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Shadow Ampharos

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#181
Default
211
ATK
169
DEF
207
STA
Lvl 50Max CP
3225
Lvl 40
2852
Lvl 25Weather Boost
2037
Lvl 20Raids/Eggs
1630
Lvl 15Research
1222

PvE Analysis

Shadow Ampharos is a large upgrade over its base forme, but it has an issue; in-and-of itself, it's not a great attacker, and it can't Mega Evolve to turn into a good Electric Type Mega Evolution, meaning it leaves obscurity to attain mediocrity, but also sacrifices its real potential in the process. Honestly, purifying a decent Shadow Ampharos isn't a terrible option.

Best PvE Offensive Moveset

  • Volt Switch outperforms Charge Beam on paper, but the latter is easier to dodge with. 
  • Zap Cannon is the charge move of choice, doing far more damage for the same amount of energy as Thunder.
  • Thunder Punch deals less damage per hit, but as a 3-bar move is more consistent and is a good option for a 2nd charge move. 
  • Focus BlastDragon Pulse, Brutal Swing, Trailblaze, and Power Gem have little to no use on an offensive Ampharos.

Best PvE Defensive Moveset

  • Shadow Ampharos is decent on defense thanks to Volt Switch’s huge damage; Charge Beam doesn’t hold a candle to it.
  • Trailblaze has great defensive performance for Shadow Ampharos, especially thanks to its ability to counter Ground Types.
  • Brutal Swing is a 3-bar move with an early damage window and good coverage, making it also an excellent defensive option
  • Dragon Pulse* is another great defensive charge move. 
  • Thunder Punch is generally a great option for defense due to its frequent use as a 3-bar move. However, its flexibility also leaves Shadow Ampharos extremely vulnerable to Ground Types, so it's generally not a good choice.
  • Focus Blast has solid type coverage, but Shadow Ampharos probably won't get a chance to use it..
  • Thunder hits fast and is hard to dodge, whereas Zap Cannon hits harder but is easy to dodge.
  • Power Gem offers some coverage and can perform similarly to Dragon Pulse

PvP Analysis

Volt Switch is the superior fast move in both damage output and energy gains, though it with an animation duration of 2 seconds (4 turns), it can be cumbersome to use. 

Brutal Swing costs the least energy and provides coverage against Grass-, Ground-, Ghost-, and Psychic-type Pokemon. Thunder Punch is another cheap option that increases the consistency of Ampharos's Electric-type damage. Trailblaze can be used to add further pressure against Ground-type Pokemon, being particularly effective against Water/Ground-type Pokemon.

Focus Blast costs the most energy, but also threatens massive damage if unshielded. Dragon Pulse is a mediocre move that can give some coverage against opposing Dragon-type Pokemon. Power Gem adds some coverage, but it is often redundant with Ampharos's Electric STAB. Zap Cannon is largely used for highlight reels due to its nuclear damage, but it is often inconsistent for serious use. Thunder is an awkward middleground between Thunder Punch and Zap Cannon and sees no play.

Great League3.5 / 5
Ampharos is an interesting Electric-type choice thanks to its surprisingly wide coverage and great damage output. Though other Electric-type Pokemon such as Charjabug and Lanturn have cemented themselves as top meta threats, Ampharos's versatility can make it a viable option, especially in rulesets that have them banned. It is somewhat fragile, however.
Ultra League3 / 5
Charjabug doesn't reach Ultra League CP, and Lanturn only gets close. This allows Ampharos to build itself a more distinct niche. Access to Brutal Swing is invaluable in a metagame where Giratina runs rampant. Ampharos also greatly enjoys the increased bulk in this league, allowing it to reach its Charged Attacks more consistently.
Master League0 / 5
Unfortunately, Ampharos's stats are just not cut out for the Master League.

Vulnerable
Ground
160%
Purification Cost
5 Candy + 5,000 Stardust
Flee Rate
5 %
Buddy Distance
5 KM
Catch Rate
12.5 %
Female Ratio
50 %
Male Ratio
50 %