QC: Aurosis / erisia / rozes
GP: GatoDelFuego / Winry and Walrein
rozes sucks
[OVERVIEW]
With a gargantuan Attack stat and relatively decent Speed with a Choice Scarf, Rampardos stakes its claim in NU as one of the strongest revenge killers in the tier. To complement its impressive Attack, Rampardos also has a fantastic movepool and possesses the ability Sheer Force to boost most of its moves' power. Aside from its Attack, however, Rampardos's base stats are terrible and hinder its effectiveness. Its only relevant set is Choice Scarf, meaning that it can be locked into one move, and with its low base Speed it can also end up being outpaced by the likes of Floatzel and other relevant Choice Scarfed Pokemon such as Rotom, Jynx, and Primeape. Rampardos also possesses terrible defensive stats, which further decrease its overall offensive potential. On top of all this, Rampardos is also usually outclassed by other common offensive Rock-types such as Archeops and Barbaracle due to their better base Speed and ability to fill specific roles.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is Rampardos's strongest attack, dealing massive damage even if it's resisted and 2HKOing defensive Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Weezing. Rock Slide is Rampardos's Rock-type, Sheer Force-boosted STAB option, with more accuracy than Head Smash and no recoil. Superpower is one of the preferred coverage options, as it allows Rampardos to hit Pokemon such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Ferroseed that would otherwise be able to shrug off one of its STAB moves. Lastly, Zen Headbutt is a Sheer Force-boosted move used to nail defensive Poison-types and Fighting-types such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Hariyama. Earthquake is a more accurate option than Zen Headbutt, but it provides less power, and most of the things that Earthquake hits are already covered by Superpower and Rampardos's STAB moves. Using Earthquake also means being locked into a Ground-type move, which prevents Rampardos from hitting Flying-types or Levitate users.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf is the item of choice, as it allows Rampardos to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible—specifically very common Pokemon such as Tauros and Archeops. Sheer Force is Rampardos's ability for this set, as it grants a boost to moves like Rock Slide and Zen Headbutt. A Jolly nature and maximum investment in Attack and Speed allow Rampardos to hit as hard and fast as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Rampardos's main draw in NU is the fact that it's one of the tier's most powerful wallbreakers, so it should stick to being just that. Never try to pivot into Rampardos, as its frailty can lead to it being easily KOed on the switch. Instead, use Rampardos as a revenge killer. Try to bring it in early- and mid-game so teammates that can clean late-game have an easier time doing their job. It might not always be best to use STAB moves, especially when using a Choice Scarf. Playing with Rampardos may take some prediction, as choosing a move that's super effective against a Rhydon or Steelix switch-in can be crucial.
Team Options
========
Late-game sweepers or cleaners such as Combusken or Swellow greatly appreciate Rampardos's ability to break down physical walls for them. Faster Pokemon such as Rotom and Tauros can pick up the slack against more offensive or balanced teams to make up for Rampardos's low Speed. Entry hazard setters such as Omastar, Garbodor, and Ferroseed make for great teammates, as they can wear down some of Rampardos's common checks, such as Steelix and Rhydon, which can allow it to spam one of its STAB moves. U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Scyther and Rotom have the ability to bring Rampardos in safely if the opponent decides to switch out on either of the aforementioned Pokemon. Healing Wish users such as Mesprit are also decent teammates for Rampardos, as they can bring it back to full health if it whittles itself down with Head Smash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Band or Life Orb can be used on Rampardos to further increase its already gigantic Attack stat, but it loses out on the Speed needed to outspeed many of the Pokemon it actually wants to outspeed, such as Lilligant, Charizard, and Tauros. A mixed set containing Surf or Fire Blast can be useful for surprising physical walls such as Rhydon and Steelix, but most physical sets can already hit those Pokemon. A Sheer Force-boosted Fire Punch is also an option to hit Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Klinklang. A Rock Polish set is decent, but Rampardos usually just wants to use attacking moves to get heavy hits off. Rampardos can also run a Mold Breaker set with Stealth Rock and Endeavor, but it's usually outclassed by Pinsir as a Mold Breaker Stealth Rock setter due to its low Speed stat, which also means that KOing itself with Head Smash recoil is relatively easy to do, since most Rapid Spinners are faster. With the Mold Breaker set, it can also be used on a Sunny Day-based team as a suicide lead to set up Stealth Rock and sun.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Rhydon, Torterra, and Steelix can wall most of Rampardos's attacks, barring Superpower, so playing around these Pokemon might require some prediction.
**Priority Moves**: Pokemon with priority moves, such as Hariyama, Hitmonchan, Shiftry, and Samurott, can easily take out Rampardos with some prior damage.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Rampardos, such as Floatzel and other Choice Scarf users like Kabutops, Primeape, and Barbaracle, can outspeed Rampardos and KO it with a super effective attack.
