Statistics
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
97
|
- |
335 |
398 |
- |
| Atk |
165
|
329 |
366 |
429 |
471 |
| Def |
60
|
140 |
156 |
219 |
240 |
| SpA |
65
|
149 |
166 |
229 |
251 |
| SpD |
50
|
122 |
136 |
199 |
218 |
| Spe |
58
|
136 |
152 |
215 |
236 |
Rampardos is the epitome of the term "glass cannon." Its Attack stat is absolutely monstrous and its HP isn't bad, but its other stats all prove underwhelming, especially its Speed. This set is arguably the most practical way to use Rampardos, boosting its Speed that it sorely needs in order to sweep. Rampardos' Mold Breaker ability is one of the things that sets it apart. Being able to hit threats like Gengar, Rotom-appliance, and especially Bronzong with Earthquake are great advantages for Rampardos.
Stone Edge is for powerful STAB- coming off of 471 attack, it severely dents anything that doesn't resist it. Earthquake combines with Stone Edge for unresisted coverage, and its Mold Breaker ability lets it deliver super effective hits to top defensive threats such as Bronzong and the Rotom formes. Zen Headbutt hits Machamp and Hariyama harder than anything Rampardos can pack, and these two are common switch-ins due to their resistance to Stone Edge. Endeavor works especially well alongside Focus Sash, as common switch-ins to Rampardos such as Swampert and Hippowdon are crippled by Endeavor reducing their HP to one. Natural Gift combines with Liechi Berry to create a Base 80 Grass-type attack, which easily disposes of an opposing Swampert as well as dealing excellent damage to Rhyperior. Liechi Berry also stands rather well on its own, as in a Sandstorm, Rampardos can survive weaker Surfs from Pokémon such as defensively oriented Suicune, Tentacruel, Starmie, and Vaporeon and then go on to sweep with +2 Speed and +1 Attack.
A Pokémon like Rampardos screams out for a Choice set. Its huge power and low speed mean that Choice Scarf can help it be more effective within the OU metagame. Stone Edge's STAB is the main attraction, boasting massive power off of Rampardos' 429 (if Jolly) or 471 (if Adamant) Attack. Earthquake gives Rampardos unresisted type coverage alongside Stone Edge, as well as hitting Pokémon such as Bronzong, Tyranitar, and the Rotom-formes for super effective damage. Zen Headbutt once again hits fighters such as Machamp and Hariyama looking to switch in on a resisted Stone Edge. The last slot is largely filler. Rampardos is largely unable to injure Pokémon such as Swampert, Cresselia, and others, so Toxic can cripple walls that attempt to switch in on Rampardos. Fire Punch, on the other hand, scores a clean OHKO on Forretress and Scizor, the latter of which can take a hit from Rampardos and retaliate with a fatal Bullet Punch. Pursuit can exploit the fact that Choice Scarfed Rampardos can scare off Gengar and the Rotom formes, which fear Rampardos' powerful Earthquake. Jolly is the preferred nature, as it reaches 351 Speed after a Choice Scarf, necessary to outrun things such as Gengar.
The Choice Bander plays a little differently. With a Choice Band, Rampardos' attack reaches an absurd 706, with Adamant, and 644, with Jolly. Adamant is the preferred nature, as Jolly's Attack is reduced by over 60 points, but the ability to outspeed Adamant Tyranitar is still useful. Choice Band sets must be used with care, as it outruns very little of the OU metagame, but very little is able to switch into a Choice Banded STAB Stone Edge off of a monstrous base 165 Attack, and it still outspeeds many OU walls.
Head Smash is an option over Stone Edge on either set, as the Choice Scarfer needs all the power it can- Jolly Head Smash has an almost always 2HKOes Skarmory, which can Roost and stall out Stone Edge.
