RU Delphox

aVocado

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Fuck you, I'm a wizard.

Overview
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Delphox has a great offensive Fire / Psychic typing and access to STAB Fire Blast and Psychic. This, combined with its high base 114 Special Attack and base 104 Speed, makes Delphox one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It has access to a wonderful movepool with coverage moves like Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, and Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. However, even with its above-average base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of which can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of entry hazards and passive damage. Along with Life Orb recoil, this wears Delphox down very easily. Its average bulk doesn't help with its longevity, either.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Calm Mind lets Delphox boost its Special Attack to ridiculous levels, allowing it to serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with Life Orb and a boosted Special Attack. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move and a very strong option overall, allowing it to wallbreak much more easily thanks to its high Base Power. Psyshock is another STAB attack that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, which are less bulky on the physical side, for a lot of damage, and it also hits Assault Vest Pokemon like Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move that allows Delphox to easily get past some threats that would otherwise stop it, such as Gastrodon and various Rock-types, including Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking for a fair bit of damage after a boost.

Set Details
========
EVs are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, including Moltres, Tinted Lens Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire,. 252 Special Attack EVs allow Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, and the rest of the EVs are dropped in Defense to give Delphox a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========
Bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it matches up well against, such as Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia; set up a Calm Mind; and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or Psyshocks, depending on the matchup. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams, but beware of Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon, which Delphox fails to outspeed. Its wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.

Team Options
========
Because Delphox is very susceptible to entry hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support. Luckily for Delphox, many of the Defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it, including Shiftry, which can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and Skuntank, which can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, with the former being more defensive and the latter being a reliable and strong spinner thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon that threaten Delphox really hard, such as Slowking, Jellicent, Druddigon, and Miltank.

Dugtrio pairs rather well with Delphox because of its ability to trap and, with some prior damage, KO some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, such as Cobalion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease Delphox's setup. Offensive Spiritomb is another good teammate because it can dispose of Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. Finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, as it can disguise itself as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent, then take them out with a STAB Knock Off. However, to successfully do this, you must clear Stealth Rock from the field, as it can easily blow Zoroark's cover because it will take 12% damage as opposed to the 25% that Delphox would take. Sharpedo can come in after Delphox has softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB, and its high Base Power. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock, Delphox's other STAB options, comes down to simply what you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like Alomomola and Rhyperior, while Psyshock hits Pokemon such as specially defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical Defense. Grass Knot is the best coverage Delphox could ask for, as it hits Slowking and Jellicent hard, potentially 2HKOing them with a little prior damage. Additionally, it also hits some Rock-types like Rhyperior harder than Psychic. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, including Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, by giving them a useless item.

Set Details
========
Max Speed helps Delphox outspeed slower threats while hitting them hard, possibly KOing them thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. Maximum Special Attack investment allows Delphox to hit as hard as possible. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss are some examples of the walls this Delphox can break. It can even possibly overwhelm what would otherwise be considered counters, such as Cradily, which is 2HKOed with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, or prediction.

Usage Tips
========
This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and it can easily dismantle and break a lot of common defensive cores such as Alomomola + Amoonguss. It's hard to face even for offensive teams because it's fairly fast. If you make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, it can often knock out a Pokemon, provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good Special Attack and the fact that it has Regenerator. The same goes for facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can cause a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========
Entry hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like Slowking and Jellicent, and Shiftry's Knock Off KOes them. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, which makes Delphox's life easier when facing offensive teams.

Thanks to Delphox's offensive prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for setup sweepers and cleaners to seal the game after Delphox has brought down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, which has good synergy with Delphox. Zoroark is also an excellent choice because of its ability to disguise itself as Delphox, lure in its counters and effectively KO them, but Stealth Rock must be cleared before sending it out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after Delphox has done its job and sweep, as is Choice Scarf Braviary, although both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, so make sure to cover those by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resistances, such as from Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground-type moves. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, which can come in after Delphox dents the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory because it's Delphox's best STAB option. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, as they are also good STAB options and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better damage. Grass Knot provides coverage against Rock-types and lets Delphox get past Rhyperior specifically. Finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs along with Choice Scarf means Delphox outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB moves. 252 EVs in Special Attack are used to maximize Delphox's damage output, with the rest dumped into Defense. As this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between Modest and Timid comes down to power versus Speed. Timid still allows Delphox to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest gives Delphox more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it, most notably Yanmega and Drapion.

Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and it can't function as a wallbreaker like its other sets. It should only be brought out late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox is able to perform a sweep. Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, though you should be careful of giving the wrong Pokemon a Choice Scarf.

Team Options
========
Delphox should never be used without a teammate that can get rid of entry hazards. Shiftry and Skuntank are good at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allow them to beat Slowking and Jellicent, two of Delphox's counters. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, and it can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates for Delphox, as Delphox can clean up after its teammates weaken opposing walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and mixed Zoroark make good choices. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after setup sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark-, and Water-type moves.

Other Options
########
Delphox has a few other options at its disposal, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets to hit opposing Delphox, but it doesn't hit anything else that Grass Knot doesn't cover. A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon such as Slowking and Jellicent and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be run with Will-O-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP means that its Wishes are small, and its mediocre physical bulk doesn't do it any favors. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind alongside Leftovers, Fire Blast, and Psyshock or Psychic is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
########
**Bulky Water-types**: Slowking is the best counter you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, and it can do massive damage with Scald, but it won't like being given a Choice item. Jellicent and specially defensive Alomomola can also fulfill the same role. Be wary, though, that none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily can all take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can use Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch, Miltank can paralyze Delphox, and Cradily can KO with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage. Carbink can switch into Delphox rather easily, stall it out with a combination of Toxic and Protect, and then take it out with Rock Slide. As before, none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and KO it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill Delphox, and Zoroark outspeeds and KOes Delphox with Knock Off. Durant also outspeeds and KOes with Crunch or Rock Slide. Choice Scarf users such as Braviary can revenge kill Delphox.

**Priority**: Most priority users such as Spiritomb, Doublade, Banette, Fletchinder, Shiftry, and Skuntank can KO Delphox with their respective priority move, although Doublade and Fletchinder needs a little bit of prior damage for Shadow Sneak and Acrobatics, respectively, to KO.

**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web all really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly.
 
Last edited:

aVocado

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I believe this is QC ready. I'm kinda struggling with it because its a very straightforward Pokemon and there isn't much to say, is that okay?
 
You have said slowbro instead of slowking in the first sentence of moves of the first set.
Sharpedo in c&c.
Zoroark is neutral to rocks, so Delphox is not a good option to be disguised as.
 

aVocado

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You have said slowbro instead of slowking in the first sentence of moves of the first set.
Sharpedo in c&c.
Zoroark is neutral to rocks, so Delphox is not a good option to be disguised as.
I emphasized that rapid spin/defog is mandatory, you shouldn't let neither Zoroark nor Delphox out when there is SR tbh. I could emphasize on it more though.