GP: GatoDelFuego / Winry and Walrein
[OVERVIEW]
With a gargantuan Attack stat and relatively decent Speed with a Choice Scarf, Rampardos stakes its claim in NU as one of the strongest revenge killers in the tier. To complement its impressive Attack, Rampardos also has a fantastic movepool and possesses the ability Sheer Force to boost most of its moves' power. Aside from its Attack, however, Rampardos's base stats are terrible and hinder its effectiveness. Its only relevant set is Choice Scarf, meaning that it can be locked into one move, and with its low base Speed it can also end up being outpaced by the likes of Floatzel and other relevant Choice Scarfed Pokemon such as Rotom, Jynx, and Primeape. Rampardos also possesses terrible defensive stats, which further decrease its overall offensive potential. On top of all this, Rampardos is also usually outclassed by other common offensive Rock-types such as Archeops and Barbaracle due to their better base Speed and ability to fill specific roles.
[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Head Smash
move 2: Rock Slide
move 3: Superpower
move 4: Zen Headbutt / Earthquake
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Sheer Force
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Head Smash is Rampardos's strongest attack, dealing massive damage even if it's resisted and 2HKOing defensive Pokemon like Hitmonchan and Weezing. Rock Slide is Rampardos's Rock-type, Sheer Force-boosted STAB option, with more accuracy than Head Smash and no recoil. Superpower is one of the preferred coverage options, as it allows Rampardos to hit Pokemon such as Steelix, Rhydon, and Ferroseed that would otherwise be able to shrug off one of its STAB moves. Lastly, Zen Headbutt is a Sheer Force-boosted move used to nail defensive Poison-types and Fighting-types such as Weezing, Garbodor, and Hariyama. Earthquake is a more accurate option than Zen Headbutt, but it provides less power, and most of the things that Earthquake hits are already covered by Superpower and Rampardos's STAB moves. Using Earthquake also means being locked into a Ground-type move, which prevents Rampardos from hitting Flying-types or Levitate users.
Set Details
========
Choice Scarf is the item of choice, as it allows Rampardos to outspeed as many Pokemon as possible—specifically very common Pokemon such as Tauros and Archeops. Sheer Force is Rampardos's ability for this set, as it grants a boost to moves like Rock Slide and Zen Headbutt. A Jolly nature and maximum investment in Attack and Speed allow Rampardos to hit as hard and fast as possible.
Usage Tips
========
Rampardos's main draw in NU is the fact that it's one of the tier's most powerful wallbreakers, so it should stick to being just that. Never try to pivot into Rampardos, as its frailty can lead to it being easily KOed on the switch. Instead, use Rampardos as a revenge killer. Try to bring it in early- and mid-game so teammates that can clean late-game have an easier time doing their job. It might not always be best to use STAB moves, especially when using a Choice Scarf. Playing with Rampardos may take some prediction, as choosing a move that's super effective against a Rhydon or Steelix switch-in can be crucial.
Team Options
========
Late-game sweepers or cleaners such as Combusken or Swellow greatly appreciate Rampardos's ability to break down physical walls for them. Faster Pokemon such as Rotom and Tauros can pick up the slack against more offensive or balanced teams to make up for Rampardos's low Speed. Entry hazard setters such as Omastar, Garbodor, and Ferroseed make for great teammates, as they can wear down some of Rampardos's common checks, such as Steelix and Rhydon, which can allow it to spam one of its STAB moves. U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Scyther and Rotom have the ability to bring Rampardos in safely if the opponent decides to switch out on either of the aforementioned Pokemon. Healing Wish users such as Mesprit are also decent teammates for Rampardos, as they can bring it back to full health if it whittles itself down with Head Smash.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Band or Life Orb can be used on Rampardos to further increase its already gigantic Attack stat, but it loses out on the Speed needed to outspeed many of the Pokemon it actually wants to outspeed, such as Lilligant, Charizard, and Tauros. A mixed set containing Surf or Fire Blast can be useful for surprising physical walls such as Rhydon and Steelix, but most physical sets can already hit those Pokemon. A Sheer Force-boosted Fire Punch is also an option to hit Steel-types such as Ferroseed and Klinklang. A Rock Polish set is decent, but Rampardos usually just wants to use attacking moves to get heavy hits off. Rampardos can also run a Mold Breaker set with Stealth Rock and Endeavor, but it's usually outclassed by Pinsir as a Mold Breaker Stealth Rock setter due to its low Speed stat, which also means that KOing itself with Head Smash recoil is relatively easy to do, since most Rapid Spinners are faster. With the Mold Breaker set, it can also be used on a Sunny Day-based team as a suicide lead to set up Stealth Rock and sun.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Ground-types**: Bulky Ground-types such as Rhydon, Torterra, and Steelix can wall most of Rampardos's attacks, barring Superpower, so playing around these Pokemon might require some prediction.
**Priority Moves**: Pokemon with priority moves, such as Hariyama, Hitmonchan, Shiftry, and Samurott, can easily take out Rampardos with some prior damage.
**Faster Pokemon**: Pokemon that are faster than Rampardos, such as Floatzel and other Choice Scarf users like Kabutops, Primeape, and Barbaracle, can outspeed Rampardos and KO it with a super effective attack.
Last edited:
