Choosing buddy for distance events
Is there a community consensus on how to best take advantage of events that reduce the distance per buddy candy?
In my case, average daily distance is 5 to 10 km (aiming for more during this event), with options including:
1. Larvitar (95 more candy to go)
2. Blissey (8; time to start putting her in gyms)
3. Abra (26 to hope for a better moveset)
4. Phanpy (5 for new Pokedex entry; 75 if I want a new defender)
Of course, I will not walk Rhyhorn, as there are many to catch. My 2600 CP Snorlax is only above average, so probably not worth walking, and Dratini are easy to farm in my biome.
Answers
I would walk the blissey first until you have the candy you need, and then tyranitar.
I wouldn't waste time with abra or phanpy as they are only semi-rare and you can hatch them. And you said dratini isn't an issue.
I don't know if larvitars ever spawned where you live pre-event, but if they didn't (as is the case with many on this board), you might as well bank as many of his candy while you can.
If you aren't trying to fill a dex entry, I think it makes most sense to walk something that doesn't have evolved forms or at least ones not in your area. For example, I can occasionally find a Dragonite. With a pinap berry, that is 20 candies. With a Lapras I can only get 6, so I would walk a Lapras as candies are harder to come by.
In your case, I think Blissey makes the most sense. Alakazam isnt great for anything unless you are an expert dodger. Donphan is a cool defender, but only with the right moveset. I would walk to power one up, but I wouldn't walk a Phanpy to gamble on a moveset
It will take you exactly the same distance to get the candy for all of them. No matter what you walk first.
I wouldn't walk Abra, since you may get a nest. Phanpy doesn't nest, but it's hatchable. It depends whether you are in a hurry to complete the pokedex entry.
I would definitely walk Blissey for the candy first if you need the defender. But, as I said it will take you the same distance overall to get your chansey candy and evolve tyranitar. What varies is which goal you get first. So, as a consensus, walk what you fancy the most. If you are looking for completing 1-2 goals during the event walk Blissey and then Phanpy.
If your Blissey can get in gyms with 8 candies, do that first...
Then, the Larvitar for sure...Even though you don't have a good one, stocking up the candy is wise so "when" you get a good one, you can max it enough to put in gyms...I've hatched 5 Dratini's since playing and just got a Dragonite so it's a great feeling if you get a good hatch and can instantly max it or max it enough...
I have stocked up on near 200 Larvitar candies now too. Just waiting on a hatch.
Have enough Snorlax candies to get a good spot as well and back to walking Dratini now in case I get another.
I don't walk Chancey since I have 2 maxed and want to "diversify" in case of meta changes/nerfs who knows...I also am doubtful that I can get another Chancey with 15 ATT so rather just wait for that to happen before walking.