Ambipom (Update)

Xia

Xia

On porpoise
is a Contributor Alumnus
Here's the truncated paragraphs that should be added on-site.

429.png

http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/ambipom

[Overview]
<p>Ambipom is typically seen as a lead, dishing out Technician-boosted attacks and one of the fastest Taunts in UU. This high Speed and power also makes Ambipom a reliable revenge killer or impromptu sweeper when it's not a lead. Although rarely seen in this role, Ambipom can also function as a Baton Passer, adding Agility and Nasty Plot boosts to the chain. Ambipom's Achilles heel is its defenses; it takes very little power to bring Ambipom down.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Taunt / Payback / Pursuit
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: U-turn / Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom is a great lead, thanks to its extremely high Speed, respectable Attack, great ability, and great movepool. Its ability to scout and Taunt are also extremely beneficial for a lead Pokemon.</p>

<p>Ambipom's bread and butter is its Technician-boosted Fake Out. It is a great attack to open a match with and can be helpful later in the match when a revenge killer is needed. The rest of this set is geared towards complementing Fake Out, stopping common leads who are immune to Fake Out and giving Ambipom a way to deal with - or escape - its most common switch-ins.</p>

<p>As far as moveslot options goes, Taunt has gained more usage, thanks to the prevalence of leads that focus on setting up entry hazards. Payback and Pursuit are both great answers to Ghost-types, such as Froslass, whom Ambipom would otherwise have troubles KOing. Having a speedy Taunt user is also very useful in UU, since many Pokemon utilize stat-boosting moves to add some bite to their attacks; Ambipom's presence typically is enough to keep them from even trying to boost.</p>

<p>Low Kick takes care of some of Ambipom's old counters, such as Registeel, Cloyster, and Steelix. Running STAB Return is a very appealing choice for Ambipom, although a moveset consisting of Fake Out, Taunt, Low Kick, and Return will leave Ambipom open to Ghost-types, such as Mismagius and Rotom. Running U-turn is a viable option if scouting is needed for your team's success, although Pursuit from the likes of Skuntank and Spiritomb will still hit for boosted damage when you U-turn out.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>As a "hit and run lead", Ambipom does not need to invest in any stats besides Attack and Speed. Ambipom is incredibly frail anyway and should focus on attacking. Silk Scarf will power up Ambipom's STAB moves, while Life Orb will power up all its moves. Unless you need Life Orb's extra power to get some specific KOs, Silk Scarf is probably the better choice, since Ambipom won't need to lose 20% of its health for using Fake Out + Return. Payback and U-turn don't really need to be boosted, since the former will be hitting for high damage against target Ghost-types and the latter is used to flee.</p>

<p>Lead Ambipom will enjoy being paired up with bulky Pokemon who can take advantage of weakened (and possibly Taunted) opponents. The multitude of leads weak to Fighting makes Hariyama a great choice, thanks to extremely bulky Substitutes and STAB Force Palm or Focus Punch. Having an answer to lead Spiritomb is almost a necessity, since Ambipom can barely dent it with U-turn; try Venusaur or Arcanine. Both are relatively bulky and are immediate threats that can take down Spiritomb fairly easily.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Pursuit / Payback
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Though it shares the same attacks as the Lead set, Life Orb Ambipom plays very differently, focusing less on scouting and causing light damage and more on actually remaining in the battle for an extended period of time.</p>

<p>Fake Out is Ambipom's obligatory attack, as the flinch and Technician boost always make it appealing. Return is what Ambipom will be using against the vast majority of its opponents. Low Kick comes in handy against defensive walls, such as Registeel or Cloyster, dealing 2HKOs to both.</p>

<p>Since many Pokemon fear the amount of damage Ambipom's Fake Out can deliver, a Dark-type move of your choosing is suggested in the fourth moveslot. The decision comes down to who you want Ambipom to damage. Pursuit will leave huge holes in any Pokemon your opponent is foolish enough to switch out, while Payback will OHKO many of the Ghost-types that like to switch in on a predicted Fake Out.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom is fairly frail, so having something that can provide Wish support is ideal. Clefable may be the best choice, since it can switch in without fear of entry hazards, provides Wish support, and can also absorb status thrown at Ambipom, most notably burn and paralysis. Clefable or Chansey can both run Aromatherapy, though pairing Ambipom up with another Normal-type is an open invitation to the likes of Hitmontop and Blaziken. Slowbro is a fairly decent switch-in to these Pokemon, since neither can do much to it, unless Blaziken is running a super effective Grass- or Electric-type attack. Milotic, too, is a decent switch-in, and has the added benefit of enjoying status; the Defense boost provided by Marvel Scale is greatly appreciated.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Pass and Attack
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Swift
move 4: Taunt / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom has access to Nasty Plot to boost its otherwise forgettable Special Attack stat as well as Baton Pass to gladly Pass the Nasty Plot to a teammate. Not many Pokemon can Baton Pass Special Attack boosts in UU effectively, making this set fairly unique in Underused play.</p>

<p>Nasty Plot is the wheels behind the set and keeps Ambipom moving forward with attacks or Baton Pass. Even with Technician, Ambipom would have no reason to use this set if it didn't have Nasty Plot in its movepool. Baton Pass allows Ambipom to pass Nasty Plot boosts to other recipients. Baton Pass can also help scout for switches if you need a quick switch as well.</p>

<p>The main STAB attack is Swift, an attack that never misses, which can come in handy if you ever fight a Pokemon that relies on you missing your attacks (Cacturne with Hippopotas support, for example). Swift also receives a handy Technician boost, giving it 90 Base Power, 135 total when factoring in STAB. The other attack is there for coverage, although Water Pulse is the preferred option, allowing Ambipom to hit Rock- and Ground-types for super effective damage while gaining unresisted coverage against everything but Shedinja with Swift.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Bulky Water-types, such as Milotic and Slowbro, enjoy receiving the Special Attack boost Ambipom provides, as do special sweepers like Rotom. Each of these partners also provides defensive support for Ambipom; Milotic absorbs status, Slowbro resists Fighting-type attacks and can retaliate with STAB Psychic, and Rotom is immune to Fighting-type attacks. Remember to watch out for phazers, though, as they can easily negate your stat boosts. Mr. Mime is a great partner if the whole team strategy revolves around Baton Pass, thanks to its ability, Soundproof. For more information on Baton Pass teams, look <a href="/dp/articles/baton_pass>here</a>.</p>

