Ampharos

Ampharos is an amazingly powerful, bulky electric type. Unlike Zebstrike or Manectric, Ampharos lacks speed, but has good bulk to make up for it, and a powerful base 115 Special Attack that it can proudly boast, unlike the formerly mentioned other two Electric attackers. With so many Water and Flying types about, Ampharos can hit them hard with a nice one-two combo and raise its champion belt high.

Base stats

HP: 90
Attack: 75
Defense: 85
Special Attack: 115
Special Defense: 90
Speed: 55

Bulky Attacker



With this set, Ampharos is allowed maximum damage output. It's bulk will allow it to revenge kill, or get a 2 Hit Knock-Out on most things that aren't a wall, or resistant. Threats like Azumarill can be shut down by Ampharos, who with HP EVs can take on most non-Super Effective attacks. With Confuse Ray and Thunder Wave, you can force your opponent into a Parafusion combo upon predicting their switch. This allows you to outspeed, and possibly deal additional damage if you don't expect an OHKO.

252+ SpA Ampharos Discharge vs. 240 HP / 0 SpD Azumarill: 318-374 (79.3 - 93.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ Atk Huge Power Azumarill Play Rough vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Ampharos: 205-243 (53.3 - 63.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Azumarill is completely outsped by Ampharos even without any speed invested EVs. This allows Ampharos to get the first hit, and finish up with the last. Pokemon like Crobat and Pidgeot are also forced to bow to Ampharos, both being unable to deal any real damage to it.


Specially Defensive



Thunder Wave serves as a status move that every wall needs, be it Toxic or Will-o-Wisp as well. The 56 EVs in Sp. Defense allow you to take at least one of the hardest hitting Special Attackers, Espeon's Psychic and counter with a Thunder Wave, and Rest away the damage or switch out. Cotton Spore can be used to slow down one of the opposing electric types, or force a switch upon reducing speed. Rest is a stable recovery move, and Ampharos to regain its health and remove all status. Discharge is a STAB move, that has an added bonus of paralysis. The Defense investment is to allow Ampharos to soak up most of attacks from the tier's Physical offensive threats.

252 Atk Infernape Close Combat vs. 200 HP / 252 Def Ampharos: 78-93 (41 - 48.9%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

252 SpA Espeon Psychic vs. 200 HP / 56 SpD Ampharos: 79-94 (41.5 - 49.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

Checks and Counters

Grass and Ground types: Grass and Ground types are big issues, namely Hippowdon and just about any Grass type. Swampert, even though not as good as Much as Hippowdown, is still an issue.

Taunt/Whirlwind/Roar: As usual, these moves can really hurt a wall. Taunt can shut down some of Ampharos's moves, for both offensive and defensive variants.

Hyper Offensive Attackers: Because Ampharos' bulk isn't extremely high, it can still be killed by some of the most dangerous Pokemon. Infernape is an example, even though Ampharos could take 2 of the Close Combats, it did a lot of damage which isn't good for any defensive Pokemon. With a recovery move as double-edged as Rest, Ampharos could still be picked off.