Fixed the Slowbro mistake, thanks. :]
 

aVocado

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Spirit done, changed "bulky waters" in C&C to "specially bulky pokemon" and mentioned miltank and SpD melo.

edit: and cradily. thanks for the check :]

edit 2: actually, I separated bulky pokemon from bulky waters, too many Pokemon in just one category.
 
Last edited:

EonX

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Make sure you mention that Rocks need to be off the field if you disguise Zoroark as Delphox. They take different damage from Rocks, but same from everything else. In the Specs set, you mention Trick vs. offensive teams. Just make sure to change that to Switcheroo. Easy to mix up, so nbd. Don't see much else, so...

QC Approved 2/3
 

aVocado

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The CM and Specs sets are written, and I'll get Scarf (and OO) ready as soon as I can. I'll also add some more things into c&c, and explain how the Pokemon I listed can deal with Delphox.

Any input or feedback?
 
Okay talked it over with Molk & Hot N Cold and we all agreed that on the Choice Scarf set a Modest nature should be the first slash with Timid after as at 307 Speed you outrun everything relevant and get a nice boost in power.

The rest is fine so fix that up and..

QC APPROVED 3/3
 
Am Check :]

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Overview
########
Delphox
is the Fire-type starter who broke the Fire / Fighting type trend that went on for three generations in a row, finally. It's got has a helpful offensive Fire / Psychic typing which is good offensively, with access to reliable STAB moves in Fire Blast and Psychic. That, combined Combine this with a the fact that it's got very nice offensive stats being base 114 Special Attack and a 104 Speed, (AC) makes it and you have one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can easily switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It's got It also has access to a wonderful movepool with moves like the aforementioned Fire Blast, Psychic, Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. Even Unfortunately, even with its good base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of who which can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of entry hazards and the passive damage from that and Life Orb recoil, (AC) which make makes Delphox easily worn easy to wear down. It's Its average bulk doesn't help with it's its longevity, either. Even with all the flaws, it's pros easily outweigh the cons, and the red fox remains one of the best special attackers in the tier. (Make sure your conclusion actually tell us something new about Delphox; fluff is bad ;_;)
Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Calm Mind lets Delphox boost its Special Attack stat to ridiculous levels,
making letting it serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with a boost in Special Attack and Life Orb. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move, and a very strong option, allowing Delphox to wallbreak much more easily thank to its high base power Base Power. Psyshock is another STAB attack that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, Assault Vest Gallade, and Druddigon, who are less bulky on the physical side which have a weaker Defense stat, for a lot of damage. (AP) , (RC) and it also hits Pokemon like Assault Vest Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move, (RC) and that allows Delphox to easily get past behind some threats that would otherwise stop it, like such as Gastrodon, (AC) and Rock-types which include Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking, but it doesn't KO them, while they can hit Delphox back hard with Scald. (They way you word this makes it seem like Grass Knot doesn't help take them out. Either reword it so you talk about how it helps to take them out, or just remove it.)
Set Details
========

The Speed EVs with a Timid nature are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, such as Moltres, unboosted Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire. (AP) , (RC) and hit them before they get a chance to hit Delphox. 252 EVs in Special Attack is to allow allows Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, with the rest of the EVs dropped in Defense to give it a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========

Bring Try to bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it has a good match up against, like such as Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia, set up a Calm Mind, and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or and Psyshocks depending on the match up. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams. (AP) , (RC) but beware, because Delphox fails to outspeed faster Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon. (Already mentioned in Overview) It's Its wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the your team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.

Team Options
========

Since Delphox is very susceptible to hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support.
Luckily for Delphox, many of the defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it. Examples are Shiftry, (RC) who can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and while Skuntank, (RC) who can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, the former being more defensive, with the latter being a reliable and strong spinner. (AP) thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon really hard. (This is Delphox's analysis, not Hitmonlee's. No need to go so in-depth :])
Dugtrio can pair rather well with Delphox for its ability to trap and with some prior damage, kill KO (We don't kill Pokemon ;_;) some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, like such as Cobalion, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease up allow Delphox's Delphox to set up easier. Offensive Spiritomb is also another good teammate because it can dispose of Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. And finally Finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, and it can disguise as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent and take them out with a STAB Knock Off. (AP) , (RC) but However, in order to successfully do pull this off, (AC) you must clear Stealth Rock must be removed from the field, (RC) since because it can easily blow Zoroark's cover since it will take 12% from it, rather than 25%, which is what Delphox should take. Sharpedo is another teammate that can come in after Delphox softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

The first move, Fire Blast, (RC) is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize, and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB, and the fact that it has a high base power its high Base Power. The second move is Delphox's second STAB option, and it's a reliable move that can be used without fearing the miss chance. (Unnecessary) The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to simply who what threats you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like such as Alomomola and Rhyperior in case you don't want to get locked into Grass Knot, and while Psyshock hits Pokemon like Specially Defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, (AC) and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical side rather than the special. The third move—Grass Knot is the best coverage move Delphox could ask for, and as it hits Rock-types, especially most notably Rhyperior, really extremely hard, (RC) while knocking Rhyperior out. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, (RC) like such as Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, neutralizing them and rendering them close to useless.

Set Details
========

Like the previous set, max speed 252 Speed EVs makes let Delphox outspeed slower threats such as Moltres, and hitting hit them hard, possibly knocking them out thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. (RP) while 252 SpA Special Attack EVs is are used to make Delphox hit as hard as possible, (RC) with Choice Specs to make it even more powerful. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense for a slight boost. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Pokemon like Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss, (RC) can easily be beaten by Delphox, and it can even possibly overwhelm what would be would-be Delphox counters, like such as Cradily, which can be 2HKO'd with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage. (AP) , (RC) even Even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, and prediction. Nothing can safely switch in on Choice Specs Delphox. (The whole latter part of this paragraph kind of goes off on a tangent talking about how Delphox can beat its common counters... I'd move that to Usage Tips if I were you.)
Usage Tips
========
This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and
it can easily dismantle a lot of common defensive cores and break them. It's hard to face even against offensive teams because its fairly fast, (RC) just make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, (RC) and it can often knock out a Pokemon, (RC) provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. However, when facing offensive teams, make sure you bring Delphox out against Pokemon that are slower than it, else it may be KO'd. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving walls Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good Special Attack and the fact that it has Regenerator. The same goes for when facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can could potentially cause you a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========

Same as any other Delphox set, (RC) hazard Entry hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means that again, (RC) Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit, respectively. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like potential counters such as Slowking and Jellicent, and while Shiftry's Knock Off knocks them out, (RC) and is a good move to have in general. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Virizion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, and makes Delphox's life easier when facing offensive teams. (Maybe I'm crazy but how does Duggy beat Virizion? Aerial Ace? o_o)
Thanks to Delphox's prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for set-up sweepers and cleaners do seal off the game after Delphox brought brings down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, (RC) which has good synergy with Delphox, (AC) making it a helpful teammate. Zoroark is also an excellent choice, (RC) because of its ability to disguise as Delphox, lure in its counters and effectively kill KO them. (AP) , (RC) but However, Stealth Rock must be cleared out before sending it Zoroark out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after the fiery fox Delphox has done its job and sweep, and so can Choice Scarf Braviary. (AP) , (RC) although both Both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, though, so make sure to cover those them by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resists, (RC) such as Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground Ground-type attacks. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, who can come in after Delphox dents holes in the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========

