Rampardos is interesting because it's a terrible pokemon in every way exept for the fat that it has stupidly high attack and stab head smash. Is that enough to grant him a place in your AAA Team? Maybe.
Rampardos does have some really strong competition as a head smash user by Tyrantrum. The T-rex has a usable speed stat and access to dragon dance while also having higher bulk and a great secondary typing.
Quite frankly there aren't many 2hkoes that magic guard rampardos can do that tyrantrum fails to do. Meanwhile tyrantrum can put more pressure on offensive teams with dragon dance, adamant at +1 can outspeed base 115 iirc while jolly can outspeed everything up to Skymin (base 127). And the dragon typing gives him a 4X resist to fire meaning he can easily set up on victini (even switch on it) and proceed to murder the offensive team in front.
Rampardos does have rock polish but there's a clear difference in bulk.
252+ Atk Choice Band Tough Claws Victini V-create vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tyrantrum: 115-135 (37.5 - 44.1%) -- guaranteed 3HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Tough Claws Victini V-create vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rampardos in Harsh Sunshine: 603-709 (180 - 211.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO a resisted move can kill 2 of them.
252+ Atk Choice Band Braviary Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Tyrantrum: 133-157 (43.4 - 51.3%) -- 6.6% chance to 2HKO
252+ Atk Choice Band Braviary Brave Bird vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Rampardos: 233-274 (69.5 - 81.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
So more power for an overall crappyer pokemon.
But that's only the magic guard set, only peasants run magic guard. There's one thing that rampardos does better than any other and that's exploding the living shit out of anything in front of him.
FLY YOU FOOLS (Rampardos) @ Choice Band / Rock Plate
Ability: Adaptability
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Adamant Nature
- Head Smash
- Stone Edge
- Earthquake
- Rock Polish / Pursuit / Fire punch
Banded adaptability stone edge is still stronger than life orb head smash meaning you have higher chance to 2hko intimidate skarmory (30% against 60% iirc). But banded adaptability head smash is WAY STRONGER than life orb head smash.
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Rampardos Head Smash vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Hippowdon: 206-243 (49 - 57.8%) -- 96.1% chance to 2HKO
Holy ducking fudge, do you see that? That's rampardos 2hkoing hippodown on a resisted move :o
252+ Atk Choice Band Adaptability Rampardos Head Smash vs. 240 HP / 0 Def Eviolite Doublade: 151-178 (47.3 - 55.7%) -- 78.5% chance to 2HKO
Nice S rank nerd.
I'm posting this set because I think that's the niche rampardos has in AAA. Still has competition from T-rex who has adaptability outrage and can pass chesnaugh with aerial ace. But who cares? Just blow shit up and have a good time.
Because of that, and the big wall of text I just wrote, I think this deserves
C+ rank, it's niche and hard to use, but can be really effective.