|
-
Trace
- Copies foe's ability.
-
Download
- The wielder gets a stat boost depending on its opponent's stats.
-
Analytic
- Raises the power of all moves by 30% if the wielder moves last.
|
Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
65
|
- |
271 |
334 |
- |
| Atk |
60
|
140 |
156 |
219 |
240 |
| Def |
70
|
158 |
176 |
239 |
262 |
| SpA |
85
|
185 |
206 |
269 |
295 |
| SpD |
75
|
167 |
186 |
249 |
273 |
| Spe |
40
|
104 |
116 |
179 |
196 |
Overview
Porygon has never been viewed as a particularly useful Pokemon, being constantly overshadowed by its two evolutions. However, with its older brethren both making their homes in higher tiers, Porygon finally finds its place in NU. Despite its very common Normal typing, Porygon possesses three very useful abilities in Download, Trace, and Analytic, complemented by an incredibly diverse movepool. Moreover, access to Eviolite allows Porygon to supplement its mediocre defenses to impressive levels. One shouldn't underestimate Porygon because of its NFE status and deceivingly low base stats, as it can be an extremely potent threat.
Amazing coverage, bulk, and Special Attack all make Porygon an excellent bulky attacker. You may question the second two points when looking at its base stats, but do not, for they are incredibly deceiving. Eviolite turns Porygon's average defenses to those of a beefy 65 / 113 / 121 Pokemon, making it difficult to take down with just a wayward attack or two. Likewise, Download and Analytic escalate Porygon's average Special Attack, netting it either 442 or 383 Special Attack, respectively. Tri Attack serves as Porygon's main STAB move, which brings with it a useful chance to either paralyze, burn, or freeze the opposing Pokemon. Ice Beam and either Discharge or Thunderbolt offer near-perfect neutral coverage, hitting all but Rotom-F and Shedinja. Discharge is an excellent move for Porygon, as its higher chance of paralysis allows Porygon to somewhat remedy its low Speed; however, this is extremely counterproductive for Analytic Porygon, who relies on its ability to attack after the opponent, making Thunderbolt the superior option in that case. Lastly, Recover allows Porygon to shake off weaker attacks and remain healthy after repeated switch-ins to Stealth Rock and Spikes.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The given EVs are fairly straightforward, maximizing bulk and Special Attack. The most important issue with such a Porygon is which ability you choose, as each ability plays quite differently. Download Porygon is reliant on switching in on Pokemon that activate its ability in a way that raises its Special Attack stat; this means you want it to be switching in on Pokemon with larger Defense, such as Alomomola and Torkoal. Analytic Porygon, on the other hand, relies on its lower Speed to receive a boost, making switching in a tad easier; however, Pokemon like Bastiodon, Musharna, and Torkoal still move after Porygon, so keep that in mind when using it.
No matter what ability you choose, it should be noted that though Porygon seems fully capable of taking every hit that's thrown at it, powerful enough attacks, especially Fighting-type ones, are still more than capable of annihilating Porygon. Accordingly, bulky Psychic- and Ghost-types such as Musharna and Misdreavus make excellent partners for Porygon to keep Fighting-types such as Sawk and Gurdurr in check. Additionally, special walls such as Lickilicky, and Probopass can all shake off Porygon's attacks with relative ease and take it out at their leisure. Fortunately, all these Pokemon share a common attribute: a weakness to Fighting-type attacks. This makes the likes of Sawk and Gurdurr all excellent partners for Porygon.
Though often overlooked, Agility is an excellent move to remedy Porygon's poor Speed, even to the point of making it a solid late-game sweeper. After a single Agility boost, Porygon reaches a substantial Speed stat of 392, outspeeding almost every unboosted Pokemon in the tier. Though this is not all that impressive at first when glancing over Porygon's base Special Attack, after being supplemented by Life Orb and a Download boost, it becomes extremely potent. Tri Attack is Porygon's best STAB move, not only hitting hard but also offering a chance of either burning, paralyzing, or freezing the foe. Ice Beam and Thunderbolt offer beautiful neutral coverage, hitting the entirety of the NU tier at least neutrally, bar the likes of Rotom-F and Shedinja.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Being able to outspeed the majority of the NU tier is obviously the greatest draw to this set, making a Timid nature and maximum investment in Speed a must. A Modest nature would be ideal, but this would lead to Porygon being outsped by the ever-present Swellow, making it an inferior option. A combination of Shadow Ball and Hidden Power Fighting is a suitable replacement for Ice Beam and Thunderbolt, capable of hitting Pokemon like Probopass, Misdreavus, and Lickilicky harder than the BoltBeam combo.
