Ampharos (Life Orb)

Thund91

Thund91

is a Contributor Alumnus
I was meaning to post this a longass time ago. Consider this an update/replacement for the current "Ampharos don't have wool" set on-site. Although Ampharos could use a Revamp, I'd rather only do this set myself.

GP check (2/2)

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(Aroma)
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(Fizz)

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

[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Focus Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest / Mild
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos is different than most of his Electric-type brethren due to good defenses and low Speed. He still maintains an excellent base 115 Special Attack stat, and Thunderbolt can obliterate many common Pokemon in UU. This set takes advantage of Ampharos's natural bulk to help set up Substitute on weak walls and begin opening up holes in the opponent's team.</p>

<p>The core move of this set is Thunderbolt. With Stealth Rock on the field, Ampharos will nearly always OHKO Bulky Water Milotic. Thunderbolt also gets rid of powerful threats such as Toxicroak and Alakazam in one strike. Because of Ampharos's natural bulk, most offensive threats will not be able to OHKO him, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with top threats and come out the victor. Ground-types have an unfortunate immunity to Electric attacks, but Hidden Power Ice remedies this. Hidden Power Ice allows Ampharos to hit Ground-types hard, having a great chance to OHKO standard Donphan as he tries to absorb Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Ice also OHKOes Torterra, but Ampharos needs to hit max Speed variants on the switch or when safely behind a Substitute. Focus Blast allows Ampharos to 2HKO both Clefable and Registeel, while giving him a way to threaten Chansey. Focus Blast also allows Ampharos to OHKO standard Rhyperior, as Hidden Power Ice can only muster a 2HKO. Substitute is the primary option in the last slot, as Ampharos can use his bulk and power to cause switches. It also helps ease prediction, and guards Ampharos against opposing Dugtrio. Although a dry Focus Punch may seem sketchy, it's Ampharos's best bet at eliminating Chansey.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos can run Hidden Power Grass to reliably OHKO Rhyperior and Water/Ground-types. This also allows Ampharos to hit Lanturn who would otherwise wall him, but Hidden Power Ice is usually the superior option. If you want a bulkier Ampharos, an alternative EV spread of 212 HP / 252 SpA / 44 Speed allows Ampharos to take hits considerably better at the cost of Speed. 48 Speed EVs allow Ampharos to outspeed minimum Speed Clefable, standard Rhyperior, and other slow walls. If using the bulkier spread, Leftovers becomes a viable option. When using Focus Punch, a Mild nature is recommended to hit Chansey harder.</p>

<p>Because Ampharos can get rid of bulky Water-types easily, Fire-types are perfect partners. Arcanine is a great choice as he's one of the more durable options. Arcanine can help eliminate pesky Grass-types, such as Venusaur, who plagues Ampharos. Because Ampharos's sole weakness is Ground, a resistance or immunity to Earthquake is extremely useful. Mismagius makes an excellent partner with Ampharos because of his ability to KO Registeel with repeated Focus Blasts. Mixed variants of Sceptile pair well with Ampharos, as they weaken each other's counters. Because of potential paralysis from Static, slow but powerful Pokemon such as Torterra make good teammates. Lanturn can be quite the pest for Ampharos, so pairing him with a Pokemon such as Venusaur is also recommended.</p>

<p>Dugtrio is a major threat to Ampharos, as blindly throwing out Thunderbolt will cause him to be trapped and OHKOed. Ampharos should always try to be safely behind a Substitute. If Ampharos is somehow revenge killed by Dugtrio, having a threatening partner such as Moltres or the previously mentioned Torterra will allow you to gain back some momentum.</p>
 
Lol, looks like you beat me to the punch! Great set by the way, Ampharos definetely deserves more love.

Anywho, I would never even consider running Rash to ruin that good SpD. Modest Focus Punch still does a decent amount of damage when backed by a LO or you could even Mild to achieve similar effects. I also found HP Ice to be effective because it 2HKOes all of the grass types. You beat down Rhyperior with Focus Blast anyway (102.5% - 120.7%) As for the last slot, I found that Substitute was quite effective even without Focus Punch because it simplifying prediction. What's the point of Discharge? If you want to paralyze something run Thunder Wave.
 
Ampharos has some quite interesting options that could go on that fourth slot, such as Magnet Rise, Thunder Wave and Heal Bell. I myself haven't tested it and have no idea if there is some sort of moveset restriction regarding those moves, but they sound really nice in theory, especially the latter.
 
Well I'd rather beat Rhyperior 100% of the time than 70% of the time. Anyways, Hidden Power Ice won't KO Venusaur anyway, who'll just put you to sleep. It's in AC and that's where it should stay. And Modest Focus Punch + Thunderbolt doesn't guarantee the KO on Chansey while Rash does.

