Is the Energy of the fast move more important than DPS due to how fast it can make a charge move possible?
Is the fast move's Energy actually more important than DPS? For example, one fast move may have a DPS 12.9, and the other one has a DPS of 10.2, so we may tend to prefer the one with DPS 12.9.
But what if the DPS 10.2 move can charge up a Hydro Pump or Blizzard faster than the other fast move, and therefore this fast move can do more DPS because the charge move can be used faster? (and more frequently)
PS: I do not know of a good example yet, but if we look at Exeggutor first, its Confusion has DPS of 12.4 and Zen Headbutt has DPS of 14.3 (both have STAB). Therefore, maybe the Zen Headbutt is a better move. But Confusion can charge up a Solar Beam at the rate of 7 Energy, while Zen Headbutt can charge the Solar Beam up at the rate of 4 Energy. So wouldn't that actually make Confusion a better move?
Another example is Snorlax, when Zen Headbutt has 10% more DPS than Lick, but Lick can charge up the Energy by 7, while Zen Headbutt is only 4, so Lick has 75% higher speed for charging up the energy for a Body Slam, Hyper Beam, or Earthquake.
Best Answer
What you're describing is known as an opportunity cost, and yes, many people who play games (or who indulge in any sort of economizing) are bad at taking it into full consideration.
There are certainly circumstances in which a greater rate of Energy Per Second is more important than raw DPS; your given example of a Snorlax who can select either Zen Headbutt (emphasizing DPS) or Lick (emphasizing EPS) is one such example. With Hyperbeam as its charge move, a Snorlax on assault can expect an overall rate of 17.4 damage per second if it has Lick, but only 16.7 if it is using Zen Headbutt.
However, in circumstances where the gain in EPS is too small compared to the loss of DPS, a basic move with greater DPS is the better choice. The Exeggutor to which you refered is an example of this, actually: Yes, Confusion will generate slightly more energy per second than Zen Headbutt, but the loss of damage per second is too great to be made up for by using charge attacks with the slight extra frequency that this extra energy permits.
There are also circumstances where the difference in quality of charge attacks may make EPS more or less desirable. For example, a Beedrill with Sludge Bomb or X-Scissor as its charge move would be better off with the superior EPS of Bug Buzz as its basic move. On the other hand, a Beedrill can come with the charge move Aerial Ace, which is so bad that it is preferable to completely ignore it and just always use basic moves. In this case, it would be better off with Poison Jab, which emphasizes DPS.
This math changes if the Pokémon under consideration is destined to defend a gym instead of attack them; There is an average delay of 2 seconds between every attack that such a defender undertakes, and to make up for this, they get twice the HP reserve. A Pokémon gains 1 energy for every 2 damage sustained, so this means a defending Pokemon enjoys preportionally more energy per attack than one on offense. On the other hand, a defending Pokémon with the opportunity to unleash a charge move will only choose to do so half the time. These factors make highly-damaging basic moves far more important.
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What is the difference between DPS and EPS Pokémon GO?
The faster the move the better dodgability and EPS it provides. On the other hand, slow and hard-hitting moves with better DPS are great on defense, since Pok\xe9mon defending the Gym can use their fast move every 2 seconds....The most useful fast moves.TypeWaterDPS13.3EPS6.7Cast time1.2Strongest Pok\xe9monKyogre7 more columns•Feb 17, 2018Is higher DPS better Pokémon GO?
The higher the DPS, the more powerful and effective that Pokemon will be. In Pokemon GO, TMs are items that a player can use to change their movesets. They can obtain them by winning raids and PVP battles as well as from research.What is the fastest fast move in Pokémon GO?
All Fast Moves in Pok\xe9mon GOMoveTypeDPSDragon TailDragon13.6Iron TailSteel13.6Rock SmashFighting11.5Mud-SlapGround10.760 more rows•Jun 10, 2021IMPACT AND EXAMPLES OF FAST MOVE DENIAL
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