Could someone please help me with a conundrum I have regarding which Lapras I should use as a defender? I have two good CP ones.
Which would make a better defender: 1) a 68.9% perfect IV (Atk/Def/Sta 15/10/6), level 31 (CP 2202) Lapras (196 hp) with an Ice Shard / Ice Beam moveset, or 2) an 88.9% perfect IV (Atk/Def/Sta 15/11/14), level 30.5 (CP 2222) Lapras (201 hp) with a Frost Breath / Ice Beam moveset? Sure, while option #1 has 20% less perfect IVs (which really translates to 5 less hit points, as Stamina is really the only significantly different IV), but it also has the better defensive moveset. I guess, my question is this: by the numbers, is ice shard enough of a superior quick move than Frost breath on defense that I should use an interior IV Lapras? (P.S. option #1 was the very first Lapras I ever received, which I caught in the wild in August 2016...at that time, I did not think I would ever find another Lapras - and I did not for a while...hence the reason why I powered up a "certainly caught my attention" IV Pokémon, rather than a "wonder" IV Pokémon).
The Lapras with Ice Shard will do more damage before fainting. Moveset has almost always been more important than IVs in combat ability.
A difference of 5 HP, which is 10 HP on defenders does not make up for the higher damage and energy that Ice Shard gives over Frost Breath.
That being said, I think gym defence is irrelevant right now so it doesn't really matter, and should you power the Frost Breath one instead, it'll still make a good defender.
I know Frost breath and ice beam is definitely the more optimal attack moveset. I wonder why you think there are Dragonite raids in the works, though? Dratini are among the most common 10K egg hatches, whereas larvitar is not. Also, dratini has a natural water biome where they spawn almost everywhere in the world (just go to your local river, lake, ocean, or other significant body of water), whereas larvitar one needs to find the much less ubiquitous rock biome. They put Pokémon in raids that are rare to find (Muk, Lapras, Snorlax, Tyranitar), so why would they include Dragonite, which is not nearly as hard to come by if you evolve dratini?
Considering half the folks in raids are using Blisseys and other waaaaay suboptimal counters I think he will be OK. No reason to spend like crazy to give folks that have no idea what they are doing a good mon.
Throwing in a great moveset Lapras that also has to have great IVs among folks with junk not dodging and waiting for you to kill it isn't worth your dust expendature
I agree. Even though Lapras has a subpar attack score compared to Dragonite, Alakazam, Espeon, and Exeggutor, the fact that FB/IB Lapras with a 15 attack IV is doing STAB plus double-super-effective damage (1.2x1.4x1.4) means it is doing 2.3x damage to Dragonite. Also, its bulk will make it last longer in raids. I still think Lapras would be the best choice in a potential Dragonite raid.
Whoa, I did not know there was an image of a Dragonite raid. Do you have the link? I have a bunch of Dragonite already (including my fav - and strongest - Pokémon, a 98% perfect one with dragon breath and outrage...I charge TMed dragon pulse to outrage), but the prospect of a Dragonite raid is still exciting to me. :-)
