[OVERVIEW]
Porygon's great bulk, lack of weaknesses, and access to reliable recovery make it a catch-all check to a large variety of threats in the metagame, including Omanyte, Chinchou, Abra, Fletchling, and Tirtouga. Porygon's high Special Attack and wide coverage further this, and even allow Porygon to handle its own checks, namely Fighting-types. The limited support Porygon requires also makes it relatively easy to fit on teams. Porygon also has two useful abilities in Trace and Download. Trace extends the list of threats Porygon can switch into dramatically, whereas Download makes Porygon exceptionally difficult to switch into. Despite this, Porygon can be overwhelmed by too much offensive pressure, an issue that is compounded by its low Speed. Porygon is also easily forced out by Fighting-types in fear of Knock Off or their STAB attacks. Porygon's best STAB move, Tri Attack, is also relatively weak without a Download boost.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Recover
move 2: Ice Beam / Tri Attack
move 3: Psychic / Tri Attack
move 4: Thunder Wave
ability: Trace / Download
item: Eviolite
evs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
nature: Calm
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Recover allows Porygon to keep itself healthy and consistently check threats throughout the match. Ice Beam grants important coverage for Archen and Fletchling, OHKOing them after Stealth Rock. It also 2HKOes Drilbur and does a lot to Pumpkaboo-XL, and possesses great neutral coverage overall. Psychic is the primary option in the third slot, as it allows Porygon to keep up with opposing Fighting-types, notably Timburr, which has a good chance at being 2HKOed after Stealth Rock. Tri Attack is an option over either Psychic or Ice Beam that possesses great neutral coverage, but its low Base Power, even with STAB, makes it underwhelming without Download. Thunder Wave is to help Porygon keep up with offense, notably stopping Shell Smash users, Mienfoo, Pawniard, Gastly, and Abra.
Set Details
========
The EVs and nature maximize overall bulk so Porygon can take physical and special attacks equally well. Eviolite is chosen to augment this, given that Porygon has reliable recovery in Recover, and the fact that the spread gives Porygon Eviolite numbers. A spread with maximum Speed is a useful alternative, allowing Porygon to handle VoltTurn teams and Bellsprout even better at the cost of some bulk. Trace copies the ability of Porygon's opponent, which can be extremely useful in certain situations, including copying Larvesta's Flame Body and then burning an incoming Fighting-type, switching in on a Chinchou and blocking its Volt Switch, or switching in on a Regenerator or Natural Cure user and taking advantage of it. Download is an option that allows Porygon to wear down the opponent's team easier, and is just great in general for hitting switch-ins.
Usage Tips
========
The goal of this set is simply to check threats. To achieve this, Porygon needs to be kept healthy with Recover, as otherwise it will be worn down by entry hazards and attacks. Against offense, Porygon should be used conservatively, and typically should avoid handling more than one threat in any given match. Porygon functions best against defensive teams, especially with Download, and can be used much less sparingly, given the greater number of opportunities to switch in. Status should be avoided, as it will make Porygon easy to beat. Although Psychic deals significant damage to Fighting-types, Porygon should not stay in against them unless it can KO, as it loathes taking a Knock Off.
Team Options
========
Porygon appreciates clerics and Fighting-type checks for partners. Spritzee is a prime example, as itacts as a Fighting-type check, Knock Off switch-in, and cleric for Porygon, and the two cover a wide range of threats through sheer bulk alone. Larvesta, Croagunk, and Foongus also check Fighting-types; Larvesta and Croagunk can also check Pawniard well. Snubbull and Chinchou can also act as clerics for Porygon. Timburr and other Fighting-types beat Steel-types for Porygon, and can provide Knock Off support while being able to switch into the move. In turn, Porygon can deal with Abra and Fletchling, and relieve some of the pressure of handling Shell Smash users and Carvanha.
