Delta Stream (Ability)

Delta Stream (Japanese: デルタストリーム Delta Stream) is an Ability introduced during Generation VI, in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. It is the signature Ability of Mega Rayquaza.

Effect

In battle

When a Pokémon with Delta Stream enters the battle or a Pokémon gains the Ability, a unique weather condition called strong winds is created. In a Rotation Battle, Delta Stream will not activate if the Pokémon is sent out in a rotated-out position, nor will it activate when that Pokémon is rotated in. In addition, Delta Stream will not activate if strong winds are already present on the battlefield or if the Pokémon's Ability is suppressed prior to it gaining Delta Stream.

Strong winds cause moves that would be super effective against pure Flying-type Pokémon to remove the Flying type's weaknesses (unless a Pokémon on the field has Cloud Nine or Air Lock). Outside of Inverse Battles, this causes Electric-, Ice-, and Rock-type moves to deal neutral damage to Flying-type Pokémon; during Inverse Battles, this causes Bug-, Fighting-, Grass-, and Ground-type moves to deal neutral damage to Flying-type Pokémon. If a move is not super effective against the Pokémon's other type (for dual-typed Pokémon), this no longer counts as a supereffective hit (for the purposes of damage-reducing Berries, etc.). Strong winds have no effect on Stealth Rock or Anticipation.

Additionally, strong winds cause the weather-modifying moves Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Sandstorm, and Hail to fail if used, and cause the Abilities Drought, Drizzle, Sand Stream, and Snow Warning to fail to activate. However, the strong winds can be replaced by Desolate Land or Primordial Sea.

Once strong winds are in effect, as long as there is an active Pokémon on the field with Delta Stream (even if it is not the Pokémon who created it), the strong winds will remain in effect, unless Delta Stream is suppressed or replaced. If the only Pokémon on the field with Delta Stream is rotated out or switched out, or has its Ability suppressed or replaced, the strong winds will dissipate.

Outside of battle

Delta Stream has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon with Delta Stream

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
0384		Rayquaza Mega Rayquaza	Dragon	Flying		None	None
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In other games

Pokémon Rumble World

In Pokémon Rumble World, Mega Rayquaza has the Delta Stream ability, removing the weaknesses of its Flying typing and essentially making it a pure Dragon-type defensively.

Description

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

• Rayquaza is revealed to have Delta Stream as its Ability when Mega Evolved.

Trivia

• Delta Stream is the last Generation VI Ability in index number order.

In other languages

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.