Should I power up Poliwrath w/ Mud Shot?
I've evolved four 40+ IV poliwags and all freaking four of them got Mud Shot as the quick attack. The most recent being a perfect IV (45 for 100%) beaut that came out Mud Shot-Hydro Pump. Should I power it up from level 14? I'm really in need of a defensive specialist, and I'm wondering how far having Mud Shot would drop it on the Defenders Tier list.
Answers
I wouldn't.
Poliwrath is only a great defender because of Bubble. Without Bubble Poliwrath is just a really weak Vaporeon.
I have evolved 5 level 30 Poliwraths so far, and only 1 got Bubble.
Mudshot is okay for attacking, but really Vaporeon does the exact same thing, just better.
I do have a 84% IV Poliwrath with Bubble and Ice Punch. I have prestiged against it many times. It is really powerful. The charge moves come out of nowhere because of the way Bubble's animations work. It is nearly impossible to dodge the Poliwrath's charged attack.
Sadly, Poliwrath doesn't really become a decent defender until you are level 33 or so. At level 34 a really good Poliwrath can break the 2,300 CP threshold and only then does it become something not relegated to the bottom of the tower.
Still, it is a great defender if it has Bubble.