Pokémon Ampharos

[RowDog]

On the otherhand, Mold Breaker Thunder Wave is an awesome option against opposing offensive teams. Magic Bouncers such as Mega-Absol nor Volt-Absorbers such as Thundurus-T will be able to avoid the status. The only way would be able to switch in a Ground-type, but how many of those want to take a Draco Meteor? You could also run an an all-out attacking set with Thunderbolt + Focus Blast.

Unfortunately paralysis doesn't affect electric types anymore this generation, so the Mold Breaker won't do anything against Jolteon or Thundurus-T anymore. But it is handy for being able to Volt Switch on them.

I am very interested to see where this Pokemon whether Mega-Ampharos will be making it into OU. Granted mega-slots for some of the sweeper megas may seem more appealing in most circumstances, Mega-Amphy plays a completely different role. By no means do I think that this Pokemon is one-man standout, but when considering it with a team well structured for each one of them to complement each other, like Vaporeon or the sounds of Bronzong which MilkyWay01 mentioned, it could synergies very well. I also think that this will be a very scary spectacle on a Trick Room team, which will make it one of the fastest Pokemon with a tonne of bulk and damage to throw at people, and it will even resist a lot of the common priorities such as Bullet Punch, Aqua Jet and Talonflame's Gale Wing.

 

[NotSoClutch]

Anyone use a cotton guard set with any success? Lack of recovery kind of hinders its ability to take repeated hits, but cotton guard is just so great in theory.

 

[Jaroda]

When I used him I had trouble finding the opportunity to switch him in. He REALLY wants to be Megavolved early to be a viable switch into Fire, Water, Electric and Grass moves. So you need to either start with him or throw him out after something bites it.

 

[perplexingpool]

I've been having a fair bit of success with this set:

Baa (Ampharos) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Agility
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast

Even though Mega-Ampharos is slow, after an Agility it outspeeds most walls, and many non-scarfed attackers. It can take hits all day with it's fantastic bulk, and even in a world of mega evolutions, STAB thunderbolt coming off 165 Base SpA is terrifying. Focus Blast I feel is the best move in the last slot, but Volt Switch also seems viable, or HP Ice to hit Gliscor.

There are very few Pokemon that can beat Agility Mega-Ampharos 1-on-1, and I feel it's definitely one of the better mega evolutions.

 

[El_Sargento]

Discharge is an option, but Amphabulous will probably want as much power as it can get, so I'd go with T-bolt personally.

Then again, 30 = 100 in Pokemon Maths. Depends on your team. Do you really need to Paralyze more things or does it not matter as much as more power? The answer is most likely going to be more power.

Explain Scald vs Surf then... :p

 

[Aldrius]

Explain Scald vs Surf then... :p

Scald is mainly used on bulky waters that can recover and hit things repeatedly. Like Starmie doesn't run Scald.

On the other hand, MegaAmpharos is pretty bulky, but he doesn't even have passive recovery, so I think hitting hard is more important than the paralyze chance.

 

[El_Sargento]

Scald is mainly used on bulky waters that can recover and hit things repeatedly. Like Starmie doesn't run Scald.

On the other hand, MegaAmpharos is pretty bulky, but he doesn't even have passive recovery, so I think hitting hard is more important than the paralyze chance.

Ampharos is slow. I select Discharge. Opponent predicts an Electric attack and switches in a faster Dragon, Grass, or high special defense Pokémon. Discharge hits... and paralyzes it (30%). In this case, Thunderbolt isn't hitting way harder...

I'm sorry for my sorry English :p.

 

[Jaroda]

True, Megampharos is strong but there are plenty of good neutral switch ins that, unless he's running a +1 Thunder, likely aren't going down in one hit to Thunderbolt. The difference in BP between Discharge and Thunderbolt is hardly worth mentioning as there won't be many differences in 2HKO potential. In fact, the 30% paralysis effect actually makes Discharge MORE reliable in netting more 2HKOs overall when you factor in the potential speed drop allowing Ampharos to attack again for free. With a lack of a boosting item Discharge is a reliable, and often lottery winning move.

 

[McGrrr]

I'd definitely use this if it didn't occupy the Mega slot:

Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 248 HP / ? Def / ? SAtk / ? SDef
Modest / Calm Nature
- Discharge
- Dragon Pulse
- Sleep Talk
- Rest

Discharge paralysis support/special sponge/sleep absorber. Switches in on Rotom appliances all day.

 

[Kriptini]

After over a month of testing, I think I've found Ampharos' s optimal set.