[SET]
name: Pure Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Taunt
item: Lum Berry
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although a bit frail without dual screen support, Ambipom has enough stat boosting moves in its movepool to be an all-out Baton Pass teammate.</p>

<p>Unlike the previous set, which could function on its own if the need arose, this set is entirely dependent on its teammates to defeat the opponent. The advantage this set has over its sister set, though, is it can Baton Pass not only Nasty Plot boosts, but Agility boosts as well. Taunt goes well with the Baton Pass strategy, since it keeps Pokemon who use Roar, Whilrlwind, and/or Perish Song from ruining your team strategy.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Obviously, slow special sweepers are the best recipients of both Speed and Special Attack boosts. Venomoth, though rarely seen, is able to do a lot of damage with boosts, thanks to Tinted Lens. Octillery benefits greatly from Speed and Special Attack boosts and has the added benefit of Suction Cups. Other noteworthy recipients include the partners listed in the previous set, along with the likes of Magneton, Espeon, and others.</p>

[Optional Changes]

<p>Ambipom has a plethora of moves, but none of them are extremely helpful. A combination of Fake Out and Last Resort that relies on using Fake Out to make Last Resort the only usable move is a gimmicky but usable set. However, if you wish to use this Ambipom, your team should be built around it; otherwise, it is dead weight. Fire Punch, ThunderPunch, Aerial Ace, and Seed Bomb are all other attacking options available to Ambipom, but they do not offer as much as the moves listed in each moveset (Aerical Ace can help against Fighting-types, though). Grass Knot can be used to help Ambipom against the likes of Rhyperior, Cloyster, and Omastar. Since Omastar and Cloyster are commonly seen as leads, it's very useful on the Lead set, though the Life Orb set can utilize Grass Knot with success. Players should drop Low Kick if they'd like to use Grass Knot.</p>

<p>As far as special and support moves go, Ambipom is decent at using Rain Dance and has plenty of support moves to go with it, such as Thunder, Water Pulse, and Taunt. However, Electrode is generally a better user of Rain Dance than Ambipom. Uproar can be used on the Nasty Plot attacker, preventing sleep and still receiving a Technician boost. Ambipom will be stuck using it for two to five turns, however, making Swift the superior choice.</p>

<p>Ambipom should always be using a positive Speed nature to ensure it outpaces many common leads and speed ties with enemy Ambipom. The increase in power given by an Adamant or Modest nature is hardly as important as Ambipom's Speed. Investing in defensive EVs is useless as well, since Ambipom's defenses won't be keeping it alive for long anyway.</p>

[Counters]

<p>The only leads Ambipom fears are Spiritomb, Moltres, and enemy Ambipom. Spiritomb Pursuit traps it and is immune or resists all of its attacks; Moltres can KO it easily with Overheat and Roost off any damage; enemy Ambipom force a speed tie, which more often than not forces Ambipom out on the first turn. Hitmontop is also a lethal threat, thanks to Intimidate and Mach Punch. Rhyperior survives Low Kick and easily KOes with STAB Earthquake or Megahorn. Phazers, such as Drapion, Steelix, and Hariyama, will stop the Baton Pass sets cold. In general, if a Pokémon can outspeed Ambipom or endure its attacks it will have no trouble overcoming Ambipom's barely-there defenses and KO it.</p>
 
Xia said:
[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Taunt / Payback / Pursuit
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: U-turn / Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Technician forms the crux of this set; it provides the power that makes this set so popular. Fake Out is a standard STAB opener, while the second and third moveslots help against problematic Pokémon, such as Froslass, Omastar, and Registeel. However, TrickScarf leads, like Claydol, will still pose problems, and this set can easily be Pursuit trapped.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom is a great lead, thanks to its extremely high Speed, respectable Attack, great ability, and great movepool. Its ability to scout and Taunt are also extremely beneficial for a lead Pokemon.</p>

<p>Ambipom's bread and butter is its Technician-boosted Fake Out. It is a great attack to open a match with, as well as being helpful later in the match when a revenge killer is needed. The drawback, however, is that Ambipom is limited to three moves after using Fake Out, or after the first turn Ambipom is in passes.</p>

<p>Taunt has gained more usage, thanks to the prevalence of leads that focus on setting up entry hazards. Payback and Pursuit are both great answers to Ghost-types, such as Froslass, whom Ambipom would otherwise have troubles KOing. Having a speedy Taunt user is also very useful in UU, since many Pokemon utilize stat-boosting moves to add some bite to their attacks; Ambipom's presence typically is enough to keep them from even trying to boost.</p>

<p>Low Kick takes care of some of Ambipom's old counters, such as Registeel, Cloyster, and Steelix. Running STAB Return is a very appealing choice for Ambipom, though a moveset consisting of Fake Out, Taunt, Low Kick, and Return will leave Ambipom open to Ghost-types, such as Mismagius and Spiritomb. Running U-turn is a viable option if scouting is needed for your team's success, though Pursuit will still hit for boosted damage if the opponent switches out.</p>

<p>As a "hit and run lead", Ambipom does not need to invest in any stats besides Attack and Speed. Ambipom has incredible frailness anyway and should focus on attacking. Silk Scarf will power up Ambipom's STAB moves, while Life Orb will power up all its moves. Unless you need Life Orb's extra power to get some specific KOs, Silk Scarf is probably the better choice, since Ambipom won't need to lose 20% of its health for using Fake Out + Return, and since U-turn and Payback don't really need to be boosted anyway.</p>

