Insomniacs assemble!!

:lol:

Trollin' aside, Blizzard really is statistically better than Hydro Pump. Just 'cause Hydro Pump is used more doesn't make it the "better" move. As all competitive battlers know, Offensive Hail is ass 'n always has been, and is therefore Blizzard is rarely used 'n abused due to lack of Hail. There's also the fact that Ice is great offensively (even slightly better than Water, perhaps), but a **** type to have defensively. As a result, there're a lot more viable Pokes that can abuse Hydro Pump than viable Pokes which can abuse Blizzard since while Water might not be better offensively, it's better defensively and in terms of team synergy by a long shot.

Aside from all that, a 10% drop in accuracy (... or was it 15%?) is statistically made up for by the 30% freeze chance. Blizzard is slightly better than Hydro Pump in singles. On the topic of Doubles, damage output and strategic value for two hits Blizzard doles out is much higher than a single Rain-boosted Hydro Pump. Factor in the two chances to freeze, and in Doubles Blizzard is statistically far superior to Hydro Pump.
 
I still disagree about certain points. For one, Hydro Pump in the rain reaches 180 power (even without STAB), while Blizzard in hail only reaches 120. In the hail it's true that Blizzard has the accuracy benefit. But the fact is that Blizzard is too unreliable to be used outside of hail. The 30% Freeze chance is nice, but Hydro Pump in singles is often the more powerful and reliable choice.

I suppose Blizzard is mostly better in doubles, but you can't say I'm wrong about Hydro Pump having more concentrated power. Spread damage is good, but against an individual target Hydro Pump is much stronger.

Let me review:

Hydro Pump:
+Usable accuracy outside of a weather condition
+More power in doubles/triples and in the rain
-No secondary effect
-Incapable of spread damage in Double/triple battles
-Somewhat inaccurate even in rain

Blizzard:
+Spreads out damage in double/triple battles
+Has a good chance to freeze
+Perfect accuracy under Hail
-Nearly unusable accuracy without hail
-Doesn't get a power boost from Hail
-Can't have concentrated damage in doubles/triples

I think we can both agree that Hydro Pump and Blizzard are better then Stone Edge though.

On a Tyranitar in OU it is great
Right CK


Anyway Blizzard Tome > Blizzard Attack

Yes, but it got ripped off power wise. It's a good move, but I think it deserves either more accuracy or more power.
 
You've just confirmed for me the fact that Blizzard is better, Nick.

When I mentioned statistically better, that's exactly what I meant. Hittin' two targets for a solid 135 Base Power with perfect accuracy in Doubles is much better than a single hit with 185 Base Power. 185 is often either overkill on a strong Poke, or not enough. A ton of power against one target is situationally useful (why the **** won't spell check accept "situationally"? ಠ_ಠ). This is because the need to kill a highly dangerous threat for sure via a high-powered move has nothin' to do with statistics, that is a situational use. I'm talkin' raw numbers, not a possible situation that will arise due to an opponent's team choice. On the other hand, Blizzard is more useful for more situations. Spread damage hittin' for a higher damage total regardless is much less situational in that there's never a chance of overkill; you'll still hit two targets for the price of one move. Factor in a miss from Hydro Pump, and that boost in power meant nothin' during that turn. Blizzard won't miss.

In Doubles, outside of weather, Blizzard is still more useful for the same reasons. 70% accuracy to hit twice, or 85% accuracy to hit once? Odds say the former will hit more times than the latter. Factor in the 30% freeze ratio every hit, and it's obvious which move is better.

In Singles, during the appropriate weather, I couldn't say which one is better since it's not wholly apparent. Blizzard no longer has the obviously superior damage output since there's only one target. The 30% freeze chance and lackin' the risk of missin', while Hydro Pump's occasional miss might make Blizzard statistically better. Unfortunately, I ain't particularly good at crunchin' numbers of chance and such, so I'm not sure which one is better in raw math.

In Singles without weather, Blizzard is clearly better, but very marginally so. -15% accuracy for 30% freeze chance takes the statistical advantage very slightly.

On a Tyranitar in OU it is great
Right CK

Just 'cause a move can be used to great effect doesn't mean the move itself is fantastic (Dynamic Punch @ No Guard). I do have a disdain for Stone Edge, honestly... Lost games 'cause of an untimely miss many times. 'Till it's BP gets boosted up, I'll tend to refrain from usin' it 'less it's absolutely necessary for the success of a set.
 
I like Hydro Pump more because it often hits harder, is more reliable outside of weather, and because I'm a water-type fanboy.

:I

That and Sharpedo gets it.

Edit: According to Bulbapedia, Blizzard only has a 10% chance of freezing....

Edit 2: And Smogon.
 
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WHAT?! ... ... ... How the hell have I believed in such blatant misinformation for all these years? ;_;

Comic Relief said:
I feel so betrayed...

Well, that aside, my incorrect assumption over the chance of Freeze only changes Singles/No Weather's outcome; Hydro Pump is definitely better in said situation. Still couldn't say for Singles/Weather though. At the very least, Blizzard is statistically outright superior in Doubles. 'Least I wasn't utterly wrong 'bout that. :lol:

... I feel like a complete moron. Some competitive battler I am.
 
I just noticed that Hurricane has a 30% chance to confuse


Edit: Who needs Bulbapidea when you have Veekun?
 
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Hurricane > Blizzard.

Who the **** uses Veekun? :lol: ... Really though, how popular is that site? I've always found Bulbapedia moar handy TBH.
 
Hurricane > Blizzard.

Who the **** uses Veekun? :lol: ... Really though, how popular is that site? I've always found Bulbapedia moar handy TBH.

IDK how popular it is but I use it more than bulba
It is pure information (no random useless info) and presents the information better

Edit: Veekun also provides links to Smogon
 
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Again, not being a Pokemon enthusiast like some of you are, I can only use "practical reasoning" when I read this thread...
As such, I feel that "hurricane" is stronger than everything else mentioned above, since Tropical Storm Isaac is quickly approaching Florida and will most likely be a nasty storm by the time it makes landfall down here. In my opinion, it would most likely defeat any type of "hydro pump" or "blizzard" you could throw at it. As a result, the Pokemon with the best chance to survive Hurricane Isaac would have to be a water-type pokemon like a MagiKarp...so...yeah....

Bulbapidea and Veekun would most likely just get swept aside by the rising flood waters that cost FL property insurance companies billions of dollars when a storm like Isaac hits. And...since Pokemon battles are so similar to real life scenerios...I feel that makes sense.
 
I only have till Sunday back here at home, then I go back to Ft. Lewis and just wait to get deployed to Afghanistan. :/
 
I only have till Sunday back here at home, then I go back to Ft. Lewis and just wait to get deployed to Afghanistan. :/

Best of luck, bud! It goes without saying that anyone in our military could defeat any and all Pokemon with one hand tied behind their backs! :thumbsup:
"U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A..."
 
- Research, research, research... While I love learnin' ****, hours upon hours of startin' research is one of many trials why I've never been excited to branch out into playin' a third competitive tier.
- Regardless, I'll have an absolutely awful UU team ready to play tomorrow most likely.

I only have till Sunday back here at home, then I go back to Ft. Lewis and just wait to get deployed to Afghanistan. :/

You need t' move to Canada. nao
 
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