Of course, Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory since because it's a strong STAB option, (RC) so that makes the move a staple on any Delphox set, and this is no exception. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, (RC) as they are also good STAB options, and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack with a higher Base Power, or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better more damage. Grass Knot is the used as coverage against Rock-types, as it lets allowing you to get past Rhyperior specifically. And finally Finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========
252 Speed
EVs along with Choice Scarf makes Delphox outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB. 252 Special Attack EVs are used in Special Attack to maximize its Delphox's damage output. (AP) , (RC) with the The rest dumped into Defense for a slight boost. Since this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still is the item of choice, as it turns Delphox into a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between a Modest and or Timid nature comes down to power versus speed. Timid still allows you to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest gives you more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it a Choice Scarf.

Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and can't function as a wallbreaker like the previous two sets
due to the lack of a boosting item. It should only be brought late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox can perform a sweep. (Didn't you just say it can be brought in as a revenge killer too though? ?_?) Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, (RC) and give another sweeper a chance of sweeping to sweep by neutralizing said wall. Be However, be careful of giving the wrong offensive Pokemon a Choice Scarf, as sometimes it can backfire.

Team Options
========
Delphox should never be used without means of getting rid of hazards.
Again, Shiftry and Skuntank are exceptional at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allows them to beat some of Delphox's counters in Slowking and Jellicent. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, (RC) and that can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates to Delphox, as it can clean up after they do their job at weakening walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and
Mixed mixed Zoroark are helpful partners, as the do a good job at this wallbreaking. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after set up sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job weakened the opponents team. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark- and Water-type moves.

Other Options
########
Delphox has a few other options it can use, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets, but Grass Knot hits what Shadow Ball wants to hit just as hard, and actually hits Jellicent harder.
(If Shadow Ball has no merit over Grass Knot, why is it in OO? ?_?) A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon (Such as...?) and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable after its first use and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be ran with Will-o-Wisp Will-O-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP stat means that its Wishes are small, and it's its mediocre physical bulk won't get it anywhere. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind, (RC) along with Fire Blast and Psyshock or Psychic with Leftovers as the item is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power that offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like such as Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
########

**Bulky
Waters Water-types**: Slowking is the best counter to Delphox you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, (RC) and do massive damage with Scald. (AP) , (RC) but it It won't like being Switcheroo'd a Choice item, (AC) however. Jellicent and Specially Defensive Alomomola are other bulky Water-types that can also do the same wall Delphox.
(Space here)
**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially Defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily all can take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch to take Delphox out, Miltank can paralyze it, and Cradily can kill KO with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage.
(Space here)
**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and kill KO it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill Delphox with Crunch, Zoroark outspeeds and kills KOs Delphox with Knock Off, and Crunch or Rock Slide Durant also outspeed and KOs. (AP) kill, (RC) Choice Scarf users, and Sucker Punch. Choice Scarf users such as [insert Chocie Scarf users here] can outspeed and KO Delphox, while Pokemon such as [insert Sucker Punch users here] can easily pick off Delphox with prioity Sucker Punch.
(Space here)
**Hazards/Residual Damage damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web, (RC) all really, (RC) really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly on it.


Ok, Arikado, I'm now finished! Feel free to implement :]

Just a general note, you seemed to use a lot of run-on sentences. In general you seemed a little too comma happy. Also, make sure you keep your sentences focused on what you're trying to talk about, as you tended to go off on unrelated tangents a lot of the time.

Otherwise, really, really good job! This analysis was really good! :D
 
Last edited:

AwesomeFennekin

Banned deucer.
QC Checks: [ Spirit ] [ EonX ] [ New Breed ]
GP Checks: [ ] [ ]


Fuck you, I'm a wizard.

Overview
########
Delphox is the Fire-type starter who broke the Fire / Fighting type trend that went on for three generations in a row, finally. It's got a Fire / Psychic typing which is good offensively, with access to reliable STAB moves in Fire Blast and Psychic. That, combined with the fact that it's got very nice offensive stats being base 114 Special Attack and 104 Speed makes it one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can easily switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It's got access to a wonderful movepool with moves like the aforementioned Fire Blast, Psychic, Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. Even with its good base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of who can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of hazards and the passive damage from that and Life Orb recoil make Delphox easily worn down. It's average bulk doesn't help with it's longevity, either. Even with all the flaws, it's pros easily outweigh the cons, and the red fox remains one of the best special attackers in the tier.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Calm Mind lets Delphox boost its Special Attack stat to ridiculous levels, making it serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with a boost in Special Attack and Life Orb. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move, and a very strong option, allowing Delphox to wallbreak much more easily thank to its high base power. Psyshock is another STAB that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, who are less bulky on the physical side, for a lot of damage, and it also hits Pokemon like Assault Vest Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move, and allows Delphox to easily get past behind some threats that would otherwise stop it, like Gastrodon and Rock-types which include Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking for a fair bit of damage, at +1.

Set Details
========
EVs are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, such as Moltres, unboosted Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire, and hit them before they get a chance to hit Delphox. 252 in Special Attack is to allow Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, with the rest of the EVs dropped in Defense to give it a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========
Bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it has a good match up against, like Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia, set up a Calm Mind, and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or Psyshocks depending on the match up. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams, but beware, because Delphox fails to outspeed faster Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon. It's wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.

Team Options
========

Since Delphox is very susceptible to hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support. Luckily for Delphox, many of the defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it. Examples are Shiftry, who can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and Skuntank, who can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, the former being more defensive, with the latter being a reliable and strong spinner thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon really hard.

Dugtrio can pair rather well with Delphox for its ability to trap and with some prior damage, kill some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, like Cobalion, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease up Delphox's set up. Offensive Spiritomb is also another good teammate because it can dispose of Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. And finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, and it can disguise as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent and take them out with a STAB Knock Off, but to successfully do this you must clear Stealth Rock from the field, since it can easily blow Zoroark's cover since it will take 12% from it, rather than 25%, which is what Delphox should take. Sharpedo can come in after Delphox softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
The first move, Fire Blast, is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize, and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB, and the fact that it has a high base power. The second move is Delphox's second STAB option, and it's a reliable move that can be used without fearing the miss chance. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to simply who you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like Alomomola and Rhyperior in case you don't want to get locked into Grass Knot, and Psyshock hits Pokemon like Specially Defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical side rather than the special. The third move—Grass Knot— is the best coverage Delphox could ask for, and hits Rock-types, especially Rhyperior, really hard, while knocking Rhyperior out. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, like Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, neutralizing them and rendering them useless.

