Which Alakazam would you invest in?
I horde dust and Abras are not super rare where I am, probably see more than one every day. So ultimately these resources are not an issue and I would most want to have the best mon for the long term. As far as I have researched it the best moves and best IVs are going to be the greater investment and those are too low in CP right now to really test them in the field without powering them up. Which would be most useful against top defenders when maxed?
My options are:
a) 2105 CP, lvl26, Pyscho Cut/Shadow Ball, 11/15/14 (89%)
b) 1620 CP, lvl 20, Psycho Cut/Psychic, 13/15/11 (87%)
c) 1519 CP, lvl 19, Confusion/Shadow Ball, 8/15/14 (82%)
d) 1449 CP, lvl 18, Psycho Cut/Dazzling Gleam, 10/14/15 (87%)
e) 1374 CP, lvl 17, Psycho Cut/Future Sight, 10/15/15 (89%)
f) 729 CP, lvl 9, Confusion/Focus Blast, 13/14/15 (93%)
g) 301 CP, lvl 4, Confusion/Shadow Ball, 15/14/15 (98%)
h) 299 CP, lvl 4, Pyscho Cut/Future Sight, 15/12/15 (93%)
Answers
It's not about total IV. It's 5 extra stamina (+4 HP at 30) on an Alakazam who is very fragile. 4 HP doesn't seem like much but if you're only taking 1 damage in between dodges - since Alakazam's defence is pretty good - and getting a few Psycho Cuts in between each dodge, that's a decent amount of extra damage before fainting.
The difference isn't that big but then again neither is the difference in powerup cost. 30k dust and 38 candies isn't that much, at least for me since Abras are "only" uncommon in my area, so I would power up H, but I would understand if someone else would rather power up E.
I'd reaalllly want to do (g) or (e) but would probably settle for (a). Unless Alakazam is your favorite Pokemon and you want to battle with him every chance you get, you'll probably find, like I did, that he doesn't hold up well enough to take off the shelf all that often. Thus, the least investment for a reasonably good move set would be how I would do it.
PS: On second glance, how is (b) so many CP below (a), when it's a level ahead and so close in IV (and higher attack)?
I evolved 2 high level Abras to Alakazam and got PC/Focus Blast and C/Focus Blast.
I think PC is better since it charges energy better for the SE Focus Blast (which has a higher base damage than future sight) and as androgynous mentioned, you literally take 1 damage when you dodge a zen headbutt so even as a glass cannon, you can last a little while...
I normally now start Blissey attacks on very high CP Blisseys with Zam, then Eggs...Machamp is ok, but seems to die a lot from dodge bug issues and it's hard to fit 3 counters all the time...
I'd probably do e) and h).
The BIG big problem I get is the dodge bug...Without it, you can probably hurt Blissey a lot more than without...then you go in your endless loop after their charge move and have to swap out...
