returns to normal after a certain number of turns pass.


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!


Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!!


Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!


In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 慢啟動 Maahn Káiduhng *
錯失先機 Chosāt Sīngēi *
Mandarin 慢啟動 / 慢启动 Màn Qǐdòng *
錯失先機 Cuòshī Xiānjī *
France Flag.png French Début Calme
Germany Flag.png German Saumselig
Italy Flag.png Italian Lentoinizio
South Korea Flag.png Korean 슬로스타트 Slow Start
Spain Flag.png Spanish Inicio Lento
Vietnam Flag.png Vietnamese Khởi Động Chậm


Project Moves and Abilities logo.png This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.