PokéBase - Pokémon Q&A
1 vote
2,018 views

Clap yo cheeks (Diggersby) @ Leftovers
Ability: Huge Power
EVs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Swords Dance
- Earthquake
- Quick Attack
- Fire Punch/ Thunder Punch

Fire punch hits Ferrothorn harder, but Thunder Punch hits Mandibuzz, and Gyarados and Togekiss on the switch, though these switches almost never happen.

Which move should I use for better wallbreaking and late-game cleaning?

by
edited by
Here's the rest of my team for a more calculated opinion:

It's not a phase M (Hydreigon) @ Leftovers  
Ability: Levitate  
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Substitute  
- Nasty Plot  
- Dark Pulse  
- Flash Cannon  

Candy (Clefable) @ Life Orb  
Ability: Magic Guard  
EVs: 196 HP / 252 SpA / 60 Spe  
Modest Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Moonblast  
- Thunderbolt  
- Flamethrower  
- Moonlight  

рыбы (Dracovish) @ Choice Band  
Ability: Strong Jaw  
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Adamant Nature  
- Fishious Rend  
- Psychic Fangs  
- Crunch  
- Outrage  

Hide yo wamen (Gengar) @ Choice Scarf  
Ability: Cursed Body  
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Timid Nature  
IVs: 0 Atk  
- Shadow Ball  
- Sludge Wave  
- Dazzling Gleam  
- Focus Blast  

Clap yo cheeks (Diggersby) @ Leftovers  
Ability: Huge Power  
EVs: 24 HP / 252 Atk / 232 Spe  
Adamant Nature  
- Swords Dance  
- Earthquake  
- Quick Attack  
- Thunder Punch  

Assmole (Dugtrio) @ Focus Sash  
Ability: Arena Trap  
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe  
Jolly Nature  
- Stealth Rock  
- Earthquake  
- Reversal  
- Sucker Punch
I think you should ask this question in the RMT section, not here.
Eventually, I want to see all teambuilding advice threads like this one posted in the RMT area. But, for now, the rules are pretty explicit in saying that the RMT section is for rating full teams, i.e. not simply deciding which move to use on a Pokemon.
@Deathrider I removed your comment for its aggression. Please be nice to people even if you don't like their posts. You can tell him you don't want your team rated without making personal insults.
Sorry Fizz sorry sumwun
I believe that maybe Ice Punch would work better than either Fire or Thunder Punch in terms of coverage. Ice is the best offensive type IMO and not a single Pokémon on your team has an ice type attack. All of the Pokémon you listed would get hit at least neutrally by an Ice type move. However, if the move-slot is truly only between Fire and Thunder Punch, I would say Fire Punch and that’s only because it seems (based off what you wrote) that you run into Ferrothorn switch-ins and encounter it late-game more frequently than the other Pokémon.
stateside_heavy I don't need ice type coverage on my team, since any Pokemon in OU weak to Ice is checked by another Pokemon in my team. Although Ice type is a fantastic offensive option, Fire or Thunder Punch provides better coverage on Diggersby.
Why are you using Diggersby instead of Excadrill?
Because the guy likes Diggersby and it's still usable. Also, Diggersby gets priority, Excadrill does not.
I've already left a comment on this thread about being respectful to people, but I guess I'll say it again. @StellarLucario, even if sumwun's comment does not relate directly to the question, getting stuck into him for posting it won't help refocus the thread. If you really must make your voice heard, then please do it on his wall instead of leaving messages on this question.
It's not actually just because I like Diggersby better. I'm a competitive battler here, I focus on winning. I use Diggersby because it is immune to Shadow Ball from Dragapult, gets the Elemental punches for aforementioned checks, has a better ability (at least fits my team better) and gets priority.

Sorry sumwun, what you asked is a good question.

2 Answers

3 votes

Thunder punch is super effective against flying, but its low base power and no STAB means it's only a little bit stronger than body slam.

252+ Atk Huge Power Diggersby Thunder Punch vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mandibuzz: 204-240 (48.1 - 56.6%) -- 88.3% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Huge Power Diggersby Body Slam vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Mandibuzz: 172-204 (40.5 - 48.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

source
Body slam also does more damage to levitate users. So you should be using body slam, not thunder punch, to cover flying and levitate. Use fire punch if you hate Ferrothorn and Corviknight more than flying and levitate.

Edit: This answer originally recommended return, and 2 people up-voted it before I realized that return is a removed move. Sorry I guess.

by
edited by
0 votes

It really depends on the other Pokemon in your party, but if I was to choose, it would be Thunder Punch. With earthquake you won't be able to touch flying types so an electric type attack would hit them off guard. Also, thunder punch can take a toll on a lot of highly used Pokemon in meta game like keldeo, corviknight, togekiss etc. Fire punch would hit ferrothorn hard but it wouldn't have a coverage on a lot of other Pokemon.

by