Altaria for PvP
I have several Swablus that are good enough for PvP. As many of you know Altaria is one of the best Great League Pokémon and has its highest sum of stats is 397 (lv.29 0/14/15).
After evaluating my Swablus I have a big doubt betwen two of them:
1.Swablu 243: 3/14/14. Altaria at lv.29 will be 103/153/139 which is a total of 395. I need to invest 90.900stardust+486candies+(10.000+25 second attack)
2.Swablu 409: 6/15/5. Altaria at lv.28.5 will be 105/154/132 which is a total of 391. I need to invest 60.500stardust+454candies+(10.000+25 second attack)
How the 7hp difference affect vs +2att+1def? Stardust or candies are not a problem so tell me your opinion, please (with arguments, as you see I study the situation enough)
Answers
Meowmix has it right. Swablu is common - look for ones in the range of CP 540-630, and then check them on this site to see what they will evolve into. Especially given that it takes 400 candy, don't just wing it.
Also, highest sum of stats isn't necessarily the best indication of success in PvP. I don't think anyone knows what that is yet, it's not a trivial problem. I'm personally targeting flat total stats with a slight decrease in attack relative to defense and stamina (because the CP formula favors attack, so at fixed CP, drop a little of that for a little more tankiness).
The difference in PvP for your two candidates is minuscule - both will be fine. But you can do equally well or perhaps a little better if you are patient, and find something that will require a lot less dust, while continuing to gather the candy you need for Altaria.
Like you said the highest sum of stats is the best.
Of course there are always exceptions where the one with higher attack/defense is better cuz you reach a different breakpoint but you dont know them because its impossible to predict against which Pokémon you'll fight and even more impossible what it's stats will be.
So its save to say that your option 1) is better overall.
But we are speaking of minimal differences here. So less that it is worth thinking about evolving a Swablu in the range where it comes out near to 1500 without spending any dust OR evolving a shiny Swablu for style points. I mean some tiny lag does make much more of a difference than a few points.
+1. Since thumbs up button isn't working.
I added both A*D*S/10000 and D*S/100 to my spreadsheet to compare overall output and general tankiness. There is no "perfect" choice. It is always a balance between a little more Atk and a little more Def*Stm.
Also maybe worth noting though, if you have a lot of similar candidates or just looking for theoretical "best", HP=floor(Stamina) so there are some Stm IVs where +/- 1 will output the same amount of HP. The lower Stm value with the same HP output will be better because it can potentially offer a little extra CP room for +1 IV to either Atk or Def.