Discharge is there just go get some damage as you attempt to paralyze.

Yes I was thinking about Heal Bell too but AC seems best for it.
 
Guess you took the novelty lead on AC from me right? >_>

Well, looks good. I would just put Thunder Wave over Discharge on the last slot so you're guaranteed to paralyze something like Venusaur on the switch.

About a bulkier spread: i think it's only really worth if Ampharos is leading (from my experience with lead Amphy it does surprisingly well although it never prevents Stealth Rock), so you can survive Fake Out+Return Ambipom and hope Static kicks in (if not you can just attack).
Or you could use it with Wish support i guess...
 
Heal bell is cool, i used ampharos like 2 days ago; I ran the same EVs but Timid (outpseeds max + Aggron; I dunno about Rhyperior and modest); HP Ice/Thunderbolt/Heal Bell/Focus Blast... I can see the merit of Sub though; it would seem to have big problems with the recoil

I tried specs before I used LO, it doesn't work

Thunder Wave and Magnet Rise seem usable though.

Oh and looking over it HP Ice is probably not too good to use; I was just using it for neutral coverage, though HP Grass is likely better
 
Thund91 said:
Well I'd rather beat Rhyperior 100% of the time than 70% of the time. Anyways, Hidden Power Ice won't KO Venusaur anyway, who'll just put you to sleep. It's in AC and that's where it should stay. And Modest Focus Punch + Thunderbolt doesn't guarantee the KO on Chansey while Rash does.

Discharge is there just go get some damage as you attempt to paralyze.

Yes I was thinking about Heal Bell too but AC seems best for it.
Click to expand...

Ah, but if you run Substitute you have a higher chance of beating it. That way you can run HP Ice to at least damage Venusaur for decent damage. If not Modest run Mild at least. Rash lowers SpD, which is pretty important for Ampharos. (Switching into Surfs etc)
 
I am currently loving this set, however I always seem to regret using HP Grass over HP Ice (for Torterra and Venusaur). I'm going to test HP Ice soon, I think it will work out better considering you can hit Rhyperior with Focus Blast on the switch etc.
 
Bluewind said:
Forgot to add, doesn't Charge Beam work as well?
Click to expand...

It can work, but it isn't recommended, as wasting 10% of your HP to use a weak Electric attack that won't always boost your Special Attack isn't the best idea. Anyway, I also recommend changing HP Grass to HP Ice, as it helps to defeat Torterras and injure Venusaurs that switch in, plus it still puts the hurt on Rhyperior. Additionally, changing the nature to Mild over Rash is a great idea, as Ampharos likes its good Special Defense stats. Other than those comments, great set!
 
Alright so I tested the following movesets:

[SET]
name: LO Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Discharge
item: Life Orb
ability: Static
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 SpA / 252 Spe


[SET]
name: LO Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Grass
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Focus Punch (I hated being walled by Chansey..)
item: Life Orb
ability: Static
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe


[SET]
name: LO Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Focus Punch / Substitute
item: Life Orb
ability: Static
nature: Modest
EVs: 4 Atk / 252 SpA / 252 Spe

And I want to honestly say that the last set was most effective. Focus Blast is actually much better than Focus Punch, it shouldn't be slashed. However, Focus Punch has more separate uses than Discharge. Focus Blast + Focus Punch is kind of stupid looking, but for the sole purpose of nailing Chansey I think it's worth it. Discharge was kind of pointless in the last slot, Thunderbolt was almost always a better choice. Substitute worked well in the last slot, even without Focus Punch.

And Hidden Power Ice vs Grass. Firstly, you're going to nail Rhyperior with Focus Blast most of the time (not much of a risk with a Substitute up as well). Second, without HP Ice you are an easy switch in for Torterra and any Grass-type (specifically Venusaur). Having a way to hit both Venusaur and Torterra is far more valuable than having a second (albeit more reliable) way to hit Rhyperior.

EDIT: Also, never use a Rash nature. Ampharos makes an excellent back up switch-in for Milotic (if they manage to get rid of your Grass-type). It only takes like 35% or something from Surf, and even less from Ice Beam / Hidden Power.

EDIT2: Yes I digged the set
 
Maybe you'd want to mention wish support in the Team Options as Sub+LO will be wearing it down really quickly, considering Amphy's speed will make it tank hits instead of hitting fast.
 
YaM said:
nothing much just pointing out Grass should replace Rock in this sentence? Rock isn't weak to Ice.
Click to expand...

Yeah yeah I thought it would be approved quicker and I'd be able to get the analysis up but I guess not.

