Mega Ampharos is an Electric- and Dragon-type Pokémon, and Ampharos was originally discovered in the Johto region. Excess energy from Mega Evolution stimulates its genes, and the wool it had lost grows in again. Begin the journey of challenging this wooly behemoth by learning which Pokémon will be most effective in Raid Battles against Mega Ampharos, how to catch Ampharos after winning a Raid Battle, and how best to use the Light Pokémon after you’ve caught it.

Which Pokémon to Use in a Mega Ampharos Raid in Pokémon GO

As an Electric- and Dragon-type Pokémon, Mega Ampharos is vulnerable to Ice-, Ground-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks. When selecting Pokémon for your Mega Ampharos Raid Battle lineup, it helps to choose Pokémon that have a Fast Attack and a Charged Attack of one of these types if you want to deal as much damage as possible. It’s not necessary to choose only Ice-, Ground-, Dragon-, or Fairy-type Pokémon, but a Pokémon that shares a type with these attacks will benefit from a same-type attack bonus, which will allow these attacks to deal an additional 20% damage.

If you have multiple Pokémon that know Ice-, Ground-, Dragon-, and Fairy-type attacks, choose the Pokémon with the highest CP and best overall stats. Remember that speed of victory affects how many Premier Balls you will receive at the conclusion of a successful Raid Battle, so bring your strongest Pokémon and defeat Ampharos as quickly as you can.

When you challenge a Raid Boss while you’re in a party, Party Power can give your Charged Attacks a boost. When you have more party members in a raid, your Party Power charges more quickly—when you activate it, your next Charged Attack will deal even more damage! To get the most out of Party Power, it’s a great idea to take on Raid Battles with friends.

It’s also worth noting that when you include a Mega-Evolved Pokémon in your raid lineup, all Pokémon of the same type participating in the raid receive a damage boost while that Mega-Evolved Pokémon is battling the Raid Boss. With their substantial CP, Mega-Evolved Pokémon are already a terrific asset in raids, but this added damage boost for other Trainers’ Pokémon can also be significant in Raid Battles where you’re up against the clock.

Make the Most of Premier Balls and Berries

After a successful Mega Ampharos raid, Mega Ampharos will revert to Ampharos and you’ll have a limited number of Premier Balls you can use to catch Ampharos, so make each one count. You can earn extra Premier Balls by battling with friends and defeating Mega Ampharos more quickly.

In an encounter with Ampharos, your chance of catching it is greatest when the target ring is small enough for you to score Excellent Throws. Throwing Curveballs can improve your chances even more. But work within your abilities—if you don’t think you can reliably make Excellent Curveball Throws, aim for Nice Throws or Great Throws rather than risk missing the target ring completely.

Ampharos isn’t going to make it easy on you by sitting still while you’re trying to catch it. Don’t waste your Premier Balls by throwing them while it’s moving around. Watch Ampharos to get a feel for its cycle of movement and the pauses in between this cycle. During one of these pauses, wait for the target ring to reappear, and then throw as it starts to shrink to increase your odds of making a Great Throw or an Excellent Throw.

Berries can help you catch Ampharos. A Razz Berry will make Ampharos easier to catch, and a Golden Razz Berry will make it much easier to catch. If you find yourself failing to land any throws, a Nanab Berry will calm Ampharos, making its movements less erratic and allowing you to make precise throws more easily. If you need extra Ampharos Candy, using a Silver Pinap Berry will make Ampharos easier to catch and grant you extra Candy when you catch it.

Buddy Pokémon with a Buddy Level of Great Buddy or higher have the Catch Assist Perk. If a Pokémon—even a Legendary Pokémon—deflects a Poké Ball, your buddy might bounce it back for a second catch opportunity!

Ampharos can be tricky to catch, so don’t be discouraged if it escapes. Get a second wind by stocking up on useful items—like Max Potions, Max Revives, and Golden Razz Berries—and try again.

What to Do with Ampharos Once You’ve Caught It

As an Electric-type Pokémon, Ampharos is resistant to Electric-, Flying-, and Steel-type attacks, and its only vulnerability is Ground-type attacks. With a somewhat modest max CP and competition from Electric-type Legendary Pokémon such as Zapdos, Raikou, and Zekrom, Ampharos doesn’t necessarily shine in raids. However, Mega Ampharos is an electrifying presence, making it well worth powering up to unleash on Water- or Flying-type Raid Bosses. Mega Ampharos shines in raids as an Electric-type powerhouse, though it lacks a Dragon-type Fast Attack to make it a fully viable force against Raid Bosses weak to Dragon-type attacks.

When it comes to the GO Battle League, Ampharos isn’t necessarily a shining star, but it can be used competitively in the Great League and the Ultra League—with slightly better performance in the Ultra League. Ampharos benefits from its broad range of Charged Attacks that can force an opponent to use a Protect Shield simply because they don’t know what type of Charged Attack is coming. However, Ampharos’s single type and meager three resistances work against it. When taking Ampharos to the Great League, it’s immensely helpful to save your Protect Shields for when Ampharos is on the field to keep it in top fighting shape.

Ampharos is less dependent on Protect Sheilds in the Ultra League and can play a unique role targeting many Ultra League favorites, including Tentacruel, Swampert, and Cresselia. Ampharos is a popular choice to begin a battle with as it can force an opponent to blow through their own Protect Shields as they try to assess which Charged Attacks are on deck. Whether you’re competing in the Great League or the Ultra League, it’s essential to teach Ampharos two Charged Attacks. Given that its wide variety of attacks are a major asset, choosing two different attack types that complement your broader team and strategy can be what clinches your next battle.

Good luck with your next Raid Battle, and remember to check Pokemon.com/Strategy for more Pokémon GO, video game, and Pokémon TCG tips.