Why is DT/HP Gyarados so good?
According to the moveset grades, this moveset is the highest grade "A". Yet, it's a one-bar move and Outrage and Crunch are 2 and 3 bars respectively. For most defenders, usually the more bars the better. Gamepress doesn't give a "defense moves explanation" for Gyarados.
Why is Hydro Pump better than Crunch and Outrage? Is it really that good?
Answers
I think the only explanation is this:
DT/OR are the same type of move. If one resists DT it will also resist OR. However, the only practical use is Fairy type (steel attacking into gyarados is useuless), and you won't use a fairy anyway. Otherwise, OR is still way too easy to dodge.
DT/Crunch is still easy to dodge.
HP is a nuke, it will insta-kill a full health level 30 jolteon I reckon, and even when dodged it takes away a considerable chunk. Given that is is very hard to dodge, I'd give HP the win.
I have a level 30 magneton with moveset spark/flash cannon.
Even while dodging the charged dragon moves (dragon pulse, outrage), more than 25% of the health is gone, and that's already ineffective against magneton. I could only imagine how much punishment magneton would take for a Hydro Pump, considering it's stronger, has stab, and magneton doesn't resist it...
It's basically because of the dodge window. As far as moves go in this game, HP is one of the trickier ones to dodge. The defensive DPS of DT/Hydro is actually less than Outrage and Crunch assuming perfect dodging of charge moves, but when there is lag or inexperience, HP is devastating to the opponent.
If you get Dragon Tail, you can't really go wrong though. All of the DT sets are quality defenders.
All defensive moves have a "Percentage to dodge" chance.
Their Real Power is
.25 * Move Power * % to Dodge + Move Power * (1 - % to Dodge)
Typically 2 and 3 bar moves have a lower % to dodge and land more often as they are trickier to time, and more likely to fire when you are using your own move.
However, some 1 bar moves are trickier to dodge and land more often than some 2/3s. Hydropump, Stone Edge, and Psychic are examples
Basically a Blissey with Hyperbeam landing 10%ish is about the same Damage as a Blissey with Psychic landing 50%ish. Even though HB clearly is the higher power move.
in real life there is little difference between the three movesets hence the weeping "i got z/p what should I do" is misplaced, blisseys moveset doesn't matter it's her massive health that is the key to her walling ability.
on the original post though the "power" of an attacking moveset is less important then the use you are planning on putting it to anyway, I have a B/DP gary that is my preference to use over cloyster if there is more then 1-2 dragonites in a stack (cloyster is more efficient for small numbers but gary can pile through more of them) I imagine that Dt/OR would be even better at this and is the moveset I'll be after (will have three chances at it)
on a side note so wish Gary had the option of a stab (water) fast move.
