Lowering my opponents stats is something I don't do, status moves like paralysis and burn is how I lower my opponents stuff, but boosting myself is a fucking awesome strategy (God damn drampa with berserker and calm mind + roost getting me to +6 spatk, having me sweep through an entire team, so fuckin good)
I mostly stick to offensive moves- but for equal or near equal damage I’ll usually prefer a move with a bonus effect. Electric attacks that might paralyze, physic attacks that damage but might confuse, and so on. I don’t generally bother with moves that lower an opponents stats as against good/high power foes you’ll just burn up PP and not do damage or soak it up. Sleep is one I’ll mess with sometimes- things that reliably stop them from hitting back are nice. A rare few Pokémon I’ll use self boosts- but that to me is often not worth it. Spend 3 turns to boost to a 1 hit KO, or KO in 3 hits? But if your 1 hit KO monster has 1hp left after those 3 turns the next fight is gonna he short...
Lowering your opponents stats is obviously the worst strat except for VERY few exceptions. If you're 1 on 1 vs a Chansey and you are both on your last poke and you're stuck with a special attacker, you might wants something so that chansey can't just wall the fuck out of you. The problem is, carrying a poke like that, just for that, is a waste in pretty much every other scenario.
The best teams to focus on stat boosts are shell smash/baton passing teams, curse/trick room teams, or as above, spiraling beast boosts or moxie teams after checks are cleared.
I’m glad to see the benefits of a closing education so eloquently put to use. Indeed. There are some fairly effective non primary damage based combos- and in game vs pvp dueling as well as any rules or restrictions agreed upon and the opponents load out play a big role. Some combos are excellent when they work- but aren’t very versatile or resistant to being derailed. It’s quite a balancing act- and game tweaks and the like between generations can open and close doors or make things more or less useful too. Like our Pokémon- we must evolve to meet new challenges.
Stat changes are for weaklings who are afraid to hit, status changes are a sadistic strategy and it works like a charm.
The best teams to focus on stat boosts are shell smash/baton passing teams, curse/trick room teams, or as above, spiraling beast boosts or moxie teams after checks are cleared.