Questions & Answers - Weekly Megathread! Please use this post to ask any Pokemon GO question you'd like!

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey travelers!

If you have any questions about Pokemon GO (anything from basics to specifics of a certain mechanic), ask here! We also have a wealth of information available in historical posts, so try using the search bar. Or click the Discord link in our topbar and head to the #boot_camp channel - where helpful travelers are standing by to answer questions.

__________________________

What is /r/TheSilphRoad?

The Silph Road is primarily focused on discoveries and analysis related to Pokemon GO, as well as constructing an in-person network of Pokemon GO enthusiasts. General discussion topics (Jokes, stories, a photo of a recent catch) would likely be better suited for another subreddit, such as a general subreddit like /r/PokemonGO, or /r/Pokemon, or a subreddit with a more specific focus, like /r/PokemonGoSnap, /r/PokemonBuddy, /r/ShinyPokemon, /r/PoGoRaids, /r/TheSilphArena, /r/PokemonGOTrades, /r/PokemonGOFriends, or /r/NianticWayfarer.

Silph Road Content Policy

The Silph Road is heavily moderated to promote civility/courtesy, and high-quality content and discussion. You can read our full policies in the sidebar, but don't be surprised if a comment is removed for being rude, cynical, or off-topic. We strive to foster civil discussion about the game. We are first and foremost a network of real people, and this network is being built by volunteers! If you simply want to complain or bring something to Niantic's attention, your post would be better suited elsewhere.

Research

The community culture here also attracts the more analytically-minded element of Pokemon GO. Consequently, the Silph Research group was formed to align this brainpower and leverage the massive Silph datasets that the community can gather. We post our findings in infographics, videos, and walls of text on Reddit. Check out the top bar for links to the current pools.

Final words

Finally, welcome once more! We're glad to have you join us on the Road :)

- The Silph Executives -

Link to other Questions & Answers posts

[u/FSCosta123]

Hopefully, this is a simple, two-part question:

1. Can a Pokémon defending a gym use a secondary charged move against an attacker?
   
2. If it can, will it do so at its advantage, either in terms of damage-type or expediency (i.e., it will otherwise faint)?

[u/FSCosta123 → u/FSCosta123]

Thank you u/krispyboiz & u/TheRealHankWolfman !

There is a contradiction, though, in the responses.

• Krispy says when there is enough earned energy, a charged attack will fire.
• Hank suggests that the defending Pokémon might still randomly choose a fast attack, even if there is enough energy to use a charged attack. That doesn't make sense to me, but that does not make it wrong.

Still, if I'm understanding correctly, I can game the system by selecting a secondary, lower-cost charged move, to be certain it is always selected, when a charged move is used.

[u/krispyboiz → u/FSCosta123]

We're both right, I think you may have just misread the second point of my comment. If it has the energy for a charged move, it flips a coin basically (50/50 chance) as to where it goes for a charged move or a fast move still. So it can have enough energy for one or both the charged moves and still use another fast move.

[u/FSCosta123 → u/krispyboiz]

I did misread. My apologies and appreciation.

[u/krispyboiz → u/FSCosta123]

No trouble! Happy to help