Roark's Rampardos (Japanese: ヒョウタのラムパルド Hyouta's Rampald) is Roark's main Pokémon in the games, animation, and manga. It also appears as a card in the TCG.
In animation
Pokémon the Series
Roark found Rampardos as a Cranidos during his childhood when it was still a Fossil. It was the first Pokémon to be restored from a Fossil by scientists in Oreburgh City.
Cranidos debuted in Shapes of Things to Come!, where Roark used it as the third and final Pokémon against Paul. It knew some powerful attacks, such as Zen Headbutt. Cranidos fought against Paul's Chimchar and Paul allowed Chimchar to get hit repeatedly by its Zen Headbutt. This caused Chimchar to activate Blaze, which powered its Fire-type moves. Even though this gave Chimchar the upper hand, it was still not enough, as Cranidos managed to defeat Chimchar with Headbutt after Chimchar executed Dig.
Cranidos then went up against Elekid, who took damage earlier from its battle with Roark's Onix. During the battle, Elekid pounded Cranidos's knee, which caused it to reel in pain. Despite Elekid's Static Ability paralyzing Cranidos, it was canceled out by Cranidos's Ability, Mold Breaker. Cranidos still suffered from the added pain on its knee and then clashed with Elekid's Brick Break with its Zen Headbutt. Both Pokémon stood up and Cranidos fell, thus losing to Elekid, but not without giving a fierce battle.
In A Gruff Act to Follow!, Roark used it as his first Pokémon against Ash and his Aipom. It surprised everyone by jumping into the air and Headbutting Aipom just as she was about to charge in with Focus Punch. Aipom's Focus Punch was interrupted after she was hit by a Headbutt. It wasn't long until Cranidos was able to defeat Aipom despite Aipom's use of Double Team.
Cranidos battled Pikachu next. It overpowered Pikachu at first even though Pikachu had used Thunderbolt and Iron Tail on it before, assuming that it would slow down. This caused Paul to leave but Pikachu's fighting spirit convinced him to stay. Ash recalled Pikachu and sent out Turtwig. Cranidos countered Turtwig's Razor Leaf attack with Flamethrower, burning up the leaves produced by the attack. Cranidos's combination of Zen Headbutt and Flamethrower nearly took out Turtwig but Turtwig survived them and Cranidos lost to Turtwig's Razor Leaf flurry. However, the impact of the battle weakened both Turtwig and Pikachu enough so that Roark's Onix could finish them off, thus defeating Ash.
In Wild in the Streets!, Cranidos was sent out to deal with a rampaging Kabutops and Armaldo. Team Rocket's intervention gave Dr. Kenzo and another scientist a chance to recall them into their Poké Balls. Cranidos briefly took on Aerodactyl and stopped its Giga Impact from attacking any further. It then battled Team Rocket and Meowth fired his net at it. After hearing Roark call out to it, Cranidos begins evolving into Rampardos and defeats the trio with a Zen Headbutt after getting the Fossil revival machine back from them.
Ash then challenged Roark for a rematch in O'er the Rampardos we Watched!. Rampardos became the last Pokémon Ash faced. Since both Aipom and Pikachu dealt with Geodude and Onix previously, they were unable to handle Rampardos's power which caused Rampardos to easily defeat them. During its battle with Turtwig, Rampardos almost defeated Turtwig, but Turtwig managed to emerge victorious once again due to quick thinking on Ash's part, earning Ash the Coal Badge.
In Ancient Family Matters!, it battled Byron's Bastiodon. However, the match was interrupted due to Team Rocket trying to steal Byron's Fossil collection. It then teamed up with Bastiodon to send the trio blasting off and retrieve the Fossils.
Rampardos briefly appeared alongside Roark during the ending credits of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
Personality and characteristics
Ever since Cranidos was revived from a Fossil, it became Roark's most relied-on Pokémon. During the battles between Paul and Ash, it was able to hold its own against them, even forcing the opponent down to one Pokémon.
During Cranidos's first battle against Ash, it nearly defeated him on its own but lost to Turtwig. However, it contributed to weakening his team enough for Onix to defeat both Turtwig and Pikachu.
Appearance
Moves used
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Using Headbutt as
a Cranidos
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
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Pokémon Evolutions
In The Rival, Roark used Cranidos in a Gym battle against Barry and his Piplup. It eventually fell to a super effective Bubble.
Moves used
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| Using Headbutt
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
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In the games
Rampardos, in either of its forms, is Roark's main Pokémon in all the games he appears in.
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Roark (Masters)
Roark forms a sync pair with Cranidos and its evolved form Rampardos in Pokémon Masters EX.
Artwork
In the manga
Rampardos in Pokémon Adventures
Pokémon Adventures
Roark received Rampardos as an Egg prior to the Diamond & Pearl arc. He hatched into a Cranidos sometime after.
In Putting a Crimp in Kricketot, Cranidos walked out of the Oreburgh Mine along with his Trainer.
In A Conk on Cranidos's Cranium, Roark sent Cranidos out as his first Pokémon during Platinum’s Gym battle with him. Cranidos fought against Piplup. After he managed to do heavy damage to her with a super-effective Shock Wave, both Roark and Platinum immediately recalled their Pokémon and sent out Onix and Ponyta in their stead.
Following the defeat of Onix, Roark sent out Cranidos again. Cranidos used Double Team which gave Piplup problems. He continued to use Double Team and attempted a Zen Headbutt. However, Piplup used Water Pulse earlier which caused Cranidos to get confused. The confusion caused Cranidos to hurt himself and eventually faint.
Cranidos reappeared in Brash Bronzong I alongside his Trainer. During a talk with Mr. Foreman, Cranidos evolved into a Rampardos, something that Roark expected.
Rampardos reappeared in Byron's imagination in Encountering Elekid alongside Roark and Onix.
In Creeping Away from Cradily, Rampardos participated in the final battle alongside the Gym Leaders’ other Pokémon against Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. It was revealed later on that Roark was able to defeat Saturn. However, the Red Chain bound Rampardos and the others in an attempt to stop Cyrus. Rampardos and the other Pokémon worked together to free themselves from the Red Chain.
Moves used
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| Using Zen Headbutt as a Cranidos
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
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Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
Cranidos in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
Roark's Cranidos was first used in Hareta's Very First Pokémon Battle!! to rescue Hareta after he had been captured by two Team Galactic Grunts. Afterwards, Roark used Cranidos in Hareta's Gym battle against him and lost to his Piplup thanks to the Oran Berry that Roark had given to Hareta earlier.
In Bonds Connect Across Space-Time..., Cranidos joined the other Gym Leaders' Pokémon in attacking Palkia in order to protect Hareta. However, Palkia easily cancelled out all the attacks thrown at it.
Moves used
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| Using Assurance
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| A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
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Pocket Monsters DP
Cranidos in Pocket Monsters DP
Roark's Rampardos appeared as a Cranidos in PMDP07.
In the TCG
Roark's Rampardos is featured in the Pokémon Trading Card Game as a Pokémon 
. The following is a list of related cards.
Trivia
Related articles
For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Cranidos and Rampardos.
. The following is a list of related cards.