[SET]
name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Tri Attack
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Ice Beam / Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Recover
ability: Download
item: Eviolite
evs: 156 HP / 40 Def / 240 SpA / 40 Spe
nature: Modest
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Tri Attack hits very hard, especially when backed by STAB and a Download boost. Psychic hits Fighting-types, most notably Mienfoo, which is OHKOed by Psychic after a Download boost. Timburr and Pancham are also 2HKOed by the move. Ice Beam hits Pumpkaboo and Archen harder than any other move on the set while also allowing Porygon to handle Fletchling and Drilbur in a pinch. Hidden Power Fighting is an option over Ice Beam to hit Steel-types, namely Pawniard, Ferroseed, and Magnemite. Hidden Power Fire is another option that KOes Ferroseed with a Download boost after it switches in on Tri Attack, and still hits other Steel-types. Recover is used to keep Porygon healthy throughout a match.
Set Details
========
The given EVs maximize Porygon's Special Attack while still giving it respectable bulk. A point is invested into Speed to outspeed standard Timburr, allowing Porygon to reliably 2HKO it. Eviolite further improves Porygon's bulk, and synergizes well with Recover. Berry Juice is an option over Eviolite on some teams, freeing up space to run four attacking moves, and potentially more Speed EVs. Download is the best ability for this set, as the extra power is very significant and gaining the boost is not difficult, given the physical bias of the metagame.
Usage Tips
========
Porygon should be kept away from Knock Off users if at all possible, and should be kept healthy with Recover. Fighting-types are less of a problem for this set, as Porygon at worst 2HKOes every relevant Fighting-typeand has enough bulk to survive an unboosted Fighting-type attack. Porygon prefers to be brought in on Pokemon that give it a Special Attack boost, such as physical walls and tanks. Keep in mind that Pokemon with equal Defense and Special Defense stats will give Porygon a Special Attack boost.
Team Options
========
Spritzee and Snubbull are great partners that cover Porygon's Fighting-type weakness. They also provide cleric support and can switch in on Knock Off for Porygon, and Porygon can cover the other two's general weakness to special attackers. Timburr and other Fighting-types provide Knock Off support, can switch in on Knock Off, and break through Steel-types and special walls for Porygon while Porygon can handle Fairy-types and Psychic-types that threaten them.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
An Agility set with Download can turn Porygon into a fierce sweeper, and can be run with either Eviolite, Berry Juice, and Life Orb, but the set is heavily reliant on Porygon getting a Special Attack boost. A Choice Scarf set can be run to take advantage of Download and Trick as well. Thunderbolt is an option to hit certain Water-types harder, namely Omanyte and Tirtouga. Shadow Ball is an alternative for Ghost-types, but the two relevant Ghost-types, Gastly and Pumpkaboo-XL, are hit hard enough by Porygon's other moves. Toxic is an interesting option to hit defensive Pokemon, and works well with Recover to Toxic stall opponents. Toxic can also work well in tandem with Conversion to surprise Fighting-types. Analytic could be chosen as an ability, given Porygon's naturally low Speed, but the fact that it is incompatible with Tri Attack and Recover makes this option rather lackluster. A set with minimum Speed and Download is an option for Trick Room teams. Gravity can also work well with Blizzard and Thunder, granting Porygon great neutral coverage and power, albeit for a limited time. Life Orb can be used with Download to maximize power, but Porygon will severely miss the lack of bulk.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Steel-types**: Ferroseed and Pawniard wall Porygon lacking Hidden Power Fighting or Hidden Power Fire. Ferroseed can lay entry hazards and wear down Porygon through Leech Seed, and Pawniard can Knock Off Porygon's Eviolite and set up, but doesn't like Thunder Wave.
**Fighting-types**: Timburr, Pancham, Mienfoo, and Scraggy hit Porygon hard with their STAB Fighting-type attacks and can cripple it with Knock Off, but a Download-boosted Psychic hits each one of them hard, even coming from the defensive set, and all bar Timburr dislike Thunder Wave.
**Status**: Burn and poison eat away at Porygon's health, hampering its ability to take hits and forcing it to Recover often. Notable burn inducers include Ponyta, Larvesta, Pumpkaboo, and Chinchou. Poison is far less common, but can come from defensive Ponyta, Lickitung, and Toxic Spikes.
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