Set Details
========
Like the previous set, max speed makes Delphox outspeed slower threats and hitting them hard, possibly knocking them out thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. 252 SpA is to make Delphox hit as hard as possible, with Choice Specs to make it even more powerful. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Pokemon like Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss, can easily be beaten by Delphox, and it can even possibly overwhelm what would be Delphox counters, like Cradily, which can be 2HKO'd with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage, even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, and prediction. Nothing can safely switch in on Choice Specs Delphox.

Usage Tips
========
This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and it can easily dismantle a lot of common defensive cores and break them. It's hard to face even against offensive teams because its fairly fast, just make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, and it can often knock out a Pokemon, provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good Special Attack and the fact that it has Regenerator. The same goes for when facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can cause you a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========
Same as any other Delphox set, hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means that again, Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit, respectively. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like Slowking and Jellicent, and Shiftry's Knock Off knocks them out, and is a good move to have in general. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Virizion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, and makes Delphox's life easier when facing offensive teams.

Thanks to Delphox's prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for set-up sweepers and cleaners do seal off the game after Delphox brought down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, which has good synergy with Delphox. Zoroark is also an excellent choice, because of its ability to disguise as Delphox, lure in its counters and effectively kill them, but Stealth Rock must be cleared out before sending it out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after the fiery fox has done its job and sweep, and so can Choice Scarf Braviary, although both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, so make sure to cover those by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resists, such as Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, who can come in after Delphox dents holes in the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========
Of course, Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory since it's a strong STAB option, so that makes the move a staple on any Delphox set, and this is no exception. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, as they are also good STAB options, and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack, or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better damage. Grass Knot is the coverage against Rock-types, as it lets you get past Rhyperior specifically. And finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========
252 Speed along with Choice Scarf makes Delphox outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB. 252 EVs are used in Special Attack to maximize its damage output, with the rest dumped into Defense. Since this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between Modest and Timid comes down to power versus speed. Timid still allows you to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest gives you more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it.

Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and can't function as a wallbreaker like the previous two sets. It should only be brought late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox can perform a sweep. Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, and give another sweeper a chance of sweeping by neutralizing said wall. Be careful of giving the wrong offensive Pokemon a Choice Scarf, sometimes it can backfire.

Team Options
========
Delphox should never be used without means of getting rid of hazards. Again, Shiftry and Skuntank are exceptional at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allows them to beat some of Delphox's counters in Slowking and Jellicent. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, and can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates to Delphox, as it can clean up after they do their job at weakening walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and Mixed Zoroark do a good job at this. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after set up sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark- and Water-type moves.

Other Options
########
Delphox has a few other options it can use, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets, but Grass Knot hits what Shadow Ball wants to hit just as hard, and actually hits Jellicent harder. A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be ran with Will-o-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP stat means that its Wishes are small, and it's mediocre physical bulk won't get it anywhere. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind, along with Fire Blast and Psyshock or Psychic with Leftovers as the item is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
########

**Bulky Waters**: Slowking is the best counter you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, and do massive damage with Scald, but it won't like being Switcheroo'd a Choice item. Jellicent and Specially Defensive Alomomola can also do the same.
**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially Defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily all can take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch to take Delphox out, Miltank can paralyze it, and Cradily can kill with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage.
**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and kill it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill, Zoroark outspeeds and kills with Knock Off, Crunch or Rock Slide Durant also outspeed and kill, Choice Scarf users, and Sucker Punch.
**Hazards/Residual damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, all really, really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly on it.
Just an idea, put Grass Knot as Grass Knot/Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot/Hidden Power Fighting, and reword the Power Herb Magician thing as "Delphox has some gimmicky options with Magician, Solar Beam, and Power Herb, but she's got better things to do.", and put it at the end.
 

aVocado

@ Everstone
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Just an idea, put Grass Knot as Grass Knot/Hidden Power Ice or Grass Knot/Hidden Power Fighting, and reword the Power Herb Magician thing as "Delphox has some gimmicky options with Magician, Solar Beam, and Power Herb, but she's got better things to do.", and put it at the end.
What does HP Ice/Fighting hit that its STABs doesn't hit harder, though? Gligar is hit hard enough by Fire Blast, and obviously you wouldn't need it for grass types. Hidden Power Fighting only hits Bastiodon harder, tbh.

LightningLuxray thanks buddy, I'll implement some of your changes. Some of the things you pointed out do seem derpy in the analysis ?_? and about shadow ball in OO, it only really hits Delphox (as it counters itself, ironically) and nothing else, really. but I guess thats enough to warrant a mention. And the things Power Herb Magician lures are the usual counters that I mentioned throughout the entire analysis (slowking and jellicent) so I thought putting them again in OO was redundant but I guess I should.
 

AwesomeFennekin

Banned deucer.
What does HP Ice/Fighting hit that its STABs doesn't hit harder, though? Gligar is hit hard enough by Fire Blast, and obviously you wouldn't need it for grass types. Hidden Power Fighting only hits Bastiodon harder, tbh.

LightningLuxray thanks buddy, I'll implement some of your changes. Some of the things you pointed out do seem derpy in the analysis ?_? and about shadow ball in OO, it only really hits Delphox (as it counters itself, ironically) and nothing else, really. but I guess thats enough to warrant a mention. And the things Power Herb Magician lures are the usual counters that I mentioned throughout the entire analysis (slowking and jellicent) so I thought putting them again in OO was redundant but I guess I should.
Ok, how about as HP Grass?
 
Hello! AMcheck ahead.

add, remove, C/capitalization, comments
Overview
########
Delphox is the Fire-type starter who broke the Fire / Fighting type trend that went on for three generations in a row, at last. It's a Fire / Psychic who is good offensively well, with access to reliable STAB moves in Fire Blast not "reliable" as mentioned and Psychic. That, combined with the fact that it's got very nice offensive stats being with base 114 Special Attack and 104 Speed makes it one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can easily switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It's got access to a wonderful movepool with moves like the aforementioned Fire Blast, Psychic, Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. However, even with its good above average base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of whom can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of hazards and the passive damage. That, along with Life Orb recoil make Delphox a Pokemon easily worn down. It's average bulk doesn't help with it's longevity, either. but even with all the flaws, it's pros easily outweigh the cons, and the red fox remains one of the best special attackers in the tier.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

Calm Mind lets Delphox boost show way its Special Attack stat to ridiculous levels, making it serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with a boost coming in Special Attack and with its Life Orb. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move, and a very strong option, allowing Delphox it to wallbreak much more easily thank to its high base power. Psyshock is another STAB that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, who are less bulky on the physical side, for a lot of damage, and it also hits Pokemon like Assault Vest Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move, and allows Delphox to easily get past behind some threats that would otherwise stop it, like Gastrodon and Rock-types which include Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking for a fair bit of damage after a boost.

