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2 votes

If you have a good competitive moveset for Delphox, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for its pre-evolutions, if any, can also be shared on this thread.


Delphox Pokédex and learnset for reference.


edited by
Likely Tier: UU.
I'd disagree. It has nothing really worthy of UU.
Then which tier ? It already has a good special attack and speed. But it is outclassed.
Likely Tier: RU
I'd even wonder at RU.
Nah, they can't place this one in NU.
It has nothing really amazing going for it though, lacking even Typhlosion's Eruption. What it does have is a 25% Stealth Rock hit and a weakness to Sucker Punch, Aqua Jet, and Pursuit. It will either be a pretty great NU Pokemon with it's solid stats or a terrible RU Pokemon with its weak stats and poor typing. For its sake, I hope NU.
You'd be surprised. Check out the set I posted below to see a good way to get mileage out of this thing. It's been lethal on my OU teams.

32 Answers

11 votes

Stole this set off of some sucker on Frost, then "modified" it for my personal use. This is one of the most evil sets I've seen in 14 years of playing Pokemon. I use it on my mono fire team and it's brilliant. Anyway, here it is:

Ear strike (Delphox) @
Red Card
Ability: Magician
EVs: 96 HP / 8 Def / 144 SAtk / 8 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Will-O-Wisp
- Hidden Power Ground/ Hidden Power Rock/ Psychic/ Psyshock
- Flamethrower

The plan is simple. Send Delphox out as a lead and use substitute. If the opponent attacks, then red card swaps them out. If they try to set up, then either substitute blocks them, or they boost up, making it hurt that much more when red card forces them out. So far so starightforward.
So the opponent's next poke is dragged out. This is where it gets interesting. Delphox uses will-o-wisp to burn them, and magician steals their item at the same time, crippling them in two ways at once, and boosting Delphox in the process (the item stolen is almost always leftovers). This is absolutely devastating against more physically oriented teams and tanks. With substitute and it's evs, it can burn half a team before being put down pretty easily. The last two slots ensure that Delphox isn't taunt bait and has a tool to use against Pokemon that can't be burned. Flamethrower is the prefered STAB for it's higher pp and accuracy over fire blast. the last move is filler. Psychic is a decent move to hit things of it's other STAB quite hard. If you anticipate things like Houndoom and Heatran then HP rock is the prefered hidden power, especially against things like Moltres.
It's Hp and very minor def and sp.def evs are enough to let it take hits behind subs pretty well, and take burned physical hits and special attacks comfortably. The Sp. atk evs give it a nice total Sp. atk stat of 300, enough to do good damage to anything that doesn't resist it's two attacking moves, while burn damage racks up (if staying in) or when pushed into a corner or cleaning a team of weakened mon. The timid nature and speed ivs are so that it will almost always get it's sub up before taking a hit, and firing off its magician will-o-wisps before the opposing Pokemon moves. It is vital.

Now, for the downsides. The primary one is that while Delphox can enter the field and sub up with great ease, and the burns and bulk can help it stay alive for quite a while being a hellish nuisance, the opponent is obviously going to be doing stuff too. First and foremost, the boost to infiltrator and sound moves, especially bug buzz, will allow several mon to derail this strategy quite a bit (recommend HP rock for Noivern, chandelure and Crobat, by the way).
Also, while boosting sweepers are no threat at all if Delphox gets it's sub up (and look downright silly when they hit a sub with a +6 earthquake and have to switch out) , entry hazards are more of a problem. A spinner is definitely recommended to get rid of any hazards set up after Delphox is done. This isn't a huge issue, though, as Delphox can bag the premium OU rocks users and spikers (skarmory, Forretress, Ferrothorn etc.) with a few well timed attacks and burns.
Finally, and most crucially, beware of what you're burning. Red card drags out a purely random mon. This means that Delphox could easily steal a choice band and cripple itself for the rest of the match, along with its opponent.
Also blah blah stealth rock blah.

Other useful possible moves on this set are wish, trick and mystical fire. use whatever you want.

So in short, what you have here is an excellent, surprisingly hard hitting, fast and downright sadistic Pokemon that offers great utility and opponent-crippling. BUT it does take skill to use at times. Use it well, and it can make your team mates jobs a whole lot easier.
This set really does work, though. I've been using it on my OU gen 6 mono fire team. It's been winning a lot since I started using this thing.

