I'd really like to talk/ask about the merits of using
Adamant versus
Jolly. I'm not such an experienced battler, but I'm devoted to making (Mega) Gyarados my primary sweeper, and I've been working to get him an optimal EV spread. My initial reaction was to give him Adamant, because a 10% boost on that 155 base attack is monstrous, but I'm beginning to wonder if it's superfluous and if the speed is more important.
I'd initially EV'd him just to outspeed positive nature Greninja after a boost, to avoid the ubiquitous u-turn against the Mega. In that case Adamant gave better overall stats with a spread of 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Speed. This gives the Mega a devastating 449 attack stat before a DD.
On the other hand, the suggested Jolly spread of 88 HP / 252 Atk / 168 Speed brings the attack down to 409, with the huge boon of outrunning Timid Jolteon (& Mega Gengar and the other base 130s) at +1 and a bit more bulk.
I guess my question is whether that 449 attack stat is needed, or if it's pretty much irrelevant when we're talking an attack over 600 after one boost either way. I'd love to hear opinions on Adamant versus Jolly nature for this guy.
Gyarados @ Gyaradosite
Ability: Intimidate
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 Atk / 4 HP
Jolly Nature
- Dragon Dance
- Earthquake
- Ice Fang
- Waterfall
^
My set up for Mega Gyarados. This move set is for single battles. Anyways, the power of Mega-Gyarados lies in its team mates. If you have a dual screener, Mega Gyarados can set up about 1 or 2 dragon dances while having about 35-75% HP left then beat up everybody it freakin' sees. Hey Mega-Scizor, EARTHQUAKE! Ba-BAM, about 70% damage done to the offensive ones. So that's what I can say about this.
252 Speed with Jolly is a waste. After Jolteon/Mega Gengar with 168 EVs, you're not outpacing anything terribly relevant or threatening. You're still going to lose to all the same scarfers, like (last gen's) Terrakion/Keldeo, U-turn Lando/Jirachi/Thundy what-have-you. The only thing I can think of is Modest Scarf Rotom-A (you lose to Timid scarf no matter what), but even that only needs 200 EVs in speed with Jolly. The rest should go to bulk.
EDIT: to be fair, you do need max speed Jolly to get the creep over Jolly Dragonite and the other base 80s, if that's a concern at all. On the other hand with Mold Breaker Ice Fang I doubt D-nite poses too much of a threat.