http://www.smogon.com/dp/pokemon/porygon2
[SET]
name: Defensive Duck
move 1: Discharge / Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Magic Coat
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With monstrous physical threats such as Gyarados, Salamence, and Heatran looming in every corner there is almost no Pokemon that can reliably counter them all at the same time. However, one brave Pokemon still stands strong as being a reliable option to combatting all three of them, that Pokemon is Porygon2. Using its near exclusive ability, Trace, Porygon2 copies Intimidate and cuts Gyarados' and Salamence's Attack on the switch in, allowing it to easily take the beatings. Discharge does a minimum of 75% to Gyarados, OHKOing after Stealth Rock, and Thunderbolt does a minimum of 90%, OHKOing if it launches an attack, thanks to the Life Orb recoil. Porygon2 is also the game's best DD Salamence counter, being able to survive a +1 Life Orb Outrage, after it Traces Intimidate, and OHKO back with Ice Beam.</p>
<h3>Damage Calculations:</h3>
<pre>
Salamence:
-1 Life Orb Outrage: 40.38-47.7%
-1 Life Orb Brick Break: 33.88-40.11%
-1 Life Orb Dragon Claw: 27.1-31.98%
+1 -1 Life Orb Outrage: 60.98-71.82%
+1 -1 Life Orb Brick Break: 50.68-59.89%
+1 -1 Life Orb Dragon Claw: 40.38-47.7%
-1 Outrage: 31.17-36.86%
-1 Brick Break: 26.02-30.89%
-1 Dragon Claw: 20.86-24.66%
+1 -1 Outrage: 46.88-55.28%
+1 -1 Brick Break: 39.02-46.07%
+1 -1 Dragon Claw: 31.17-36.86%
Gyarados:
Bulky Gyarados:
-1 Waterfall: 17.89-21.14%
+1 -1 Waterfall: 26.56-31.44%
Offensive Gyarados:
-1 Life Orb Waterfall: 25.47-30.08%
+1 -1 Life Orb Waterfall: 38.21-45.26%
-1 Life Orb Aqua Tail: 29.00-34.15%
+1 -1 Life Orb Aqua Tail: 43.09-50.95%
</pre>
<p>Porygon2's usefulness doesn't stop there. It can switch into Heatran, Vaporeon, and Jolteon, with impunity, thanks to Trace. It is immune to Fire when it switches into Heatran and forces it out, threatening paralysis. Even if it comes in on Earth Power or Hidden Power it can shrug off the damage easily and Recover. Jolteon and Vaporeon's STAB attacks heal Porygon2, allowing him to wall them to no end. These examples are just scratching the surface of Porygon2's vast potential. Even Pokemon you can't really take advantage of have a hard time beating Porygon2; outside of STAB Fighting moves and powerful Choice Banded attacks, he can usually tank the hits and deal back damage in return with his special attacks or Toxic.</p>
<p>As far as moveslot 4 goes, Toxic is standard, allowing Porygon2 to tangle with walls a little easier. Coupled with Recover, you can get out of many tough situations with stalling alone. Magic Coat bounces status attacks back at the user, which can be fun, especially when Bronzong or Yanmega put themselves to sleep. This is a lot of fun and really annoys the opponent. Thunder Wave can be used if you drop Discharge for Thunderbolt. Porygon2 can easily cripple many sweepers with paralysis. Recycle can be interesting, used with a Sitrus Berry, Leppa Berry or Lum Berry. Sitrus is a free 25% health boost, turning many 2HKOs into 3HKOs. Leppa allows you to stall forever, because Porygon2 will never run out of PP. Lum Berry serves as a temporary status shield that can be replenished at any time.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Quiet
evs: evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
ivs: 0 spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2 is an excellent user of the move Trick Room due to its natural bulk and low Speed.The strategy is simple. Take a hit, set up Trick Room, and respond to your opponent. Because Porygon2 will almost always go first, having a lot of Defense EVs is a waste of his potential. You'll have a really quick Recover to keep you healthy, so the remaining EVs are poured into Special Attack, turning Porygon2 into a fast, bulky special attacker.</p>
<p>Because Porygon2 is bulky enough to Trick Room several times a match, it is not recommended you sacrifice him like some other Trick Roomers. Keep him in good shape and you can set up Trick Room as often as you want. </p>
[SET]
name: Charge Beam
move 1: Charge Beam
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Tri Attack
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2's natural resilience paired with Charge Beam allows it to become a dangerous boosting tank. In fact, with Blissey without Toxic or Calm Mind will never beat this Porygon2 since Porygon2 can Recover off any damage Blissey does and 2HKO most variants with a +6 Tri-Attack. Ice Beam is your other main attack move so you have to run maximum special attack to have a chance to 2HKO</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Specs
move 1: Trick
move 2: Recover
move 3: Discharge
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Trace
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2 has a respectable base 105 Special Attack. Boosted by Choice Specs Porygon2 can act as an offensive threat. This set is largely done better by Porygon-Z but Porygon2 is bulkier and can make use of Recover giving it an interesting niche.</p>
