Major Changes:
[Overview]
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]
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]
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]
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]
- Added a CB set
- Rewrote some of the check/counters/set comments
- Mentioned Sheer Force and moveset changes(Rockslide, Zen Headbutt getting priority over previous options) that go along with that ability
- I hated testing this thing btw
[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.
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.
- 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.
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]
- 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.
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
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
- 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)