Set Details
========

EVs are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, such as Moltres, unboosted and Tinted Lens Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire, and hit them before they get a chance to hit Delphox back. 252 in Special Attack is to allow Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, with the rest of the EVs dropped in Defense to give it a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========

Bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it has a good match up against, like Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia, set up a Calm Mind, and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or Psyshocks depending on the match up. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams, but beware, because Delphox fails to outspeed faster be aware of Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon which Delphox fails to outspeed. It's wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.

Team Options
========

Since Delphox is very susceptible to hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support. Luckily for Delphox, many of the Defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it. Examples are Shiftry, who can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and Skuntank, who can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, the former being more defensive, with the latter being a reliable and strong spinner thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon really hard.

Dugtrio can pair rather well with Delphox for its ability to trap and with some prior damage, kill some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, like Cobalion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease up Delphox's set up. Offensive Spiritomb is also another good teammate because it can dispose off Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. And finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, and as it can disguise itself as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent and whilst take them out with a STAB Knock Off, but to successfully do this you must clear Stealth Rock from the field, since it can easily blow Zoroark's cover since it will take 12% from it, rather than 25%, which is what Delphox should take. Sharpedo can come in after Delphox softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########

name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========

The first move, Fire Blast, is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize, and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB, and the fact that it has a high base power. The second move is Delphox's second STAB option, and it's a reliable move that can be used without fearing the miss chance. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to simply who you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like Alomomola and Rhyperior in case you don't want to get locked into Grass Knot, and Psyshock hits Pokemon like specially defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical side rather than the special. The third move—Grass Knot—is the best coverage Delphox could ask for, as it hits Slowking and Jellicent hard, potentially 2HKOing them with a little prior damage. Additionally, it also hits some Rock-types like Rhyperior harder than Psychic. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, like Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, neutralizing them and rendering them useless.

Set Details
========

Like the previous set, max speed makes helps Delphox outspeed slower threats and while hitting them hard, possibly knocking them out KOing them thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. 252 SpA Special Attack is to make Delphox hit as hard as possible, with Choice Specs to make it even more powerful. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Pokemon like Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss, can easily be beaten defeated by Delphox, and it can even possibly overwhelm what would be Delphox counters, like Cradily, which can be 2HKO'ed with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage,. Even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, and prediction. Almost nothing can safely switch in on Choice Specs Delphox.

Usage Tips
========

This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and it can easily dismantle a lot of common defensive cores and break them. It's hard to face even against offensive teams because its fairly fast, just make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, and it can often knock out a Pokemon, provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good handy Special Attack itself and the fact that it has might have Regenerator. The same goes for when facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can cause you a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========

Same as any other Delphox set, hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means that again, Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit, respectively. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like Slowking and Jellicent, and Shiftry's Knock Off knocks them out KOes them, and Knock Off is a good move to have in general. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, and makes Delphox's life sweep or run easier when facing offensive teams.

Thanks to Delphox's prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for set-up sweepers and cleaners do seal off the game after Delphox brought down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, which has good synergy with Delphox. Zoroark is also an excellent choice, because of its ability to disguise as Delphox, lure in its counters and effectively kill them, but Stealth Rock must be cleared out before sending it out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after the fiery fox has done its job and sweep, and so can Choice Scarf Braviary, although both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, so make sure to cover those by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resists, such as Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, who can come in after Delphox dents holes in the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
########

name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========

Of course, Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory since it's a strong STAB option, so that makes the move a staple on any Delphox set, and this is no exception. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, as they are also good STAB options, and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack, or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better damage. Grass Knot is the coverage against Rock-types, as it lets you get past Rhyperior specifically. And finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========

252 Speed along with Choice Scarf makes Delphox outspeed the entire unboosted metagame, while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB. 252 EVs are used in Special Attack to maximize its damage output, with the rest dumped into Defense. Since this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between Modest and Timid comes down to power versus speed. Timid still allows you to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest nature gives you more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it.

Usage Tips
========

Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and can't function as a wallbreaker like the previous two sets. It should only be brought late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox can perform a sweep. Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, and give another sweeper a chance of sweeping by neutralizing said wall. Be careful of giving the wrong offensive Pokemon a Choice Scarf, sometimes it can backfire.

Team Options
========

Delphox should never be used without means of getting rid of hazards. Again, Shiftry and Skuntank are exceptional at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allows them to beat some of Delphox's counters in Slowking and Jellicent. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, and can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates to Delphox, as it can clean up after they do their job at weakening walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and Mixed Zoroark do a good job at this. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after set up sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark- and Water-type moves.

Other Options
########

Delphox has a few other options it can use, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets to hit opposite Delphox, but it doesn't hit anything else that Grass Knot doesn't cover. A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon such as Slowking and Jellicent and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be ran with Will-O-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP stat means that its Wishes are small, and it's mediocre physical bulk won't get it anywhere. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind, along with Fire Blast and Psyshock or Psychic with Leftovers as the item is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
########

**Bulky Waters**: Slowking is the best counter you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, and do massive damage with Scald, but it won't like being Switcheroo'd a Choice item. Jellicent and specially defensive Alomomola can also do the same. Be wary though that none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily all can take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch to take Delphox out, Miltank can paralyze it, and Cradily can kill with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage. Carbink can switch into Delphox rather easily, stall it out with a combination of Toxic and Protect, and then take it out with Rock Slide. Be wary though that none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and kill it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill, Zoroark outspeeds and kills with Knock Off, Crunch or Rock Slide Durant also outspeeds and kill, Choice Scarf users, and Sucker Punch.

**Residual damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web all really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly.

Whew, biggest check I've done. Tagging Minus (from Smogon) to stamp this check.
 
Last edited:

Ender

pelagic
is a Contributor Alumnus
Arikado
Quick Edit: In the intro paragraph, "such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of whom can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks" change whom to which. That is all.




GP 1/2


Overview
########
Delphox is the Fire-type starter who broke the Fire / Fighting type trend that went on for three generations in a row, at last. [There is absolutely no useful information in this sentence] Its got Delphox has a Fire / Psychic typing that's good offensively [removed ,] with and access to STAB Fire Blast and Psychic. moves in Fire Blast and the reliable Psychic. That, This, combined with the fact that it's its high got very nice offensive stats with base 114 Special Attack and base 104 Speed, [comma] makes Delphox makes it one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can easily switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It has got access to a wonderful movepool with coverage moves like the aforementioned Fire Blast, Psychic, Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, and Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. However, even with its above average base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of whom can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of hazards and the passive damage. That, Along with Life Orb recoil, [comma] this wears make Delphox easily worn down very easily. Its average bulk doesn't help with it's longevity, either. But Even with all of its the flaws, its Delphox's pros easily outweigh the its cons, and the red fox remains one of the best special attackers in the tier.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Calm Mind lets Delphox boost its Special Attack stat to ridiculous levels, making allowing it to serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with Life Orb and a boosted in Special Attack and Life Orb. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move [removed ,] and a very strong option overall, allowing it to wallbreak much more easily thanks to its high base power. Psyshock is another STAB attack that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, who are less bulky on the physical side, for a lot of damage, and it also hits Pokemon like Assault Vest Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move [removed ,] that and allows Delphox to easily get past behind some threats that would otherwise stop it, like such as Gastrodon and various Rock-types, [comma] including which include Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking for a fair bit of damage after a boost.