Heh. Text wall.

hey quick question. I like ur set, and used it, but it didnt work on rating battles online....how come? Did it work for you? Ive heard red card doesnt have an effect with substitute by other users...
That's odd. It always worked with sub for me. Even when the sub didn't break. Odd. I used it on Frost, Amethyst, Breakdown and Pokemon DB servers on showdown and it worked on both pokebank OU, OU beta and OU monotype beta on each of them, as well as 1 vs 1.
I don't have a 3ds, though, so I don't whether it works on there. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll take the set down, seeing as it doesn't work there. It's not quite the same if it works some places and not others.
Thanks for using the set, by the way.
Hey man, I've been looking for a move set for my Magician Delpox and this one looks amazing , I can't wait to try it out.
How did you come up with this EV spread?
A mixture of momentary inspiration and obsessive compulsive disorder, I guess. Honestly, I've been doing this sorta stuff for years. I don't really think about it anymore. I just kinda do it.
This is a great moveset. You should check out some of mine. I look for potential everywhere.
If this set actually worked I would use it. However, Red Card doesn't activate when your Pokémon is behind a Substitute. Along with that, using Will-O-Wisp doesn't activate Magician, I've tested it out myself.
This is brilliant and beautiful. I am competing in a mono-type tournament with my friends and have used and loved Fire since Red/Blue/Yellow days. I would really appreciate the chance to look at your mono-fire type team, Mechanism L, you are my hero on this board. Moustache power.
mrbrandandorf did you even read my comment? lol
Anyway, just back. And what do I see? That my set for Delphox doesn't actually work. Damn.
Full disclaimer, I tested this on Showdown. I assumed the rules would be the same in-game, which is where I'm pretty sure SM979 was referring to.  So, it turns out that this set is less creativity and more loophole abuse, which I find pretty funny.
Anyways, if this set still works on Showdown, I'll keep it up. If not, I'll take it down.  Was fun while it lasted though. Cheers for the feedback.
Hey man, long time no see, come say hello on the server?
OK playa the set must be good cause u haven't taken this down yet but I'm going to try it out, it looks awesome #pokefam
What safe guards does it have for water types? None.
3 votes

Delphox @ Expert Belt
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 SAtk / 4 SDef / 252 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Fire Blast
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Grass Knot

If I wanted mine to keep Mystical Fire, which of these moves should I replace?
fire blast
how about hidden power dark instead of shadow ball
youre better off with shadow ball, but if you really want hp dark, replace shadow ball
Would a move like Power-Up Punch be good? Its a physical move, but it can help protect Delphox from Dark Types.
Power-Up Punch wont be good. But Dazzeling Gleam is better for dark types.
2 votes

Although sun will become less viable in OU, one thing does stand out to me: sunny rock now is 8 turns! so this is a hyper offense sun sweeper.

Delphox @ Choice specs/ Choice Scarf/ Life Orb/ Heat Rock
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
Timid Nature
- Fire Blast
- Solar Beam
- Psychic/ Psyshock
- Switcheroo/ Sunny day/ Shadow Ball

Sorry for all of the item options, but I wanted to show as many as possible. Heat rock is not preferred, but interesting. If you're lucky, 8 turns of destruction follow. If a choice item, use Switcheroo, and if LO, then Shadow ball.

edited by
Heat Rock will only increase to 8 turns
oops, i'll fix it. still a lot tho
2 votes

Delphox @ Leftovers
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 184 HP / 4 Def / 252 SAtk / 64 Spd
Timid Nature (+Spd, -Atk)
- Mystic Fire
- Psyshock
- Will-o-wisp
- Calm Mind

A delphox needs more powerful moves like flamethrower instead of mystic fire and psychic instead of psyshock
Psyshock is perfectly viable, as it allows it to take down Special walls that would otherwise annoy the hell out of this guy
^That and maybe on Offensive Delphox's, but this one is a bulkier variant.
1 vote

I think a Scarf set would work nicely with dat speed:

Delphox @ Choice Scarf
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 16 HP / 252 SpA / 236 Spe

  • Flamethrower/Fire Blast
  • Psychic
  • Switchheroo
  • HP Ice/HP Grass/HP Steel (Lol fairies)

Good speed, good SpA, fast special sweeper to counter Terrakion!

edited by
You're missing, like, 100 EVs.
I think he meant 116 :P
236 Speed Dx
1 vote

Delphox's speed can also be augmented with Flame Charge, making it a very nice little sun or cs sweeper

