Poliwrath - Ice Punch
Hello everone,
I've hatched a 91% IV poliwag and evolved it into Poliwrath with moveset: Bubble+Ice Punch.
This site lists Ice Punch as the best defensive charged move for Poliwrath. I agree with that, because three bar moves are less predictable and attacker will be most likely grass/Dragonite/flying/psychic type and if so it will be Exeggutor (which is grass anyways) or Confusion Slowbro which is terrible attacker. Hydro Pump is STAB but most likely will be not very effective and dodged (thus doing 0,81,250,25 dmg), while Ice Punch is non-STAB and super effective (1,25*0,25 dmg) and attacker is more likely to screw dodges (Dodge window theory has been completely declined, so I dont take it into count). However, searched trough Reddit forums, and many (if not mayority) still favor Hydro Pump for defending, reasoning that Hydro Pump Poliwrath uses more Bubbles trough the fight.
So I am confused, can someone please tell which Charged move is better for defending Poliwrath?
Also second question, how can I decide in general (on any pokemon), which charged move is the best for defending?
Thanks in advance guys!
Answers
Did some simple math: Lets assume 100% IV Exeggutor as attacker and 100% IV Poliwrath as defender, both same level so CPM wont matter. Delay for both quick and charge attacks is uniformly distributed between (1500-2500ms), dont know exactly for Bubble, Hydro Pump and Ice Punch so I assume 2000ms for all three.
All of attacks are going to be dodged.
Hydro Pump does (Round(90/2 * 195/179 * 1,25 * 0,8 * 0,25)+1) dmg what equals to 13 dmg in 5,8 seconds.
Ice Punch does (Round(45/2 * 195/179 * 1,25 * 0,25)+1) dmg ehat equals to 8 dmg in 5,5 seconds.
Lets assume that defender uses charge move on its first opportunity (not really, but I count with the worst possible case).
Three Ice Punches take 16,5 seconds, Hydro Pump 5,8 so there is room left for 2 Bubbles.
Bubble does (Round(25/2 * 195/179 * 0,8 * 1,25 * 0,25)+1) dmg what equals to 4 dmg in 4,3 seconds.
So totally HP combination does 21 dmg in 14,4 seconds (dps = 1,45833333).
IP combination does 24 dmg in 16,5 seconds (dps = 1,45454545).
So conclusion would be: in case of grass or flying attacker, its 50 on 50, doesnt really matter if HP is used, or IP. Hydro Pump combination does really really slightly more damage, but Ice Punch combination is harder to dodge.
In case of Dragonite, Ice Punch is favored.
In case if Slowbro, Hydro Pump is favored.
Please, correct me if I am wrong. I would like to use this logic every time it comes to decide which charged move is better on any pokemon.
I'm in very interested in the answer to this question. I am basically in a similar situation as you and was going through the exact same question whether to power it up or not. Mine Poliwrath has 1487 cp, so I must invest a significant amount of dust to make it powerful. Not sure whether it is worth it.
I am also hesitating more and more lately to invest my stardust. I'd like to make a strong start once the second generation pokemon is released.
I have a 100% IV Poliwrath with bubble/sub and its a devastating defender. IMO ice punch is better than hydropump but not as good as submission however any Poli with bubble and ice punch/submission is an excellent defender moveset. My main problem with this mon is that im level 30 and my Poli maxes out at 2201 max CP. I like to put in a contested gym on main streets where it has a ranking in the middle.
