Ampharos, the Light Pokémon. The bright light on its tail can be seen far away. It has been treasured since ancient times as a beacon. When it gets dark, the light from its bright, shiny tail can be seen from far away on the ocean's surface.
Overview
Despite Ampharos being the Light Pokémon, its prospects are rather dim. Ampharos, is a slow bulky attacker with above average HP and defenses. However, unlike other defensive Electric types like the Rotom Forms, Magnezone, and Elektross, Ampharos has very little going for it, despite its slightly higher base bulk to all but Magnezone. No secondary typing or defensive ability leaves Ampharos incredibly exposed thanks to the poor resistances pure Electric has, and no recovery leaves Ampharos easy to wear down. Poor Speed is another nail in the coffin, forcing Ampharos to rely on its troubled defenses before acting.
The only thing going for Ampharos is its rather eclectic moveset. The rare Cotton Guard enables Ampharos to become incredibly bulky physically in a single move. Ampharos’ usable Special Attack is complimented by rare coverage for Electric types in Power Gem and Dazzling Gleam, giving Ampharos answers to Pokémon other Electric types may not be able to cover. However, even this moveset is still flawed, lacking direct answers to most Ground types that pivot into Ampharos’ STABs with ease. Ampharos may have an interesting moveset, but nothing it has helps Ampharos successfully differentiate it from its competitors.
Positives
Base 110 Special Attack coupled with Electric STAB, Dazzling Gleam, Focus Blast and Power Gem gives Ampharos rather wide coverage.
Above average 95/80/90 defenses helps Ampharos tank a hit or two.
Decent support movepool with Screens, Thunder Wave and Volt Switch gives Ampharos some variety.
Negatives
Poor Base 55 Speed ensures Ampharos will be getting hit first by all but the slowest targets.
Lack of resistances and recovery make it difficult for Ampharos to be a consistent wall
No boosting moves leave Ampharos struggling against bulkier opponents
No reliable answer to Ground types.
Movesets
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-Thunderbolt
-Dazzling Gleam
-Focus Blast
-Volt Switch
Ability: Static
Item: Choice Specs
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk
Modest Nature
Ampharos acts as a potent attacker, using its wide coverage to apply pressure and blow holes through the opposing team. Thunderbolt is STAB of choice, able to destroy targets like Masquerain, Honchkrow and Charizard on top of being a strong neutral hit into bulkier targets like Rabsca and Swalot. Dazzling Gleam offers superb coverage into opposing Dragon types like Flapple, Appletun and Goodra a rarity for Electric types without Terastalizing. Focus Blast provides needed coverage, obliterating Alolan Persian, Rotom Frost and Alolan Dugrio who are big problems for Ampharos otherwise. Volt Switch rounds out the set, enabling Ampharos to counter non Ground switch ins and severely chip anything else that comes in, enabling Ampharos to maintain momentum.
Tera Types:
Unlike other Electric types, Ampharos doesn’t like Terastalizing into Ice despite the excellent coverage due to its poor speed making the weakness laden typing all the more apparent. Tera Electric is recommended for giving Ampharos as much power as possible to blast through bulkier targets. Otherwise, Tera Fairy and Tera Grass are good options, giving Ampharos valuable STAB coverage and a much better defensive typing to boot.
EVs and Items:
Max HP and Special Attack are recommended to balance out Ampharos’ good bulk and offense, while Choice Specs helps alleviate Ampharos’ usable Special Attack. Otherwise, one can consider Assault Vest to make Ampharos as bulky as possible, or even Choice Scarf with Speed investment to turn Ampharos into a speedy revenge killer outspeed up to Scyther with max Speed investment.
Partners:
Allies that can take care of opposing Ground types are greatly recommended. Leafeon and other Grass types make great choices. Leafeon’s high Defense and typing makes it a reliable pivot into both Ground types, but also common Electric immune Pokémon like Jolteon, and Raichu as well. Cacturne and Gogoat can also fulfill this niche. Grass types like Ampharos checking Dragons with Dazzling Gleam, Flying types with Electric STAB and potentially Fire and Bug types with Power Gem.
Masquerain contrasts by being outright immune to Ground and threatening with Hydro Pump, as well as opposing Grass types that can give Ampharos problems as well, while liking Ampharos pivoting into opposing Electric attacks. Other Flying types like Charizard and Honchkrow can work as well, but lack direct answers to opposing Ground types.
Rabsca makes for an interesting partner, able to pivot into Ground moves thanks to Bug resistance and threaten out opposing Grass types, while setting up Trick Room to take advantage of Ampharos’ low speed. In turn, Ampharos threatens opposing Flying type with Electric STAB and Dark types with Dazzling Gleam.
Other Options:
Discharge -slightly weaker than Thunderbolt, but the increased Paralysis Chance is tantalizing for speed control.
Power Gem -offers unique coverage against Fire and Bug types, but they normally take considerable damage from Ampharos’ Electric STAB to begin with.
Dragon Tail -excellent phazing option for Assault Vest sets
Countering Ampharos
Ground types are as usual, bane for opposing Electric types, though do be wary of Ampharos’ coverage. Dugtrio and its Alolan counterpart must be wary of Focus Blast, but can otherwise freely switch in and threaten to OHKO with Earthquake. Krookodile and Garchomp have to be wary of Dazzling Gleam but are otherwise safe switch ins as well.
Grass types can also prove problematic for Ampharos, able to tank Ampharos’ Electric STAB and fire back, but lack the OHKO power Ground types boast, and can be easily crippled by Thunder Wave or Discharge Paralysis. Assault Vest Gogoat takes laughable damage from any attack and can easily 2HKO with Earthquake while staying healthy with Horn Leech, while Lilligant can use Ampharos as setup and stay healthy with Giga Drain, but must watch out for opposing Assault Vest sets in turn. Arboliva abhors Focus Blast, but can ruin Assault Vest sets with Leech Seed and outright threaten offensive sets with Earth Power.
Lightning Rod users like Raichu can make for relatively safe switch ins to Ampharos’ Electric STAB and potential Thunder Waves, but pivoting into coverage can still sting.
Sponges like Chansey, Goodra and various non Electric weak Assault Vest users are hard walls to Ampharos, able to tank its attacks and grind Ampharos down in turn.
Locations in Games
Red/Blue/Yellow:
Not in game
Gold/Silver/Crystal:
Evolve Flaaffy
Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald:
Evolve Flaaffy (Emerald )
Trade from Emerald (Ruby/Sapphire)
FireRed/LeafGreen:
Trade from Emerald
Colosseum/XD:
Evolve Flaaffy
Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Evolve Flaaffy
HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Evolve Flaaffy
Black/White:
Evolve Flaaffy (White)
Black 2/White 2:
Evolve Flaaffy
X/Y:
Evolve Flaaffy
Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire:
Trade from X & Y
Sun/Moon:
Trade from Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon
Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon:
Evolve Flaaffy
Let's Go, Pikachu!/Let's Go, Eevee!:
Not in game
Sword/Shield:
Not in game
Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl:
Evolve Flaaffy
Legends: Arceus:
Not in game
Scarlet/Violet:
Alfornada Cavern, North Province Area One
Tera Raid Battles: 4 Star Raid Battles
Anime Appearences
