Question

Fire Punch or Flamethrower on Electivire?

Comments

Depends on what you're running. I mean C'mon you're not giving enough information here.

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you need to give more information

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EX: Physical or Special build, other moves, partners, etc.

Answer 1

Despite the painful lack of information, I can say wholeheartedly that Fire Punch will be the better option. Elective's Attack stat outpaces its Special Attack by 28 points, which isn't too much but it becomes apparent when you look at Electivire's physically-biased move pool. Even though Flamethrower has a higher base power than Fire Punch, I can almost guarantee (again, your information is lacking) that your Elective will invest heavily in Attack, therefore causing Fire Punch to be the better option.

Comments

great answer

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Sorry about the lack of info...

The set was (it is a Gen 4 team)
Electivire @ Expert Belt  
Ability: Motor Drive  
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe  
Mild Nature  
- Discharge  
- Earthquake  
- Cross Chop  
- Fire Punch/flamethrower

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Comment removed: meant to add answer (NG)

Answer 2

Given the set you mentioned in the comments to another members answer (reproduced below so that people do not have to scroll), Fire Punch is definitely the better choice. Against Aegislash# with 252 in both Defence and Special Defence Flamethrower will inflict 36.6 - 43.8% damage, whilst Fire Punch will cause between 43.1 - 51.1% damage. You would have to invest 140 EV's in SpA in order to achieve the same level of damage, which will obviously affect Electivire's Speed and Attack, so I wouldn't bother.

As an aside, have you considered using Thunder Punch instead of Discharge? I don't know the circumstances which you are using Electivire, but it is a more powerful choice (26.7 - 32% vs Discharge's 24 - 28.6% on the same Aegislash above.)

Electivire @ Expert Belt
Ability: Motor Drive
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpA / 252 Spe
Mild Nature
- Discharge
- Earthquake
- Cross Chop
- Fire Punch/flamethrower

# I know this is DPP but Aegislash has equal Def/SpDef and is weak to Fire so good test candidate.

Comments

Wild Charge is another option for physical Electric STAB if you don't mind recoil.

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Generation 4 moveset

Answer 3

Although Flamethrower has a better base power, Fire Punch is much better on Electivire due to it generally liking to run Physical sets over Mixed. Fire Punch will mostly do more due to how much higher its Attack is than its Special Attack.