Slow Start (Ability)

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

	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 battle

Generations IV to VII

Slow Start causes the Attack and Speed stats to be halved during the first five turns in battle. This counter is reset if the Pokémon is switched out.

If this Ability is replaced due to a move like Skill Swap or Worry Seed or is suppressed, the Pokémon's stats return to normal.

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.

Foul Play uses the target's halved Attack stat to calculate damage.

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 VIII onward

In Pokémon Sword and Shield, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Slow Start is available and functions as it did in previous generations.

Body Press uses the user's halved Defense stat to calculate damage.

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	Normal		Normal	Slow Start	None	None
0942	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 Mystery Dungeon series

When the Pokémon enters a dungeon floor, its Travel Speed is reduced for 15 turns^TDS or 5 turns^SMD. 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

• In volume 40, Diamond's Regigigas, Reg, was revealed to have Slow Start as its Ability.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!

Regigigas
The Pokémon's Attack and Speed are temporarily cut in half.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Regigigas's Attack and Speed are temporarily cut in half.
Hareta's Regigigas	A Novel Test!!		Debut
	Kadabra's Attack and Speed are temporarily cut in half.
Hareta's Kadabra	Team Galactic's Ultimate Warrior		Used via Skill Swap

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

Regigigas
The Pokémon starts off as weak in battle but shows its true power when the battle continues for a duration of time.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Regigigas starts off as weak in battle but shows its true power when the battle continues for a duration of time.
Kaito's Regigigas	Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!!		Debut

Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!

Regigigas
The Pokémon's Attack and Speed stat are lowered for five turns.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Regigigas's Attack and Speed stat are lowered for five turns.
Yū's Regigigas	Yū vs. Shin, Rival Showdown!!		Debut

Trivia

• In Pokémon Rumble Blast, Regigigas has the Special Trait-equivalent of Slow Start: Slow-Starting. Instead of going into full strength after an amount of time, it has to defeat 10 Pokémon to go to full strength.

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 * French Début Calme German Saumselig Italian Lentoinizio Korean 슬로스타트 Slow Start Portuguese Começo Lento Spanish Inicio Lento Vietnamese Khởi Động Chậm

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.