I'll add Wish support in there.
 
Hey, how about slashing Focus Punch with Focus Blast as well? Same coverage without the prediction woes. You might as well if you're utilizing the sub.

EDIT: Ah, wanted to suggest Twave too. I used a similar set with Lanturn for a while, until I got the crazy idea to use Twave instead of sub because it was so slow...it was godly. Grass types switch into Lanturn more than anything and being able to paralyze them (especially fast fuckers like Sceptile) proved to be invaluable. I think I'm gonna try Twave instead of Sub and see where that goes.
 
Well to quote Heysup...

Heysup said:
And I want to honestly say that the last set was most effective. Focus Blast is actually much better than Focus Punch, it shouldn't be slashed. However, Focus Punch has more separate uses than Discharge. Focus Blast + Focus Punch is kind of stupid looking, but for the sole purpose of nailing Chansey I think it's worth it. Discharge was kind of pointless in the last slot, Thunderbolt was almost always a better choice. Substitute worked well in the last slot, even without Focus Punch.
Click to expand...

Focus Blast will usually have more use than Focus Punch even if you use Substitute.
 
Absolutely loved this set, really. Bulky enough to take things like Arcanine's Flare Blitz even with a -Def nature (though I'm not sure how offensive that Arcanine was). By the way I tested it with LO Sceptile (the set Heysup's just posted) and they work marvelously well together (baits Venusaur, Registeel and so on). Happily my first one:

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Grammar-Prose Check 1/2:
additions/changes/comments in blue
removals in red

[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Focus Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest / Mild
evs: 4 HP(space)/ 252 SpA /(space)252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos is different than most of his Electric-type brethren, (remove comma) sporting due to good defenses while suffering from and low Speed. He still maintains an excellent base 115 Special Attack stat, and when backed up with a great STAB attack in Thunderbolt he can manage to obliterate many common Pokemon in UU. This set takes advantage of Ampharos's natural bulk to help set up Substitute on weak walls and begin opening up holes in the opponent's team.</p>

<p>The core move of this set is Ampharos's Thunderbolt. With just Stealth Rock on the field, Ampharos will nearly always OHKO Milotic, the best wall available in UU (maybe you can go in more specific here. milotic with calm and HP/SpD evs?). Thunderbolt also gets rid of powerful threats such as Toxicroak or Alakazam in one strike, (remove comma) showing just how effective he is in quickly dismantling teams. Because of Ampharos's natural bulk, most offensive threats will not be able to OHKO him, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with top threats and come out the victor. Ground-types have an unfortunate immunity to Electric attacks, and this is where Hidden Power Ice comes in but Hidden Power Ice remedies this. Hidden Power Ice allows Ampharos to hit Ground-types hard, (remove comma) while having a great chance to OHKO standard Donphan as he tries to absorb Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Ice also OHKOes Torterra, but Ampharos needs to hit max Speed variants on the switch or when safely behind a Substitute. Focus Blast allows Ampharos to 2HKO both Clefable and Registeel, while giving him a way to threaten Chansey. Also, Focus Blast also allows Ampharos to OHKO standard Rhyperior, as Hidden Power Ice can only muster a 2HKO. Substitute is the primary option in the last slot, as Ampharos can use his bulk and power to cause switches. Substitute It also helps Ampharos ease prediction, and guards him against opposing Dugtrio. Although a dry Focus Punch may seem sketchy, it's Ampharos's best bet at eliminating Chansey.</p>

(at the "such as" part, i just read a thread that had "like" vs "such as". "such as" is used for listing while "like" is used for what's "similar".) (actually, this was the GP announcement, lol)

(the "also" part was to avoid repetitiveness. also this happened at "Substitute")

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos can choose to run Hidden Power Grass to reliably OHKO Rhyperior and Water/Ground-types. This would also allow Ampharos to hit Lanturn who would otherwise give wall him a very hard time, but Hidden Power Ice is usually the superior option. If you want a bulkier Ampharos, an alternative EV spread of 208 HP / 252 SpA / 48 Speed allows Ampharos to take hits considerably better at the cost of Speed. 48 Speed EVs still allow Ampharos to outspeed minimum Speed Clefable, standard Rhyperior, and other slow walls. If using the bulkier spread, Leftovers becomes a viable option.</p>

(although the "if one" part reads clear, i'm not sure if we're talking about this random individual or not who doesn't even play pokemon. "you" might be better because it goes directly to the reader of the analysis.)

