Shadow Delphox
Attack
Defense
Stamina
Best Movesets
Analysis
With access to Blast Burn and a high raw Attack stat that's above most of the Fire Type starters, Shadow Delphox poses a threat to the Fire meta. While there are definitely stronger options, its Fire/Psychic typing gives it some unique resistances, meaning it will have raids where it is genuinely great. Aside from that, it's also just a strong overall option for raw heat.
Offense
- Fire Spin is the best fast move on offense, and is useful when a Fire-type role is needed.
- Zen Headbutt is a step down overall, but useful for a Psychic-type role.
- Scratch is useless.
- Blast Burn* is the best Charged Move option by a mile.
- Psychic is the strongest charge move outside of Blast Burn, and pairs with Zen Headbutt.
- Flamethrower, Psyshock, and Mystical Fire are inferior options
- Fire Blast is a downgrade, and Flame Charge is even worse.
Defense
- Fire Spin offers slightly more defensive damage output, but is more likely to be resisted by attackers.
- Zen Headbutt is less likely to be resisted, but Dark-type attackers laugh at this.
- Scratch doesn't get STAB, nor can it be Super Effective vs anything.
- Psyshock comes out fast and frequently, making it the Psychic move of choice, beating out Psychic.
- Blast Burn* hits extremely hard, but is pretty easy to dodge
- Mystical Fire is a great mix of quickly coming out and being hard to evade, but its damage output is a bit low.
- Flamethrower falls a bit behind in terms of damage, but offers Fire-type coverage.
- Flame Charge can be used frequently as a 3-bar move, but is painfully slow and easily dodged.
- Fireblast is a poor choice for defense.
Fire Spin benefits from STAB and sports slightly above energy generation. Zen Headbutt gets STAB but its damage output and energy gains are terrible. Scratch doesn't get STAB nor can it be Super Effective, on top of also tying for the worst energy generation in the game.
Blast Burn is a very strong attack that gives Delphox a way to deal heavy damage, while Mystical Fire has a low cost and a guaranteed -1 Attack on use. Psychic is good for its Psychic-type coverage, and also gets STAB. Flame Charge isn't particularly powerful and costs a modest amount of energy, but guarantees a +1 self buff that can ramp up damage and pressure over time. Still, it's better to just stick with Mystical Fire for a mono-type set. Flamethrower is middle-of-the-road, but it doesn't offer anything of real value when compared to Blast Burn or Mystical Fire .Fire Blast demands too much energy to use.
Delphox sports an interesting Fire/Psychic typing, with high offensive stats and consequently poor bulk. Unfortunately its defensive typing doesn't synergize very well to cover their weaknesses, leaving this fox rather vulnerable against the meta. A relatively slow moveset and unimpressive energy generation holds Delphox back compared to the rest of the meta, even causing unexpected losses. Wins are largely against Grass-types and certain Steel-types, however struggles against Machamp, Shiftry, Meganium, and Melmetal (as well as other Pokemon) given a typing advantage makes it difficult to justify its use.
