Espeon C FS vs alakasam PC FS
Which is better candidate for power up to L30 given similar iv and level? Thanks.
Though I'm just a mediocre dodger, I think I should try out either one of these glass cannon.
Answers
C hits much harder, but makes dodging harder...if you only dodge charge moves then this is the one for you.
Pc hits fast and can charge up your charge move very fast...and is great for dodging. If you want to dodge a lot, or practice dodging then this is the one you want.
As a glass canon, you want to dodge a lot - so I would lean towards Pc...but C is better dps.
For Espeon, if you really like dodging fast moves, I would consider Zen Headbutt/FS optimal rather than the Confusion version. Here's the logic: Confusion has a 1.6 second cooldown and does 20 damage (plus STAB). ZH has a 1.1 second cooldown and does 12 damage. So although the DPS is higher for Confusion if you spam it (no dodging), there is only time to use it once (20 damage total) between defender quick moves if you are dodging, since using it twice would take 3.2 seconds, meaning you will miss the dodge window (depending on the move, most defender quick moves come<3 seconds apart). With ZH, you can use it twice (2.2 seconds total and 24 damage) and still dodge safely. After a while you may get out of synch with the defender moves and need to use it just once on a cycle to get back to safe dodging with 2x, but your overall DPS when dodging will actually be higher than with Confusion anyway. Not to mention the fact that the 1.1 versus 1.6 second cooldown makes it less likely you will miss dodging a special (and this is critical with glass cannons).
For this reason, I consider Confusion to only be useful on attackers tanky enough to dodge only specials (and that is not Espeon). Confusion/Solar Beam Exeggutor, for example, is a superior Blissey destroyer in every respect to Espeon in a dodge specials mode.
You can't really fit 2 ZH before you get hit by a defender's quick move. ZH's CD is still too long so in this manner, Confusion reigns supreme. Fire one, dodge and repeat.
Edit:
To answer the question, I'd choose Espeon. If all arguments point out that Alakazam is better, I can place Espeon in gyms and secure a pretty good spot. Something Alakazam can't really do.
I have both of those guys withe the same moves powered to lvl 30 plus (also a PC/P Alakazam) and to be honest there aren't many opportunities to use them. I'm not perfect at dodging either but decent and the only time I use them is if I fight gyms with 4+ Blissey and additional Snorlax. There are better options before (Dragonite, Tyranitar, Machamp, Exeggutor), so I would only power up if you face such gyms regularly and don't have the primary options. If you choose to go this way I would lean towards Alakazam, since you need to dodge and that's much easier with PC than with C. Also more damage output.
