#0181 · Johto · Generation 2

Ampharos

Light Pokémon · Electric-type

Ampharos is a Electric-type Pokémon, the Light Pokémon, number 181 (#0181) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 2 and comes from the Johto region. It is 1.4 m tall and weighs 61.5 kg.

Ampharos is the Light Pokémon, an electric sheep whose tail burns like a lighthouse beacon. It has guided lost travellers for ages, and it can Mega Evolve into an Electric and Dragon type.

How to pronounce Ampharos

Ampharos is pronounced AM-fuh-ros. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.

Listen to Ampharos said out loud:

In Japanese it is デンリュウ (Denryu).

Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.

Lore

Biology

Ampharos is 1.4 m tall and weighs 61.5 kg. It is a yellow, two-legged sheep with a white belly, black-striped conical ears, black rings around a long neck and a red orb set into its forehead. A second orb sits on the tip of a long, striped tail, and the Pokédex says its glow is bright enough to be seen from space. People of old, it says, used the light to send signals across great distances.

Behaviour

Ampharos is hard to hide, so the Pokédex says it usually keeps its tail light off, though it is also described as a beacon for people who are lost. Bulbapedia says it sometimes forgets to switch the light off before sleeping, which is why a sleeping Ampharos's tail can be seen shining in the distance at night.

Habitat

The Pokédex lists grassland, and Bulbapedia adds farms with Mareep and Flaaffy. In Scarlet and Violet it is found in Alfornada Cavern and Paldea's North Province, and in Legends: Z-A an Alpha Ampharos waits in Bleu District's Wild Zone 16.

Powers

Static can paralyse attackers on contact, and Plus is its hidden Ability. In Scarlet and Violet it knows Dragon Pulse, Zap Cannon and Thunder Punch from the start, and later learns Power Gem and Discharge. Holding Ampharosite, it Mega Evolves into Mega Ampharos, an Electric and Dragon type with Mold Breaker, an Ability that ignores many defensive Abilities. The Z-A Pokédex says the energy apparently awakens dragon blood that slept in its cells, and Bulbapedia says it regrows white wool and can raise an electric barrier. Special Attack climbs from 115 to 165, but Speed drops to 45.

Name origin

Ampharos may combine 'amp' (a measure of electric current) with 'pharos', Greek for lighthouse, and could also nod to the Spanish and Portuguese amparo ('aid, protection'). The Japanese name is Denryu (デンリュウ), which may come from denryū ('electric current'), and a pun on 電竜 den ryū ('electric dragon').

Design inspiration

Ampharos resembles a sheared sheep, the end of a line that loses wool at each stage, and shares traits with a lighthouse: a tall build, stripes and a beacon at the top. Bulbapedia adds that Mega Ampharos's Dragon type, woolly mane and tail, and jewel-like orbs suggest a Chinese dragon. These are fan readings.

Evolution notes

Ampharos evolves from Flaaffy at level 30 and is the last stage of the line.

In the games

Jasmine's Ampharos, Amphy, lights the lighthouse in Olivine City in Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold and SoulSilver, and Jasmine will not battle until Amphy is cured of its illness. Ampharos debuted in Gold and Silver, and in Scarlet and Violet it also appears in 4-star Tera Raid Battles.

In the anime

Jasmine's Ampharos debuted in 'Fight for the Light!', where Ash and his friends fetched medicine for it; the English dub calls it Sparkle. In 'Manectric Charge', Watt's Ampharos breaks the Pokémon of Ash, May and Brock out of Team Rocket's net.

Fun facts

• The Light Pokémon category is shared with Lanturn.
• CoroCoro magazine first showed Ampharos in its May 1997 issue, alongside Donphan and Slowking.
• In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Ampharos leads the Expedition Society, and the other members trust him despite his poor sense of direction.

Sources: Bulbapedia: Ampharos (Pokémon) · Serebii: Ampharos (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex)

Base stats

• HP: 90
• Attack: 75
• Defense: 85
• Sp. Atk: 115
• Sp. Def: 90
• Speed: 55

Ampharos’s base stat total is 510. Its highest stat is Sp. Atk.

Type matchups

What is Ampharos weak to?

Ampharos takes extra damage from Ground (2×) moves.

It resists Electric (½×), Flying (½×), Steel (½×).

