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Posted by: Flamer Nov 4 2008, 12:18 PM

Do you think strong low accuracy moves, eg thunder, fire blast, or weaker high accuracy moves, eg flamethrower, surf are better?

Obivously, the high powered moves do more damage, but is it worth the risk of not hitting? Is it better to use a move that almost always hit but won't have as much of an impact? How much do the Pokemon's stats come into play when deciding whether to use high powered low accuracy moves or not? Or do you prefer to play it really safe and use 100% accuracy moves like swift?

Hopefully we'll be able to get a bit of a debate going, so go right ahead and post your views

Posted by: Frost Sy Apr 11 2009, 06:43 PM

I prefer to use the weaker, higher accuracy moves as they have more PP. Even if they are weaker than the other moves, they will last you longer if you have to use that move repeatedly without healing (like in the Elite 4), and will hit much more than the stronger ones.

However, I would use the stronger moves if a weather effect boosts their accuracy, such as Hail makes Blizzard 100% accurate and Rain Dance does the same to Thunder. Then the moves would have high damage and high accuracy, making them deadly.

I'm not sure if the Pokemon's stats are really important when deciding accuracy, unless the Pokemon's accuracy is reduced by Smokescreen or Sand Attack or something. If the Pokemon has high special attack, then use special moves to use that. If the Pokemon has high attack, then use physical moves. The higher the stat, the more damage the move can do.

Posted by: Black Ice Apr 11 2009, 07:12 PM

Depends. If the accuracy is high enough, like 85 (Fire Blast), then I'll take the stronger one. It won't really miss that often (about 1 in 5), and when it does hit, it hits hard.

Any lower than 80 though, I won't take the chances.

Posted by: Tsum Apr 11 2009, 07:39 PM

For the most part, I stick to the higher accuracy move.

On Pokémon that have weather changing moves, or on teams that use weather changing moves, I'll keep at least one of the stronger moves for situations that I can set up the weather change. Other than that, I generally don't rely on riskier moves unless I have a No Guard Machamp. (Even then, its Sp. Attack is quite low, so the only moves I rely on him are things like Dynamic Punch for its confusion inducing skill...)

Posted by: KendoSword Apr 21 2009, 05:08 PM

I prefer weaker high-accuracy moves. I always thought Flamethrower was awesome, and Fire blast, too. But I don't like when it misses. Flamethrower can still do a lot of damage, so I'd rather stick to them.

Posted by: Muirgen Apr 21 2009, 05:17 PM

I prefer both, because they both can be quite good in battle. Even though I usually use weaker high accurancy more than strong low. But I would occassionaly use the stronger moves. I had Thunder on my Aggron on Emerald, and it kinds barely missed. I kinda think it depends on your trust (or whatever you want to call it =P) in your Pokemon. =D

Posted by: DragonSpear Apr 22 2009, 08:43 PM

I'd prefer Flamethrower over Fire Blast. Especially in sweeping, if your pokemon has really good speed, Flamethrower hits twice and equals 290 damage, while Fire Blast can miss once in 4 turns and it is possible to miss once so in 2 hits it can only equal to 120.

Posted by: Seadragon Apr 22 2009, 08:47 PM

HORN DRILL. One hit KO. Always. But has ridiculous accuracy.

Posted by: Ogre Apr 25 2009, 09:49 AM

The weaker, more accurate moves win out with me. Honestly, I think I may have had more hits with Guillotine than Thunder, it's ridiculous.

Generally though, I prefer the middle-ground. Moves that deal out 100 damage at 80 accuracy, or moves that deal out 120-40 damage coupled with a stat penalty (but not recoil - hate those).

Posted by: Xdogking May 17 2009, 05:29 PM

I prefer High Accuracy. I dunno if I'vbe ever really used Hydro Pump or Fire blast. I prefer Surf and Flamethrower. For example...

In 5 turns, Surf does ~475 Base power

Hydro Pump does ~420 Base Power

Posted by: yuna359 Jul 12 2009, 10:03 PM

I usually go for higher accuracy. Moves with 80% accuracy seem to conk out on you at the worst time. I have Empoleon with hydro pump but it keeps missing. >_>

Posted by: FearTheSpork Jul 13 2009, 09:46 AM

I would normally combine both, but if I'm feeling cocky (Cynthia's last Pokemon, for example) I'll try to blow it away and have an explosive ending to the battle. XD I love it when the mov hits, but if it misses, I'm like 'Fail'.

But some moves are ridiculous, such as Fissure. 30% accuracy, seriously?

Posted by: Lacesso Aug 25 2009, 07:53 PM

I've always liked high accuracy.

