Delphox (QC REJECTED 1/3)

GamingShawn

GamingShawn

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Overview
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[Pros]
  • Delphox has an above average Special Attack stat
  • Delphox's Speed allows it to outspeed all non-Scarfed 100 base speed Pokemon and Garchomp
  • Its movepool provides good type coverage

[Cons]
  • Due to its Fire / Psychic typing, Delphox is weak to Dark-, Water-, and Ghost-type priority moves
  • Delphox has frail physical defense
  • Delphox's Stealth Rock weakness lessens its longevity in battle
  • It faces competition for a team slot from Victini, which maintains the same typing, has better bulk, and a more vast offensive movepool (Physically and Specially) at the cost of Speed

ATTACK!
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name: ATTACK!
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Will-O-Wisp / Shadow Ball
ability: Blaze
item: Life Orb
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpDef

Moves
========
  • Psyshock is the preferred Psychic-type STAB move as it allows Delphox to hit both the opponent's defensive sides
  • Fire Blast allows for more damage output while Flamethrower allows for better accuracy
  • Grass Knot provides coverage against Water- and Rock-types
  • Will-O-Wisp is useful for passing around Burn on safe switch-ins to Delphox such as Rotom-Wash, Tyranitar, Goodra, and Vaporeon, to name a few; it can also cripple Sucker Punch users
  • Shadow Ball can be run over Will-O-Wisp for additional coverage but is usually only good for hitting Reuniclus, Slowbro, Slowking, Chandelure, and Starmie supereffectively

Set Details
========
  • Max Speed EVs with Modest nature allow Delphox to outspeed Base 90 Pokemon with a Speed boosting nature though Timid can be run if Speed is a necessity
  • Max Special Attack EVs with Modest nature allow for the highest damage output
  • The remaining EVs are dumped in Special Defense
  • Life Orb increases damage output for all of Delphox's moves and brings it closer to Blaze range
  • Blaze greatly increases damage output when active
252+ SpA Life Orb Delphox Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-W: 109-130 (35.8 - 42.7%) -- (versus Defensive Rotom-Wash)

252+ SpA Life Orb Blaze Delphox Fire Blast vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Rotom-W: 165-195 (54.2 - 64.1%) -- (versus Defensive Rotom-Wash)
​
Usage Tips
========
  • Psyshock is an invaluable move to hit Special walls on the Defensive side so predicting around switch-ins can pay off immensely
252+ SpA Life Orb Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 230-270 (59.8 - 70.3%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Life Orb Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 242-286 (61.4 - 72.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
​
  • Knowing which Pokemon Grass Knot is more effective against is important
  • Entry hazards can be both good and bad for this set as it does limit how long Delphox will be in use for but it also puts it closer to Blaze range so try to determine whether you need Delphox in the long run or not

Team Options
========
  • Rapid Spin support or Defog support is appreciated to deal with Delphox's Stealth Rock weakness
  • Physically defensive walls are a must have to switch in against priority users that will be brought in against Delphox
  • Pokemon that can set up Spikes and/or Stealth Rocks are helpful to Delphox in ensuring KO's against more bulky Pokemon
  • Sun support can help Delphox punch even bigger holes, but with Sun lasting only 5 turns this generation, a Drought user may not be a good use of a team slot


Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
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name: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
move 1: Psyshock
move 2: Overheat / Fire Blast / Flamethrower
move 3: Grass Knot
move 4: Switcheroo / Shadow Ball
ability: Blaze
item: Choice Specs / Choice Scarf
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 252 Spe / 4 SpDef

Moves
========
  • Psyshock is the preferred Psychic-type STAB move as it allows Delphox to hit both the opponent's defensive sides
  • Overheat deals the most damage but is preferred for the Choice Specs set and not the Choice Scarf set
  • Fire Blast allows for more damage output while Flamethrower allows for better accuracy
  • Grass Knot provides coverage against Water- and Rock-types
  • Switcheroo is useful in crippling switch-ins to Delphox such as Rotom-Wash, Tyranitar, Goodra, and Vaporeon
  • Shadow Ball suppies additional coverage but is usually only good for hitting Reuniclus, Slowbro, Slowking, Chandelure, and Starmie supereffectively

Set Details
========
  • Max Speed EVs with Modest nature allow Delphox to outspeed Base 90 Pokemon with a Speed boosting nature though Timid can be run if Speed is a necessity
  • Max Special Attack EVs with Modest nature allow for the highest damage output
  • The remaining EVs are dumped in Special Defense
  • Blaze greatly increases damage output when active

Usage Tips
========
  • Psyshock is an invaluable move to hit Special walls on the Defensive side so predicting around switch-ins can pay off immensely
252+ SpA Choice Specs Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Goodra: 262-310 (68.2 - 80.7%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 0 Def Sylveon: 279-328 (70.8 - 83.2%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

252+ SpA Choice Specs Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-W: 135-160 (44.4 - 52.6%) -- 84% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery
​
  • Knowing which Pokemon Grass Knot is more effective against is important
  • Entry hazards can be both good and bad for this set as it does limit how long Delphox will be in use for but it also puts it closer to Blaze range so try to determine whether you need Delphox in the long run or not
  • Some prediction is required around Switcheroo though most of the time switch-ins are obvious

Team Options
========
  • Rapid Spin support or Defog support is appreciated to deal with Delphox's Stealth Rock weakness
  • Physically defensive walls are a must have to switch in against priority users that will be brought in against Delphox
  • Pokemon that can set up Spikes and/or Stealth Rocks are helpful to Delphox in ensuring KO's against more bulky Pokemon
  • Sun support can help Delphox punch even bigger holes, but with Sun lasting only 5 turns this generation, a Drought user may not be a good use of a team slot