<p>Lead Ambipom will enjoy being paired up with bulky Pokemon who can take advantage of weakened (and possibly Taunted) opponents. The multitude of leads weak to Fighting makes Hariyama a great choice, thanks to extremely bulky Substitutes and STAB Force Palm or Focus Punch. Having an answer to lead Spiritomb is almost a necessity, since Ambipom can barely dent it with U-turn; try Venusaur or Arcanine. Both are relatively bulky and are immediate threats that can take down Spiritomb fairly easily.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Pursuit / Payback
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom can act as an efficient sweeper or revenge killer outside of the lead spot as well. Return is used after Fake Out to provide STAB damage, but other than that this set is exactly like the Lead set. Since Ambipom risks having to battle with Pokémon other than leads, Wish support is very useful; Ambipom's frailness and lack of double priority leaves it open to both enemy priority attacks and entry hazard damage, which is very unfavorable for such a frail sweeper.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though it shares the same attacks as the Lead set, Life Orb Ambipom plays very differently, focusing less on scouting and causing light damage and more on actually remaining in the battle for an extended period of time.</p>

<p>Fake Out is Ambipom's obligatory attack, as the flinch and Technician boost always make it appealing. Return, then, is what Ambipom will be using against the vast majority of its opponents. Low Kick comes in handy against defensive walls, such as Registeel or Cloyster, dealing 2HKOs to each.</p>

<p>Since many Pokemon fear the amount of damage Ambipom's Fake Out can deliver, a Dark-type move of your choosing is suggested in the fourth moveslot. The decision comes down to who you want Ambipom to damage. Pursuit will leave huge holes in any Pokemon your opponent is foolish enough to switch out, while Payback will OHKO many of the Ghost-types that like to switch in on a predicted Fake Out.</p>

<p>Ambipom is fairly frail, so having something that can provide Wish support is ideal. Clefable may be the best choice, since it can switch in without fear of entry hazards, provides Wish support, and can also absorb status thrown at Ambipom, most notably burn and paralysis. Clefable or Chansey can both run Aromatherapy, though pairing Ambipom up with another Normal-type is an open invitation to the likes of Hitmontop and Blaziken. Slowbro is a fairly decent switch-in to these Pokemon, since neither can do much to it, unless Blaziken is running a super effective Grass- or Electric-type attack. Milotic, too, is a decent switch-in, and has the added benefit of enjoying status; the Defense boost provided by Marvel Scale is greatly appreciated.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Pass and Attack
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Swift
move 4: Taunt / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although Ambipom's Special Attack stat is lower than its Attack stat, it has the ability to gain +2 boosts fairly easily and can Baton Pass out faster than most Pokemon in the metagame. Swift provides 100% accurate special damage. Taunt is an insurance policy against moves like Whirlwind and Roar, while Water Pulse provides great type coverage with Swift. The item choices do leave Ambipom open to status, however, so your team should be prepared to handle this weakness.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom has access to Nasty Plot to boost his otherwise forgettable Special Attack stat as well as Baton Pass to gladly pass the Nasty Plot to a teammate. Not many Pokemon can pass Special Attack in UU very well, and so this is something Ambipom excels at.</p>

<p>Nasty Plot is the wheels behind the set and keeps Ambipom moving forward with attacks or Baton Pass. Even with Technician, Ambipom would have no reason to use this set if it didn't have Nasty Plot in its movepool. Baton Pass allows Ambipom to pass Nasty Plot boosts to other recipients. Baton Pass can also help scout for switches if you need a quick switch as well.</p>

<p>The main STAB attack is Swift, an attack that never misses, which can come in handy if you ever fight a Pokemon that relies on you missing your attacks (Cacturne with Hippopotas support, for example). Swift also receives a handy Technician boost, giving it 90 Base Power, 135 total when factoring in STAB. The other attack is there for coverage, although Water Pulse is the preferred option, allowing Ambipom to hit Rock- and Ground-types for super effective damage. (maybe mention that Water + Normal is perfect coverage?)</p>

<p>Bulky Water-types, such as Milotic and Slowbro, enjoy receiving the Special Attack boost Ambipom provides, as do special sweepers like Rotom. Each of these partners also provides defensive support for Ambipom; Milotic absorbs status, Slowbro resists Fighting-type attacks and can retaliate with STAB Psychic, and Rotom is immune to Fighting-type attacks. Remember to watch out for phazers, though, as they can easily negate your stat boosts. Mr. Mime is a great partner if the whole team strategy revolves around Baton Pass, thanks to its ability, Soundproof. For more information on Baton Pass teams, look here.</p>

[SET]
name: Pure Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Taunt
item: Lum Berry
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses all of Ambipom's Baton Pass potential. Double +2 boosts from Nasty Plot and Agility help a special or mixed recipient greatly, and pairing them up on one Pokemon helps take some of the stress off of the rest of the chain. Taunt helps keep enemies from phazing you out, although Ambipom's frailness becomes very evident if an offensive threat shows up; dual screen support or previous defensive boosts is very much recommended when using this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though a bit frail without dual screen support, Ambipom has enough stat boosting moves in its movepool to be an all-out Baton Pass teammate.</p>

<p>Unlike the previous set, which could function on its own if the need arose, this set is entirely dependent on its teammates to defeat the opponent. The advantage this set has over its sister set, though, is it can Baton Pass not only Nasty Plot boosts, but Agility boosts as well. Taunt goes well with the Baton Pass strategy, since it keeps Pokemon who use Roar, Whirlwind, and/or Perish Song from ruining your team strategy.</p>

<p>Obviously, slow special sweepers are the best recipients of both Speed and Special Attack boosts. Venomoth, though rarely seen, is able to do a lot of damage with boosts, thanks to Tinted Lens. Other noteworthy recipients include the partners listed in the previous set, along with the likes of Magneton, Espeon, and others.</p> (maybe mention Octillery? It can't be phazed)
Click to expand...

Nice job Xia.

When I was reading through your analysis, you referred to Ambipom as both "it" and "he", so you should probably fix those.
 
