Your most common attacker into gyms
Their is a general consensus that the gym scene has changed a lot compared to the old days. In order to choose valuable defenders, I was wondering with which attackers people battle gyms nowadays (exclude raids).
Personally, I often use Dragonite (DT+O) to battle gyms. The reason is that I rank time as the most valuable factor and I prefer to push through the 6 defenders without the need to change Pokemon.
Next to the superior Blissey and Snorlax, I find it quite annoying to battle a wigglytuff with DG which manages to put some serieus damage into my Dragonite before fainting.
Likewise, scizor feels to take ages due to his type advantage against Dragonite.
Do you still change Pokemon throughout a battle to gain type advantage or are you using similar strategies as written above?
Answers
Just like you Dragonite is my favorite attacker and Tyranitar is a close second. Vaporeon with WG/HP is also very good
DT/O may be slightly faster against high cp pokemon but its an overkill on lower cp. for example DB/DC can 1 hit kill most pokemon around 500cp in like 1 to 3 seconds with dragon claw. So I think DB/DC is a better sweeper at the end
If you value time most, I think you should choose attackers with type advantage as type advantage is now 1,4 or 1,96 for double advantage.
I usually use my Machamps, Tyranitars, Vaporeons and swap when countering appropriate defenders.
I have Dragonites with DB/DC, DT/O and even DT/DC but I don't use them much these days
Gyms are so weak these days that I only ever use Tyranitar - B/C or Dragonite - DT/O for the first two sweeps against whatever is in the gym. If I have enough potions, for the final sweep I use Pokemon that I want to build up "Battles Won". Usually they are Pokemon I NOW use to defend gyms - Umbreon, Clefable, Ampharos, Miltank etc...
Most used are probably Tyranitar B/C and Vaporean WG/HP both >90%. They are my core.
I also relish a chance to use my 100% Arcanine FF/FB and my 93% Venosaur VW/SB (both maxed) when they get the right matches.
I have a couple of FB/IB Lapras that I keep for antidragonite but with dragonite in gyms so much less these days I don't use them as much.
Vaporeon with WG/AT
It is very easy to dodge with Aqua Tail, and you probably won't get hit by Snorlax's Body Slam.
Vaporeon with WG/HP
Great DPS with enough tankiness, can be used against Rhydons (sometimes even kills them before get their charge moves able to be launched) and Blisseys.
Poliwrath with Bubble/DP
A very good attacker against Blisseys, it is easier to dodge with Bubble and only a little bit behind Rock Smash. Paired with the WG/HP Vaporeon, beating Blisseys is a lot easier than before in my experience! Note: I don't have Tyranitars, and my only Dragonite was at a very low level with a bad moveset, thus being transferred to clear my storage.
Gengar with SC/ShB
This is normally a glass cannon, mostly used in Machamp raids, sometimes as a backup against psychics and/or ghosts.
Clefable with ZH/DG
All those Dragonites!
Golem with RT/RB
All those Gyaradoses, also being used in Moltres raids!
(Corsola with Bubble/RB)
Was level 30 when caught in the wild a couple of weeks ago, now level 31, planned to max it out (level 31.5) and it will be my first maxed out Pokémon after reaching trainer level 30. In the future, I will probably make it one of my Moltres + Charizard counters.
PS: why would you ever attack a Wigglytuff with a Dragonite that doesn't have Steel Wing as its quick move? PSS: Bullet Punch Machamps can shine here.
It seems that many people usually attack with either Dragonite or Tyranitar, because they are both great generalist.
Therefore, I would advice players to consider Wigglytuff (Play Rough / Dazzling Geam) or Granbull (Play Rough) as gym defenders when the Blissey/Snorlax/Chansey spots are already given away. Fairy type will resist and hit so incredibly hard. Many players are unaware of this and will be caught off guard.
B/SE Ttar puts in great work and can take a lot of abuse before needing a potion. Unless you hit a DG Blissey or a Machamp, you're usually fine, and most people aren't leaving their Machamp as defenders because they want them available to attack.
I also often pull out my all-Bug Scizor, even against neutral matchups, because I love using him that much.