Rampardos is possibly one of the most powerful Pokémon in the entire game after a Swords Dance. Not even the mighty Groudon can match its power, and this set takes advantage of that. Swords Dance boosts Rampardos' attack to an unprecedented 942. The attacks are standard: Earthquake + Stone Edge hits everything but Breloom for unresisted coverage, Zen Headbutt hits those bulky Fighting Pokémon that resist your STAB Rock attack.
Rampardos may be frail, but he's not defensively worthless. In a sandstorm, it will not be OHKOed by weaker Surfs from most bulky Water-types, making Salac Berry a viable alternative. If you use Salac Berry, use Jolly as your nature in order to outspeed more common threats including Gengar and Infernape.
Many things are tempted to switch out of Rampardos expecting a Choice Scarf variant. This set takes advantage of that. Substitute on a switch to a wall, then Swords Dance and Substitute again until you activate your Salac Berry. After that, sweep using Earthquake + Stone Edge, 858 attack, and 354 speed.
A stat spread like Rampardos' also cries out for a Trick Room set. Brave Rampardos with a 0 Speed IV reaches a low of 109 Speed, which is slower than almost any wall that tries to stand in its way. Head Smash is here because Rampardos doesn't need to survive a hit to set anything up, nor is it Substituting down. Due to Head Smash's 1/2 recoil, 252 HP EVs are recommended. Earthquake and Zen Headbutt hit most of the Pokémon that resist Head Smash for super-effective damage, other than Grounds, but Rampardos has no real way of hitting those outside of Ice Beam. Fire Punch is here for Torterra and Forretress.
Other Options
Rampardos' physical movepool leaves a lot to be desired, and what's listed is the extent of its usefulness. ThunderPunch is also available to hit bulky Water-types with more accuracy and reliability than Stone Edge, but its coverage is largely redundant with Stone Edge, which has the same power even when neutral. Crunch is available to hit Claydol and not much else compared to Stone Edge. Focus Punch can be used with prediction on the choice sets, but once again, a neutral Focus Punch has the same Base Power as a neutral STAB Stone Edge. Superpower can be used on the Choice Band set for a strong single hit against the likes of Swampert. Outrage from the CB set 2HKOs Swampert and other bulky Pokémon, but being locked into Outrage is a huge liability in a metagame packed with Bullet Punch Scizor and other Steel-type Pokémon.
EVs
Rampardos only needs two things: Speed and Attack. Max the two out and drop the last four EVs into HP. The Trick Room set wants the lowest Speed possible, with max HP for Head Smash recoil.
Opinion
Rampardos is the very essence of the term "glass cannon". Its stats not named Attack are all terrible, and in a metagame that focuses so much on speed, Rampardos just doesn't cut it. It can function when passed Speed, but it is largely outclassed by Marowak, which boasts higher attack with Thick Club attached, as well as passable defenses. That said, access to Rock Polish and Choice Scarf to augment its ailing Speed can use its incredible unparalleled Attack to put a huge dent in any team, something that Marowak cannot do. Its ability, Mold Breaker, also allows it to beat many common walls, such as Bronzong and the Rotom formes, with its powerful Earthquake, as well as useful things like circumventing Rhyperior's Solid Rock ability.
Counters
Hippowdon is the best counter in existence for Rampardos. It sports incredible defensive stats; resistance to Rampardos STAB, Rock; and Slack Off to allow it to take repeated abuses from its attacks. Other bulky Ground-types such as Swampert and Donphan work well but without a reliable recovery move are vulnerable to repeated hits. Scizor also makes a good counter as it can only be OHKOed by a Choice Band Stone Edge or Fire Punch, and it OHKOs Rampardos with its own Bullet Punch. Metagross can swap in on anything but Earthquake and Fire Punch and OHKO with Bullet Punch or simply with Meteor Mash. Very defensively oriented Rhyperior can switch in on a resisted Stone Edge or neutral Zen Headbutt, but has to watch out for Earthquake backed by Mold Breaker, which bypasses Solid Rock. Skarmory is never 2HKOed by an unboosted Stone Edge, and can often Roost away all of Stone Edge's PP.