Set Details
========
EVs are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, such as including Moltres, Tinted Lens Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire, and hit them before they get a chance to hit back. 252 EVs in Special Attack is to allows Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, with and the rest of the EVs are dropped in Defense to give it a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========
Bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it matches up well has a good match up against, like such as Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia; [, to ;] set up a Calm Mind; [, to ;] and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or Psyshocks, [comma] depending on the match up. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams, but beware be aware of Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon, [comma] which Delphox fails to outspeed. It's wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.
[space]
Team Options
========
Since Delphox is very susceptible to hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support. Luckily for Delphox, many of the Defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it, [. to ,] including Examples are Shiftry, who can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and Skuntank, who can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, the former being more defensive, with the latter being a reliable and strong spinner thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon really hard.

Dugtrio can pairs rather well with Delphox because of for its ability to trap and, [comma] with some prior damage, kill KO some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, like Cobalion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease up Delphox's setup. Offensive Spiritomb is also another good teammate because it can dispose of Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. And Finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, as it can disguise itself as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent, [comma] then and take them out with a STAB Knock Off. [, to .] but However, to successfully do this, [comma] you must clear Stealth Rock from the field, since it can easily blow Zoroark's cover because since it will take 12% damage as opposed to the 25% that Delphox would take. from it, rather than 25%, which is what Delphox should take. Sharpedo can come in after Delphox has softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize [removed ,] and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB typing, and its the fact that it has a high base power. The second move and it's a reliable move that can be used without fearing the miss chance. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock, Delphox's other STAB options, comes down to simply who you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like Alomomola and Rhyperior in case you don't want to get locked into Grass Knot, while and Psyshock hits Pokemon such as like specially defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical defense side rather than the special. Grass Knot is the best coverage Delphox could ask for, as it hits Slowking and Jellicent hard, potentially 2HKOing them with a little prior damage. Additionally, it also hits some Rock-types like Rhyperior harder than Psychic. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, like including Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, by neutralizing them and rendering them useless.

Set Details
========
Max Speed helps Delphox outspeed slower threats while hitting them hard, possibly KOing them thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. 252 Special Attack is to make allows Delphox to hit as hard as possible. [, to .] with Choice Specs to make it even more powerful. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Pokemon like Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss are some examples of the walls this Delphox can break. It can even possibly overwhelm what would otherwise be considered counters, like such as Cradily, which is 2HKOed with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, or and prediction.

Usage Tips
========
This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and it can easily dismantle and break a lot of common defensive cores and break them. It's hard to face even for offensive teams because it's fairly fast. Just If you make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, and it can often knock out a Pokemon, provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good Special Attack and the fact that it has Regenerator. The same goes for when facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can cause you a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========
Same as any other Delphox set, hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means that again, Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit [removed ,] respectively. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like Slowking and Jellicent, and Shiftry's Knock Off KOes them, and Knock Off is a good move to have in general. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, and which makes Delphox's life easier when facing offensive teams.

Thanks to Delphox's prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for setup sweepers and cleaners do to seal off the game after Delphox has brought down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, which has good synergy with Delphox. Zoroark is also an excellent choice [removed ,] because of its ability to disguise itself as Delphox, lure in its counters, [comma] and effectively kill them, but Stealth Rock must be cleared out before sending it out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after the fiery fox has done its job and sweep, as is and so can Choice Scarf Braviary, although both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, so make sure to cover those by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resists, such as Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground-type moves. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, who can come in after Delphox dents holes in the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
########
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory since because it's Delphox's best a strong STAB option. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, as they are also good STAB options [removed ,] and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack [removed ,] or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better damage. Grass Knot provides is the coverage against Rock-types, as it and it lets you get past Rhyperior, [comma] specifically. And Finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs along with Choice Scarf makes Delphox outspeed the entire unboosted metagame [removed ,] while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB moves. 252 EVs are used in Special Attack are used to maximize its damage output, with the rest dumped into Defense. Since this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between Modest and Timid comes down to power versus speed. Timid still allows you to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest nature gives you more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it.

Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and it can't function as a wallbreaker like its other sets. It should only be brought out late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox is able to perform a sweep. Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, [. to ,] though you should be careful of giving the wrong Pokemon a Choice Scarf. [, to .] as sometimes it can backfire.

Team Options
========
Delphox should never be used without a teammate that can get rid of hazards. Therefore, Shiftry and Skuntank are good at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allow them to beat some of Delphox's counters in Slowking and Jellicent, [comma] two of Delphox's counters. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, and it can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates for to Delphox, as it Delphox can clean up after its teammates they do their job at weakening weaken opposing walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and Mixed Zoroark make good choices. do a good job at this. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after setup sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark-, [comma] and Water-type moves.

Other Options
########
Delphox has a few other options at its disposal it can use, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets to hit opposite Delphox, but it doesn't hit anything else that Grass Knot doesn't cover. A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon such as Slowking and Jellicent and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be ran run with Will-O-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP stat means that its Wishes are small, and it's mediocre physical bulk doesn't do it any favors won't get it anywhere. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind [removed ,] alongside along with Leftovers, Fire Blast, [comma] and Psyshock or Psychic with Leftovers as the item is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
########
**Bulky Waters**: Slowking is the best counter you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, and it can do massive damage with Scald, but it won't like being given Switcheroo'd a Choice item. Jellicent and specially defensive Alomomola can also fulfill the same role do the same. Be wary, [comma] though, [comma] that none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily can all can take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can use Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch to take Delphox out, Miltank can paralyze it, and Cradily can KO kill with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage. Carbink can switch into Delphox rather easily, stall it out with a combination of Toxic and Protect, and then take it out with Rock Slide. Be wary though that As before, none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and KO kill it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill it, and Zoroark outspeeds and KOes it kills with Knock Off, Crunch or Rock Slide. [period] Durant also outspeeds and KOes. [period] kill, Choice Scarf users, and Sucker Punch. [You might want to actually talk about these two things rather than just listing them. Don't use kills, use KOes. I would make this addition before requesting a second GP check. If for some reason this is GPed before you make this change, let me know and I'll look over the addition.]
**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web all really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly.
 
Last edited:

aVocado

@ Everstone
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Forum Moderator Alumnusis a Community Contributor Alumnusis a Tiering Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnus
Implemented Ender , also went by your suggestion about adding examples on sucker punchers and scarfers in c&c.

edit: actually, I also put a new category in c&c for priority.
 