[Overview]
<p>Ambipom is typically seen as a lead, dishing out Technician-boosted attacks and one of the fastest Taunts in UU. This high Speed and power also makes Ambipom a reliable revenge killer or impromptu sweeper outside (remove of) the lead position. Although rarely seen in this role, Ambipom can also function as a Baton Passer, adding Agility and Nasty Plot boosts to the chain. Ambipom's Achilles heel is its defenses; it takes very little power to bring Ambipom down.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Taunt / Payback / Pursuit
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: U-turn / Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Technician forms the crux of this set; it provides the power that makes this set so popular. Fake Out is a standard a STAB opener, while the second and third moveslots help against problematic Pokémon, such as Froslass, Omastar, and Registeel. However, TrickScarf leads, like Claydol, will still pose problems, and this set can easily be Pursuit trapped.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom is a great lead, thanks to its extremely high Speed, respectable Attack, great ability, and great movepool. Its ability to scout and Taunt are also extremely beneficial for a lead Pokemon.</p>

<p>Ambipom's bread and butter is its Technician-boosted Fake Out. It is a great attack to open a match with and can be helpful later in the match when a revenge killer is needed. The drawback, however, is that Ambipom is limited to three moves after using Fake Out, or after the first turn Ambipom is in passes.</p>

<p>Taunt has gained more usage, thanks to the prevalence of leads that focus on setting up entry hazards. Payback and Pursuit are both great answers to Ghost-types, such as Froslass, whom Ambipom would otherwise have troubles KOing. Having a speedy Taunt user is also very useful in UU, since many Pokemon utilize stat-boosting moves to add some bite to their attacks; Ambipom's presence typically is enough to keep them from even trying to boost.</p>

<p>Low Kick takes care of some of Ambipom's old counters, such as Registeel, Cloyster, and Steelix. Running STAB Return is a very appealing choice for Ambipom, though a moveset consisting of Fake Out, Taunt, Low Kick, and Return will leave Ambipom open to Ghost-types, such as Mismagius and Spiritomb. Running U-turn is a viable option if scouting is needed for your team's success, although Pursuit will still hit for boosted damage when you U-turn out. (Perhaps say what Pursuit users are likely to try to Pursuit Ambipom, all I can think of that would try is Spiritomb...)</p>

<p>As a "hit and run lead", Ambipom does not need to invest in any stats besides Attack and Speed. Ambipom is incredibly frail anyway and should focus on attacking. Silk Scarf will power up Ambipom's STAB moves, while Life Orb will power up all its moves. Unless you need Life Orb's extra power to get some specific KOs, Silk Scarf is probably the better choice, since Ambipom won't need to lose 20% of its health for using Fake Out + Return, and since U-turn and Payback don't really need to be boosted anyway. (explain why, perhaps because Payback will usually hit for super effective damage and because U-turn will be used to flee)</p>

<p>Lead Ambipom will enjoy being paired up with bulky Pokemon who can take advantage of weakened (and possibly Taunted) opponents. The multitude of leads weak to Fighting makes Hariyama a great choice, thanks to extremely bulky Substitutes and STAB Force Palm or Focus Punch. Having an answer to lead Spiritomb is almost a necessity, since Ambipom can barely dent it with U-turn; try Venusaur or Arcanine. Both are relatively bulky and are immediate threats that can take down Spiritomb fairly easily.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Pursuit / Payback
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom can act as an efficient sweeper or revenge killer outside of the lead spot as well. Return is used after Fake Out to provide STAB damage, but other than that this set is exactly like the Lead set. Since Ambipom risks having to battle with Pokémon other than leads, Wish support is very useful; Ambipom's frailness and lack of double priority leaves it open to both enemy priority attacks and entry hazard damage, which is very unfavorable for such a frail sweeper.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though it shares the same attacks as the Lead set, Life Orb Ambipom plays very differently, focusing less on scouting and causing light damage and more on actually remaining in the battle for an extended period of time.</p>

<p>Fake Out is Ambipom's obligatory attack, as the flinch and Technician boost always make it appealing. Return (remove ",then,") is what Ambipom will be using against the vast majority of its opponents. Low Kick comes in handy against defensive walls, such as Registeel or Cloyster, dealing 2HKOs to each.</p>

<p>Since many Pokemon fear the amount of damage Ambipom's Fake Out can deliver, a Dark-type move of your choosing is suggested in the fourth moveslot. The decision comes down to who you want Ambipom to damage. Pursuit will leave huge holes in any Pokemon your opponent is foolish enough to switch out, while Payback will OHKO many of the Ghost-types that like to switch in on a predicted Fake Out.</p>

<p>Ambipom is fairly frail, so having something that can provide Wish support is ideal. Clefable may be the best choice, since it can switch in without fear of entry hazards, provides Wish support, and can also absorb status thrown at Ambipom, most notably burn and paralysis. Clefable or Chansey can both run Aromatherapy, though pairing Ambipom up with another Normal-type is an open invitation to the likes of Hitmontop and Blaziken. Slowbro is a fairly decent switch-in to these Pokemon, since neither can do much to it, unless Blaziken is running a super effective Grass- or Electric-type attack. Milotic, too, is a decent switch-in, and has the added benefit of enjoying status; the Defense boost provided by Marvel Scale is greatly appreciated.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Pass and Attack
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Swift
move 4: Taunt / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although Ambipom's Special Attack stat is lower than its Attack stat, it has the ability to gain +2 boosts fairly easily and can Baton Pass out faster than most Pokemon in the metagame. Swift provides 100% accurate special damage. Taunt is an insurance policy against moves like Whirlwind and Roar, while Water Pulse provides great type coverage with Swift (mention how both Swift and Water Pulse are boosted by Technician). The item choices do leave Ambipom open to status, however, so your team should be prepared to handle this weakness. (mention how Taunt prevents status attacks)</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom has access to Nasty Plot to boost its otherwise forgettable Special Attack stat as well as Baton Pass to gladly pass the Nasty Plot to a teammate. Not many Pokemon can pass Special Attack in UU very well, but this is something Ambipom excels at.</p>

<p>Nasty Plot is the wheels behind the set and keeps Ambipom moving forward with attacks or Baton Pass. Even with Technician, Ambipom would have no reason to use this set if it didn't have Nasty Plot in its movepool. Baton Pass allows Ambipom to pass Nasty Plot boosts to other recipients. Baton Pass can also help scout for switches if you need a quick switch as well.</p>