Ampharos @ Ampharosite
Static (Mold Breaker)
Modest | 4 HP | 252 Def | 252 SpA | IVs: 0 Atk
-Thunderbolt
-Dragon Pulse
-Power Gem/Volt Switch
-Focus Blast

Say hello to the premiere tank of UU. MAmpharos has incredible physical bulk when invested and there are very few threats that can actually bring this titan down before it rips open new assholes. In addition to tanking physical attacks like a boss, MAmpharos also boasts ridiculous power in Thunderbolt which can score a ton of neutral OHKOs in the tier. Dragon Pulse is a secondary STAB also capable of netting many OHKOs, and Focus Blast is necessary coverage. Power Gem can be used for Bug, Fire, and more reliable Ice coverage than Focus Blast, but it sometimes lacks the power needed to score OHKOs. Volt Switch, on the other hand, allows MAmpharos to tank a hit, deal great damage, and then bring in an ally for free, at the cost of Power Gem's extra coverage.

The basic strategy is to switch in Ampharos on something that is going to attempt a physical contact move, then laugh heartily as it bounces off Amphy's belly and the foe gets paralyzed for it. You may then proceed to Mega Evolve and rip apart the helpless opposition. If your foe switches out, they're going to eat a VERY nasty Thunderbolt or Dragon Pulse that even Snorlax wouldn't want to tank.

So what can actually break through MAmpharos's great wall of glorious mane? Nothing short of a STAB super-effective hit. This mon is ridiculously tanky.

0 Atk IVs because Foul Play is ever-popular in UU.

 

[Lord Jesseus]

So what can actually break through MAmpharos's great wall of glorious mane? Nothing short of a STAB super-effective hit or a Life Orb HJK from Mienshao. This mon is ridiculously tanky.

What about special attacks? Is there any particular reason you chose to invest in Def rather than SpD?

 

[Kriptini]

What about special attacks? Is there any particular reason you chose to invest in Def rather than SpD?

MAmpharos has nice SpD, and investment can make it very specially tanky, but that doesn't allow you to switch into the common priority physical contact moves in UU (Mach Punch, Extremespeed, etc.) and penalize your foe with Static while taking almost no damage. Also, Defense investment lets you survive every single un-STAB Earthquake in the tier. When you score a kill with MAmphy, your opponent is gonna try to revenge you with maybe Aerodactyl or Archeops. They'll think they're so clever, hitting you with that CB EQ and expecting MAmphy to drop, but he won't, because he's a god, and then he'll drop an electric steamer all over their face.

Also, I miscalculated in my other post, MAmphy DOES survive LO HJK from Mienshao (and CB, for that matter.)

For what it's worth, MAmphy also has a really good chance to survive LO EQ from Flygon... but Flygon would probably rather Outrage.

 

[MrRavine]

For what it's worth, MAmphy also has a really good chance to survive LO EQ from Flygon... but Flygon would probably rather Outrage.

With the existence of fairy types, I think a lot of players are going to be trading out Outrage for Dragon Claw. I've already seen it quite a bit on Garchomp and Dragonite.

 

[RabidChipmunk]

MAmpharos has nice SpD, and investment can make it very specially tanky, but that doesn't allow you to switch into the common priority physical contact moves in UU (Mach Punch, Extremespeed, etc.) and penalize your foe with Static while taking almost no damage. Also, Defense investment lets you survive every single un-STAB Earthquake in the tier. When you score a kill with MAmphy, your opponent is gonna try to revenge you with maybe Aerodactyl or Archeops. They'll think they're so clever, hitting you with that CB EQ and expecting MAmphy to drop, but he won't, because he's a god, and then he'll drop an electric steamer all over their face.

Also, I miscalculated in my other post, MAmphy DOES survive LO HJK from Mienshao (and CB, for that matter.)

For what it's worth, MAmphy also has a really good chance to survive LO EQ from Flygon... but Flygon would probably rather Outrage.

So why not just invest it into HP instead? Investing in HP means Ampharos can take both physical and special hits.

 

[gengod]

I've been having a fair bit of success with this set:

Baa (Ampharos) @ Ampharosite
Ability: Static
EVs: 252 Spd / 252 SAtk / 4 HP
Modest Nature
- Agility
- Dragon Pulse
- Thunderbolt
- Focus Blast

Even though Mega-Ampharos is slow, after an Agility it outspeeds most walls, and many non-scarfed attackers. It can take hits all day with it's fantastic bulk, and even in a world of mega evolutions, STAB thunderbolt coming off 165 Base SpA is terrifying. Focus Blast I feel is the best move in the last slot, but Volt Switch also seems viable, or HP Ice to hit Gliscor.

There are very few Pokemon that can beat Agility Mega-Ampharos 1-on-1, and I feel it's definitely one of the better mega evolutions.

This set needs more attention. This guy hits slightly harder than LO Ampharos and with Modest, Agility gets this guy to 378 speed which is 1 point faster than Greninja and Timid obviously gets you past the base 130s.

