What it does
Power Whip is a Grass physical move with high base power but accuracy below the standard 100%. Grass coverage targets Water and Ground types primarily — both are common in competitive play, and a high-power Grass physical move can threaten them in a way that lower-power options can't.
The only real drawback is that accuracy. In a scenario where one hit closes the game, it's fine. In a war of attrition where you need multiple hits, missing at a critical moment can flip the game.
Who runs it
Tsareena (36%) is the most natural user — it's Grass-type, so Power Whip is STAB, and with Tsareena's physical Attack investment, the numbers are significant. Tsareena's competitive kit relies on Power Whip as the primary damage output, supplemented by utility kicks and support options. In doubles, Power Whip is the highest single-turn Grass damage available and can pressure Water, Ground, and Rock types that otherwise check Tsareena's team.
Gyarados (14%) uses it as off-type coverage. Gyarados is Water/Flying with high base Attack, and Power Whip converts that into a Grass-type hit that threatens the Ground types and other Water types that would normally absorb Gyarados's main Water STAB. It's not common (14%), but in specific team configurations where Gyarados needs to handle those matchups without switching out, it earns the slot.
How to use it
Target Water and Ground types: That's the primary use case. Both are common enough that Grass coverage usually finds relevant targets throughout a game.
Go for the one-hit KO: Given the accuracy shortfall, prioritize using Power Whip when the target is in one-hit range. If you need three hits and two of them risk missing, the math gets bad quickly. Check HP ranges before committing.
Full damage in doubles: Single-target, no 0.75× spread reduction. Against a high-defense Water type in doubles, Power Whip on a physically invested attacker hits harder than most special Grass options.
Tips & strategy
Sap Sipper reverses the move: Grass moves absorbed by Sap Sipper raise the target's Attack instead of dealing damage. Using Power Whip into a Sap Sipper user gives your opponent a free Attack boost. Check abilities before clicking.
The accuracy trade-off: This is a personal call. If your team design needs the coverage badly and the targets are in one-shot range, the accuracy is worth it. If you're consistently needing two or more hits, consider whether a more accurate but lower-power alternative fits better.
Gyarados coverage logic: Gyarados runs Power Whip specifically to handle targets that counter its Water moves. If the current team has no such threats, that slot is better used elsewhere. It's not a default pick — it answers a specific problem.