<p>The main STAB attack is Swift, an attack that never misses, which can come in handy if you ever fight a Pokemon that relies on you missing your attacks (Cacturne with Hippopotas support, for example). Swift also receives a handy Technician boost, giving it 90 Base Power, 135 total when factoring in STAB. The other attack is there for coverage, although Water Pulse is the preferred option, allowing Ambipom to hit Rock- and Ground-types for super effective damage while gaining unresisted type coverage with Swift. (Shedinja resists Normal + Water, I know it isn't super common, but it does)</p>

<p>Bulky Water-types, such as Milotic and Slowbro, enjoy receiving the Special Attack boost Ambipom provides, as do special sweepers like Rotom. Each of these partners also provides defensive support for Ambipom; Milotic absorbs status, Slowbro resists Fighting-type attacks and can retaliate with STAB Psychic, and Rotom is immune to Fighting-type attacks. Remember to watch out for phazers, though, as they can easily negate your stat boosts. Mr. Mime is a great partner if the whole team strategy revolves around Baton Pass, thanks to its ability, Soundproof. For more information on Baton Pass teams, look here.</p>

[SET]
name: Pure Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Taunt
item: Lum Berry
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses all of Ambipom' Baton Pass potential. Double +2 boosts from Nasty Plot and Agility help a special or mixed recipient greatly, and pairing them up on one Pokemon helps take some of the stress off of the rest of the chain. Taunt helps keep enemies from phazing you out, although Ambipom's frailness becomes very evident if an offensive threat shows up; dual screens support or previous defensive boosts is very much recommended when using this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though a bit frail without dual screen support, Ambipom has enough stat boosting moves in its movepool to be an all-out Baton Pass teammate.</p>

<p>Unlike the previous set, which could function on its own if the need arose, this set is entirely dependent on its teammates to defeat the opponent. The advantage this set has over its sister set, though, is it can Baton Pass not only Nasty Plot boosts, but Agility boosts as well. Taunt goes well with the Baton Pass strategy, since it keeps Pokemon who use Roar, Whilrlwind, and/or Perish Song from ruining your team strategy.</p>

<p>Obviously, slow special sweepers are the best recipients of both Speed and Special Attack boosts. Venomoth, though rarely seen, is able to do a lot of damage with boosts, thanks to Tinted Lens. Octillery benefits greatly from Speed and Special Attack boosts and has the added benefit of Suction Cups. Other noteworthy recipients include the partners listed in the previous set, along with the likes of Magneton, Espeon, and others.</p>

[Optional Changes]
<p>Ambipom has a plethora of moves, but none of them are extremely helpful. A combination of Fake Out and Last Resort that relies on using Fake Out to make Last Resort the only usable move is a gimmicky but usable set. However, if you wish to use this Ambipom, your team should be built around it; otherwise, it is dead weight. Fire Punch, ThunderPunch, Aerial Ace, and Seed Bomb are all other attacking options available to Ambipom, but they do not offer as much as the moves listed in each moveset (Aerical Ace can help against Fighting-types, though). Grass Knot can be used to help Ambipom against the likes of Rhyperior, Cloyster, and Omastar. Since Omastar and Cloyster are commonly seen as leads, it's very useful on the Lead set, though the Life Orb set can utilize Grass Knot with success. Players should drop Low Kick if they'd like to use Grass Knot.</p>

<p>As far as special and support moves go, Ambipom is decent at using Rain Dance and has plenty of support moves to go with it, such as Thunder, Water Pulse, and Taunt. However, Electrode is generally a better user of Rain Dance than Ambipom. Uproar can be used on the Nasty Plot attacker, preventing sleep and still receiving a Technician boost. Ambipom will be stuck using it for two to five turns, however, making Swift the superior choice.</p>


<p>Ambipom should always be using a positive Speed nature to ensure it outpaces many common leads and speed ties with enemy Ambipom. The increase in power given by an Adamant or Modest nature is hardly as important as Ambipom's Speed. Investing in defensive EVs is useless as well, since Ambipom's defenses won't be keeping it alive for long anyway.</p>

Nice Job!
 
Xia said:
[Overview]
<p>Ambipom is typically seen as a lead, dishing out Technician-boosted attacks and one of the fastest Taunts in UU. This high Speed and power also makes Ambipom a reliable revenge killer or impromptu sweeper when it's not a lead. Although rarely seen in this role, Ambipom can also function as a Baton Passer, adding Agility and Nasty Plot boosts to the chain. Ambipom's Achilles heel is its defenses; it takes very little power to bring Ambipom down.</p>

[SET]
name: Lead
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Taunt / Payback / Pursuit
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: U-turn / Return
item: Life Orb / Silk Scarf
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Technician forms the crux of this set; it provides the power that makes this set so popular. Fake Out is a standard (delete a) STAB opener, while the second and third moveslots help against problematic Pokémon, such as Froslass, Omastar, and Registeel. However, TrickScarf leads, like Claydol, will still pose problems, and this set can easily be Pursuit trapped.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom is a great lead, thanks to its extremely high Speed, respectable Attack, great ability, and great movepool. Its ability to scout and Taunt are also extremely beneficial for a lead Pokemon.</p>

<p>Ambipom's bread and butter is its Technician-boosted Fake Out. It is a great attack to open a match with and can be helpful later in the match when a revenge killer is needed. The drawback, however, is that Ambipom is limited to three moves after using Fake Out, or after the first turn Ambipom is in passes.</p>

<p>Taunt has gained more usage, thanks to the prevalence of leads that focus on setting up entry hazards. Payback and Pursuit are both great answers to Ghost-types, such as Froslass, whom Ambipom would otherwise have troubles KOing. Having a speedy Taunt user is also very useful in UU, since many Pokemon utilize stat-boosting moves to add some bite to their attacks; Ambipom's presence typically is enough to keep them from even trying to boost.</p>

<p>Low Kick takes care of some of Ambipom's old counters, such as Registeel, Cloyster, and Steelix. Running STAB Return is a very appealing choice for Ambipom, although a moveset consisting of Fake Out, Taunt, Low Kick, and Return will leave Ambipom open to Ghost-types, such as Mismagius and Rotom. Running U-turn is a viable option if scouting is needed for your team's success, although Pursuit from the likes of Skuntank and Spiritomb will still hit for boosted damage when you U-turn out.</p>

<p>As a "hit and run lead", Ambipom does not need to invest in any stats besides Attack and Speed. Ambipom is incredibly frail anyway and should focus on attacking. Silk Scarf will power up Ambipom's STAB moves, while Life Orb will power up all its moves. Unless you need Life Orb's extra power to get some specific KOs, Silk Scarf is probably the better choice, since Ambipom won't need to lose 20% of its health for using Fake Out + Return. Payback and U-turn (you have them switched up) don't really need to be boosted, since the former will be hitting for high damage against target Ghost-types and the latter is used to flee.</p>

<p>Lead Ambipom will enjoy being paired up with bulky Pokemon who can take advantage of weakened (and possibly Taunted) opponents. The multitude of leads weak to Fighting makes Hariyama a great choice, thanks to extremely bulky Substitutes and STAB Force Palm or Focus Punch. Having an answer to lead Spiritomb is almost a necessity, since Ambipom can barely dent it with U-turn; try Venusaur or Arcanine. Both are relatively bulky and are immediate threats that can take down Spiritomb fairly easily.</p>

[SET]
name: Life Orb
move 1: Fake Out
move 2: Return
move 3: Low Kick
move 4: Pursuit / Payback
item: Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom can act as an efficient sweeper or revenge killer outside of the lead spot as well. Return is used after Fake Out to provide STAB damage, but other than that this set is exactly like the Lead set. Since Ambipom risks having to battle with Pokémon other than leads, Wish support is very useful; Ambipom's frailness and lack of double priority leaves it open to both enemy priority attacks and entry hazard damage, which is very unfavorable for such a frail sweeper.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though it shares the same attacks as the Lead set, Life Orb Ambipom plays very differently, focusing less on scouting and causing light damage and more on actually remaining in the battle for an extended period of time.</p>

<p>Fake Out is Ambipom's obligatory attack, as the flinch and Technician boost always make it appealing. Return is what Ambipom will be using against the vast majority of its opponents. Low Kick comes in handy against defensive walls, such as Registeel or Cloyster, dealing 2HKOs to both.</p>

<p>Since many Pokemon fear the amount of damage Ambipom's Fake Out can deliver, a Dark-type move of your choosing is suggested in the fourth moveslot. The decision comes down to who you want Ambipom to damage. Pursuit will leave huge holes in any Pokemon your opponent is foolish enough to switch out, while Payback will OHKO many of the Ghost-types that like to switch in on a predicted Fake Out.</p>

<p>Ambipom is fairly frail, so having something that can provide Wish support is ideal. Clefable may be the best choice, since it can switch in without fear of entry hazards, provides Wish support, and can also absorb status thrown at Ambipom, most notably burn and paralysis. Clefable or Chansey can both run Aromatherapy, though pairing Ambipom up with another Normal-type is an open invitation to the likes of Hitmontop and Blaziken. Slowbro is a fairly decent switch-in to these Pokemon, since neither can do much to it, unless Blaziken is running a super effective Grass- or Electric-type attack. Milotic, too, is a decent switch-in, and has the added benefit of enjoying status; the Defense boost provided by Marvel Scale is greatly appreciated.</p>

[SET]
name: Nasty Pass and Attack
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Baton Pass
move 3: Swift
move 4: Taunt / Water Pulse
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Although Ambipom's Special Attack stat is lower than its Attack stat, it has the ability to gain +2 boosts fairly easily and can Baton Pass out faster than most Pokemon in the metagame. Swift provides 100% accurate special damage. Taunt is an insurance policy against status and moves like Whirlwind and Roar, while Water Pulse provides great type coverage with Swift. The item choices do leave Ambipom open to status if you forgo Taunt, however, so your team should be prepared to handle this weakness.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ambipom has access to Nasty Plot to boost its otherwise forgettable Special Attack stat as well as Baton Pass to gladly pass the Nasty Plot to a teammate. Not many Pokemon can Baton Pass Special Attack boosts in UU effectively, making this set fairly unique in Underused play.</p>

<p>Nasty Plot is the wheels behind the set and keeps Ambipom moving forward with attacks or Baton Pass. Even with Technician, Ambipom would have no reason to use this set if it didn't have Nasty Plot in its movepool. Baton Pass allows Ambipom to pass Nasty Plot boosts to other recipients. Baton Pass can also help scout for switches if you need a quick switch as well.</p>

<p>The main STAB attack is Swift, an attack that never misses, which can come in handy if you ever fight a Pokemon that relies on you missing your attacks (Cacturne with Hippopotas support, for example). Swift also receives a handy Technician boost, giving it 90 Base Power, 135 total when factoring in STAB. The other attack is there for coverage, although Water Pulse is the preferred option, allowing Ambipom to hit Rock- and Ground-types for super effective damage while gaining unresisted coverage against everything but Shedinja with Swift.</p>

<p>Bulky Water-types, such as Milotic and Slowbro, enjoy receiving the Special Attack boost Ambipom provides, as do special sweepers like Rotom. Each of these partners also provides defensive support for Ambipom; Milotic absorbs status, Slowbro resists Fighting-type attacks and can retaliate with STAB Psychic, and Rotom is immune to Fighting-type attacks. Remember to watch out for phazers, though, as they can easily negate your stat boosts. Mr. Mime is a great partner if the whole team strategy revolves around Baton Pass, thanks to its ability, Soundproof. For more information on Baton Pass teams, look here.</p>

[SET]
name: Pure Baton Pass
move 1: Agility
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Baton Pass
move 4: Taunt
item: Lum Berry
ability: Technician
nature: Jolly
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>This set uses all of Ambipom' Baton Pass potential. Double +2 boosts from Nasty Plot and Agility help a special or mixed recipient greatly, and pairing them up on one Pokemon helps take some of the stress off of the rest of the chain. Taunt helps keep enemies from phazing you out, although Ambipom's frailness becomes very evident if an offensive threat shows up; dual screens support or previous defensive boosts are very much recommended when using this set.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Though a bit frail without dual screen support, Ambipom has enough stat boosting moves in its movepool to be an all-out Baton Pass teammate.</p>

