Fast Attack vs. Charged Attack: Understanding the Core of Pokémon GO Battles

The fundamental difference between a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack in Pokémon GO lies in their damage output, energy generation, and frequency of use. Fast Attacks are weaker, generate energy for Charged Attacks, and can be used repeatedly. Charged Attacks deal significant damage, require a full energy bar, and are executed less frequently. They form the core strategic decision-making in Pokémon GO battles.

Deep Dive into Pokémon GO Attacks

In the dynamic world of Pokémon GO, mastering the art of battle is crucial for success. At the heart of every battle lies the understanding of two fundamental attack types: Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks. Let’s break down each type and explore their roles in shaping your battle strategy.

Fast Attacks: The Foundation of Energy Generation

Fast Attacks, also known as basic attacks, are the cornerstone of any Pokémon GO battle. They are the attacks you use most frequently, tapping repeatedly on your screen to unleash a steady stream of damage. While the damage inflicted by Fast Attacks is relatively low compared to Charged Attacks, their primary function extends beyond mere damage dealing.

• Energy Generation: The most crucial aspect of Fast Attacks is their ability to generate energy for your Charged Attack. Each Fast Attack successfully executed adds to your Pokémon’s energy meter. This meter, once filled, allows you to unleash your Pokémon’s powerful Charged Attack.
• Frequency and Speed: Fast Attacks have a short cooldown, allowing you to use them frequently. The speed at which you can execute these attacks is a key factor in determining your overall damage output. Some Pokémon possess Fast Attacks with very short durations, making them incredibly effective at generating energy quickly.
• Strategic Importance: Choosing the right Fast Attack for your Pokémon is paramount. You need to consider not only the damage it inflicts but also its energy generation rate. A balance between these two factors ensures you can consistently build up energy while dealing enough damage to pressure your opponent.
• Type Effectiveness: Like all attacks in Pokémon GO, Fast Attacks are affected by type effectiveness. Using a Fast Attack that is super effective against your opponent’s Pokémon will significantly increase the damage dealt.

Charged Attacks: Unleashing Devastating Power

Charged Attacks are the heavy hitters of Pokémon GO battles. They are your Pokémon’s most potent weapons, capable of dealing massive damage and turning the tide of battle. However, unleashing a Charged Attack requires careful planning and strategic execution.

• High Damage Output: Charged Attacks deal significantly more damage than Fast Attacks. The damage range can vary considerably depending on the specific attack and the Pokémon using it. Some Charged Attacks are designed to inflict maximum damage, while others have additional effects, such as lowering the opponent’s stats.
• Energy Requirement: To use a Charged Attack, your Pokémon must have a full energy meter. This energy is accumulated by performing Fast Attacks. The amount of energy required varies for each Charged Attack.
• Mini-Game Mechanic: When you activate a Charged Attack, a mini-game appears on your screen. Completing this mini-game successfully increases the damage of the Charged Attack. Mastering these mini-games is essential for maximizing the effectiveness of your Charged Attacks. Tapping speed, or sloppiness, or variation in the general speed can diminish the effectiveness.
• Strategic Timing: Timing your Charged Attacks is crucial. You need to anticipate your opponent’s moves and choose the right moment to unleash your attack. Using a Charged Attack at the wrong time can leave you vulnerable to counterattacks.
• Shield Baiting: Experienced players often use “bait” Charged Attacks (usually those that charge quickly) to force the opponent to use their shields. Each player only has a limited number of shields per battle, so baiting them out allows you to land a devastating, unshielded Charged Attack later in the battle.

The Interplay: Synergy Between Fast and Charged Attacks

The true mastery of Pokémon GO battles lies in understanding the synergy between Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks. They are not independent entities but rather interconnected components of a comprehensive battle strategy.