GatoDelFuego

The Antimonymph of the Internet
is a Site Content Manager Alumnusis a Social Media Contributor Alumnusis a Community Leader Alumnusis a Smogon Discord Contributor Alumnusis a Top Contributor Alumnusis a Top Smogon Media Contributor Alumnus


Arikado

REMOVE CHANGE COMMENTS

Overview
########
Delphox has a great offensive Fire / Psychic typing that's good offensively and access to STAB Fire Blast and Psychic. This, combined with its high base 114 Special Attack and base 104 Speed, makes Delphox one of the most prominent special sweepers in the RU tier. Thanks to Delphox's typing and power, it can switch in on some of the most durable walls in the tier, such as Aromatisse and Cresselia, and easily set up or overwhelm them with strong attacks. It has access to a wonderful movepool with coverage moves like the Psyshock, Grass Knot, Switcheroo, and Shadow Ball, and a boosting move in Calm Mind, which can aid Delphox in sweeping and wallbreaking. However, even with its above-average base 104 Speed, it's sadly still slower than common threats such as Zoroark, Cobalion, Virizion, and Durant, all of which can hit Delphox hard with super effective attacks. It's also weak to all kinds of entry hazards and passive damage. Along with Life Orb recoil, this wears Delphox down very easily. Its average bulk doesn't help with its longevity, either. Even with all of its flaws, Delphox's pros easily outweigh the its cons, and the red fox remains one of the best special attackers in the tier.

Offensive Calm Mind
########
name: Offensive Calm Mind
move 1: Calm Mind
move 2: Fire Blast
move 3: Psyshock
move 4: Grass Knot
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Calm Mind lets Delphox boost its Special Attack to ridiculous levels, allowing it to serve as a wallbreaker that can easily pressure defensive teams with Life Orb and a boosted Special Attack. Fire Blast is Delphox's main STAB move and a very strong option overall, allowing it to wallbreak much more easily thanks to its high Base Power. Psyshock is another STAB attack that can hit Pokemon like Aromatisse, who which are less bulky on the physical side, for a lot of damage, and it also hits Assault Vest Pokemon like Assault Vest Gallade and Druddigon for more damage. Grass Knot is a coverage move that allows Delphox to easily get past some threats that would otherwise stop it, such as Gastrodon and various Rock-types, including Tyrantrum, Rhyperior, Barbaracle, and Regirock. It also hits Jellicent and Slowking for a fair bit of damage after a boost.

Set Details
========
EVs are set to maximize Speed to outspeed as many threats as possible, including Moltres, Tinted Lens Yanmega, Drapion, and Electivire, and hit them before they get a chance to hit back. 252 Special Attack EVs in Special Attack allows Delphox to dish out as much damage as possible, and the rest of the EVs are dropped in Defense to give it Delphox a little boost. Life Orb is used to maximize Delphox's damage output and makes it hit very hard.

Usage Tips
========
Bring Delphox in against a Pokemon it matches up well against, such as Aromatisse, Amoonguss, Tangrowth, or Cresselia; set up a Calm Mind; and then begin to fire away ridiculously strong Fire Blasts or Psyshocks, depending on the matchup. Delphox can work early- and mid-game as a wallbreaker against defensive teams, and it can also clean up late-game against more offensive and balanced teams, but beware of Pokemon like Cobalion, Virizion, and Jolteon, [comma] which Delphox fails to outspeed. Its wallbreaking capabilities can allow another sweeper on the team to easily come in and clean up to seal the game.

Team Options
========
Since Because Delphox is very susceptible to entry hazards, it's mandatory to have Defog or Rapid Spin support. Luckily for Delphox, many of the Defoggers and spinners have good synergy with it, including Shiftry, who which can be used to take out Slowking and Jellicent, two Pokemon Delphox struggles against, and Skuntank, who which can trap Slowking and Jellicent with Pursuit. Good spinners that can easily pair up with Delphox include Hitmontop and Hitmonlee, with the former being more defensive, with and the latter being a reliable and strong spinner thanks to its access to Knock Off and High Jump Kick, which can hit a lot of Pokemon really hard. such as? If they're relevant to taking out things Delphox doesn't like, be sure to list that.

Dugtrio pairs rather well with Delphox because of its ability to trap and, with some prior damage, KO some of the faster threats that Delphox can't outspeed, like such as Cobalion, Durant, Heliolisk, and Zoroark. It also has access to Memento to ease Delphox's setup. Offensive Spiritomb is another good teammate because it can dispose of Slowking and Jellicent with Sucker Punch and Pursuit. Finally, Zoroark is an exceptional teammate thanks to Illusion, as it can disguise itself as Delphox and lure in the aforementioned Slowking and Jellicent, then take them out with a STAB Knock Off. However, to successfully do this, you must clear Stealth Rock from the field, since as it can easily blow Zoroark's cover because it will take 12% damage as opposed to the 25% that Delphox would take. Sharpedo can come in after Delphox has softened up the opponent's team and easily sweep.

Choice Specs
########
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast is one of the most powerful moves Delphox can utilize and hits ridiculously hard thanks to Choice Specs, STAB typing, and its high Base Power. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock, Delphox's other STAB options, comes down to simply who what you want to beat. Psychic has overall more power and can 2HKO Pokemon like Alomomola and Rhyperior, while Psyshock hits Pokemon such as specially defensive Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade harder thanks to the fact that it hits the target's physical Defense. Grass Knot is the best coverage Delphox could ask for, as it hits Slowking and Jellicent hard, potentially 2HKOing them with a little prior damage. Additionally, it also hits some Rock-types like Rhyperior harder than Psychic. I would say it mostly hits all harder. Switcheroo is used in the last slot to cripple some walls, including Aromatisse, Alomomola, and Cresselia, by neutralizing them and rendering them giving them a useless item.

Set Details
========
Max Speed helps Delphox outspeed slower threats while hitting them hard, possibly KOing them thanks to the power that Choice Specs brings. 252 Maximum Special Attack investment allows Delphox to hit as hard as possible. The rest of the EVs are dumped into Defense. With Choice Specs, Delphox becomes an insanely powerful wallbreaker that can hit hard right off the bat. Cresselia, Aromatisse, Meloetta, Alomomola, and Amoonguss are some examples of the walls this Delphox can break. It can even possibly overwhelm what would otherwise be considered counters, such as Cradily, which is 2HKOed with Fire Blast after Stealth Rock damage. Even Slowking can be taken down with a little bit of prior damage, Stealth Rock, or prediction.

Usage Tips
========
This particular Delphox can be brought in early-game against defensive teams and start wallbreaking without much effort, and it can easily dismantle and break a lot of common defensive cores such as. It's hard to face even for offensive teams because it's fairly fast. If you make sure to bring it in against a target that's slower than Delphox, it can often knock out a Pokemon, provided it doesn't resist the move Delphox is locked into. Be careful when using Switcheroo, as giving Slowking Choice Specs can backfire thanks to Slowking's good Special Attack and the fact that it has Regenerator. The same goes for facing offensive teams, because giving the wrong Pokemon Choice Specs can cause a bit of trouble.

