[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Ampharos is flexible to use thanks to its decent bulk, useful ability in Static, ability to pivot, and its above average Special Attack. It can be used as a slow pivot that punishes U-turn, a low budget wallbreaker with Choice Specs, or a setup sweeper with Agility and Meteor Beam. However, due to its low Speed, Ampharos is prone to easily being KOed before doing much and is easily forced out by any Ground-type.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Slow Pivot:** Ampharos's low Speed coupled with Volt Switch allows it to safely bring in wallbreakers. In addition, it can easily spread paralysis via Static and Thunder Wave. However, due to its lack of recovery, this is limited, and it is quickly worn down.
**Setup Sweeper**: Ampharos can become a sweeper with the combination of Agility and Meteor Beam. It can struggle to set up though, so it often needs dual screens support or a free switch. This set also thuds against many Ground-types, so they need to be worn down before it can sweep. It also fails to outspeed faster Pokemon with Choice Scarf or Booster Energy.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Discharge, Thunder, Volt Switch
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Meteor Beam, Cotton Guard
**Utility Moves**: Thunder Wave, Roar, Dragon Tail, Brick Break, Rest
**Coverage**: Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Power Gem, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Reflect / Light Screen**: With Light Clay, Ampharos can work as a dual screens setter that can safely bring in a teammate with Volt Switch. However, due to its low Speed, it can get KOed before getting up a single screen and is easy to Taunt.
**Endure**: Endure allows Ampharos to gain another chance to possibly cripple a physical revenge killer with paralysis thanks to Static.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet with Static allows Ampharos to further punish contact and pivot moves such as U-turn and Flip Turn.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Ampharos from being chipped by entry hazards and greatly increases its longevity.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb is the item of choice for setup sets, as it turns Meteor Beam into a one-turn move.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can make Ampharos into a sturdy special wall that can easily check threats like Zapdos and Tornados-T. However, it loses useful utility against physical threats.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be used if Ampharos is a screens setter, although it is can be easily stopped with Taunt due to its low Speed.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers can give Ampharos more longevity as a defensive pivot, especially against more passive teams. It is still very easily worn down, however.
**Air Balloon:** Air Balloon allows Ampharos to switch into Ground-type attacks as long as it remains intact. This can ease using Thunder Wave against threats that have Ground-type coverage.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry gives Ampharos more HP to work with, allowing it to stay in against threats and cripple them with Thunder Wave more easily.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs makes Ampharos a strong but prediction-reliant wallbreaker thanks to its above average Special Attack and decent coverage.
Tera
========
Ampharos is not the best option as a Tera Captain, since its low Speed doesn't allow it to take advantage of it very well. Defensive sets should usually never Terastallize, since it is worn down easily. If it is used as Tera Captain, Meteor Beam sets can use Tera Ice, Water, and Grass. Tera Ice eases breaking through Grass-types and destroys Gliscor. Tera Water provides Ampharos coverage for Ground- and Fire-types. Tera Grass can deal with Ground-types and Water / Ground types. Tera Flying can also be used to ease setup while providing coverage for Grass-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Ampharos should not be the Pokemon that a team is built around due to its low Speed and lack of longevity. It fits well on teams that appreciate a resistance to Flying, U-turn punisher, or low-budget wallbreaker.
**Ground-type Checks**: Ground-types prevent Ampharos from freely using Volt Switch and Thunderbolt, so Water-type allies that threaten them such as Greninja, Iron Bundle, and Palafin are appreciated. Rillaboom and other offensive Grass-types also work well. Kyurem and Baxcalibur demolish Ground-types and pair well with Ampharos, since it can provide slow pivoting to help them set up.
**Setup Sweepers:** Ampharos can safety bring in allies off a Volt Switch and deal a good amount of damage to Pokemon that take neutral damage to the move. Pokemon that take advantage of a free switch and weakened checks such as Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Kingambit make great teammates.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-types**: Ampharos is quickly threatened by Ground-types and cannot paralyze them. Choice Specs sets can only deal with them on the switch-in with excellent prediction. It is completely unable to break past bulky specially defensive Ground-types like Clodsire and Hippowdon.
**Fast Pokemon**: Due to Ampharos's low Speed, it is easily revenge killed by any Pokemon with a good Speed tier and decent offensive stat.
**Protect / Substitute**: Protect removes any ability for Choice Specs sets to surprise the opponent, while Substitute prevents Ampharos from using Thunder Wave.
**Entry Hazards**: Due to Ampharos's lack of recovery, any form of entry hazards quickly wears it down and prevents it from being a useful Volt Switch pivot.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/anchor9.652323/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
**Draft Order**: Round 8
**Price Range**: 1-2 points
**Overview**: Ampharos is flexible to use thanks to its decent bulk, useful ability in Static, ability to pivot, and its above average Special Attack. It can be used as a slow pivot that punishes U-turn, a low budget wallbreaker with Choice Specs, or a setup sweeper with Agility and Meteor Beam. However, due to its low Speed, Ampharos is prone to easily being KOed before doing much and is easily forced out by any Ground-type.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Slow Pivot:** Ampharos's low Speed coupled with Volt Switch allows it to safely bring in wallbreakers. In addition, it can easily spread paralysis via Static and Thunder Wave. However, due to its lack of recovery, this is limited, and it is quickly worn down.