<p>Unlike the previous set, which could function on its own if the need arose, this set is entirely dependent on its teammates to defeat the opponent. The advantage this set has over its sister set, though, is it can Baton Pass not only Nasty Plot boosts, but Agility boosts as well. Taunt goes well with the Baton Pass strategy, since it keeps Pokemon who use Roar, Whilrlwind, and/or Perish Song from ruining your team strategy.</p>

<p>Obviously, slow special sweepers are the best recipients of both Speed and Special Attack boosts. Venomoth, though rarely seen, is able to do a lot of damage with boosts, thanks to Tinted Lens. Octillery benefits greatly from Speed and Special Attack boosts and has the added benefit of Suction Cups. Other noteworthy recipients include the partners listed in the previous set, along with the likes of Magneton, Espeon, and others.</p>

[Optional Changes]
<p>Ambipom has a plethora of moves, but none of them are extremely helpful. A combination of Fake Out and Last Resort that relies on using Fake Out to make Last Resort the only usable move is a gimmicky but usable set. However, if you wish to use this Ambipom, your team should be built around it; otherwise, it is dead weight. Fire Punch, ThunderPunch, Aerial Ace, and Seed Bomb are all other attacking options available to Ambipom, but they do not offer as much as the moves listed in each moveset (Aerical Ace can help against Fighting-types, though). Grass Knot can be used to help Ambipom against the likes of Rhyperior, Cloyster, and Omastar. Since Omastar and Cloyster are commonly seen as leads, it's very useful on the Lead set, though the Life Orb set can utilize Grass Knot with success. Players should drop Low Kick if they'd like to use Grass Knot.</p>

<p>As far as special and support moves go, Ambipom is decent at using Rain Dance and has plenty of support moves to go with it, such as Thunder, Water Pulse, and Taunt. However, Electrode is generally a better user of Rain Dance than Ambipom. Uproar can be used on the Nasty Plot attacker, preventing sleep and still receiving a Technician boost. Ambipom will be stuck using it for two to five turns, however, making Swift the superior choice.</p>


<p>Ambipom should always be using a positive Speed nature to ensure it outpaces many common leads and speed ties with enemy Ambipom. The increase in power given by an Adamant or Modest nature is hardly as important as Ambipom's Speed. Investing in defensive EVs is useless as well, since Ambipom's defenses won't be keeping it alive for long anyway.</p>
Click to expand...
 
Will be making your changes momentarily, Winto (I'll edit in "Done" here when it's finished).

Also, I will be putting off changing the analysis format until I know what the definitive format will be; it's not worth the hassle if we're just going to change back a week later.
 
Thread should be updated to accommodate QC changes.

Ambipom:
-Removed Nasty Plot Baton Pass set***
-Separated Sweeper and Lead sets, with Lead set having Fake Out, U-turn, Taunt, Return @ Silk Scarf / Leftovers, and Sweeper having Fake Out, Return, Payback / Pursuit, Low Kick / U-turn @ Life Orb / Silk Scarf***
Click to expand...
 
bumping this because i've been using a serious team which features a nasty plot ambipom and the results are surprisingly consistent. it can sweep or pass the boost at any point of the game. i do however want to point out that i've been using thunderbolt in replacement of water pulse due to the simple reason of punishing milotic who will attempt to haze your attacks. (this is the typical scenario when i used np ambipom for like the first two games).

[SET]
name: Nasty Plot
move 1: Nasty Plot
move 2: Swift
move 3: Thunderbolt / Water Pulse
move 4: Baton Pass
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Technician
nature: Timid
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

The order of slashes between the item should not even matter at this point because this isn't a case between "sweeper first, pass second" as it plays both at any point of the match. water pulse still deserves a slash for hitting rhyperior and steelix (a common phazer). taunt is not exactly the best move to use in this set from testing it because thunderbolt fixes this issue with milotic potentially boosting away your boost. anyway, i just feel like this deserves to be put back or at least be considered for re-testing. my two cents

edit:

i just realized.. can ambipom run hp electric 60 to take advantage of that technician boost?
anyway, i'm just here to post up the milotic calcs:

+2 thunderbolt vs. standard Milotic - 69.2% - 81.9%
 
whistle said:
technician shock wave (or hidden power electric 60) is less powerful than thunderbolt (60*1.5=90 vs 95). out of curiosity, what teammates are you using with this set?
Click to expand...

oh i always thought thunderbolt was 85. anyways, i use timid milotic with this and sub rotom pain split for receivers. milotic is always a lethal threat with 81 spe + ability to absorb status, which can help her take some priority hits and physical hits in general. pain split rotom was just a random choice i suppose, but at least iron head registeel will not touch me. this is from a passing standpoint but i round off my team with stuff to cover most top 20 threats.
 
We were just discussing that set on irc the other day actually. I think the general consensus was actually that grass knot was the best option. Fucks up both Rhyperior and Milotic at the same time while hitting the other grounds and waters too obviously.
 
Off the top of my head, Sceptile, Manectric, and especially RD Ludicolo all sound like pretty deadly NP recipients. There's no shortage of potential recipients, the only problem is getting them in safely without being statused or OHKOed by Rhyperior.
 
umbarsc said:
Off the top of my head, Sceptile, Manectric, and especially RD Ludicolo all sound like pretty deadly NP recipients. There's no shortage of potential recipients, the only problem is getting them in safely without being statused or OHKOed by Rhyperior.
Click to expand...

I've been using Agility + Nasty Plot + Baton Pass Ambipom for several months (I don't play much though, so not that many games) and this is what I've learned from my experiences ...

