Here's a breakdown to help you decide:
Rock Polish:
* Pros:
* Massive Speed boost: Increases speed by two stages, making your Pokémon incredibly fast.
* Effective on physical attackers: Combined with high Attack, Rock Polish allows for devastating damage output.
* Can be used offensively or defensively: Allows you to outspeed opponents or avoid attacks entirely.
* Cons:
* Only affects speed: Doesn't impact other stats.
* Ineffective against Ghost-types: Ghost-types are immune to Rock-type moves.
* Can be easily countered: Can be negated by moves like Trick Room or moves that boost the opponent's speed.
Thunder Wave:
* Pros:
* Paralyzes opponents: Reduces the opponent's speed by half and has a 1/3 chance of preventing them from moving.
* Useful against fast opponents: Helps you outspeed or even stall for time.
* Can be used on special attackers: Effective for Pokémon who excel in special attacks but lack speed.
* Cons:
* Slows down your opponent, not your own Pokémon: Doesn't directly benefit your own speed.
* Can be bypassed: Some Pokémon have moves that ignore paralysis, such as Quick Attack.
* Accuracy: Has a 90% accuracy rate, meaning it can miss.
In Conclusion:
* Use Rock Polish: If your Pokémon is a physical attacker, needs a significant speed boost, and doesn't face Ghost-type opponents.
* Use Thunder Wave: If your Pokémon is a special attacker, needs to slow down a fast opponent, or benefits from stalling.
Example Scenarios:
* Scenario 1: A fast, physical attacker like Excadrill facing a slower, special attacker like Garchomp. Rock Polish would be a great choice for Excadrill to outspeed Garchomp and secure a powerful hit.
* Scenario 2: A slower, special attacker like Alakazam facing a fast, physical attacker like Landorus. Thunder Wave would be a good option to slow down Landorus and give Alakazam time to set up or attack.
Ultimately, the best move for your Pokémon depends on the specific situation. Analyze your team, your opponent's team, and the battlefield to choose the move that will give you the best chance of winning.