Other Options
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  • Hypnosis can be run as an alternative status inducing move though its shaky accuracy can be a problem
  • Delphox has access to Magic Coat but its use is circumstantial
  • Calm Mind can be run on the LO set in place of Will-O-Wisp, however, Delphox usually can only get a Calm Mind up by forcing a switch and often times getting two hits off on a switch-in is better than delivering one stronger hit
  • A Magician + Solarbeam + Power Herb set can be run for a one-time powerful hit against Water- and Rock-types, but Blaze + Choice Specs / Life Orb is generally better for damage output unless Delphox's Magician manages to steal one of those items


Checks & Counters
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  • Heatran: Heatran's Fire / Steel typing along with its ability, Flash Fire, make it an almost certain counter to any Delphox set. Choice sets may be able to Switcheroo Heatran but nothing else.
  • Houndoom: Houndoom's Dark / Fire typing make it resistant to Delphox's coverage moves, immune to Delphox's Psychic-type STAB, and its ability, Flash Fire, make it immune to Delphox's Fire-type STAB. Additionally, if Houndoom is holding Houndoomite, Switcheroo is useless against it.
  • Chansey / Blissey: Chansey and Blissey have extremely high Special Defense and HP stats which can shrug off any of Delphox's attacks. Even Psyshock's damage output is pitiful against Chansey / Blissey. Switcheroo is the only viable means of dealing with Chansey / Blissey.
  • Umbreon: Umbreon is immune to Delphox's Psychic-type STAB because it is Dark-type and its high Special Defense makes it capable of taking Delphox's attacks. Again, Switcheroo is the only option here.
  • Talonflame: Talonflame doesn't fear much from Delphox as it resists Delphox's Fire-type STAB, quad resists Grass Knot and is immune to Will-O-Wisp. Talonflame can easily take out Delphox with a Brave Bird / Acrobatics from most of its sets due to Delphox's poor Physical defense.
  • Most light and bulky Water-types, such as Vaporeon, can safely switch in to Delphox without worry. Grass Knot will not be as powerful and if the opposing Pokemon is bulky enough, Psyshock won't do much either. Switcheroo is one of the only ways Delphox can cripple these switch-ins.
 
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This is my first Analysis so I wanted to make sure that this was QC material so it's listed as a WIP for now. Any and all feedback is appreciated!
 
I'm no QC, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Other Options (OO) does not belong under each set. It belongs to it's own separate section above Checks and Counters. Additional Comments (AC) is the one you are thinking of.

Add the Magician + Solarbeam + Power Herb set to OO and mention how it's inferior to Blaze due to the lack of Life Orb / Choice item unless it just so happens to get said items from the opponent and the addition power bonus from Blaze itself, should Delphox be at a low amount of HP. Yes, I am aware you mentioned it in the first set, but I think it would fit better in OO, since it would also cover all other potential options for Delphox.

Your calculation on Rotom-Wash is also incorrect, since you didn't add a +Defense nature to it.
Correct calculation would be:
252 SpA Life Orb Delphox Psyshock vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Rotom-W: 107-126 (35.1 - 41.4%) -- guaranteed 3HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

Mention that powerful Dark-type, Water-type and Ghost-type priority brings Delphox to it's knees. Examples are Mega Mawile, Azumarill and Aegislash, though the first one must be aware of mispredicting with Sucker Punch and getting hit by Will-O-Wisp.
Also add Talonflame to Checks and Counters as well, resisting both Fire Blast and Grass Knot and having an immunity to Will-O-Wisp, while only fearing Psyshock, Shadow Ball and Switcheroo. Adamant Brave Bird does the following to Delphox with different items:
252+ Atk Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 205-243 (70.2 - 83.2%) -- 62.5% chance to OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Sharp Beak Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 246-291 (84.2 - 99.6%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Life Orb Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 266-316 (91 - 108.2%) -- guaranteed OHKO after Stealth Rock
252+ Atk Choice Band Talonflame Brave Bird vs. 4 HP / 0 Def Delphox: 307-363 (105.1 - 124.3%) -- guaranteed OHKO

In fact, bulky and light Water-types such as Vaporeon can easily take on Delphox, once again, only fearing Switcheroo.
Mentioning faster Pokemon like Terrakion and Greninja are also good, as they outspeed Delphox, should Delphox not have a Scarf, and OHKO with Stone Edge or Surf / Hydro Pump respectively.

I think you should also change the positive:
  • Delphox has decent Speed and Special Attack stats
Click to expand...

To

  • It's Speed allows it to outspeed all non-Scarfed 100 base speed Pokemon and Garchomp
  • Above average Special Attack stat
Click to expand...

This is largely because there aren't enough positives and to not make Delphox seem too mediocre. xD
I'd also add how it faces competition for a team slot with Victini, who does not only have better bulk, but a better offensive movepool, both physically and specially at the cost of Speed.

Hope this helped you out. ^-^;

Even though Delphox is not particularly suitable for OU. I think I could name even more cons than the ones you've mentioned as well as more checks and counters. ._.;;
 
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Wow, that's a lot of useful input! My mistake on the damage calc; I think I had originally tested damage versus a Specially Defensive Rotom-Wash and forgot to change the nature of it. I hadn't considered a Magician set really as most ways I attempted to use it proved to be virtually ineffective, but I shall add your recommendation to OO. I apologize that my info doesn't consist of much Post-PokeBank material as I haven't played the tier much myself. Thank you again for your input! I'll make all the necessary changes ASAP.
 
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