One example being that a Zubats supersonic is it's only way to survive against msot other pokémon at it's level, considering it's movepool is so bad at the start of the game. I used it and missed 6 times in a row while facing a lower level Zubat. 55% Accuracy... The other guys Zubat confused me on his first shot, so I had to heal a couple times thanks to hitting myself, but not once did my supersonic hit. I gave up after I snapped out of confusion and the other Zubat confused me with one hit again. not to mention that whenever I do confuse someone, they rarely hurt themselves, yet I rarely attack when I'm confused

AHHHHHHH I HATE ZUBAT BUT I WANT A CROBAT.

Yea. Always liked high accuracy. Theres no frustration when you miss and there is plenty of PP.

Posted by: MoogleSam Aug 26 2009, 02:34 PM

I use both. Pikachu = Quick Attack, Slam, Thunderbolt and Thunder for me normally. Thunder and Slam miss quite often while Quick Attack and Thunderbolt usually hit. I usually go for power though, I like a full force attack. XD

Posted by: Red blaziken Aug 30 2009, 09:51 AM

I prefer the low attack but very easy to do damage attacks but sometimes, if my pokemon have good aim I use the stronger moves (an example: my jolteon in pokemon XD from 10 thunders only fail 1 but sometimes it doesn´t fail any of his attacks)(oh god, I love that jolteon XD)

Posted by: Ace Trainer Chaos Aug 30 2009, 12:02 PM

Depends on the opponent, and my Pokemon. If the opponent has higher Special Defense or Defense, I use lower Accuracy more powerful attacks to help break through it's Defense or Special Defense. When using a higher Attack or Special Attack Pokemon (Like Porygon-Z), I use lower power, higher Accuracy moves like Tri-Attack or Ice Beam. And if it's my Instant Fainter, Rhyperior, I use low Accuracy, high power Attacks even through he already has high Attack, due to his Weaknesses.
So it depends on the Pokemon, Stats, and opponent.

Posted by: Suikun Aug 30 2009, 03:15 PM

Depends on the user, mostly. Things that need to hit as hard and fast as they can (Infernape) could probably go with Fire Blast over Flamethrower, but more bulky Pokemon like Starmie would probably do better with Surf over Hydro Pump, mainly because Hydro Pump has low PP, which doesn't really complement Starmie's bulkyish nature. Same with Suicune, but Suicune can also be used as a sweeper instead of a bulkyish thing, in which case Hydro Pump could be used with better results.

Posted by: draconitas Aug 31 2009, 02:51 AM

I prefer higher accuracy. I'm fine with moves of not less than 85 Accuracy, but that's the lower limit.

Agreed. I dislike recoil. Generally the pokemon/moves I use have a type advantage against the opponent, so the extra power from higher power moves isn't that important. What's important to me is that I deal as much damage as I can in as little time, and the risk of moves missing, I find, makes low-acc moves less effective on the whole.

Most low-acc-high-power moves also have low PP, but that isn't such an important factor in-game in the later generations. I grew something like 200 Leppa berries (restores 10 PP), just for kicks. Technically they're useful if you start running out of PP in E4 battles and such, but my team, as I said, doesn't have many (if any) low-PP-high-power moves.

Posted by: Hawkstar Sep 1 2009, 09:02 PM

It depends. If the foe has a tiny bit of HP left, I'd use a weak move to finish them off. But if they were in full health, I'd risk it. You might be unlucky, but if you're not, watch out!

Posted by: xxFrozenFlower Sep 23 2009, 12:40 PM

THIS. I absolutely agree with this person.
Thunderbolt > Thunder, but if I know I'm going to Rain Dance, why wouldn't I have Thunder? Otherwise, though, Thunderbolt for sure, you know?

Whatever's logical is win.
And what's generally logical is when a move doesn't hit, it's a waste of turn, and I don't like wastin' my turns! ;(

Posted by: Alaya Sep 26 2009, 09:50 PM

I think that higher accuracy but lower powered moves are better.

However, I'll pick thunder over any other move lol

Hypocrite? I think so.

Posted by: swiftshadow Oct 10 2009, 10:22 PM

I guess it depends on the pokemon using it and what is in play in the battle.

Like if it was raining, definantley Thunder over Thunderbolt/Thundershock.

Of course, I would choose a move like Flamethrower over Fire Blast anyday.

So for me, the lower/medium attack power with high accuracy over high attack power with low accuracy.

Posted by: Merc Oct 13 2009, 09:03 AM

Depends for me;
If the Pokémon is bulky and can take a couple of hits, then using the stronger ones is an option.
If the Pokémon is fast, powerful, but fragile. Accuracy over power.

