Rampardos - UNRESERVED [QC 3/3]
 

Major Changes:

1. Added a CB set
2. Rewrote some of the check/counters/set comments
3. Mentioned Sheer Force and moveset changes(Rockslide, Zen Headbutt getting priority over previous options) that go along with that ability
4. I hated testing this thing btw

http://www.pokemonelite2000.com/sprites/bw/409.png





[Overview]

• Highest base Attack in the metagame at 165
• Besides its attack, everything else is mediocre
• Great coverage with a myriad of attack options(Fire punch, Superpower, Head Smash, Earthquake, etc)
• Head smash can blast through most pokemon that doesn't resist it, at the cost of recoil damage of course.
• With Sheer Force, moves such as Zen Headbutt, Fire Punch, and Rock Slide gain more power.
• Very frail, hard to find a time to set up
• Fairly slow without a Rock Polish or Scarf
• Terrible typing
• With the right support Rampardos can plow through an entire team.

[SET]

name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Rock Slide
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe







[SET COMMENTS]

• With a Choice Scarf it outspeeds base 110s giving it some much needed speed with it's already immense firepower.
• Head Smash is its killer move, with Stab and a massive base power, only a bulky pokemon that can resist the move will be able to switch in without being 2HKOed.
• Earthquake hits the Steel-types that would otherwise wall Rampardos.
• Zen Headbutt removes Fighting-types while also receiving Sheer Force boost.
• Rock Slide gets the final slot since it receives Sheer Force boost that makes it nearly identical to Stone Edge's power while Stone Edge does not receive the boost. Rock Slide is more reliable than Stone Edge while it doesn't have the recoil effects of Head Smash. Makes for a good late game sweeping move when Rampardos can't spare HP towards recoil.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• Adamant is an option over Jolly but with Sheer Force and Head Smash, Rampardos has more than enough power. Jolly is also essential when trying to outspeed key threats.
• Fire Punch can be used over Rock Slide in order to hit Ferroseed for super-effective damage, otherwise Ferroseed walls this set.
• Pursuit can also be used over Rock Slide in order to trap key threats that hinders the success of another team member or Rampardos itself when they are on low HP.
• Magneton makes a great teammate in its ability to trap and eliminate or weaken Steel-types that hinder Rampardos' killer move, especially Ferroseed who walls Rampardos without Fire Punch.
• Quagsire, Steelix, Tangrowth, bulky Ground- and Steel-types all give Rampardos trouble. To eliminate these physically defensive counters, Rampardos would pair well with Grass- and Water-types that cover Rampardos' weaknesses at the same time. For example, Rotom-C offers Will-o-Wisp support and momentum through the use of Volt Switch. Slowking on the otherhand offers resistance to Water and Fighting and can deal with the above mentioned defensive threats. Nidoqueen can eliminate most of the threats mentioned with its amazing coverage, giving Rampardos a great offensive partner.
• Since this set forces a lot of switches, hazard would be really useful damaging those grounded defensive road blocks for Rampardos. Ferroseed and Roselia can both set up hazards while being able to tank some of Rampardos' key weaknesses. Nidoqueen and Mesprit can more offensive options in their ability to set up hazards, take on Fighting-type moves, while being able to go on the attack.

[SET]

name: Choice Band
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Rock Slide / Superpower
item: Choice Band
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe







[SET COMMENTS]

• A neutral Head Smash ensures a OHKO on everything in the metagame after Stealth Rock except for Uxie(81.36% - 96.05%), Cofagrigus(83.44% - 98.44%), and Tangrowth(73.51% - 86.88%).
• Head Smash can 2HKO most resists as well leaving very few Pokemons being able to switch in. Even the most defensive Quagsire has a good chance to be 2HKOd(100% chance with Spikes). Sandslash can get 2HKOd with some prior damage and hazards(45.76% - 54.24%). Only notable exceptions are Ferrothorn and Steelix.
• Zen Headbutt ensures a OHKO on all Fighting-types except max HP Gallade where it is slightly above a 50% chance for a OHKO.
• Earthquake is the only way for Rampardos to break through the most defensive Steel-types. Earthquake is nearly 100% chance for a 2HKO on Steelix.
• Rock Slide makes for a reliable back up STAB move incase the power of Head Smash isn't needed. Rock Slide gets the Sheer Force boost while giving Rampardos another method of attack without having to lose HP towards recoil.
• [Will provide a damage calculation table to make these explanations easier]

