Delphox, the Fox Pokémon, is known for its potent special attacks and elegant moves. But what if we told you there’s a Delphox build that’s not just about raw power, but also about disruption and strategic item theft? This guide dives into the “Ear Strike” Delphox set, a devious and effective strategy that can cripple opponents and control the flow of battle. If you’re looking for a unique and powerful way to utilize Delphox’s special attack capabilities, you’ve come to the right place.
Understanding the “Ear Strike” Delphox Set
This set, often underestimated, focuses on disrupting the opponent’s team through a combination of item manipulation, status conditions, and forced switches. It’s designed to be a lead Pokémon, setting the pace and creating chaos from the very beginning. Let’s break down the key components:
Item and Ability: Red Card & Magician
The core of this build revolves around the Red Card item and the Magician ability.
- Red Card: If Delphox is hit by a direct attack, the Red Card forces the attacking Pokémon to switch out to a random teammate. This disrupts momentum and can pull out a less desirable Pokémon for your opponent.
- Magician: Delphox’s ability allows it to steal the item of a Pokémon it hits with a move. This combination is devastating when paired with Will-O-Wisp.
EV Spread and Nature
The suggested EV spread for this set is: 96 HP / 8 Def / 144 SpA / 8 SpD / 252 Spe with a Timid Nature.
- Speed: Max Speed investment with a Timid nature is crucial. It ensures Delphox can reliably set up a Substitute before taking a hit and use Will-O-Wisp to steal items before the opponent can react.
- Special Attack: 144 EVs in Special Attack provides a respectable offensive presence, allowing Flamethrower and other special moves to hit with decent power.
- HP, Defense, Special Defense: The remaining EVs are distributed to HP and defenses to enhance Delphox’s survivability, especially behind a Substitute. These EVs help it withstand hits while setting up and executing its strategy.
Move Choices for Maximum Disruption
The moveset is carefully selected to maximize disruption and utility:
- Substitute: This move is essential for setting up the strategy. Substitute protects Delphox from direct attacks, guaranteeing the Red Card effect triggers if the opponent attacks. It also shields Delphox from status conditions initially.
- Will-O-Wisp: This is the key move for crippling physical attackers. Will-O-Wisp burns the opponent, halving their Attack stat and dealing chip damage each turn. Combined with Magician, it steals the opponent’s item simultaneously, often targeting Leftovers for maximum impact.
- Flamethrower: This is Delphox’s primary STAB (Same-Type Attack Bonus) move. Flamethrower offers reliable accuracy and a good PP (Power Points) count, making it a consistent damage option. While Fire Blast is stronger, Flamethrower’s reliability is preferred in this set.
- Hidden Power [Ground/Rock] / Psychic / Psyshock: The final move slot is flexible and depends on your team composition and anticipated threats.
- Hidden Power [Ground/Rock]: Hidden Power Ground provides coverage against Fire-resistant Pokémon like Heatran. Hidden Power Rock is particularly useful against threats like Moltres and other Flying-types.
- Psychic / Psyshock: These are Delphox’s secondary STAB options. Psychic hits Pokémon with lower Special Defense, while Psyshock targets the Defense stat, useful against special walls. They prevent Delphox from being completely walled by Pokémon resistant to Fire.
How the “Ear Strike” Strategy Works in Battle
The strategy is elegantly simple yet surprisingly effective:
- Lead with Delphox: Send Delphox out as your lead Pokémon.
- Set up Substitute: Immediately use Substitute on the first turn.
- React to the Opponent:
- If the opponent attacks: The Red Card activates, forcing their attacking Pokémon to switch out to a random teammate.
- If the opponent tries to set up: Substitute blocks status moves and some setup attempts. If they manage to boost stats, the Red Card switch will still disrupt their plans and force them out at +1 or higher stats, wasting their setup turn.
- Burn and Steal: As the opponent’s new Pokémon is switched in, use Will-O-Wisp. This burns them, crippling physical attackers, and simultaneously steals their item with Magician. Leftovers is a common item to steal, further hindering the opponent’s recovery.
- Maintain Pressure: Continue to use Substitute and Will-O-Wisp as needed, using Flamethrower or your coverage move to apply offensive pressure when appropriate.
This combination creates a disruptive lead that can quickly put the opponent on the back foot, especially against teams reliant on physical attackers or setup sweepers.
Strengths and Advantages of the “Ear Strike” Set
- Disrupts Physical Attackers: Will-O-Wisp effectively neuters physical attackers, making them significantly less threatening.
- Counters Setup Sweepers: Red Card forces out setup sweepers, preventing them from gaining momentum and sweeping your team.
- Item Denial: Magician + Will-O-Wisp steals crucial items like Leftovers, Choice items, or even Eviolite, weakening the opponent’s team.
- Forces Switches: Red Card and the threat of Will-O-Wisp force switches, giving you control over the battle’s tempo and potentially gaining favorable matchups.
- Special Attack Presence: Despite its disruptive focus, Delphox still possesses a respectable Special Attack stat, allowing it to deal meaningful damage with Flamethrower and coverage moves.
Weaknesses and Considerations
While powerful, the “Ear Strike” set is not without its weaknesses:
- Infiltrator and Sound Moves: Abilities like Infiltrator and Sound-based moves bypass Substitute, negating some of Delphox’s protection. Pokémon with Bug Buzz or other powerful sound moves can pose a threat.
- Entry Hazards: Entry hazards like Stealth Rock, Spikes, and Toxic Spikes can chip away at Delphox’s HP as it switches in and out, limiting its longevity. Having a Pokémon with Rapid Spin or Defog on your team is recommended.
- Random Red Card Switch: The Red Card forces a random switch, which can sometimes bring in a Pokémon that is advantageous for your opponent. Careful team building and prediction are necessary to mitigate this risk.
- Potential Item Steal Backfire: In rare cases, you might steal a Choice item from a special attacker, which could be detrimental to Delphox if it steals a Choice Band or Choice Specs accidentally. However, this is less common as Leftovers and healing items are more prevalent.
Alternative Move Options
While the suggested moveset is highly effective, some alternative moves can be considered based on your team’s needs:
- Wish: Provides self-healing for Delphox, increasing its longevity and allowing it to repeatedly disrupt the opponent.
- Trick: Allows Delphox to swap its Red Card for the opponent’s item. This can be useful to cripple walls by giving them a Red Card or disrupting specific strategies.
- Mystical Fire: A secondary Fire-type STAB move that lowers the opponent’s Special Attack. This can be helpful against special attackers, but Flamethrower’s higher PP and consistent damage are generally preferred.
Conclusion: Unleash the “Ear Strike” Delphox
The “Ear Strike” Delphox set is a unique and surprisingly potent build that leverages special attack prowess with strategic disruption. It’s a fantastic option for players looking to control the pace of battle, cripple physical attackers, and disrupt setup sweepers. While it requires skillful play and awareness of its weaknesses, mastering this set can bring a new dimension of strategy and “sadistic” fun to your Pokémon battles. Give it a try and experience the power of the “Ear Strike” Delphox!