[email protected] orb/expert belt
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Timid/Modest
EVs: 4 hp 252 sp atk 252 spd
-Flame Charge
-Fire Blast
-Psyshock/HP Grass
-Psyshock/Shadow Ball

Hp ground may also be used for heatran, and hp fighting for tyranitar, and of course flamethrower is also a fine substitute for fire blast

Honestly, Psychic would be a better move than Psyshock.
Well, Psyshock is for special walls. WHY FLAME CHARGE! IT'S PHYSICAL
1 vote

Stall Set,
Delphox (F) @ Chesto Berry
Trait: Blaze
Nature: Modest
EVs: 126 SpAtk / 126 Def / 126 SpDef / 126 Speed

Sleep Talk

Start off with WOW. Once the opponent is burned, wear them down with flamethrower over and over again. When needed, use rest. The Chesto Berry will wake you up the first time, and the next few times (should Delphox make it that far) use sleep talk and hope you get Flamethrower. If the opponent switches, WOW wouldn't be bad either.

uhh... WOW! lol
1 vote

Why are more than half the sets here hyper-offensive? Delphox's main niche is its signature move, Mystical Fire, which lowers Special Attack.

[email protected]
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Calm
EVs: 252 HP/252 SDef/4 SAtk

Wish- Healing and support.

Protect- Works with Wish and Leftovers.

Hypnosis/Toxic- To shut down threats or just, you know. I prefer Hypnosis because it helps me deal with Heatran, who always wrecks my team.

Mystical Fire- STAB and lower Special Attack.

Compared to what offensive Delphox does, defensive Delphox is superior. As you can tell, I actually use this in OU because it's a fire type with Wish not named Flareon, and it actually works pretty well.

Yay! I didn't waste tons of time on breeding my fennekins with hypnosis, magic coat, heat wave and wish! I'm not very good at competitive battles (just a starter) so I have no grip on what kind of moves to use! thanks anyway, this setup is like my favourite.
1 vote

Wallphox time!

Now, Delphox actually has great Special Defense and not-bad HP and Defense. In conjunction with Mystical Fire, it can run an effective wall set.

Delphox @ Colbur Berry
Ability: Magician
Bold Nature
EVs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpA / 4 SpD
-Magic Coat
-Mystical Fire

It's rather simple. Cripple physical attackers with Will-O-Wisp, special attackers with Mystical Fire, repel Taunts and status with Magic Coat, and hit special walls not named Slowking with Psyshock. Annoying as heck to face,

Colbur Berry is run on this set because of the omnipresent Knock Off, and Magician provides some nice item-stealing. If you don't like this unpredictablity, run Blaze as the Ability and use Lefties.

Oh, and look at this:
-1 252+ SpA Choice Specs Dragalge Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Delphox: 190-225 (53.6 - 63.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
Assuming you're against a smart opponent, they'll switch Dragalge in on Delphox- no one expects Mystical Fire. Psyshock proceeds to 2HKO, taking out one of the most dangerous threats in RU.

4 SpA Delphox Flamethrower vs. 0 HP / 0 SpD Cobalion: 206-246 (63.7 - 76.1%) -- guaranteed 2HKO after Leftovers recovery
CM Cobalion is getting more and more common in RU, and this cripples him MASSIVELY. Sure, he can tank you, but how much damage can he do unboosted?

This is super helpful! I won lots of battles with this moveset :)
P.S. How can I vote up? I want to upvote this post.
It needs some speed
0 votes

Delphox @ Choice Specs/ Life Orb
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 Sp. Atk, 252 Speed, 4 HP
Nature: Timid
-Shadow Ball
-Psychic/ Psyshock
-Grass Knot/ HP Grass

Shame that Delphox doesn't get a good hidden ability like Greninja does, but its got some pretty decent stats, and slightly better defences than Greninja.

Grass Knot & HP Grass depend on a few things, mainly just the tier Delphox is in. I don't think that Delphox will be higher than UU, and considering that Grass Knot is most effective in the higher tiers, especially Ubers because everything there is obese, HP Grass might be your better bet in order to deal consistent damage. I'm pretty sure HP Grass will OHKO Rhyperior anyway.

edited by
0 votes

I think this thing is a unique special staller/sweeper.
Delphox 252 SAtk 100 Spd 100 SDef 52 HP
Item: Life Orb/Wise Glasses
Ability: Blaze
Nature: Timid
Mystical Fire can be OP with SAtk decrease, Wise Glasses, and STAB.
Protect I am just assuming it can learn like every other Pokemon. This can waste major PP.
Psychic is pure special stallerness.
Switcheroo is for destroying stat increases. Smell a Draco Meteor and don't do this.
I just wanted to provide a moveset for an X/Y Pokemon. It may not be the best, but it's pure ML.

