Substitute + Calm Mind
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name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Psychic / Psyshock
ability: Blaze
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
Substitute shields Delphox from status and weaker attacks, letting it set up more easily against Pokemon such as Alomomola that rely on Toxic to beat it. Substitute is also very useful to shield Delphox from potential revenge killers and to dodge Sucker Punch. It is also quite easy to set up, as Delphox forces a lot of switches. Calm Mind is Delphox's boosting move, increasing its Special Attack and Special Defense to make Delphox's Substitute progressively harder to break by walls that use special attacks, such as Aromatisse and Alomomola. Such walls can't break Delphox's Substitutes with their STAB moves if Delphox has a Calm Mind under its belt. Fire Blast is a strong STAB move that hits everything that doesn't resist it pretty hard. Psychic is chosen as the secondary STAB move because it hits Rhyperior a lot harder than Psyshock does, which is very important because this set is not using Grass Knot. Psyshock is usable to hit specially defensive Pokemon harder and to win Calm Mind wars more easily, however. Grass Knot is also an option in this slot to quickly remove Rhyperior and get a stronger hit on some Water- and Rock-types, but most of them are hit nearly as hard by Psyshock or Psychic.
Set Details
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Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment along with a Timid nature is used to make the most of Delphox's great Speed tier and offensive capabilities. The remaining 4 EVs are put into HP to let Delphox activate its Salac Berry after 3 Substitute uses; move them to Defense if you are using Leftovers. Salac Berry gives Delphox a Speed boost, letting it avoid revenge killing attempts from faster Pokemon such as Cobalion, Cinccino, and Dugtrio, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Braviary. It is also useful to bluff a Choice item until Delphox reveals Substitute or Calm Mind. Leftovers is also a viable item to set up more Substitutes and heal off entry hazards damage.
Usage Tips
========
Choose the right moment to set up. Delphox's checks, such as Slowking and Rhyperior, should be removed from the game before you attempt to sweep. This is especially true if you are using a Salac Berry, as that only activates once. Substitute is a pretty safe move to go for against opposing walls such as Alomomola that rely on status to beat Delphox, as the opponent usually won't expect it. Try to get into Salac Berry activation range if the opponent has a faster revenge killer waiting in the back or if you think that Delphox needs a Blaze boost to take out a threat.
Team Options
========
This set fits well on balanced and offensive teams looking for a late-game sweeper and wallbreaker. Pursuit users such as Spiritomb are good offensive partners, as most of them can easily switch in and trap Slowking. Spikes support from Accelgor or Qwilfish is great with this set because Spikes greatly wears down Rhyperior and Druddigon, which check Delphox. Toxic Spikes is also very good with this set, as Delphox can use the poison to weaken checks to KO range. Pokemon that can take advantage of Rhyperior, such as Virizion and Rotom-C, are also very good partners, even more so if you are running Psyshock.[/hide]
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name: Substitute + Calm Mind
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Fire Blast
move 4: Psychic / Psyshock
ability: Blaze
item: Salac Berry / Leftovers
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid
Moves
========
Substitute shields Delphox from status and weaker attacks, letting it set up more easily against Pokemon such as Alomomola that rely on Toxic to beat it. Substitute is also very useful to shield Delphox from potential revenge killers and to dodge Sucker Punch. It is also quite easy to set up, as Delphox forces a lot of switches. Calm Mind is Delphox's boosting move, increasing its Special Attack and Special Defense to make Delphox's Substitute progressively harder to break by walls that use special attacks, such as Aromatisse and Alomomola. Such walls can't break Delphox's Substitutes with their STAB moves if Delphox has a Calm Mind under its belt. Fire Blast is a strong STAB move that hits everything that doesn't resist it pretty hard. Psychic is chosen as the secondary STAB move because it hits Rhyperior a lot harder than Psyshock does, which is very important because this set is not using Grass Knot. Psyshock is usable to hit specially defensive Pokemon harder and to win Calm Mind wars more easily, however. Grass Knot is also an option in this slot to quickly remove Rhyperior and get a stronger hit on some Water- and Rock-types, but most of them are hit nearly as hard by Psyshock or Psychic.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment along with a Timid nature is used to make the most of Delphox's great Speed tier and offensive capabilities. The remaining 4 EVs are put into HP to let Delphox activate its Salac Berry after 3 Substitute uses; move them to Defense if you are using Leftovers. Salac Berry gives Delphox a Speed boost, letting it avoid revenge killing attempts from faster Pokemon such as Cobalion, Cinccino, and Dugtrio, as well as Choice Scarf users such as Braviary. It is also useful to bluff a Choice item until Delphox reveals Substitute or Calm Mind. Leftovers is also a viable item to set up more Substitutes and heal off entry hazards damage.
Usage Tips
========
Choose the right moment to set up. Delphox's checks, such as Slowking and Rhyperior, should be removed from the game before you attempt to sweep. This is especially true if you are using a Salac Berry, as that only activates once. Substitute is a pretty safe move to go for against opposing walls such as Alomomola that rely on status to beat Delphox, as the opponent usually won't expect it. Try to get into Salac Berry activation range if the opponent has a faster revenge killer waiting in the back or if you think that Delphox needs a Blaze boost to take out a threat.
Team Options
========
This set fits well on balanced and offensive teams looking for a late-game sweeper and wallbreaker. Pursuit users such as Spiritomb are good offensive partners, as most of them can easily switch in and trap Slowking. Spikes support from Accelgor or Qwilfish is great with this set because Spikes greatly wears down Rhyperior and Druddigon, which check Delphox. Toxic Spikes is also very good with this set, as Delphox can use the poison to weaken checks to KO range. Pokemon that can take advantage of Rhyperior, such as Virizion and Rotom-C, are also very good partners, even more so if you are running Psyshock.[/hide]
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