RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

This week, we’ll be looking at the anti-Electric Electric-type Pokemon, Ampharos. This mutated sheep hasn’t been getting a lot of respect of late, dropping down to the Never Used tier, so we’re here to clean Amphy up a bit, polish up that rubbery hide, and present it as a shining example of a durable Electric.

Ampharos
Electric
HP: 90 Atk: 75 Def: 75 Sp Atk: 115 Sp Def: 90 Spd: 55
Ability: Static: When this Pokemon is struck by a contact move, the attacking Pokemon has a 30% chance to become Paralyzed.

A couple of weeks ago, we looked at Jolteon, a creature who really epitomizes the Electric type. But everything Jolteon was, Ampharos is not; Where Jolteon is fast, Ampharos is a snail; Where Jolteon had trouble surviving a light breeze, let alone an Earthquake, Ampharos can take a solid hit and even Counter back for a surprising KO. About the only things Ampharos has in common with other Electric types are its high special attack and a lackluster movepool. But this deviation from the accepted norm of the Electric type is actually what makes Ampharos so useful. People don’t tend to expect a bulky Electric type, even though the type gives critters solid resistances and only one weakness. Ampharos’s fairly well-balanced stats can further this surprise, allowing it to do mixed offensive and defensive sets, all while still threatening critters with that great special attack.

Amphy’s biggest issues, unfortunately, also stem from that flexibility. Though it can pull off a number of different sets, he’s easily outclassed by other Pokemon who do them better. Ampharos’s mixed set does a great job of breaking walls in the Never Used tier, but in OU, Tyranitar makes it look like a joke. As a Rain Dance supporter, Ampharos has to compete against Pokemon like Cresselia, Celebi, and Bronzong, who all take hits much, much better than Ampharos does. Piled on top of this is the curse of the Electric type, the abysmal move pool, though Ampharos doesn’t feel that one quite as strongly as other Electrics.

In the end, Ampharos comes off as a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. Used well, its biggest assets are surprise and flexibility, alongside that great special attack and respectable bulk.

Sheep Dip
Ampharos @Leftovers/Damp Rock
Modest (+Sp Atk, -Atk) nature
Static ability
252 HP, 252 Sp Atk, 6 Def
-Thunder
-Hidden Power Water / Power Gem
-Rain Dance
-Thunder Wave / Heal Bell
The one thing Ampharos has over other Rain Dance supporters is what makes this set viable: STAB Thunder. With a base special attack of 115, not much can switch into a perfect accuracy Thunder, and almost everything that can won’t like getting smacked in the face by a boosted Hidden Power Water. For those of us who can’t rely on Hidden Power, Power Gem is an acceptable substitute, as it hits Fire-types where it hurts. This will, however, leave you vulnerable to Ground-type Pokemon, as well as Magneton, so Focus Blast is also a candidate in the second slot. The final moveslot is intended as support, to aid the next Pokemon in continuing the Rain-based sweep. Thunder Wave and Heal Bell are just two of the options open to Amphy, which include Reflect, Light Screen, Safeguard, and Toxic.

Herman the Wonder Sheep
Ampharos @Choice Specs
Modest (+Sp Atk, -Atk) nature
Static ability
252 HP, 252 Sp Atk, 6 Def
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
Again focusing on Amphy’s special attack, this set can really blast some holes in critters. You’ll have to be good at predicting which Pokemon will run from Ampharos, though; its low speed really doesn’t do him any favors here. Neither, might I add, does his movepool. Thunderbolt and Focus Blast are your best bets for coverage, especially when paired with Hidden Power Ice. Hidden Power Grass is acceptable as well, if your party has no one else to deal with bulky Water-types that resist Ampharos’s Thunderbolt, such as Quagsire or Lanturn. Signal Beam can be helpful against various Grass-types, and is especially useful if you went for Hidden Power Grass, but for the most part, it’s just filler. Amphy’s movepool is only barely big enough for this set to work. If alternates are required for either Signal Beam or Hidden Power, Power Gem is a respectable choice, although type coverage will be a problem.

Haggis!
Ampharos @Leftovers
Modest (+Sp Atk, -Atk) nature
Static ability
208 HP, 252 Sp Atk, 48 Spd
-Substitute
-Thunderbolt
-Focus Blast
-Hidden Power Ice / Hidden Power Grass
A more bulky Ampharos, for use primarily against your opponent’s defensive critters. This Ampharos can come in on a bulky foe’s weak attack, set up Substitute, and begin to blast away with powerful Thunderbolts and Focus Blasts. Amphy’s lack of a recovery move outside of Rest is a big issue here, so Wish support would be much appreciated. As with the other two sets, this Ampharos really relies on Hidden Power to round out its coverage, and while the options I’ve mentioned earlier will work here, this set relies very heavily on KOing its foes in two or three hits, so the lack of coverage substitute moves supply is a big issue.