While Porygon fully appreciates its Life Orb when it is sweeping, the lack of Eviolite makes Porygon a rather frail Pokemon. Consequently, switching it into attacks requires both tact and support from teammates. Bulky Psychic-types such as Musharna are amazing partners to Porygon, being able to not only take Fighting-type attacks all day, but also to ease its switching in with dual screen support. Garbodor is also an excellent partner for Porygon; like his other Poison-type brethren, Garbodor is adept at absorbing Fighting-type attacks aimed at Porygon, though he brings something more to the table: Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Spikes are incredibly useful to Porygon, who appreciates a softened up team that it can clean up with ease. Toxic Spikes, while not having the direct boons of Spikes, are incredibly useful for restricting dedicated walls such as Lickilicky, who could otherwise weather Porygon's attacks with its bulk and use Wish to recover.
With a combination of awesome bulk brought on by Eviolite, useful support options, and Recover, Porygon can act as a stoic status platform and defensive pivot. In fact, it is impossible for any singular unboosted special attack to OHKO Porygon. Even the mighty Choice Specs Exeggutor can only manage to deal about 75% at most to it with its Leaf Storm. Ice Beam and Discharge together hit everything neutrally bar the likes of Rotom-F and Shedinja, the latter also having a 30% chance of paralyzing its target. Toxic allows Porygon to stall out bulkier Pokemon, often allowing it to beat Pokemon such as Lickilicky, who can otherwise brush off any and all of Porygon's attacks.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The given spread is obviously meant to offer optimum special bulk. However, Porygon is entirely capable of running the same exact set with a Bold nature and maximum investment in Defense, should it suit your needs. Tri Attack can be run in tandem with Discharge, as it hits Pokemon such as Piloswine more effectively than Ice Beam. Thunder Wave can also be run over Toxic should you require a more reliable method of spreading paralysis.
The main issue one will encounter with this Porygon is that although it is a potent defensive pivot, bulkier Pokemon with the ability to evade status problems, such as Musharna and Miltank, can set up on it with little to no problem. Pokemon like Skuntank can shut down and trap the former without adding another weakness to Fighting-type attacks. As for Miltank, the greatest remedy is to simply overwhelm her with powerful attacks, be it from Choice Band Sawk or Choice Specs Exeggutor, though the latter has to be wary of Sap Sipper variants. In return for their services, Porygon offers them a teammate who can paralyze or poison nearly an entire team, making their task of plowing through the opponent's team a fair bit easier.
Other Options
As with almost any Normal-type, Porygon's extensive movepool offers it a plethora of options. Trick Room is a particularly useful tool, which remedies Porygon's low Speed very nicely. Unfortunately, Porygon often gets overshadowed in this respect by Audino, who has access to Leftovers and mountains of support options, not to mention a useful ability in Regenerator. Charge Beam is rather enticing, and offers Porygon the chance to overcome huge special walls like Lickilicky with a couple of lucky Special Attack boosts under its belt. In terms of other support options, Gravity has always been a tempting move to use, though it has yet to hold water in competitive play. Trick could allow Porygon to better utilize a Choice set, but without items like Eviolite or Life Orb supporting it, Porygon is rather underwhelming as a whole.
Checks and Counters
Due to Porygon's surprising diversity, the best way to "counter" it is by hitting it fast and hard. Choice Scarf Sawk is your best bet, scaring off the Tank set, beating the Defensive set with some residual damage, and even outspeeding a +2 Speed Porygon. Sawk can usually perform the same function.. Moreover, if Sawk ends up paralyzed, be it from Porygon's Discharge, Thunder Wave, or some other third party's actions, they lose almost all credibility as Porygon counters.
Defensively, few Pokemon possess the ability to switch in on Porygon. Bulky Rock-types such as Regirock and Probopass can switch into both of Porygon's offensive sets fairly safely, should it not be running Hidden Power Fighting. However, the former should be wary of the Defensive set, which can Toxic stall it without much trouble. Similarly, though they don't pack any particularly useful resistances, Pokemon with large special bulk can manage to handle Porygon for the most part. This includes Pokemon such as Lickilicky, Regice, and Hypno, though the latter has no method of properly dealing with Toxic.
