Nix_Hex
Uangaana kasuttortunga!
Let's face it, accuracy is typically an afterthought when designing a new set or even on a turn-by-turn basis. Inaccurate moves are pretty much non-negotiable since they can make the difference between a 2HKO and OHKO. Without Hydro Pump, Specs Politoed and Scarf Keldeo don't boast the insane power that they do with Hydro Pump. Sure, both of those mons often run Surf alongside Hydro Pump, but it's usually used for picking off weakened foes, not for getting that huge one-turn megahit that Hydro Pump gives.
By far the biggest culprits of bad accuracy are Stone Edge and Focus Blast. Consider Stone Edge. Let's forget about the high crit rate for a second; it has the same base power as Earthquake but only 8 PP and 80% accuracy. Yet, heavy hitters like Terrakion and Band/ScarfTar don't achieve nearly the same amount of insane power as they would if they were to use, say, Rock Slide. Focus Blast is on a whole other level of bad. It has 70% accuracy and 8 PP and is pretty much a crutch move for many special attackers (Politoed, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Gengar). "Assuming Focus Blast hits" is a trademarked phrase in C&C and theorymon. It's the move you begrudgingly put on your special attackers and complain about when it loses a game for you. Hidden Power Fighting is hardly a viable alternative, given that Focus Blast is almost twice as powerful and things like Thundurus-T need that open Hidden Power slot for HP Ice, and it forces a 30 Speed IV. Aura Sphere is neat for its decent power and 100% accuracy, but its distribution is so narrow that it's barely an afterthought.
Fire Blast is overlooked, with 85% and 8 PP, and is pretty much ALWAYS used over Flamethrower unless the Pokemon doesn't learn Fire Blast (Genesect, Zoroark). Ninetales needs all of the power it can get, after all, and it lets offensive Heatran hit like a nuke. Luckily, Volcarona has the slightly-weaker-than-Flamethrower alternative called Fiery Dance, which is actually better than Flamethrower due to that chance for a Special Attack boost.
The most devastatingly inaccurate move, imo, is Draco Meteor. It makes Specs Latios so damn powerful, and is the sole reason that Ice Beam is a waste of a slot. However, its imperfect 90% accuracy is so often overlooked and depended on so much that a Draco miss is usually devastating for Latios. That awesome unmatched speed and revenge killing power from Scarf Latios can go amiss at all the wrong moments and may just cost you the match. Luckily, Dragon Pulse is there for back up when you don't need the huge power from Draco Meteor, similarly to Surf with Hydro Pump.
Dishonorable mentions go to Leech Seed, Toxic, and Will-O-Wisp. Heck, ROCK SLIDE doesn't even have 100% accuracy!
Some points for discussion:
1) Are low accuracy moves really non-negotiable as I say in the second sentence?
2) Have you had success or failure putting Rock Slide over Stone Edge on Terrakion or Tyranitar? Flamethrower over Fire Blast on Heatran? Hidden Power Fighting over Focus Blast on Alakazam or Reuniclus? These are just a few examples, feel free to share your own!
3) Perfect accuracy moves are generally much less powerful, as has been stated a million times in this OP. Is the power drop worth the extra accuracy? Do you take precautions to make up for the lack of power (multiple hazards or Volt-Turn to wear your opponent down, or something else)?
Edit: 85% for fire blast
By far the biggest culprits of bad accuracy are Stone Edge and Focus Blast. Consider Stone Edge. Let's forget about the high crit rate for a second; it has the same base power as Earthquake but only 8 PP and 80% accuracy. Yet, heavy hitters like Terrakion and Band/ScarfTar don't achieve nearly the same amount of insane power as they would if they were to use, say, Rock Slide. Focus Blast is on a whole other level of bad. It has 70% accuracy and 8 PP and is pretty much a crutch move for many special attackers (Politoed, Thundurus-T, Alakazam, Gengar). "Assuming Focus Blast hits" is a trademarked phrase in C&C and theorymon. It's the move you begrudgingly put on your special attackers and complain about when it loses a game for you. Hidden Power Fighting is hardly a viable alternative, given that Focus Blast is almost twice as powerful and things like Thundurus-T need that open Hidden Power slot for HP Ice, and it forces a 30 Speed IV. Aura Sphere is neat for its decent power and 100% accuracy, but its distribution is so narrow that it's barely an afterthought.
Fire Blast is overlooked, with 85% and 8 PP, and is pretty much ALWAYS used over Flamethrower unless the Pokemon doesn't learn Fire Blast (Genesect, Zoroark). Ninetales needs all of the power it can get, after all, and it lets offensive Heatran hit like a nuke. Luckily, Volcarona has the slightly-weaker-than-Flamethrower alternative called Fiery Dance, which is actually better than Flamethrower due to that chance for a Special Attack boost.
The most devastatingly inaccurate move, imo, is Draco Meteor. It makes Specs Latios so damn powerful, and is the sole reason that Ice Beam is a waste of a slot. However, its imperfect 90% accuracy is so often overlooked and depended on so much that a Draco miss is usually devastating for Latios. That awesome unmatched speed and revenge killing power from Scarf Latios can go amiss at all the wrong moments and may just cost you the match. Luckily, Dragon Pulse is there for back up when you don't need the huge power from Draco Meteor, similarly to Surf with Hydro Pump.
Dishonorable mentions go to Leech Seed, Toxic, and Will-O-Wisp. Heck, ROCK SLIDE doesn't even have 100% accuracy!
Some points for discussion:
1) Are low accuracy moves really non-negotiable as I say in the second sentence?
2) Have you had success or failure putting Rock Slide over Stone Edge on Terrakion or Tyranitar? Flamethrower over Fire Blast on Heatran? Hidden Power Fighting over Focus Blast on Alakazam or Reuniclus? These are just a few examples, feel free to share your own!
3) Perfect accuracy moves are generally much less powerful, as has been stated a million times in this OP. Is the power drop worth the extra accuracy? Do you take precautions to make up for the lack of power (multiple hazards or Volt-Turn to wear your opponent down, or something else)?
Edit: 85% for fire blast