And then there's of course the case of there being rain or a snowstorm in effect. 100% chance to hit on thunder and blizzard = win c:

Posted by: Panlah Eats Cupcakes Oct 19 2009, 07:17 PM

I go with power. When I play my games I always try to have a steady supply of X Accuracy, X Speed, Dire Hit, ect. It works great when you use moves like Zap Cannon. :V

Posted by: RheaDark Oct 29 2009, 09:52 PM

It depends on the strategy needed, but overall I prefer low attack high accuracy moves.

Posted by: Jewelwriter Oct 31 2009, 07:40 PM

That's a tricky topic but for me... I'd go for lower power but more PP, after all...the meat of the work isn't in the powerhits but in the moves that are reliable.

Posted by: Zion Crayson Nov 1 2009, 01:34 PM

Under normal circumstances, I, too, would go for the weaker, more accurate moves. However, when it comes to strategies, sometimes the stronger, less accurate moves can come in handy, especially when it comes to zapping some unsuspecting fools that like to use Protect/Detect all the time. Raining Thunder might not have a high chance of hitting like that, but it's there, and it's still more effective than Feint, which is absolutely useless under any other circumstance. That aside, when it comes to specific combos, like Raining Thunder, Hailing Blizzard, and Insta-Solarbeam, the powerful moves win out. Anything else, the weaker moves are recommended for their accuracy.

Posted by: brandope Nov 1 2009, 01:37 PM

i think high power low accuracy moves take my go but i like moves like surf, strength, and thunder.

Posted by: Shiro Kurosaki Nov 4 2009, 09:06 PM

it honestly depends on the Pokemon really. Like the others stated above, if a pokemon's a hit sweeper, then they can risk a low accuracy move because they usually have poor defenses and would faint with a 2HKO or an OHKO if the oppenent is strong enough. But with bulkier Pokemon, they need high accuracy moves like Surf and Thunderbolt so a Struggle doesn't pop up. Unless you have a Pokemon with Last Resort, but that move never gets used in an battle really.

PP Usage isn't really an issue, because you could always use a PP Max or PP Up to maximize a low accuracy move.

Posted by: eevee64 Nov 18 2009, 11:56 PM

Id prefer to use the weaker high accuracy moves like flamethrower, thunderbolt and ice beam...not as weak as swift and quick attack though. I do have a liking for 1 hit KO moves though... but i think it really depends on the pokemon you're using.

Posted by: Keith Nov 20 2009, 03:05 PM

Moves like Hydro Pump and Thunder are BEASTLY in Rain Dance / Lock-On but on normal conditions they suck majorly. I usually use moves which are a tad weaker but have better accuracy (And also more PP seeing as moves like Thunder only have 5 - 10 pp and not much more when raised to max).

They just pay off faster than Thunder, Hydro Pump, and the like imo.

Posted by: Draco324 Nov 24 2009, 08:38 PM

I'd pick high accuracy any day. Power means nothing if you can't hit anything.

Aura Sphere is awesome. Ninety power, never misses...

Posted by: Verinia Mar 5 2011, 10:45 PM

High accuracy's better, since what good is the move if it can't hit? But there are also those moves that hit hard and are accurate, like Eruption with full HP.

Posted by: SnivyCap Apr 3 2011, 05:42 PM

I think it depends on the conditions. I would use weaker, but higher accuracy moves. Sure, the other ones have higher damage, but what's the point if they have low PP and don't hit most of the time? But, if there's something that will make the others move's accuracy higher, (Ex: Rain Dance and Thunder) then yeah, I'd go for it. But most of the time, weaker but better accuracy moves for me.

Posted by: Cycloneblaze Apr 28 2011, 04:07 AM

Most of the time I'd go for Ice Beam over Blizzard, but I'd usually use Blizzard as well. Although Galvantula with Compoundeyes pretty much negates this problem =D

Posted by: Galahawk Apr 28 2011, 10:37 AM

I prefer strong and accurate moves thank you very much.
*COUGHFusionflarehas100basepowerand100%accuracyCOUGH*

But as the above poster said, Ice Beam is a pretty boss attack. I prefer it to Blizzard because it's both accurate, and gets the job done.

Posted by: okpo Apr 28 2011, 02:46 PM

I prefer high accuracy moves

Posted by: Aurora6 Apr 30 2011, 01:45 AM

Stronger low accuracy

Posted by: PokeCutie999 May 2 2011, 11:03 AM

I think it depends on the player. Some people juat want to defeat the opponent ASAP so they use the unreliable moves. I perfer to stay away form those moves. Others like the good accuracy because it can sometimes save their Pokemon's lives. I use both. Ex: In Pokemon black, my Samorott has megahorn, revenge, razor shell, and surf. I only us Megahorn when i have to. It hasn't failed me yet. Combining the weak and strong moves is very important, but... there is always accuracy bosting Items/abillitys so you can use those those, too.

Hey, am I one of the few who gave this long of an answer?