Switcheroo doesn't switch stat boosts, it switches items...
0 votes

Timid Nature (-Atk, +Spe)
@Mind/Flame Plate / Leftovers / Expert Belt
4 Def / 252 Sp. Atk / 252 Spe
~ Calm Mind
Boosts Sp. Atk and Sp. Def to higher levels.
~ Flamethrower/Fire Blast
For STAB and coverage. Use Flamethrower if Fire Blast's accuracy doesn't appeal to you. Though, the difference in power is notable.
~ Psychic/Psyshock
For STAB and coverage. Psyshock ruins Blissey and other Special-only walls, while Psychic has slightly more power.
~ Shadow Ball/Grass Knot
Shadow Ball is there for countering her Ghost type weakness and other Psychic types or you could use Grass Knot for her Water, Rock and Ground type weaknesses depending on what your team needs.

0 votes

Safety Goggles
Mystical Fire

edited by
woah. hey, you need a type variety. You at least need to add shadow ball
Thats why its called 'STAB-er' so every move "STAB"s
0 votes

Delphox @ Leftovers
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 28 HP / 252 SAtk / 228 Spd
Timid Nature
- Substitute
- Calm Mind
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Fire Blast

Sub CM set. Substitute shields you from hits, while you set up Calm Minds, which aid your sweeping abilities. STAB Psychic for power and the ability to defeat physical walls who resist Fire Blast easier, or STAB Psyshock to defeat special walls more efficiently. Fire Blast is a powerful STAB move and gets pretty good coverage with your Psychic STAB. Since this guy will most likely be NU or RU, it's EVs give it just enough to outspeed + speed base 100's as well as the + speed monkey trio, which are basically the fastest relevant threats it has the ability to outspeed.

0 votes

Delphox @ Expert Belt
Trait: Blaze
EVs: 252 Sp.Atk, 252 Spd, 4 def
Psychic (STAB)
Flamethrower (STAB)
Shadow Ball (coverage)
Calm Mind (flamethrower,can take 75% HP from a Charizard)
Well set up on a guy with one calm mind. Hit super effective attacks and that takes 2.5x damage (counting super effective)

0 votes

Delphox @charcoal
Evs252 hp/252 spd/4speed
Adamant nature
-hp (Grass)
-shadow ball

adamant nature? why? my choice would be modest giving it better sp.atk and lowering attack
I don't actually know
That is horrible..switch that useless adamant for Modest or Timid
0 votes

Delphox @ Choice Scart
Ability: Blaze
EVs: 252 SpA/ 252 Spe/ 4 HP
Timid Nature

Because of this Pokemon's high special attack it's a must for powerful special attack moves that cover coverage and stab.

So this is my moveset:
-Mystical Fire/Flamethrower
-Shadow Ball/Grassknot
In my opinion this moveset works quite well. This is more of a offensive type of variation wit the choice scarf working well with that speed. Plus I recommend this starter as it has the highest stat points out of the three starters.

0 votes

[email protected] Herb

Ability: Magician
252 Special Attack
252 Speed
4 Defense

Solarbeam (Coverage)
Flamethrower (STAB)
Psychic/Psyshock (STAB)
Will-o-wisp/Switcheroo (Just to be annoying)

This set is quite good at annoying people, mostly as a result of water, ground, and rock types being destroyed by an unexpected one turn solarbeam, then Delphox gets a new item from the opponent, but if it does not like the item (say it is black sludge or something), it can switcheroo it to the next Pokemon that switches in!

I really like the idea of this setup .. could be reliable and more important than anything fun to troll with lol thanks
0 votes

Nature: bold
Ability: blaze
EVs: 252 spe 204 def 50 hp 4 spa
Item: life orb/power herb
Move set
Calm mind
Psychic/solarbeam/grass knot

0 votes

Delphox- Crippler
Ability: Magician
Item: Choice Band
EVs: 252 Speed 252 Special Defense 4 Special Attack

Switcheroo- Give a special attacker the Choice Band while it is setting up
Mystical Fire- Deals damage and lowers Special Attack
Will-O-Wisp- Cripple a Physical attacker
Psyshock- For the special walls

I love Delphox for the many roles it can play on a team.

What nature is the pokemon playa