Team Options
========
Same as any other Delphox set, Entry hazard removal is necessary for Delphox to live up to its true potential. This means that again, Shiftry and Skuntank are good team options because of their access to Defog, Knock Off, and Pursuit. Skuntank's access to Pursuit lets it trap Pokemon like Slowking and Jellicent, and Shiftry's Knock Off KOes them. Dugtrio can be used to get rid of faster threats such as Durant, Heliolisk, and Cobalion with a little bit of prior damage, which makes Delphox's life easier when facing offensive teams.

Thanks to Delphox's offensive prowess and wallbreaking capabilities, it can open up opportunities for setup sweepers and cleaners to seal the game after Delphox has brought down the opponent's walls. Such teammates include Swords Dance Virizion, which has good synergy with Delphox. Zoroark is also an excellent choice because of its ability to disguise itself as Delphox, lure in its counters, [comma] and effectively kill KO them, but Stealth Rock must be cleared before sending it out, as it can easily give away the disguise. Jolteon is a pretty fast cleaner that can come in after the fiery fox Delphox has done its job and sweep, as is Choice Scarf Braviary, although both Jolteon and Braviary share weaknesses with Delphox, so make sure to cover those by adding some Ground- and Rock-type resistances, such as from Tangrowth and Gligar. The former is a bulky pivot that can switch into Ground-types and threaten them with a strong Leaf Storm, and the latter is a bulky physical wall that can grab momentum with U-turn, has access to Stealth Rock and Defog, and is immune to Ground-type moves. A sweeper that can also pair well with this particular Delphox is Sharpedo, who which can come in after Delphox dents holes in the opposing team and clean up.

Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Fire Blast
move 2: Psychic / Psyshock
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Scarf
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
nature: Modest / Timid

Moves
========
Fire Blast on Delphox is mandatory because it's Delphox's best STAB option. The same applies for Psychic and Psyshock, as they are also good STAB options and can be counted on for reliability. The choice between Psychic and Psyshock comes down to whether you want a stronger Psychic-type attack or a bit weaker one that hits Aromatisse, Assault Vest Druddigon, and Gallade for better damage. Grass Knot provides coverage against Rock-types, (RC) and it lets you Delphox get past Rhyperior, [comma] specifically. Finally, Switcheroo is used to cripple regular Delphox switch-ins, such as Slowking, Jellicent, and Druddigon, and it's a good move to render most walls useless.

Set Details
========
252 Speed EVs along with Choice Scarf makes means Delphox outspeeds the entire unboosted metagame while still packing a punch thanks to its decent base 114 Special Attack and strong STAB moves. 252 EVs in Special Attack are used to maximize its Delphox's damage output, with the rest dumped into Defense. Since As this particular Delphox is using Choice Scarf rather than Choice Specs or Life Orb, it's significantly weaker than the other sets, but it's still a powerful cleaner and revenge killer. The choice between Modest and Timid comes down to power versus Speed. Timid still allows you Delphox to be fast even after using Switcheroo to get rid of the Choice Scarf, while Modest gives Delphox you more power at the cost of being slower than some Pokemon without it, most notably [X] and [Y].

Usage Tips
========
Choice Scarf Delphox is a revenge killer and late-game cleaner, and it can't function as a wallbreaker like its other sets. It should only be brought out late-game when all the Pokemon have been weakened to the point where Delphox is able to perform a sweep. Switcheroo can be used to cripple a wall, though you should be careful of giving the wrong Pokemon a Choice Scarf. [, to .]

Team Options
========
Delphox should never be used without a teammate that can get rid of entry hazards. Shiftry and Skuntank are good at this role with their access to Defog and STAB Knock Off and Pursuit, respectively, which allow them to beat Slowking and Jellicent, two of Delphox's counters. Additionally, Shiftry forces switches, and with its strong Knock Offs, it can weaken Pokemon for Delphox to clean up later. Hitmonlee is also an excellent wallbreaker and spinner, and it can seriously put a hole in almost all walls in RU.

Generally, strong wallbreakers will make excellent teammates for Delphox, as Delphox can clean up after its teammates weaken opposing walls. For this reason, Choice Band or Life Orb Druddigon and mixed Zoroark make good choices. Additionally, Delphox can be a good cleaner after setup sweepers like Virizion, Cobalion, and Durant have done their job. Virizion especially has good synergy with Delphox, thanks to its resistance to Ground-, Rock-, Dark-, [comma] and Water-type moves.

Other Options
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Delphox has a few other options at its disposal, but they're nothing special. It can use Shadow Ball on any of its main sets to hit opposite opposing Delphox, but it doesn't hit anything else that Grass Knot doesn't cover. A set with Magician, Power Herb, and Solar Beam can be used to lure in some Pokemon such as Slowking and Jellicent and steal their items, but Solar Beam is unreliable and will often be a burden. A bulkier, more supportive set can be run with Will-O-Wisp and Wish, but Delphox's low base HP means that its Wishes are small, and its mediocre physical bulk doesn't do it any favors. A combination of Substitute and Calm Mind alongside Leftovers, Fire Blast, and Psyshock or Psychic is another option, but it lacks the coverage and power offensive Calm Mind has. Magic Coat can be used to reflect back Toxic and some other moves like Stealth Rock, but Delphox barely has any space for it.

Checks & Counters
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**Bulky Water-types**: Slowking is the best counter you'll get, as the Assault Vest set can take on almost anything Delphox can throw at it, and it can do massive damage with Scald, but it won't like being given a Choice item. Jellicent and specially defensive Alomomola can also fulfill the same role. Be wary, though, that none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Bulky Pokemon**: Specially defensive Meloetta, Druddigon, Miltank, and Cradily can all take any of Delphox's attacks and hurt it back. Meloetta can use Hyper Voice, Druddigon can use Dragon Claw, Outrage, Earthquake, or Sucker Punch, Miltank can paralyze Delphox it, and Cradily can KO with Rock Slide after Stealth Rock and Life Orb damage. Carbink can switch into Delphox rather easily, stall it out with a combination of Toxic and Protect, and then take it out with Rock Slide. As before, none of these Pokemon like switching into Switcheroo.

**Faster Pokemon**: Dugtrio can trap Delphox and KO it with Earthquake. Speed Boost Sharpedo can easily revenge kill Delphox it, and Zoroark outspeeds and KOes it Delphox with Knock Off. Durant also outspeeds and KOes with Crunch or Rock Slide. Choice Scarf users such as Braviary can revenge kill Delphox.

**Priority**: Most priority users such as Spiritomb, Doublade, Banette, Fletchinder, Shiftry, and Skuntank can KO Delphox with their respective priority move, although Doublade and Fletchinder needs a little bit of prior damage for Shadow Sneak and Acrobatics, respectively, to KO. (period)

**Residual Damage**: Stealth Rock, Spikes, Toxic Spikes, and Sticky Web all really hurt Delphox. Toxic damage also racks up rather quickly.

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