1. Ambipom is extremely frail. Screen support is very much needed. Aside from that, Wish and preferably Healing Wish can help Ambipom pull off a second pass should the first sweeper fail for whatever reason.
2. I don't get the EVs as listed. I used them, but I remember being outsped by non-Scarf Jynx before Agility once (Jynx is base 95) and that doesn't feel right at all. Is there something in particular the set is trying to outspeed?
3. The two worst threats during the pass, aside from phazing moves, are powerful Fighting STAB and Substitute. Random Pokemon with Substitute are very bad, especially if screens aren't up to cover the receiver. You need to have a variety of different receivers to survive the hit from behind the Sub - which can be difficult to impossible if it's (say) Rhyperior behind the Sub. Hariyama is another huge problem. You can Taunt it and stop it from using Whirlwind, but it could just as well hit you with STAB Close Combat or Brick Break ...
4. Status can be a threat, but it isn't an important one. Taunt can prevent status, but it may not be safe for you to Taunt (e.g. Ambipom at 25% health vs. a Chansey with TWave / Toxic + Seismic Toss - do you Taunt or pass?). Lum Berry on the receiver bypasses this problem.
5. All four moves on the set are necessary. Taunt is needed to not get phazed or your opponent set up a Sub, either of which are devastating.

On the receiving end I've found that you want Pokemon who're able to survive a hit and KO back. Pokemon that still work after receiving Agility but not Nasty Plot are valuable as well. A Ghost-type is very useful to survive Subpunchers (XXX is tightening its focus -> Ambipom used Baton Pass -> YYY switched in Mismagius -> XXX used Focus Punch! ... it doesn't affect Mismagius ...), especially if the Subpuncher isn't behind a Sub. Ghost types with Substitute can also set up on Chansey who'd otherwise wall or at least check most special sweepers even at +2. The receiver must be able to survive priority and preferably resist Fighting, Ambipom's weakness. Of the three receivers you listed I doubt Manectric works - it's going to faint from just about any attack. Sceptile is possible but its coverage is a bit weak. I haven't tried RD Ludicolo, so can't comment on it, although needing to set up rain after receiving the pass is going to be a major drawback.

The best receiver I've used is Moltres. Calcs:

+2 252 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 31.5% - 37.3% with SR + follow-up HP Grass, this will KO
+2 252 SpA Moltres Fire Blast and Life Orb vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 51.8% - 61.2% 2HKO, basically standard Moltres after receiving a pass.
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres Flamethrower and Life Orb vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 40.9% - 48.2%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres and Life Orb Fire Blast vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 56.9% - 67%

+2 252 SpA Moltres HP Grass vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 62.4% - 73.6% - clean 2HKO to a Milotic switching into Flamethrower or Fire Blast with SR.
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres HP Grass vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 68.5% - 80.7%
+2 252 SpA Moltres HP Grass and Life Orb vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 80.7% - 95.4% About 50% chance to OHKO with SR
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres HP Grass and Life Orb vs. 252/252+ Bold Milotic: 88.8% - 104.6% Guaranteed OHKO with SR.

Calcs for 252/56 Calm Milotic:

+2 252 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 27.4% - 32.2%
+2 252 SpA Moltres Fire Blast and Life Orb vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 44.9% - 53%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres Flamethrower and Life Orb vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 39.1% - 46.2%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres and Life Orb Fire Blast vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 49.2% - 57.9%

+2 252 SpA Moltres HP Grass vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 54.3% - 64%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres HP Grass vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 59.4% - 70.1%
+2 252 SpA Moltres HP Grass and Life Orb vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 70.1% - 82.7%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres HP Grass and Life Orb vs. 252/56 Calm Milotic: 77.2% - 90.9%

This calc is relevant too:
Min SpA Milotic Surf vs. 0/0 Moltres: 73.5% - 86.6%

Taken together it means Milotic cannot switch into an attack without dying and achieving nothing. If it comes in after a KO, Moltres is guaranteed to survive an attack and KO back. However, Milotic can Haze, stopping the sweep (although Milotic would die in the process).

Of the other special walls, the only one really relevant would be Chansey since Registeel obviously gets fried. For comparison:

+2 252 SpA Moltres Flamethrower vs. 0/252 Calm Chansey: 41.3% - 48.8%
+2 252 SpA Moltres Fire Blast and Life Orb vs. 0/252 Calm Chansey: 53.8% - 63.3%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres Flamethrower and Life Orb vs. 0/252 Calm Chansey: 59% - 69.4%
+2 252 SpA Modest Moltres and Life Orb Fire Blast vs. 0/252 Calm Chansey: 59% - 69.4%

Chansey is within 2HKO range. In return, the best Chansey can do to Moltres is Thunder Wave, which however does end the sweep unless Moltres has a Lum Berry, but Chansey should still die in the process. Passing to Mismagius solves this problem.

Other things in Moltres's favour -

It resists Fighting.
It survives priority attacks. CB Azumarill Aqua Jet fails to OHKO.
It has recovery which can be very helpful in surviving repeated priority attacks or simply to survive Life Orb recoil.
Perfect coverage.

Only one real thing against Moltres - 4x weakness to SR, which can be extremely bad since it can stop Ambipom from passing to Moltres in the first place. Hope screens are still up!

*** I seem to have gone way off tangent here! ***

Anyway back to Ambipom - since screens are essential, a screener is necessary. Obvious screener is Uxie who's insanely bulky, can set up Stealth Rock and can Yawn to avoid getting set-up on. Still, Uxie is vulnerable to faster Pokemon with Substitute, and can't learn Wish / Healing Wish - although it can learn Memento, which can compensate. Other options include Clefable (which unfortunately shares a Fighting weakness with Ambipom), Gardevoir (which doesn't have Yawn but has Encore / Will-o-Wisp; it also has Wish + Healing Wish + Memento, but is much less bulky than Uxie) and Alakazam (extremely fast with anti-setup moves Taunt and Encore and can bluff a special sweeping set, but also extremely frail). There's also Torterra and Meganium, which I've not tried.

I've found that Leftovers is very much superior to Lum Berry, although it does give away your strategy. Ambipom doesn't care about paralysis or burn or poison - it's not the sweeper, so why worry? In fact status moves are great because you get to set up, and you can always Taunt to stop your receiver from getting statused. Sleep is easy to spot coming and can be Taunted, while Yawn can be Baton Passed out of. The constant recovery can make the difference between passing +2/+2 and +2 speed only, especially on the second pass.

Overall it's a very do-or-die strategy. You either sweep horribly, or get swept horribly. I reached about 1450 CRE with this strategy, although of course it could be that I'm bad at playing / team-building / I don't play enough to get a higher CRE, so no conclusions there.
 
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