[SET]
Substitute + 3 Attacks (Delibird) @ Leftovers
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 188 Atk / 68 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty / Naive Nature
- Substitute
- Aerial Ace
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
Hustle, an above-average Speed, and a good offensive typing make Delibird a niche mixed wallbreaker. Delibird uses Substitute to capitalize on the switches it forces against slower foes like Gloom, Tropius, and Meditite, protecting it from revenge killers like Ponyta, Quilava, and Aipom and decreasing the need to predict correctly. Aerial Ace is Delibird's most reliable strong attack by circumventing the accuracy nerf of Hustle, and it threatens Bug-types such as Ariados, Beedrill, and Dustox. Ice Beam best complements Aerial Ace by threatening physically bulky Pokemon like Onix, Koffing, and Rhyhorn. Hidden Power Ground covers Electric-types like Chinchou, Magnemite, and Flaaffy, and it's Delibird's strongest attack against Corsola. 68 Special Attack EVs let Delibird 2HKO Koffing and Lileep. Delibird hardly has the bulk to make its choice of defense-lowering nature matter, but a Hasty nature at least gives Delibird an 88.3% chance to avoid a 2HKO from physically defensive Mightyena's Crunch. A Naive nature keeps it out of range of Doduo's Quick Attack slightly better, which is helpful when Delibird risks putting itself into range of Quick Attack when using Substitute.
Offense teams benefit from Delibird's presence as an especially threatening wallbreaker, but balance teams can make up for Delibird's lack of defensive value by relying on bulkier Pokemon to get it into good positions. Bulky Water-types like Wartortle and Seaking can intercept fast Fire-types for Delibird, while Delibird threatens Grass-types for them. Bulky Normal-types like Castform and Porygon can similarly check Ponyta and Quilava, and they also have good matchups against the fast Electric-types, Elekid and Voltorb. Delcatty is an especially good bulky Normal-type to pair with Delibird, as it can pivot it in safely with Baton Pass. Electric-types like Flaaffy and Chinchou threaten bulky Water-types that would check Delibird, while Delibird pressures bulky Grass-types like Gloom and Tropius that would wall its Electric-type partners. Bulky Normal-types, Electric-types, and Gloom can all support Delibird by spreading paralysis, enabling Delibird to outrun and dispose of fast, frail offensive threats. Delibird's unable to break through Corsola and other bulky Water-types like Seaking and Wartortle on its own, so it depends on support against them, which can include Gloom, Flaaffy, Chinchou, and Thunderbolt variants of Porygon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Band set may seem appealing, but Hustle makes any physical attacks besides Aerial Ace unreliable, and Delibird's fragility makes any unreliability a huge liability to its survival. Additionally, Delibird benefits from the ability to switch moves against Flying-resistant foes like Rhyhorn and Magnemite. Quick Attack picks off frail fast attackers like Abra and Salac Berry users like Beedrill. However, Delibird struggles to fit it over any of its coverage moves without becoming less effective as a wallbreaker, and the accuracy nerf applied by Hustle can lead Delibird to totally flop when trying to finish off dangerous foes like Ponyta and Elekid. Focus Punch can deal a huge chunk of damage to Corsola as it switches in, but this requires great prediction, usually getting Delibird behind a Substitute, and for the move not to miss because of Hustle. Additionally, giving up Hidden Power Ground or Ice Beam for Focus Punch makes Delibird overly prediction-reliant.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Delibird cannot 2HKO Corsola, even with Hidden Power Ground, and Corsola can 2HKO Delibird or just use it as setup fodder. Clamperl and Seaking are generally 3HKOed by Delibird's Aerial Ace and can OHKO Delibird outright. Defensive Wartortle can take repeated hits from Delibird and 2HKO it with Surf, and offensive variants can even OHKO Delibird.
**Faster Pokemon**: Aipom can take one attack from Delibird and OHKO it with a Normal-type move. Ponyta, Quilava, Elekid, and Voltorb can all switch into both Aerial Ace and Ice Beam and threaten to OHKO Delibird, but only Quilava can take Hidden Power Ground. Volbeat can switch into anything but Aerial Ace and proceed to KO Delibird with Double-Edge. Abra can OHKO Delibird outright, but it can only switch into a predicted Ice Beam.
**Bulky Normal-types**: Castform, Delcatty, and Porygon are not 2HKOed by Delibird, and they threaten to 2HKO it themselves given its terrible bulk. Delcatty and Porygon outright wall Delibird thanks to their access to reliable recovery. Defensive Noctowl can 2HKO Delibird and avoid a 2HKO, while offensive Noctowl can OHKO Delibird. However, Noctowl can be overwhelmed if Delibird sets up a Substitute as it switches in.
