Power Whip question...
Why is power whip rated not higher. I consider myself pretty knowledgeable about this game just from reading this site. I just can't figure out why it's not rated as part of an A moveset verse some other charge moves that it appears to beat.
Answers
It depends how you define 'beat'. Sure it does more DPS than some other grass moves with lower DPS in the mons that can use it (like Weepinbell). But it only does a total of 70 damage yet takes 100 energy per use. By comparison, if we take Sludge Bomb as an example, which is rated A for attack and defence on Weepinbell, it does less damage per use (55 vs 70) and less DPS than Power Whip (25.38 vs 30 true DPS). But in doing its 55 damage Sludge Bomb only uses 50 energy. So fully charging both bars on both attacks takes the same amount of energy (100) but you can let off 2 sludge bombs in a row to do 110 damage while you can only use 1 of Power Whip. So although those 2 charge moves take slightly longer overall than the single shot Power Whip, the DPS is still much higher during that time than you would get with your fast move. With Power whip, once your 70 damage is dealt you will have to go straight back to your much lower DPS fast move again to recharge. That means that if you play perfectly, you can do overall more damage in the same time with what looks like the lower DPS charge move.
I say IF because some people prefer playing with the longer duration moves (I love Solar Beam for example). During those moves, it's difficult or impossible to dodge at least one opposing attack, so these are best used against an enemy that also has a slow charge move and to then use yours right after you dodge the defenders charge move. Again, a shorter duration charge move like Sludge Bomb then gives better chances to dodge if your opponent also has similar fast charge moves. Each to their own! :-)