• Energy Management: Efficient energy management is key to winning battles. You need to balance using Fast Attacks to generate energy with dealing enough damage to keep your opponent pressured. Choosing a Fast Attack that provides a good balance between damage and energy generation is crucial.
• Strategic Attack Selection: Selecting the right Charged Attack for your Pokémon is equally important. Consider the energy cost, damage output, and potential secondary effects of each Charged Attack when making your decision.
• Type Coverage: A well-rounded Pokémon team should have a variety of attack types to ensure type coverage. This means having attacks that are super effective against a wide range of different Pokémon types.
• Adapting to the Opponent: The best battle strategies are adaptable. You need to be able to adjust your attack patterns and energy management based on your opponent’s Pokémon and their moves.
• Elite TMs: You can even use items like Elite Fast TMs and Elite Charged TMs to optimize your Pokemon. Elite Fast TMs allow you to choose a Fast Attack to teach a Pokémon, and Elite Charged TMs allow you to choose a Charged Attack to teach a Pokémon.

By understanding the nuances of Fast Attacks and Charged Attacks, and by mastering the art of energy management and strategic attack selection, you can significantly improve your performance in Pokémon GO battles and become a formidable trainer.

The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) fosters the kind of strategic thinking and problem-solving that are essential for success in games like Pokemon GO and in life.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the main difference between Fast TMs and Charged TMs?

Fast TMs randomly change a Pokémon’s Fast Attack, while Charged TMs randomly change a Pokémon’s Charged Attack. Elite TMs allow you to choose a specific attack.

2. How do I use a Fast TM or Charged TM?

Select the TM from your inventory and then select the Pokémon you wish to change the move of. The game will randomly assign a new available move.

3. Is it possible to get the same move back when using a TM?

No, you are guaranteed to get a different move each time you use a TM, provided there are other moves in the Pokemon’s moveset that said Pokémon can learn.

4. When should I use a Fast TM or Charged TM?

Use TMs on powerful Pokémon with high CPs that you frequently use in Raids or the Go Battle League, especially if their current moveset is suboptimal.

5. What’s a Legacy move, and why is it important?

A Legacy move is a move that a Pokémon could once learn but can no longer learn through normal means. They can be desirable due to their rarity or unique effectiveness.

6. What is the fastest Charged Attack in Pokémon GO?

Steel Wing has a very short cast time. However, speed is not everything as power must also be considered.

7. What are some of the best Elite Fast TMs to use?

Some of the best Elite Fast TMs to use are Thunder Shock (Zapdos), Incinerate (Talonflame), and Smack Down (Tyranitar).

8. Which is the strongest Charged Attack in Pokémon GO?

Hydro Cannon is often considered the strongest charge attack in Pokemon GO.

9. How does type effectiveness impact Fast and Charged Attacks?

If a move is “super effective” against a target Pokemon, it will deal extra damage and can turn the tide of the battle.

10. How do I tell if a move is a physical attack or a special attack?

The game does not make that distinction, so knowing the stats of the move is important.

11. What is the fastest Pokémon in Pokémon GO?

This is often changed and adapted, and therefore, there is no particular Pokemon to select. However, Regieleki is a good example of an exceptionally fast Pokemon.

12. What’s the best Charged Attack for Charizard?

In Pokemon Go, Charizard’s best moveset for success in battles is Wing Attack as a Fast Move and Blast Burn and Dragon Claw as Charged Moves. While it excels in Ultra League, Charizard isn’t as strong in Great and Master Leagues.

13. What’s the most difficult Pokémon to catch in Pokémon GO?

Galarian Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos are notoriously difficult to catch.

14. Does tapping speed matter during Charged Attacks?

Yes, successfully completing the touch-screen minigame increases the damage dealt by the Charged Attack. Tapping speed, or sloppiness, or variation in the general speed can diminish the effectiveness.

15. What happens if I use a Charged TM on a Pokémon that already has two Charged Attacks?

You can use a charge TM to change it. Using the charge TM will bring up a prompt asking you which of the two moves you want to change. You can use charge TMs on legacy moves.