>>34856959Ampharos was originally meant to be Electric/Dragon (according to a pamphlet from a 1997 trade show), but because this would ruin the game balance they scrapped this idea.
Remember, Dragon-type Pokemon were fucking hard to get in Gen 2. You had Dragonite, which you needed to evolve to Level 55, and Kingdra, which you needed to trade with a specific item.
Giving you an Electric-type Pokemon at the very beginning of the game increases the likelihood of it reaching Level 30+ and evolving. What type of game balance is it when you can easily get an Electric/Dragon Pokemon in a playthrough?
Mega Evolution and this dex entry reference this fact. Ampharos' dragon blood (aka Dragon-type) slept for 14 years. In 2013, a Mega Evolution causes it to awaken its true power.
Just like how Lopunny's fighting and combative instincts are awakened when it Mega Evolves, and it gains the Fighting-type.