<p>This is less bulky than the other set, but it's not a problem, as Gyarados and friends are still handily beaten. The Choice Specs allow you to take advantage of Porygon2's Special Attack so it'd be a waste not to boost it with some EVs and a Modest nature. You can no longer take on Salamence with this spread, as a +1 Life Orb Outrage will OHKO on average if there is Stealth Rock up. The Trick Specs set is less versatile than the other sets, due to being restricted to one move, but once you've Tricked something, it will function much more reasonably.</p>
[Other Options]
<p> Porygon2 has some other Electric attacks at its disposal, such as Zap Cannon. While inaccurate, it causes paralysis if it hits. This can be very handy for crippling a powerful sweeper as it switches in to smack your Porygon2 around. Conversion2 guarantees you will resist your opponent's last attack. Signal Beam can hit Celebi and other Psychics quite hard. Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse help against Gengar and Rotom. Recycle and Rest can be used for a quick, reusable Chesto Rest but Recover is generally better. Defense Curl can be used over Recycle on the Special Defensive Duck set, patching up your compromised defense. Psych Up can copy Calm Minds from an opponent like Suicune; thanks to your Electric attacks and Recover you should come out on top. Tri Attack can be used over Ice Beam in some sets, but then you are walled by Rotom. Hidden Power Fire can be used to ward off Steels like Scizor and Metagross. If you can come in on Heatran's Fire Blast, it becomes a fairly powerful attack thanks to the Flash Fire boost.</p>
<p>Porygon2 can make use of Sharpen to beat Blissey 1 on 1 with Return, but outside of defeating Blissey it doesn't accomplish much of anything. Porygon2 can be EVed to combat special attackers, but you are almost always better off using Blissey for this role or even Snorlax.</p>
[EVs]
<p> Porygon2 you'll generally just want to max out HP and distribute the majority of the EVs to defense and no less then 40 Special Attack EVs on Bold natured sets to best combat Gyarados. Distributing the EVs to Special Defense can work but generally Porygon2 is better off taking on physical attackers. More offensive sets can even run Modest, with as much as 136 Special Attack EVs. Any more power isn't all that worth it. </p>
<p>Porygon2 can really be EVed to do pretty much anything... just be careful you aren't overspecializing and wasting its potential. The EV spreads listed here are only general guidelines, you can tweak them for a more offensive approach, or add more bulk. </p>
[Opinion]
<p>An interesting Pokémon to use, as it can do almost anything. Porygon2 can make a nice mixed tank, unlike the only other Tracer, Gardevoir. It also spreads status effects as if it had a big sneeze and sprayed its disgusting bacteria everywhere with every status effect possible. Although Porygon2 was initially ignored, it later was used more often because of its ability to stop several OU sweepers, the most notable of which is Gyarados. Unfortunately, its versatility leads to a downfall: it can be tailored to do anything, but as we all know from real life, multi-tasking is hard, and Porygon2 finds it hard as well. Essentially, it's good at everything, but not great at anything. However, Porygon2 is destructive to any opponent's team if used correctly, and is very usable in OU.</p>
[Counters]
<p> Very few Pokemon can switch into Porygon2 without being debilitated, either by Trick, Toxic, paralysis, or an elemental attack. Its balanced defenses and Recover make him a pretty sturdy Pokemon, so it takes considerable firepower to OHKO or even 2HKO. Fighting types in general are excellent choices, especially those with Guts, like Heracross, Machamp and Hariyama. They can take Porygon2's status attacks with little or no detriment to themselves, and scare it off with Fighting attacks. </p>
<p> Metagross and Tyranitar are sturdy enough to take any attack Porygon2 can throw at them, and they don't mind being paralyzed much. Blissey can wall a special attacking Porygon2, but by using Charge Beam, Return or Trick, Porygon2 will come out on top. Blissey needs Toxic to force out Porygon2 however, as the ability to Recover makes Seismic Tossing it futile. Electivire can come in on predicted Electric attacks and threaten with Cross Chop.</p>
<p> Take advantage of Porygon2's relatively low damage output and speed, and just keep hitting it hard. It can't stand up to repeated beatings for long. </p>
[SET]
name: Defensive Duck
move 1: Discharge / Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Recover
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Magic Coat
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 216 Def / 40 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>With monstrous physical threats such as Gyarados, Salamence, and Heatran looming in every corner there is almost no Pokemon that can reliably counter them all at the same time. However, one brave Pokemon still stands strong as being a reliable option to combatting all three of them, that Pokemon is Porygon2. Using its near exclusive ability, Trace, Porygon2 copies Intimidate and cuts Gyarados' and Salamence's Attack on the switch in, allowing it to easily take the beatings. Discharge does a minimum of 75% to Gyarados, OHKOing after Stealth Rock, and Thunderbolt does a minimum of 90%, OHKOing if it launches an attack, thanks to the Life Orb recoil. Porygon2 is also the game's best DD Salamence counter, being able to survive a +1 Life Orb Outrage, after it Traces Intimidate, and OHKO back with Ice Beam.</p>
