Alolan Ninetales
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Best Movesets
Analysis
Alolan Ninetales's unique Ice / Fairy typing gives it the distinction of both doubly resisting Dragon and hitting many Dragon-types for double effective damage. However, its attack stat is far too low to be useful in raids, and its low bulk/laundry list of weaknesses make it basically unviable for defense.
Offense
- Charm is the stronger fast move, and pairs with Dazzling Gleam to fulfill a Fairy-type role.
- Powder Snow isn't far behind, and enables Alolan Ninetales to fulfill an Ice-type role.
- Weather Ball Ice is the strongest and most consistent charge move available.
- Blizzard and Ice Beam are a step down, though they're serviceable if TMs are lacking.
- Feint Attack has no place on an offensive Alolan Ninetales.
- Psyshock also has no place on an offensive Alolan Ninetales.
Defense
- Charm has high power and good coverage, making it the ideal defensive move in general.
- Feint Attack is preferred over Powder Snow, due to higher base power and slightly better coverage. It can also hit Steel Types, which obliterate Alolan Ninetales, harder.
- Weather Ball Ice is the best charge move for defense, thanks to fast access as a 3-bar move.
- Dazzling Gleam edges out Ice Beam, with better coverage and base power, but a later damage window.
- Blizzard has too high of an energy cost for effective defense.
- Psyshock can be used more frequently, but doesn't have as much power.
Charm takes advantage of STAB to deal massive damage while sacrificing energy generation. Powder Snow offers poor damage output despite STAB, but sports double the energy generation of Charm.
Weather Ball (Ice) is recommended for its cheaper energy cost, in addition to its efficient Damage Per Energy (DPE) with STAB. Psyshock is preferred for its lesser energy cost, plus its coverage against the weakness to Poison-types and generally neutral coverage against many Pokemon. Ice Beam is a downgrade from Weather Ball. Dazzling Gleam costs too much energy to be recommended for general use.
Alolan Ninetales sports a unique Fairy/Ice typing, and features decent bulk plus an interesting moveset. Its typing alone gives it perks unlike most other Pokemon, and makes it especially effective against Dragon Pokemon. Access to both Charm and Powder Snow movesets gives A-Ninetales flexible options in its play style, with coverage against different Pokemon depending on what the player requires on their team. Weaknesses to Fire and Rock typings should be considered due to their frequency in the meta, while Poison and Steel-type attacks are less common.