It has a ton of resistances, so it can set up fairly easily and gets fantastic coverage with just Dragon, Fighting and Electric moves.

 

[Jaroda]

What attacks are you switching into and how much health are you remaining with? With so few resistances and still mediocre defense do you really see him lasting long enough to get your money's worth out of him? When I tried him he was really hard to switch into and Megavolve but that was in OU to be fair. He seems like he'd be terrific on a Rain team or something that uses Rain Dance so he can abuse Thunder for the utmost damage. I think if you can get him in safely and can force a switch then a well timed Cotton Guard would just make him obscenely difficult to take out outside of STAB EQs. I'm thinking with Rain support Thunder/HP Ice/Power Gem/Cotton Guard may pretty devestating

 

[The LoudWendle]

This set needs more attention. This guy hits slightly harder than LO Ampharos and with Modest, Agility gets this guy to 378 speed which is 1 point faster than Greninja and Timid obviously gets you past the base 130s.

It has a ton of resistances, so it can set up fairly easily and gets fantastic coverage with just Dragon, Fighting and Electric moves.

I was thinking the exact same thing. The lack of recovery and leftovers cripples any long term tanking/ walling, so i think sweeping is the way to go with MAmpy. Cotton guard is a cool move but no leftovers again cripples it.

 

[gengod]

I was thinking the exact same thing. The lack of recovery and leftovers cripples any long term tanking/ walling, so i think sweeping is the way to go with MAmpy. Cotton guard is a cool move but no leftovers again cripples it.

Don't get me wrong. Amphy can do defensive sets. He has a large amount of good resistances and can function well as a bulky pivot, similarly to Scizor or as a Rest Talker but moves like Cotton Guard just aren't going to cut it.

Imo, the Agility set is where it's at in terms of offense. It's a good late game sweeper and has decent enough bulk to be brought in over the course of a match before it sets up to finish a sweep. It's a shame Thunderbolt and Dragon Pulse got nerfed and this guy doesn't get Draco Meteor but he still hits like a monster coming off that ridiculous SpA stat.

 

[Kriptini]

So why not just invest it into HP instead? Investing in HP means Ampharos can take both physical and special hits.

Because investing in Defense lets him tank more physical attacks than investing in HP would, and entry hazards still do a percentage of your health in damage, so if Spikes or Pebbles are on the field, your HP investment has pretty much been wasted. MAmpharos already resists four common special attacking types as well, so I think it's a better idea to invest in Defense and then maybe carry a dedicated special tank if you need one.

 

[perplexingpool]

Focus Blast on Mega Ampharos OHKO's offensive Excadrill variants, which would usually cause Ampharos a lot of grief. As well, after an Agility boost, Ampharos easily outspeeds it, even without speed investment.

252+ SpA (custom) Focus Blast vs. 4 HP / 0 SpD Excadrill: 488-576 (134.8 - 159.11%) -- guaranteed OHKO

 

[KingJumby]

Just want to point out that ground/fairy, electric/fairy, and grass/fairy all resist the thunderbolt/dragon pulse/focus blast combo. There is no ground/fairy at the moment so... what is that... Whimsicott and Dedenne? Correct me i'm wrong but i'm thinking that those are the only two pokemon who resist all of Mega-Ampharos's attacks.

 

[perplexingpool]

Just want to point out that ground/fairy, electric/fairy, and grass/fairy all resist the thunderbolt/dragon pulse/focus blast combo. There is no ground/fairy at the moment so... what is that... Whimsicott and Dedenne? Correct me i'm wrong but i'm thinking that those are the only two pokemon who resist all of Mega-Ampharos's attacks.

Whimsicott has 60/85/75 defenses, and Dedenne's are 57/67/67. I haven't done the calcs, but I don't think either of those are going to stand up long to Mega Ampharos even with a resistance.

 

[Live4evil]

I feel like Modest Ampharos with Cotton Guard, Discharge, Dragon Pulse, and Focusblast would be best. EVs would be 252 SAtk and the rest in a combination of HP and SDef. You can probably use specific pokemon to bait electric moves like Gyarados and get an easy switch into Ampharos. Once it uses cotton guard its defense is good enough to take an earthquake or two while it can still dish out tons of damage.

 

[perplexingpool]

Skarmory and Mega-Ampharos is a very good core, covering each others weakness almost perfectly. Really the only thing that breaks through it is a powerful special attacker with BoltBeam coverage.

 

[chimpact]

the only mega that i would use as part of a defensive core would be venusaur because that at least has a way of getting back hp. Ampharos can only heal off damage with restalk which is miserable.

Regarding doubles, i really like it. the dragon typing really helps give it a few more resistances and it can take out a lot of taunt users to ensure you can set up trick room later on. discharge is also something that i was excited to try out, only to paralyze the opposing pokemon and have them outspeed me in trick room.