According to the explanation of the [Help] Graphics.drawPath() method is faster than the traditional Graphics API.

Generally, drawings render faster with drawPath() than with a series of individual lineTo() and curveTo() methods.

However, as long as I tested and compared these methods, any significant differences were not found.

[Drawing API] of the [Help] shows an example code using the Graphics.drawPath() method, which runs faster than the Graphics.moveTo() and Graphics.lintTo() methods. But the coordinates to be passed to the methods are stored in a Vector object. The Vector object is directly specified to the Graphics.drawPath() method, while Graphics.moveTo() and Graphics.lintTo() methods have to take numbers out of the Vector object.

The best case to use Graphics.drawPath() method might be to draw the same shape to multiple instances. Once two Vector objects for the methods arguments are created they can be passed to the methods multiple times. The test code is uploaded to wonderfl.

Comparing Graphics.drawPath() method with traditional Graphics API – wonderfl build flash online

note: “AS3 graphics.drawPath versus moveTo, lineTo Methods – Preserving Transparency” is introduced to the wonderfl post as a comment.