**Mightyena**: Intimidate softening Aerial Ace makes Mightyena a workable stop-gap to Delibird, though it doesn't work behind Substitute. Defensive Mightyena is generally bulky enough to avoid a 3HKO from Ice Beam with the help of Protect, and it's strong enough to 3HKO Delibird. Offensive variants 2HKO Delibird, while Delibird can only 3HKO them with Ice Beam. However, both variants have to be wary of being worn down enough to be overwhelmed by Delibird.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beatsblack.479897/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Substitute + 3 Attacks (Delibird) @ Leftovers
Ability: Hustle
EVs: 188 Atk / 68 SpA / 252 Spe
Hasty / Naive Nature
- Substitute
- Aerial Ace
- Ice Beam
- Hidden Power Ground
[SET COMMENTS]
Hustle, an above-average Speed, and a good offensive typing make Delibird a niche mixed wallbreaker. Delibird uses Substitute to capitalize on the switches it forces against slower foes like Gloom, Tropius, and Meditite, protecting it from revenge killers like Ponyta, Quilava, and Aipom and decreasing the need to predict correctly. Aerial Ace is Delibird's most reliable strong attack by circumventing the accuracy nerf of Hustle, and it threatens Bug-types such as Ariados, Beedrill, and Dustox. Ice Beam best complements Aerial Ace by threatening physically bulky Pokemon like Onix, Koffing, and Rhyhorn. Hidden Power Ground covers Electric-types like Chinchou, Magnemite, and Flaaffy, and it's Delibird's strongest attack against Corsola. 68 Special Attack EVs let Delibird 2HKO Koffing and Lileep. Delibird hardly has the bulk to make its choice of defense-lowering nature matter, but a Hasty nature at least gives Delibird an 88.3% chance to avoid a 2HKO from physically defensive Mightyena's Crunch. A Naive nature keeps it out of range of Doduo's Quick Attack slightly better, which is helpful when Delibird risks putting itself into range of Quick Attack when using Substitute.
Offense teams benefit from Delibird's presence as an especially threatening wallbreaker, but balance teams can make up for Delibird's lack of defensive value by relying on bulkier Pokemon to get it into good positions. Bulky Water-types like Wartortle and Seaking can intercept fast Fire-types for Delibird, while Delibird threatens Grass-types for them. Bulky Normal-types like Castform and Porygon can similarly check Ponyta and Quilava, and they also have good matchups against the fast Electric-types, Elekid and Voltorb. Delcatty is an especially good bulky Normal-type to pair with Delibird, as it can pivot it in safely with Baton Pass. Electric-types like Flaaffy and Chinchou threaten bulky Water-types that would check Delibird, while Delibird pressures bulky Grass-types like Gloom and Tropius that would wall its Electric-type partners. Bulky Normal-types, Electric-types, and Gloom can all support Delibird by spreading paralysis, enabling Delibird to outrun and dispose of fast, frail offensive threats. Delibird's unable to break through Corsola and other bulky Water-types like Seaking and Wartortle on its own, so it depends on support against them, which can include Gloom, Flaaffy, Chinchou, and Thunderbolt variants of Porygon.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A Choice Band set may seem appealing, but Hustle makes any physical attacks besides Aerial Ace unreliable, and Delibird's fragility makes any unreliability a huge liability to its survival. Additionally, Delibird benefits from the ability to switch moves against Flying-resistant foes like Rhyhorn and Magnemite. Quick Attack picks off frail fast attackers like Abra and Salac Berry users like Beedrill. However, Delibird struggles to fit it over any of its coverage moves without becoming less effective as a wallbreaker, and the accuracy nerf applied by Hustle can lead Delibird to totally flop when trying to finish off dangerous foes like Ponyta and Elekid. Focus Punch can deal a huge chunk of damage to Corsola as it switches in, but this requires great prediction, usually getting Delibird behind a Substitute, and for the move not to miss because of Hustle. Additionally, giving up Hidden Power Ground or Ice Beam for Focus Punch makes Delibird overly prediction-reliant.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-types**: Delibird cannot 2HKO Corsola, even with Hidden Power Ground, and Corsola can 2HKO Delibird or just use it as setup fodder. Clamperl and Seaking are generally 3HKOed by Delibird's Aerial Ace and can OHKO Delibird outright. Defensive Wartortle can take repeated hits from Delibird and 2HKO it with Surf, and offensive variants can even OHKO Delibird.
**Faster Pokemon**: Aipom can take one attack from Delibird and OHKO it with a Normal-type move. Ponyta, Quilava, Elekid, and Voltorb can all switch into both Aerial Ace and Ice Beam and threaten to OHKO Delibird, but only Quilava can take Hidden Power Ground. Volbeat can switch into anything but Aerial Ace and proceed to KO Delibird with Double-Edge. Abra can OHKO Delibird outright, but it can only switch into a predicted Ice Beam.
**Bulky Normal-types**: Castform, Delcatty, and Porygon are not 2HKOed by Delibird, and they threaten to 2HKO it themselves given its terrible bulk. Delcatty and Porygon outright wall Delibird thanks to their access to reliable recovery. Defensive Noctowl can 2HKO Delibird and avoid a 2HKO, while offensive Noctowl can OHKO Delibird. However, Noctowl can be overwhelmed if Delibird sets up a Substitute as it switches in.
**Mightyena**: Intimidate softening Aerial Ace makes Mightyena a workable stop-gap to Delibird, though it doesn't work behind Substitute. Defensive Mightyena is generally bulky enough to avoid a 3HKO from Ice Beam with the help of Protect, and it's strong enough to 3HKO Delibird. Offensive variants 2HKO Delibird, while Delibird can only 3HKO them with Ice Beam. However, both variants have to be wary of being worn down enough to be overwhelmed by Delibird.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/beatsblack.479897/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sunny004.197240/
Last edited:
