Slowbro's shell and lifestyle are somewhat similar to {{wp|hermit crab}}s, though it is physically similar to {{wp|giant salamanders}} and also {{wp|hippopotami}} with {{wp|leucism}}, which causes their skin to turn pink. Slowbro's appearance may also be a reference to the mythical {{wp|sazae-oni}}, a magical sea demon of Japanese folklore distinguished by its spiny "sazae" or "turban shaped" snail shell.
Slowbro's shell and lifestyle are somewhat similar to {{wp|hermit crab}}s, though it is physically similar to {{wp|giant otter}}s and {{wp|giant salamanders}}. Slowbro's appearance may also be a reference to the mythical {{wp|sazae-oni}}, a magical sea demon of Japanese folklore distinguished by its spiny "sazae" or "turban shaped" snail shell.
Slowbro are physically slightly different Slowpoke, with a Shellder latched to its tail on a symbiotic, almost parasitic relationship with the Slowbro. The extra weight on its tail turned the Slowpoke bipedal. As a result of carrying this burden, its special abilities were developed greatly. Through the symbiotic relationship, the latched Shellder grows in a spiral shell instead of a bivalve. If for any reason it loses its Shellder, it will result in the Slowbro returning to its former Slowpoke self.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Since it cannot fish anymore, it now has to catch prey. It is therefore, slightly faster than an ordinary Slowpoke, and is significantly more powerful. The most notable changes in Slowbro's movepool is the addition of physical fighting moves, such as Brick Break, Ice Punch, and Seismic Toss.
Behavior
Used to dozing off at shorelines and lakesides waiting for fish to bite the tip of its tail, the extra burden of a Shellder turned this Pokémon fisher into a hunter, against its own will.
Slowbro, the Hermit Crab Pokémon. Slowbro are able to use powerful Psychicattacks but generally prefers to avoid conflict.
In the manga
Lorelei uses a Slowbro as part of her team in Pokémon Adventures. With the Shellder clamped onto its tail, Lorelei explains that her Slowbro has sharpened senses and is capable of looking in all directions, thanks to the extra pair of eyes, allowing it to discover Blue's ploy using Horsea.
Slowbro's tail has a Shellder firmly attached with a bite. As a result, the tail can't be used for fishing anymore. This causes Slowbro to grudgingly swim and catch prey instead.
Its tail has a Shellder firmly attached with a bite. As a result, the tail can't be used for fishing anymore. This forces it to reluctantly swim and catch prey.
Despite it being a commonly known and accepted fact that Shellder triggers the evolution, mentioned in most of its Pokédex entries, Slowbro's evolution from Slowpoke has nothing to do with Shellder in the games, unlike how the evolution of Mantyke requires a Remoraid.
Slowbro's Pokédex entries state that if the Shellder is removed, it will revert to its Slowpoke form. It is never mentioned what happens to the Shellder afterwards.
This is the only mentioning of a Pokémon possibly devolving anywhere in the Pokémon games, aside from a card in the gameversions of the TCG.
Many Pokémon are noted to evolve by two or more Pokémon combining, such as Metang being formed by two Beldum. However, the anime does not show this and simply spawns the second Pokémon out of nowhere: an example is Morrison's Beldum, which simply evolved into Metang without the need of joining to another Beldum. The evolution of Slowpoke into Slowbro or Slowking is the only time that evolution by two Pokémon physically merging is shown.
In Pokémon Snap, however, three Magnemite do merge to become a Magneton.
Slowbro's Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald Pokédex entry conflicts with its FireRed one; the former says Slowbro only starts hunting because the Shellder on its tail means it can't fish, but the latter states it evolved whilst hunting.
In Slowbro's EmeraldShiny sprite, its tongue is blue; this was most likely a coloring error. ShinyTotodile and Scyther's Emerald front sprites had similar coloring errors.
The Shellder on Shiny Slowbro is a different color. It is unknown if it was Shiny before biting Slowpoke's tail.
Origin
Slowbro's shell and lifestyle are somewhat similar to hermit crabs, though it is physically similar to giant otters and giant salamanders. Slowbro's appearance may also be a reference to the mythical sazae-oni, a magical sea demon of Japanese folklore distinguished by its spiny "sazae" or "turban shaped" snail shell.
Name origin
Slowbro's name is a combination of slow and bro, short for brother. It may just be used in a general sense, in the same way someone would say "hey, brother!" It could also refer to the brotherly relationship shared by the combined form of Slowpoke and Shellder, or to the fact that it is somewhat based on a hermit crab, as seen on its Pokédex species. Yadoran may be taken to mean 宿らん, to not lodge/dwell. It is also possible that the yado comes from 宿借り yadokari, hermit crab, or 宿主 yadonushi, (parasitic) host. Also, 鈍感 donkan means thickheaded or solid, and 鈍 don means slow, dull, or stupid.
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.
King's Rock (8%)
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For other sprites and images, please see Slowbro images on Bulbagarden Archives.
