[OVERVIEW]
Ampharos makes a name for itself as the best cleric and Electric-type in ADV UU. In a metagame where teams are filled with multiple Pokemon using Toxic or spreading paralysis, Heal Bell is one of the most valuable utility tools for sustaining both offensive and defensive Pokemon, and Ampharos is very effective at using it. Ampharos is a common switch-in to the tier's plethora of Water- and Electric-types by virtue of having impressive mixed bulk coupled with a great ability in Static, which is good at punishing weak contact moves like Rapid Spin, Thief, and Scyther's Aerial Ace. Ampharos isn't a completely passive wall, however, as it is blessed with an astounding base 115 Special Attack stat, which is tied for the highest in the tier with Omastar. This means that it doesn't need much investment to match the power of other Electric-types. Ampharos is a staple on a wide variety of teams that need its cleric support, from balance to bulky offense, working on both Toxic spam and paralysis spam archetypes.
However, what can hinder Ampharos as a wall is its lack of recovery outside of Leftovers. This, in conjunction with its poor base Speed, means it has trouble switching in repeatedly when Spikes are up. While Heal Bell is a good support option, its low 8 PP is also a problem for Ampharos, meaning it has to use its opportunities to use Heal Bell wisely, lest it gets overwhelmed by foes repeatedly statusing it. Many Pokemon can also use Heal Bell as an entry point, including powerful wallbreakers such as offensive Kangaskhan and Choice Band Solrock. The tier's common physical attackers usually run Ground-type moves, which Ampharos doesn't like taking due to its lower physical bulk, and even Water-types like Blastoise and Walrein can use Earthquake to keep Ampharos from repeatedly switching in. Finally, while Ampharos deals decent neutral damage, it can fall short of breaking past specially bulky targets like Kangaskhan and Cradily, often relying only on Toxic and Spikes pressure to make progress against them.
[SET]
Name: Cleric
Move 1: Thunderbolt
Move 2: Hidden Power [Ice]
Move 3: Toxic / Thunder Wave
Move 4: Heal Bell
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Static
Nature: Modest
EVs: 252 HP / 88 Def / 32 SpA / 120 SpD / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Ampharos is a team's primary user of Heal Bell, which allows it to absorb status and cure its teammates of their own status, increasing the longevity of bulkier teammates or keeping offensive threats healthy, both of which include itself. Hidden Power Ice is used to hit Grass- and Ground-types such as Vileplume, Cradily, and Gligar. Most Ground-types besides Nidoqueen are 2HKOed by it, while Gligar is OHKOed, making their entry risky if Ampharos makes correct predictions. Toxic lets Ampharos make progress against defensive cores and cripple its checks that aren't immune to Toxic such as Kangaskhan, Lanturn, Cradily, Hypno, and opposing Ampharos. Thunder Wave is an alternative status option to hinder the Speed of Pokemon like Kangaskhan and Arcanine on paralysis spam structures.
Maximum HP and 88 Defense EVs let Ampharos avoid a 2HKO from Choice Band Scyther's Hidden Power Bug, and 120 Special Defense EVs prevent a 3HKO from Lapras's Ice Beam. 16 Speed EVs are also used to outspeed certain defensive Omastar spreads.
