Which is better: Pikachu or Vaporeon?

Question

I just don't really know! Any help? (I will always be a Pikachu fan no matter what, just wondering)

Answer 1

Vaporeon.
•It has fantastic HP and SpA, and good SpA.
•It can boost all of its stats using Z-Celebrate aka Z-disco dance.
•It has access to many good moves such as Wish, Scald, Shadow Ball and Heal Bell.
•It can run both offensive and defensive set.

Pikachu
•Its signature item, Light Ball, that helps it to defeat many NFE Pokemon.
•Has access to Encore.
•Lighting Rod, a useful ability in doubles, although It is not a good Pokemon to use in Doubles.
•Static, that raises the chances of appearing wild electric type Pokemon, a bit useful.

I can't understand why you would use Pikachu, Raichu does it better.
Surely, Vaporeon is the best.

If you are meaning it's 1vs1, then,
Moveset
Pikachu @Light Ball
EVs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe/4 SpD
Nature: Timid
-Thunder
-Thunderbolt
Vaporeon @ Splash Plate
EVs: 256 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpD
-Hydro Pump
-Scald

Since Pikachu has more speed, it will move first.

252 SpA Light Ball Pikachu Thunderbolt vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Vaporeon: 338-402 (84.2 - 100.2%) -- 6.3% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Light Ball Pikachu Thunder vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Vaporeon: 416-492 (103.7 - 122.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Splash Plate Vaporeon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Pikachu: 240-283 (113.7 - 134.1%) -- guaranteed OHKO
252 SpA Splash Plate Vaporeon Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Pikachu: 331-390 (156.8 - 184.8%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Pikachu Wins.
But if Vaporeon moves firsts for Choice then,
252 SpA Vaporeon Scald vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Pikachu: 201-237 (95.2 - 112.3%) -- 68.8% chance to OHKO
252 SpA Vaporeon Hydro Pump vs. 0 HP / 4 SpD Pikachu: 276-325 (130.8 - 154%) -- guaranteed OHKO
This means if Pikachu moves first and use Thunder, it will win. And if Vaporeon moves first and use Hydro Pump, then Vaporeon will win.
But if Pikachu use Thunderbolt and Vaporeon use Scald, then Vaporeon wins.
Hope this helps.
Damage Calc

Comments

Thanks. The reason i would use a pikachu is that he can be op with TM moves. I sometimes have thunder and attract. But... in sun and moon with the event rn there is a ash pikachu giving him thunderbolt, iron tail, Tunder and quick attack making him so op he can destroy ground his weakness.

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Vaporeon gets roar, ice beam, and scald, which are even better TM moves. Also, just because you have iron tail doesn't mean you can cover your ground weakness.
252 Atk Light Ball Pikachu Iron Tail vs. 252 HP / 28 Def Tangrowth: 102-121 (25.2 - 29.9%) -- guaranteed 4HKO
0 Atk Tangrowth Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Pikachu: 290-342 (137.4 - 162%) -- guaranteed OHKO

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Surf is good, for ground coverage

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252 SpA Light Ball Pikachu Surf vs. 252 HP / 228+ SpD Assault Vest Tangrowth: 40-48 (9.9 - 11.8%) -- possible 9HKO
What, exactly, are you trying to do with surf?

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Tangrowth isn't a ground type, but I get it does have Earthquake... and Surf won't help against Garchomp and Zygarde :P

Correction, Pikachu is helpless against a Garchomp and Zygarde (Garchomp as an example), even with Focus Sash cosplay in gen 6 (Pikachu Belle, which has icicle crash) so see this scenario:

Garchomp is faster:
252 Atk Garchomp Earthquake vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Pikachu: 662-782 (313.7 - 370.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO
Pikachu holds on with sash
Pikachu attacks second:
252+ Atk Pikachu Icicle Crash vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Garchomp: 248-296 (77.2 - 92.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Garchomp faints Pikachu.

The only way Pikachu would win is if Garchomp Had a -def nature, and it wouldn't be a guaranteed OHKO
252+ Atk Pikachu Icicle Crash vs. 0 HP / 0- Def Garchomp: 276-328 (85.9 - 102.1%) -- 12.5% chance to OHKO

So, in gen 6, Pikachu at best has a 12.5% chance to beat Garchomp. And light ball doesn't help because Garchomp is faster (even mega evolved).

So, yeah, I'd say a Pokemon that can be x4 effective to a dual type with a move better than Hidden Power and not KO it is pretty bad. But hey, what do I know ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Are you thinking I am telling to use Pikachu? I just told surf is good for ground coverage in NFE. Mega Garchomp lose speed when mega evolve

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There's no such format as NFE. I guess you can make one, but then you'd be the only person playing it.

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It would be middle cup

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Showdown! doesn't support Middle Cup anymore. Even when it did, Pikachu was pretty bad.

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I told, I hate Pikachu. I am not telling Pikachu is awesome. I know, Pikachu sucks in MC.

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But you said surf is good for ground coverage, which is not true.

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To know more info about NFE, go to the tier page in Bulbapedia. The asker loves Pikachu, he wants to use it, and surf is the only option for ground coverage. Also, most common NF ground E pokemon is  Rhydon. Surf >Rhydon

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First, why would you look up this information on Bulbapedia and rely on second-hand information when Smogon, the community that defines and develops those tiers has their own website? Even better, Smogon loads faster and has less ads. Second, are you sure surf is an option for ground coverage?
252 SpA Pikachu Surf vs. 252 HP / 240 SpD Rhydon: 276-328 (66.6 - 79.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO (of course, that's without eviolite)

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Then go to Smogon teambuiler and search NFE. Also, do you think that everyone don't use items? Let's give them their most common items.

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252 SpA Light Ball Pikachu Surf vs. 252 HP / 240 SpD Eviolite Rhydon: 368-436 (88.8 - 105.3%) -- 31.3% chance to OHKO

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That's still a 69% chance of not getting the OHKO. It's even worse for ground Pokemon that aren't also rock type.

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Btw, Grass knot is better.
252 SpA Light Ball Pikachu Grass Knot (100 BP) vs. 252 HP / 240 SpD Eviolite Rhydon: 408-484 (98.5 - 116.9%) -- 93.8% chance to OHKO

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First, just because NFE is a tier doesn't mean it's a playable format. Tiers and formats are different things. Also, grass knot is good for covering Rhydon. It's not necessarily good for covering ground.