More Poliwrath questions
Question 1:
Since Gen 2 came out, I have evolved two Poliwraths. Both are wonders and both got RS/HP. Poliwags are common enough that with Pinaps, I will eventually get that RS/DP (or at least Bub/DP) Poliwrath, but it may take a long time (and Machops are rare). With 97 Poliwag candy and 90K stardust, I have two options:
A) Power up one RS/HP Poliwrath from level 26/26.5 to 30 so that I have more options against Tyranitar, Snorlax and Blissey until I manage to acquire that RS/DP Poliwrath (or Count/CC Machamp).
B) Continue to attack Snorlax and Tyranitar with WG/HP Vaporeon, attack low-level Blissey with Conf/Solar Exeggutor and leave high-level Blissey alone, until I get that RS/DP Poliwrath (or Count/CC Machamp).
Question 2:
On paper, RS/DP Poliwrath looks like a Lapras killer, even more so than Machamp and comparable to (no longer available) RT/RS Omastar, because both Ice and Water moves are NVE against Water-types. Is this true in practice? If so, how about RS/HP Poliwrath (just spamming RS, no HP)?
Question 3:
Poliwrath used to be a highly-rated defender, comparable to Venusaur and Slowbro, but is no longer in the current defenders tier list, because he overtaken by some Gen 2 Pokemon or just no longer a good defender?
Answers
The only reason why Poliwrath was good as a defender was because Bubble was a 25 power move.
Take that away from him, and he is useless as a defender.
I don't think RS/DP will be that great against blissey (just evolved one but haven't tried him out yet). I do agree it will be great for lapras if you do find one in the gym. You definitely want the machamp for the blissey/snorlax matchup.
I'd wait and evolve another one hoping for DP. It is a great move against Tyranitur, Snorlax, and Blissey. I maxed mine out last month and love using him to prestige and attack Blissey. There are better Hydro Pump mons out there, but not many good fighting mons.
You also need to consider that in a few months there will be a lot more Tyraniturs topping gyms and Poliwrath is the only mon that resists all his moves and hits with STAB, double, super effective attacks.