Team Options
=========
Ampharos pairs well with nearly every Pokemon in the tier, but it especially appreciates teammates that can help sustain its longevity or pose an offensive threat. Kangaskhan provides Ampharos Wish support, spreads status through Toxic or Body Slam, and absorbs status from Ampharos's checks to maintain Heal Bell PP. Omastar checks most physical attackers that can threaten Ampharos, and it provides Spikes support that helps Ampharos threaten its checks upon switching in, since most of them aren't Spikes immune. If a Rapid Spin user tries to remove Omastar's Spikes, Ampharos can find entry and punish their attempt at spinning with Static. Omastar can also reliably run Rest with cleric support, keeping it healthy to check physical attackers long-term. Rapid Spin support from Tentacruel, Blastoise, and Hitmontop is appreciated for Ampharos to comfortably switch into the things it checks. Vileplume partners well with Ampharos, as its bulk and multitude of recovery options allow it to check Kangaskhan and opposing Ampharos, and it provides extra status support through Sludge Bomb poisons or Stun Spore. Pokemon that pose sweeping threats help Ampharos's team establish a long-term offensive threat to mitigate some of Ampharos's own passivity. Long-term win conditions with Rest such as Slowking, Xatu, and Curse users like Walrein, Lapras, and Muk are great in this role, as they are at their most threatening when backed by cleric support to reduce the number of turns they are asleep. Ampharos is one of the best leads in the tier, as it checks common leads such as Qwilfish, Granbull, and Walrein, and it can stalemate with other Electric-type leads like Ampharos and Electabuzz. However, it can also be useful outside of the lead position to preserve its health until it needs to switch in against Water- and Electric-types.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Focus Punch can be used over a status move with a Quiet nature to break past Kangaskhan, but it reduces Ampharos's ability to make progress using status, and it isn't guaranteed to 2HKO Kangaskhan with Defense investment. Protect can be used instead of a status move for Ampharos to gain more Leftovers recovery, scout Choice Band users such as Solrock, and guard itself against Explosion from Pokemon like Qwilfish and Electrode. Rest can be used with a secondary cleric to give Ampharos recovery and preserve Heal Bell PP for itself. Hidden Power Grass is an alternative Hidden Power choice to be able to deal meaningful damage on Lanturn without resorting to Toxic, and it hits Golem and Quagsire 4x super effectively. However, Hidden Power Ice is preferred for more common checks to Ampharos. Counter can be used to get a surprise KO on some physical attackers that threaten Ampharos, but it has higher risk than reward compared to other consistent options.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Kangaskhan**: Kangaskhan walls Ampharos with great special bulk and Early Bird Rest to nullify status. Kangaskhan's Speed also means it will get the jump on Ampharos to pressure with a Normal-type STAB move or to recover off damage it takes from Thunderbolt with Spikes up. Even if Kangaskhan isn't going the bulky route, its offensive sets are able to severely dent Ampharos while avoiding Static when using Earthquake.
**Ground-types**: Ground-types can find entry on Thunderbolt and proceed to scare out Ampharos. Nidoqueen is a bulky wallbreaker with a Toxic immunity that can use its entry to pressure Ampharos's team with strong coverage and Sludge Bomb poisons, which puts the onus on Ampharos to come back in to use Heal Bell to clear the poison, circling back around to giving Nidoqueen entry again. Quagsire and Camerupt's unique typings allow them to not be affected by BoltBeam coverage, which lets them stonewall Ampharos and apply pressure to its team. Other Ground-types such as Gligar, Golem, Sandslash, and Nidoking can find entry, but they take more damage from Hidden Power Ice and have to be more careful when switching in.
**Grass-types**: Bulky Grass-types are able to come in and wall Ampharos, with their weakness to Hidden Power Ice being offset with bulk and instant recovery. Cradily is a prime Ampharos check despite its vulnerability to Toxic. It has great special bulk that lets it shrug off Hidden Power Ice, packs super effective coverage in Earthquake to punish passive plays like Toxic and Heal Bell and threaten a 3HKO, and has Recover with 32 PP, which means unlike other Grass-types that rely on Synthesis or Moonlight, its recovery option can be used liberally over the course of a game. Vileplume is immune to Toxic while having Leech Seed and Moonlight to outlast Ampharos with recovery, and it makes progress through Sludge Bomb poisons or even setting up Swords Dance. Roselia and Cacturne enter on Ampharos to set up Spikes, with Roselia preventing Ampharos from making progress due to its Toxic immunity and Synthesis and Cacturne exerting pressure with Encore and Counter.
**Bulky Electric-types**: Ampharos is able to check itself due to its huge bulk, and it can force opposing Ampharos to burn Heal Bell PP by repeatedly using status moves. Lanturn can find entry on Ampharos with Volt Absorb healing off any prior damage it takes, meaning it can stonewall Ampharos due to its BoltBeam resistance. Lanturn can protect itself against status from Ampharos by using Substitute or Rest, and can pressure it by battering it down with Surf or forcing it to burn Heal Bell PP by using Toxic.
**Muk**: Muk's enormous special bulk, coupled with a Toxic immunity, allows it to come in on Ampharos and break open holes in Ampharos's team, or even pose a threat to sweep with Curse + Rest.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/lpz.476616/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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