<p>Because Ampharos can get rid of bulky Water-types easily, Fire-types are perfect partners. Arcanine is a great choice as he's one of the more durable options. Arcanine can help eliminate pesky Grass-types such as Venusaur who plagues Ampharos. Because Ampharos's sole weakness is Ground, a resistance or immunity to Earthquake is extremely useful. Mismagius makes an excellent partner with Ampharos because of his ability to KO Registeel with repeated Focus Blasts. Mixed variants of Sceptile pair well with Ampharos, as they weaken each other's counters. Because of the potential paralysis from Static, slow but powerful Pokemon such as Torterra make good teammates. Lanturn can be quite the pest for Ampharos, so pairing him with a Pokemon such as Venusaur is also recommended.</p>

<p>Dugtrio is a major threat to Ampharos, as blindly throwing out Thunderbolt will cause it to be trapped and OHKOed. Ampharos should always try to be safely behind a Substitute. If Ampharos is somehow revenge killed by Dugtrio, having a threatening partner such as Moltres or the previously mentioned Torterra will allow you to gain back some momentum back.</p>

(although the swap for "back" seems minor and adds no content, i just personally feel it reads better with the change.)

Pretty impressive write-up!
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Grammar-Prose Check 2/2

Additions bold, removals red.

Thund91 said:
[SET]
name: Life Orb Attacker
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Hidden Power Ice
move 3: Focus Blast
move 4: Substitute / Focus Punch
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest / Mild
EVs: 4 HP/ 252 SpA /252 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos is different than most of his Electric-type brethren due to good defenses and low Speed. He still maintains an excellent base 115 Special Attack stat, and when backed up with a great STAB attack in Thunderbolt he can manage to obliterate many common Pokemon in UU. This set takes advantage of Ampharos's natural bulk to help set up Substitute on weak walls and begin opening up holes in the opponent's team.</p>

<p>The core move of this set is Thunderbolt. With just Stealth Rock on the field, Ampharos will nearly always OHKO Bulky Water Milotic, the best wall available in UU. Thunderbolt also gets rid of powerful threats such as Toxicroak or and Alakazam in one strike. Because of Ampharos's natural bulk, most offensive threats will not be able to OHKO him, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with top threats and come out the victor. Ground-types have an unfortunate immunity to Electric attacks, but Hidden Power Ice remedies this. Hidden Power Ice allows Ampharos to hit Ground-types hard, while having a great chance to OHKO standard Donphan as he tries to absorb Thunderbolt. Hidden Power Ice also OHKOes Torterra, but Ampharos needs to hit max Speed variants on the switch or when safely behind a Substitute. Focus Blast allows Ampharos to 2HKO both Clefable and Registeel, while giving him a way to threaten Chansey. Also, Focus Blast also allows Ampharos to OHKO standard Rhyperior, as Hidden Power Ice can only muster a 2HKO. Substitute is the primary option in the last slot, as Ampharos can use his bulk and power to cause switches. It also helps Ampharos ease prediction, and guards him Ampharos against opposing Dugtrio. Although a dry Focus Punch may seem sketchy, it's Ampharos's best bet at eliminating Chansey.</p>


[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>Ampharos can run Hidden Power Grass to reliably OHKO Rhyperior and Water/Ground-types. This would also allows Ampharos to hit Lanturn who would otherwise wall him, but Hidden Power Ice is usually the superior option. If you want a bulkier Ampharos, an alternative EV spread of 208 HP / 252 SpA / 48 Speed allows Ampharos to take hits considerably better at the cost of Speed. 48 Speed EVs still allow Ampharos to outspeed minimum Speed Clefable, standard Rhyperior, and other slow walls. If using the bulkier spread, Leftovers becomes a viable option.</p>

<p>Because Ampharos can get rid of bulky Water-types easily, Fire-types are perfect partners. Arcanine is a great choice as he's one of the more durable options. Arcanine can help eliminate pesky Grass-types, such as Venusaur, who plagues Ampharos. Because Ampharos's sole weakness is Ground, a resistance or immunity to Earthquake is extremely useful. Mismagius makes an excellent partner with Ampharos because of his ability to KO Registeel with repeated Focus Blasts. Mixed variants of Sceptile pair well with Ampharos, as they weaken each other's counters. Because of potential paralysis from Static, slow but powerful Pokemon such as Torterra make good teammates. Lanturn can be quite the pest for Ampharos, so pairing him with a Pokemon such as Venusaur is also recommended.</p>

<p>Dugtrio is a major threat to Ampharos, as blindly throwing out Thunderbolt will cause him to be trapped and OHKOed. Ampharos should always try to be safely behind a Substitute. If Ampharos is somehow revenge killed by Dugtrio, having a threatening partner such as Moltres or the previously mentioned Torterra will allow you to gain back some momentum.</p>
Click to expand...

Nice set.

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