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• Fire Punch can be used of Rock Slide in order for Rampardos to get past Ferroseed.
• This set lacks speed so paralysis support is required.
• Amoongus makes for a great partner since Stun Spore can paralyze Ground-types, Spore can immobilize a Pokemon, and Amoongus resists Water- and Grass-type attacks aimed at Rampardos.
• Rotom-C and Slowking can both use Thunder Wave and offer good resistances.
• Magneton can trap Ferroseed, weaken other Steel-types, and use Thunder Wave.
• This set will force a lot of switches and with hazards, Rampardos can pretty much 2HKO anything with the right move. Ferroseed, Uxie, and Mesprit can lay hazards and use Thunder Wave while each having their own defensive purposes as well. Mesprit can also use Healing Wish to restore Rampardos' HP after recoil and various loss in HP it received in order for Rampardos to continue its rampage.
• Nidoqueen wrecks a lot of its counters.

[SET]

name: Rock Polish
move 1: Rock Polish
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Earthquake
move 4: Zen Headbutt
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Adamant
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe




[SET COMMENTS]

• Hard to find time to setup since Rampardos is fragile and has a horrible defensive typing unless it has a lot of support.
• Rock Polish allows Rampardos to switch between moves while being able to outspeed the entire unboosted tier.
• Head Smash and Rock Slide are both viable options for its STAB move. Head Smash has that horrible recoil+LO damage but even though Rockslide doesn't cause any residual damage, the power difference is quite visible.
• Earthquake covers Steel-types such as Steelix and Klinklang.
• Zen Headbutt gets Sheer Force boost while covering Fighting-types

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• Fire Punch can be used for Ferroseed who walls this set.
• Will-O-Wisp users make great teammates as it allows Rampardos an easier time to setup versus physical attackers. Cofagrigus and Spiritomb are great candidates since they are immune to Fighting-type moves, can spin block, and use Will-O-Wisp.
• Moltres, Magmortar, Magneton, Nidoqueen can all destroy Ferroseed while also being able to threaten the defensive Steel-types and bulky Ground-types that hinder Rampardos' sweep.
• Sleep inducers are another way of being able to create opportunities for a Rampardos sweep. Smeargle can set up hazards and Spore. Amoongus and Roselia can both absorb Water- and Grass-type moves while being able to induce Sleep.

[SET]

name: Trick Room Sweeper
move 1: Rock Slide
move 2: Earthquake
move 3: Zen Headbutt
move 4: Fire Punch / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Brave
evs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 Def
ivs: 0 Spe







[SET COMMENTS]

• Doesn't have to worry as much about being revenge killed in Trick Room with its below average Speed and high Attack.
• Head Smash is its primary weapon of choice but Rock Slide is a decent alternative or addition so Rampardos doesn't kill itself too quickly from LO and Head Smash recoil.
• Earthquake for Steel-types
• Zen Headbutt for Fighting-types
• Fire Punch can nail Ferroseed for the OHKO and serves as an alternative method to kill Grass-types like Amoongus(will calc later) without adding more recoil damage.
• Substitute can also be used to protect Rampardos from priority and can take advantage of a potential switch under Trick Room.

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

• Hammer Arm is an option to lower Speed even more to outspeed additional Pokemons under Trick Room.
• Sword Dance can work to boost Rock Slide's power if one opts not to use Head Smash.
• Slowking is a great team for its ability to set up and sweep under Trick Room and provides valuable resistances for Rampardos.
• Cofagrigus can help take on Fighting moves aimed at Rampardos while also being able to set up Trick Room and spin block for a Trick Room offense team.
• Uxie and Mespirit can both set up Trick Room and hazards and use a slow U-turn to switch in Rampardos safely. Mespirit can also utilize Healing Wish to give Rampardos a second wind if it needs it. Uxie can setup Light Screen and Reflect and use Memento to safely bring in Rampardos. This gives Rampardos a chance to set up a Swords Dance relatively safely.
• Smeargle can set up hazards, Trick Room, and Spore to give Rampardos one of the best conditions to sweep.