**Setup Sweeper**: Ampharos can become a sweeper with the combination of Agility and Meteor Beam. It can struggle to set up though, so it often needs dual screens support or a free switch. This set also thuds against many Ground-types, so they need to be worn down before it can sweep. It also fails to outspeed faster Pokemon with Choice Scarf or Booster Energy.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Thunderbolt, Discharge, Thunder, Volt Switch
**Setup Moves**: Agility, Meteor Beam, Cotton Guard
**Utility Moves**: Thunder Wave, Roar, Dragon Tail, Brick Break, Rest
**Coverage**: Focus Blast, Dazzling Gleam, Power Gem, Tera Blast
Niche Moves
========
**Reflect / Light Screen**: With Light Clay, Ampharos can work as a dual screens setter that can safely bring in a teammate with Volt Switch. However, due to its low Speed, it can get KOed before getting up a single screen and is easy to Taunt.
**Endure**: Endure allows Ampharos to gain another chance to possibly cripple a physical revenge killer with paralysis thanks to Static.
Common Items
========
**Rocky Helmet**: Rocky Helmet with Static allows Ampharos to further punish contact and pivot moves such as U-turn and Flip Turn.
**Heavy-Duty Boots**: Heavy-Duty Boots prevents Ampharos from being chipped by entry hazards and greatly increases its longevity.
**Power Herb**: Power Herb is the item of choice for setup sets, as it turns Meteor Beam into a one-turn move.
Niche Items
========
**Assault Vest**: Assault Vest can make Ampharos into a sturdy special wall that can easily check threats like Zapdos and Tornados-T. However, it loses useful utility against physical threats.
**Light Clay**: Light Clay can be used if Ampharos is a screens setter, although it is can be easily stopped with Taunt due to its low Speed.
**Leftovers**: Leftovers can give Ampharos more longevity as a defensive pivot, especially against more passive teams. It is still very easily worn down, however.
**Air Balloon:** Air Balloon allows Ampharos to switch into Ground-type attacks as long as it remains intact. This can ease using Thunder Wave against threats that have Ground-type coverage.
**Sitrus Berry**: Sitrus Berry gives Ampharos more HP to work with, allowing it to stay in against threats and cripple them with Thunder Wave more easily.
**Choice Specs**: Choice Specs makes Ampharos a strong but prediction-reliant wallbreaker thanks to its above average Special Attack and decent coverage.
Tera
========
Ampharos is not the best option as a Tera Captain, since its low Speed doesn't allow it to take advantage of it very well. Defensive sets should usually never Terastallize, since it is worn down easily. If it is used as Tera Captain, Meteor Beam sets can use Tera Ice, Water, and Grass. Tera Ice eases breaking through Grass-types and destroys Gliscor. Tera Water provides Ampharos coverage for Ground- and Fire-types. Tera Grass can deal with Ground-types and Water / Ground types. Tera Flying can also be used to ease setup while providing coverage for Grass-types.
Draft Strategy
========
Ampharos should not be the Pokemon that a team is built around due to its low Speed and lack of longevity. It fits well on teams that appreciate a resistance to Flying, U-turn punisher, or low-budget wallbreaker.
**Ground-type Checks**: Ground-types prevent Ampharos from freely using Volt Switch and Thunderbolt, so Water-type allies that threaten them such as Greninja, Iron Bundle, and Palafin are appreciated. Rillaboom and other offensive Grass-types also work well. Kyurem and Baxcalibur demolish Ground-types and pair well with Ampharos, since it can provide slow pivoting to help them set up.
**Setup Sweepers:** Ampharos can safety bring in allies off a Volt Switch and deal a good amount of damage to Pokemon that take neutral damage to the move. Pokemon that take advantage of a free switch and weakened checks such as Gouging Fire, Ogerpon-W, and Kingambit make great teammates.
Checks and Counters
========
**Ground-types**: Ampharos is quickly threatened by Ground-types and cannot paralyze them. Choice Specs sets can only deal with them on the switch-in with excellent prediction. It is completely unable to break past bulky specially defensive Ground-types like Clodsire and Hippowdon.
**Fast Pokemon**: Due to Ampharos's low Speed, it is easily revenge killed by any Pokemon with a good Speed tier and decent offensive stat.
**Protect / Substitute**: Protect removes any ability for Choice Specs sets to surprise the opponent, while Substitute prevents Ampharos from using Thunder Wave.
**Entry Hazards**: Due to Ampharos's lack of recovery, any form of entry hazards quickly wears it down and prevents it from being a useful Volt Switch pivot.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/anchor9.652323/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/techno.527276/
Last edited:
