Which is better, Torterra or Empoleon for Platinum?

Question

I'm ditching Infernape because I want to use Gallade for my playthrough so it doesn't overlap types.

Comments

I think they're roughly equally good. Torterra's STABs are super effective against more types, and it has better setup moves like curse and swords dance. Empoleon's STABs are resisted by less types, and it has better defensive typing and better coverage moves like grass knot and ice beam. Both are slow.

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Torterra is likely the better of the two, simply because there are plenty of other easily accessible Water-types, such as Floatzel, Vaporeon, Azumarill, Gyarados, etc, while there aren't as many for Grass.

Answer 1

Torterra and Empoleon both have a high attack stat and powerful STAB moves, which makes them useful in most boss battles. If you really want to figure out which one is slightly better than the other, there are a few differences you can look at.

Torterra's STAB moves are super effective against 7 different types, but both of them are resisted by 3 types. Its physical attack makes it better at using swords dance, which is one of the best status moves in the game.

Empoleon's STAB moves are super effective against only 4 types, and 1 type resists both. Its steel type gives it many resistances that are nice to have in certain boss battles.

Gardenia: Even though Prinplup has the type disadvantage, it learns pluck, while Grotle is stuck with bite and curse. This matchup is pretty even for both.

Maylene: Prinplup has bad stats, while Empoleon is weak to fighting. Neither have a powerful STAB move at this point in the game. Torterra learns earthquake, which is super effective against Lucario.

Candice: Even though Empoleon doesn't resist that many of her moves, all her Pokemon are weak to flash cannon. Torterra's ice weakness isn't very helpful here.

Team Galactic: Empoleon resists the flying, poison, and dark moves that the commanders and Cyrus often use, while Torterra has a lot of trouble dealing with their flying Pokemon.

Volkner: Empoleon is weak to electric. Torterra is immune and its STAB earthquake is super effective.

Aaron: Most of his Pokemon resist both of Torterra's STAB moves, and they all know bug moves. There's only one move on his team that Empoleon doesn't resist.

Lucian: Even though Empoleon resists psychic, 4 of his Pokemon know a move that's super effective against Empoleon.

Conclusion: If you want more help with Maylene, Volkner, or Lucian, pick Turtwig. If you want more help with Candice, Team Galactic, or Aaron, pick Piplup. If you're not sure, either one will be totally fine.

Answer 2

Here are the pros and cons of each.

Torterra
Pros
-learns Earthquake at lvl 32
-has great defenses, with both 85 Sp def and 105 def
-learns Wood Hammer the moment he evolves which is a great grass move
Cons
-is rather slow with a speed stat 56
-doesn't learn that many coverage moves, which may prove troublesome in some matchups

Empoleon
Pros
-can learn surf which is quite a good stab move for him
-is a steel type which has many resistances
-can be taught ice moves
Cons
-is not too much faster then Torterra
-has a limited special movepool

overall I would suggest Torterra, as his defenses and solid STAB move for his types are better than Empoleon's lack of any good steel moves

Comments

Flash cannon is a good steel move, and Empoleon's resistances make its defenses effectively better than Torterra's.

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i forgot that he learns that in this game, I always thought he didn't learn it until Gen 6 or something

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and to be honest, Flash Cannon is kinda late in the game, being obtainable after Byron so I wouldn't really calculate  that in. I was going by level up moves not TMs

Answer 3

In any Pokemon game, unless the water type is that great and Gyarados is hard to catch, never pick the water type. Why? Gyarados exists and is the best in game Pokemon ever. End of story. This goes especially true for gen four. Sure, you ain't gonna get waterfall til the end of the game but you don't need to. Gyarados' bulk is so great it outclasses everything already until the late game. And dragon dance + any physical move = get rekt. By late game, I mean the time you get the likes of Garchomp, Weavile, Houndoom, and others

Then there's the fact that Gyarados has intimidate which means its bulkier than you imgaine, especially if not in a nuzlocke setting where you can afford to risk crits. Either way, Gyarados may be a pain to level up but it's the best in game Pokemon, period. If it's availabe in game then don't pick the water type starter. Gyarados will outclass it completely with the sole exception being Swampert

Comments

Gyarados is worse than the water starter in every game without physical water moves, but yeah this answer is true for DPPt specifically.