Zen-headbutt vs Confusion on defense
I wonder, what is in your mind the better defense move for Exeggutor? Sure, damage wise Confusion is slightly better, but I feel like, the damage comes way quicker after the animation started for Zen, making it really hard to dodge. Also, with 1.05+2 sec defensive cooldown compared to 1.51+2 sec for Confusion, it is almost impossible to fit a say Flamethrower from Arcanine/Charizard right in between two quicks, without getting a hit. I think, there should be no B moveset for defensive Eggys, except for the ones with Solar Beam.
Answers
When attacking an enemy gym, I don't really notice a difference. I use a high CP Arcanine with Fire Fang/Fire Blast and I miss several dodges and expect to get hit by one or two quick moves when I use Fire Blast. I have enough HP left at the end that it doesn't really matter either way.
When training at a team gym, Confusion is a lot better for me. I use a half-CP Parasect with X-Scissor and need to hit as many dodges as possible. X-Scissor fits perfectly in between dodges for Confusion or any of Exeggutor's charge moves, but does not fit as cleanly in between dodges for Zen Headbut. Missing dodges against Zen Headbutt can be the difference between using just one Parasect and having to use two ... or even three pokemon if I don't plan ahead and have two with type advantages.
If you are trying to strategically place Exeggutor with Zen Headbutt in gyms to make dodging harder, that will disproportionately affect teammates that are trying to train up the gym than opponents that are trying to tear down the gym.
I have two Bite/Fire Blast Arcanines in training ranges, but not one that I have powered up to attack ranges. Fire Fang works well enough for attacking. I am good enough at dodging that, if I am patient, I could get probably get through two Exeggutors (no matter what their moves) in an opposing gym with my big Fire Fang/Fire Blast Exeggutor if I had to.
As I said, the only problem I have is training against Exeggutor with Zen Headbutt because the shorter time in between attacks makes it too hard to use charge moves efficiently.
I'm no mathematician, but my sense is that the difference in quick move is less of a factor than having Psychic as a charge move in combination with Zen or Con. for STAB. It's a powerful combination that I only recently experienced when attaching a gym with my best Arcanine. I ignored the first charge move of an exeggutor and I was shocked at how fast psychic took him down. Is this unusual or has anyone else had a similar experience?