[Other Options]

• Sub Punch set
• Sword Dance set
• Superpower/Outrage/Double Edge inferior to Head Smash
• Stealth Rocks+Endeavor
• Crunch/Assurance
• LO+Sheer Force+ Fire Blast / Ice Beam

[Checks and Counters]

• Quagsire, Steelix, Tangrowth, Cofagrigus, Sandslash, Cofagrigus, Poliwrath, Rhydon
• Ferroseed(if there is no Fire Punch)
• Priority(Hitmonchan, Feraligator, Spiritomb, Absol)
• Anything above base 110 speed vs Choice Scarf set can pretty much revenge kill it. Easy to revenge kill if it isn't Scarf Set.
• Bulky Fighting-Types(Throh, Hariyama, Hitmonchan, Gallade)

Head Smash gets the Sheer Force boost? Have you confirmed this because, frankly, that makes no sense at all to me.

oops sorry about that, for some reason I thought all the head smashing moves had sheer force(probably because of all the OHKOs Head Smash gets). Changed

I know you wanted to get an answer on this but I really haven't used Rampardos. However, I would probably remove the Choice Band set, as Rampardos is really slow and has a lot of common weaknesses; it probably wouldn't get more than 1 KO, if that. I'd still say that the other sets are viable because Rampardos can do quite a bit of work with the right support and a Choice Scarf/Rock Polish/TR Support. Can someone else weigh in on this??

I think that you should mention Rampardos' special movepool. Tauros with Fire Blast is a legit threat with Sheer Force, Rampardos has even higher SpA (still obviously crap though) and can use Fire Blast and Ice Beam to effectively bring down Steelix (4x resistance to STAB Rock moves mean that it can cheerfully wall Rampardos) and Tangrowth. Fire Blast nails the former two and Ferroseed, while Ice Beam gets a really strong hit on Sandslash, Torterra, Rhydon, (also Tangrowth obviously). Therefore I think that an all out attacking set with LO and a SpD lowering nature could be a thing. Head Smash isn't recommended here though, since it sucks with LO and the special moves can take down stuff that easily tank Head Smash. I'm thinking something like Rock Slide, Earthquake, Zen Headbutt, Fire Blast/Ice Beam.

Yeah I agree with Cherub, atleast mention those in oo.

-As for counters, take Defensive Nidoqueen out. Defensive Nidoqueen is rarely even seen, not to mention it certainly will not like taking Earthquakes. Defensive Poliwrath is an excellent counter to Rampardos, so definitely add that in. Rhydon is a solid Ramp switch in as well, being able to take Head Smashes.

-Mention Nidoqueen as an excellent Rampardos team mate. If you look at what you listed in the counters section, LO Nidoqueen easily 2HKOs or OHKOs all of those, as well as being sr resistant etc to switch in.

-If you are going to list Cofag as a check, list Tangrowth also since it survives CB Head Smash, has STAB Giga Drain etc. You can list Regirock i guess but it doesnt see too much use in RU

-Slash Superpower on the CB set somewhere. It hits Sandslash and company switch ins harder than Earthquake and is a better "hit once switch out" move. Also hits Steelix harder.

will edit when i think of more stuff :)

I'll test the LO set that cherub mentioned and perhaps take out CB for that. It sounds like it is just a more flexible version of CB set.

Added the stuff August suggested

Thanks guys

Having used Rampardos before, there's really no reason to use Head Smash on the LO sets (Rock Polish & Trick Room). The power is nice, but the 50% recoil and 80% accuracy really makes for an inconsistent strategy. Add that with LO recoil and Rampardos's sweep would halt unexpectedly.

With Rock Slide being boosted to the level of Stone Edge (but with better accuracy) and FREE LO-boost, is there any reason to NOT use the more consistent and sufficiently powerful Rock Slide over the suicidal & overkill Head Smash?

Basically Rock Slide should be a keeper on those sets; switch places of Rock Slide and Head Smash.

The Choice Band set has actually always done a good job for me.
While it is true that he won't be able to sweep (unlike other variants), he can easily break down walls with his sheer power. This is especially useful for offensive teams, who commonly struggle against those treats.

There are lots of pokemon Rampardos can outspeed even without any boost, and if it ever manages to come out on one of those, you will almost certainly be able to severaly cripple your opponents strategie.
Sometimes you need a singe pokemon to fall, in order to sweep the rest, and this is what banded Rampardos is for.

Minor nitpick, but you listed Cofagrigus twice

This looks fine to me, you might want to put band as the last set or close to the last set, but otherwise nice job! :)

http://i645.photobucket.com/albums/u.../Rampardos.jpg
QC Approved 1/3

qc approved 2/3!

QC Approved 3/3

If anyone wants to write this up please post in the reservation thread!