[Pros]
<ul>
<li>Nice speed and special attack;</li>
<li>Interesting secondary ability in Magician;</li>
<li>Moderate special defense, can take a couple physical hits with proper investment as well;</li>
<li>Good coverage attacks such as Shadow Ball and Grass Knot;</li>
<li>Access to disruption moves such as Will-o-Wisp and Mystical Fire.</li>
</ul>
[Cons]
<ul>
<li>Vulnerable to faster physical attackers;</li>
<li>Stealth Rock weakness;</li>
<li>Sucker Punch devastates Delphox;</li>
<li>Specially defensive pokemon can set up easily on her (if she doesn't have Psyshock).</li>
</ul>
[Set Recommendations]
<p>Choice</p>
<p>- Flamethrower/Fire Blast<br />
- Psychic/Psyshock<br />
- Hidden Power Ice<br />
- Grass Knot/Shadow Ball/Switcheroo
Ability: Blaze<br />
Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Specs <br />
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA <br />
Nature: Timid (+Spe, - Atk)/Modest (+SpA, - Atk) <br /></p>
- The set elevates one of Delphox's main stats for immediate pressure on the opponent.
- Flamethrower and Psychic are the main STABs and provide a nice offensive combination, with Fire Blast as another option for more power.
- Psyshock can be used against specially defensive pokemon like Blissey.
- Hidden Power Ice deals with Dragon- and Ground-types.
- The last slot is split between Grass Knot and Shadow Ball; the former if you want her to put the hurt on Tyranitar and other heavy Rock-, Ground-, and water-types, and the latter against opposing Psychic- and Ghost-types.
- Switcheroo can cripple pokemon that attempt to wall Delphox, such as Sylveon.
- Choice Scarf lets Delphox outspeed Starmie, Gengar, Greninja, and other faster threats.
<p>Bulky Calm Mind</p>
<p>- Calm Mind<br />
- Psychic/Psyshock<br />
- Flamethrower/Overheat<br />
- Wish/Substitute
Ability: Blaze<br />
Item: Leftovers <br />
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA <br />
Bold Nature (+Def, -Atk)<br /></p>
- Physical defense isn't Delphox's strongest suit. Therefore, if she tries to set up using Calm Mind, investing in it is important.
- Maximum Defense allows her to take some physical hits while using Calm Mind and recovering with Leftovers, and then attempt to sweep.
- Wish is a healing option, and Substitute blocks possible status moves, it also protects against nasty Sucker Punches from anything without Parental Bond.
- Alternatively, she can use a coverage move in the last slot.
<p>Disruption</p>
<p>- Switcheroo<br />
- Psychic/Psyshock<br />
- Mystical Fire<br />
- Will-o-wisp
Ability: Blaze <br />
Item: Choice Scarf/Choice Specs
EVs: 252 HP/ 252 Spe/ 4 SpA<br />
Nature: Timid (+Spe, - Atk) <br /></p>
- Delphox can cripple walls and supports by giving a scarf with Switcheroo in exchange for an useful item.
- Will-o-Wisp makes the fight difficult for physical attackers that would give Delphox a hard time, such as pokemon with access to Sucker Punch..
- Mystical Fire is a 65 base power Fire-type move that reduces the opponent's special attack by one level each time it connects, so it is useful against the likes of most special attackers.
- This moveset can severely delay your opponent's setup or offensive and weaken their pokemon enough for a sweeper to step in and finish them.
[Checks and Counters]
- Greninja outspeeds non-scarf Delphox. Grass Knot can help, but Protean can cause trouble.
- Aegislash has a threatening priority move in Shadow sneak. With a swords dance boost, it can and will knock out Delphox easily.
- Donphan has Sturdy and can reply in kind to any attacks with Earthquake.
- Gyarados has strong super effective physical attacks and can switch into most of her moves.
- Diggersby's scarfed Earthquake can effortlessly revenge kill her.
- Rotom-W resists one STAB, has good bulk and takes little damage from Grass Knot.
- Azumarill has a strong Aqua Jet and doesn't take a lot of damage from Grass Knot.
- Tyranitar means problems if Delphox doesn't have Grass Knot or Will-o-Wisp.
- Chandelure has Flash Fire and can threaten with Shadow Ball.
- Starmie resists both of her STABs, but folds to Shadow Ball and Grass Knot.
- Most Sucker Punch users, specially Mega Kangaskhan.
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