Slaking is a large, bulky, ape-like bipedal Pokémon. Most of its fur is brown, along with the semi-circle patterning encircling its eyes. Its face, chest, hands, and feet are lighter in color. Its brows are thick and jutting. It has a white collar of fur around its neck, extending toward the top of its head in a small tuft. It also has a large, pink, pig-like nose.
Most of the day its lolls around and sleeps. It is considered the laziest Pokémon, but even when it is lounging its saving energy to be able to strike back. It can exert a lot of power by releasing built up energy all at once. It only moves around when there is no more food within reach for it to eat. It eats grass and ripened fruit that falls down from trees. It is capable of regaining lost energy through use of its former signature move, Slack Off. It lives in forests.
Norman's signature Pokémon is a Slaking, just as in the games. Although it would seem that its ability would be of major hindrance, he shows that by having a Spinda tag alongside it and use Skill Swap in times of need, its impressive strength and speed would be wielded to their maximum. Additionally, the move Bulk Up allows it to bolster its stats even more.
Emerald used a Slaking during his Battle Factory challenge. Thanks to Slack Off, it was able to outlast a Hitmonlee despite its type and speed disadvantages. After the battle, it was swapped with a Linoone.
Palace Maven Spenser also used a Slaking against the young boy, but their battle was not seen.
Slaking spends all day lying down and lolling about. It eats grass growing within its reach. If it eats all the grass it can reach, this Pokémon reluctantly moves to another spot.
Wherever Slaking lives, rings of over a yard in diameter appear in grassy fields. They are made by the Pokémon as it eats all the grass within reach while lying prone on the ground.
At 670, Slaking has the highest base stat total of any non-legendary Pokémon, tying with the legendary Pokémon Groudon, Kyogre, and Regigigas. This makes it the only non-legendary Pokémon to have a base stat total of over 600 not counting Mega Evolutions.
In double and triple battles, one can nullify Slaking's Truant ability by using either Skill Swap or Gastro Acid. Several Trainers in Pokémon Emerald use this power, including Norman during the player's rematches with him. Cipher Head Evice -- the final boss and main antagonist of Pokémon Colosseum -- is the very first Trainer in any game to use this tactic. Without Truant, Slaking can make full use of its impressive stats. This can also be done in single battles by using a contact move on a Pokémon with Mummy such as Cofagrigus.
A pre-alpha sketch depicts a Pokémon that bears a striking resemblance to Slaking.
Origin
It appears to draw inspiration from sloths and some form of ape. The inspiration from sloths makes it somewhat resemble a Megatherium, also known as the Giant Ground Sloth; however, it more closely resembles a gorilla.
Name origin
Slaking is a combination of slake (to slacken) or a corruption of slack (to become lazy) and king. It may also be a play on slacking.
Kekking may be a combination of 欠勤 kekkin (not showing up for work) and king.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.