Arcanine: Why bite better than fire fang?
I've been reading here for a while and my question is why almost everyone consider bite better that fire fang? Fire fang has slightly higher dps (when considering the full cycle of spamming quick attack and finally charge attack). In addition, the primary use with arcanine is against Lapras when FF gets SE. However against other primary use, exeggcutor, both attacks gets SE.
So in conclusion. It is easier to dodge with bite but does it cover the fact that FF is superior against Lapras and slighlty better against anything else (ex. psychic and ghost)
Answers
Both Bite and Fire Fang charge the same amount of energy per use, but Bite has shorter time so it is both easier to dodge with it and generages more EPS.
Regarding Lapras, it is ice/water so Fire Fang (x1.25 x.8) and Bite (x1 x1) are both neutral damage.
All of my high level Arcanine evolution have gotten Fire Fang (ignoring ones with Bite/Bulldoze which I have transferred), but I don't worry about dodging as much with them.
I have two smaller Arcanines in training ranges with Bite/Fire Blast and there the small extra ease in dodging is very beneficial.
I think it is because it charges faster the energy bar, for me FF is better by far, I always want 2 same type attacks, or at least 2 moves that are SE against the same type of moon, Bite is not SE against grass or bug for example FF is, so for me FF will always be better. On top of that FF gets STAB, while Bite does not.
And also keep in mind that Arcanine is not SE against Lapras, it deals normal damage because she is Ice/Water type ;)
I used to think the same way about having the same type 2 attack moves. But after a while i learned there are certain matchups where you have to play it different. Lapras is neutral to fire and dark, but Arcanine resists ice attacks. And he's beefy enough to hang in there longer. Bite charges up FB and FT faster, which is what you want to use more often to beat Lapras quicker.