Evolution

What does Ampharos evolve from?

Ampharos evolves from Flaaffy at level 30.

Ampharos is the final stage of its evolution family.

The whole family: Mareep, Flaaffy, Ampharos.

• Mareep evolves into Flaaffy at level 15.

Forms

• Mega Ampharos (Mega): Electric/Dragon-type, base stat total 610 (HP 90, Attack 95, Defense 105, Sp. Atk 165, Sp. Def 110, Speed 45). Ability: Mold Breaker.

Abilities

• Static: Has a 30% chance of paralyzing attacking Pokémon on contact.
• Plus (hidden ability): Increases Special Attack to 1.5× when a friendly Pokémon has Plus or Minus.

Moves

Moves Ampharos learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet

“Evo” means Ampharos learns the move the moment it evolves: Thunder Punch.

TM moves (54)

Ampharos can learn 54 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Agility, Protect, Low Kick, Confuse Ray, Trailblaze, Charge Beam, Facade, Bulldoze, Swift, Fling, Dragon Tail, Endure, Volt Switch, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Dig, Brick Break, Body Slam, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Sleep Talk, Electro Ball, Reflect, Light Screen, Dazzling Gleam, Thunder Wave, Stomping Tantrum, Rest, Eerie Impulse, Power Gem, Substitute, Dragon Pulse, Thunderbolt, Helping Hand, Electric Terrain, Wild Charge, Giga Impact, Outrage, Focus Blast, Hyper Beam, Thunder, Tera Blast, Roar, Charge, Focus Punch, Double-Edge, Endeavor, Supercell Slam, Electroweb, Meteor Beam, Breaking Swipe, Dragon Cheer.

Egg moves (6), which Mareep can hatch knowing:After You, Agility, Eerie Impulse, Electric Terrain, Electroweb, Flatter.

Breeding & training

• Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
• Egg groups: Monster, Field.
• Egg cycles: 20 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 2,560).
• Catch rate: 45 out of 255.
• Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
• Growth rate: Medium Slow (1,059,860 experience points to reach level 100).
• Defeating it gives 3 Sp. Atk effort values.
• Base experience yield: 230.

Pokédex entries

Its tail shines bright and strong. It has been prized since long ago as a beacon for sailors. (Ultra Moon)

The light from its tail can be seen from space. This is why you can always tell exactly where it is, which is why it usually keeps the light off. (Ultra Sun)

Ampharos gives off so much light that it can be seen even from space. People in the old days used the light of this Pokémon to send signals back and forth with others far away. (Ruby, Sapphire, Omega Ruby, Alpha Sapphire)

The tail's tip shines brightly and can be seen from far away. It acts as a beacon for lost people. (Gold, LeafGreen, HeartGold, X, Y)

The tip of its tail shines so brightly it can be used to send sea-navigation beacons to distant foreign shores. (Black 2, White 2)

The tip of its tail shines brightly. In the olden days, people sent signals using the tail's light. (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Black, White)

Names around the world

Trivia

• Highest Defense among Electric types in Gen 2: 85.
• Highest Sp. Atk among Electric types in Gen 2: 115, shared with 1 other.
• Taller than 68% of all Pokémon (1.4 m).
• Heavier than 73% of all Pokémon (61.5 kg).
• Base stat total 510, ranked #237 of 1,025.
• Its best stat is Sp. Atk, ranked #89 of 1,025.
• One of 69 Electric-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
• One of 88 yellow Pokémon.
• Number 30 of 100 Pokémon introduced in Generation 2 (Johto).
• Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
• Can learn 64 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
• Catch rate 45: about 5.9% per Poké Ball at full health.
• Has 1 alternate form.
• Appears in 9 distinct Pokédex entries.

Sources and fact-checking

• Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
• Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Ampharos (Pokémon), Serebii: Ampharos (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
• Pronunciation (AM-fuh-ros): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.

Last checked: 19 October 2026. Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.

Explore

Electric-type Pokémon · Ampharos vs Raichu · Johto region guide · Static ability · Plus ability · Compare Ampharos · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves

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Gen 2 Electric-type Pokémon · Gen 2 Pokémon list · Yellow Pokémon list · Monster egg group · Field egg group · Pokémon that start with A · Sheep and Goat Pokémon

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