<h3>Damage Calculations:</h3>
<pre>
Salamence:
-1 Life Orb Outrage: 40.38-47.7%
-1 Life Orb Brick Break: 33.88-40.11%
-1 Life Orb Dragon Claw: 27.1-31.98%
+1 -1 Life Orb Outrage: 60.98-71.82%
+1 -1 Life Orb Brick Break: 50.68-59.89%
+1 -1 Life Orb Dragon Claw: 40.38-47.7%
-1 Outrage: 31.17-36.86%
-1 Brick Break: 26.02-30.89%
-1 Dragon Claw: 20.86-24.66%
+1 -1 Outrage: 46.88-55.28%
+1 -1 Brick Break: 39.02-46.07%
+1 -1 Dragon Claw: 31.17-36.86%
Gyarados:
Bulky Gyarados:
-1 Waterfall: 17.89-21.14%
+1 -1 Waterfall: 26.56-31.44%
Offensive Gyarados:
-1 Life Orb Waterfall: 25.47-30.08%
+1 -1 Life Orb Waterfall: 38.21-45.26%
-1 Life Orb Aqua Tail: 29.00-34.15%
+1 -1 Life Orb Aqua Tail: 43.09-50.95%
</pre>
<p>Porygon2's usefulness doesn't stop there. It can switch into Heatran, Vaporeon, and Jolteon, with impunity, thanks to Trace. It is immune to Fire when it switches into Heatran and forces it out, threatening paralysis. Even if it comes in on Earth Power or Hidden Power it can shrug off the damage easily and Recover. Jolteon and Vaporeon's STAB attacks heal Porygon2, allowing him to wall them to no end. These examples are just scratching the surface of Porygon2's vast potential. Even Pokemon you can't really take advantage of have a hard time beating Porygon2; outside of STAB Fighting moves and powerful Choice Banded attacks, he can usually tank the hits and deal back damage in return with his special attacks or Toxic.</p>
<p>As far as moveslot 4 goes, Toxic is standard, allowing Porygon2 to tangle with walls a little easier. Coupled with Recover, you can get out of many tough situations with stalling alone. Magic Coat bounces status attacks back at the user, which can be fun, especially when Bronzong or Yanmega put themselves to sleep. This is a lot of fun and really annoys the opponent. Thunder Wave can be used if you drop Discharge for Thunderbolt. Porygon2 can easily cripple many sweepers with paralysis. Recycle can be interesting, used with a Sitrus Berry, Leppa Berry or Lum Berry. Sitrus is a free 25% health boost, turning many 2HKOs into 3HKOs. Leppa allows you to stall forever, because Porygon2 will never run out of PP. Lum Berry serves as a temporary status shield that can be replenished at any time.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Quiet
evs: evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
ivs: 0 spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2 is an excellent user of the move Trick Room due to its natural bulk and low Speed.The strategy is simple. Take a hit, set up Trick Room, and respond to your opponent. Because Porygon2 will almost always go first, having a lot of Defense EVs is a waste of his potential. You'll have a really quick Recover to keep you healthy, so the remaining EVs are poured into Special Attack, turning Porygon2 into a fast, bulky special attacker.</p>
<p>Because Porygon2 is bulky enough to Trick Room several times a match, it is not recommended you sacrifice him like some other Trick Roomers. Keep him in good shape and you can set up Trick Room as often as you want. </p>
[SET]
name: Charge Beam
move 1: Charge Beam
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Tri Attack
move 4: Recover
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2's natural resilience paired with Charge Beam allows it to become a dangerous boosting tank. In fact, with Blissey without Toxic or Calm Mind will never beat this Porygon2 since Porygon2 can Recover off any damage Blissey does and 2HKO most variants with a +6 Tri-Attack. Ice Beam is your other main attack move so you have to run maximum special attack to have a chance to 2HKO</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Specs
move 1: Trick
move 2: Recover
move 3: Discharge
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Choice Specs
ability: Trace
nature: Modest
evs: 252 HP / 120 Def / 136 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2 has a respectable base 105 Special Attack. Boosted by Choice Specs Porygon2 can act as an offensive threat. This set is largely done better by Porygon-Z but Porygon2 is bulkier and can make use of Recover giving it an interesting niche.</p>
<p>This is less bulky than the other set, but it's not a problem, as Gyarados and friends are still handily beaten. The Choice Specs allow you to take advantage of Porygon2's Special Attack so it'd be a waste not to boost it with some EVs and a Modest nature. You can no longer take on Salamence with this spread, as a +1 Life Orb Outrage will OHKO on average if there is Stealth Rock up. The Trick Specs set is less versatile than the other sets, due to being restricted to one move, but once you've Tricked something, it will function much more reasonably.</p>
[Other Options]
<p> Porygon2 has some other Electric attacks at its disposal, such as Zap Cannon. While inaccurate, it causes paralysis if it hits. This can be very handy for crippling a powerful sweeper as it switches in to smack your Porygon2 around. Conversion2 guarantees you will resist your opponent's last attack. Signal Beam can hit Celebi and other Psychics quite hard. Shadow Ball and Dark Pulse help against Gengar and Rotom. Recycle and Rest can be used for a quick, reusable Chesto Rest but Recover is generally better. Defense Curl can be used over Recycle on the Special Defensive Duck set, patching up your compromised defense. Psych Up can copy Calm Minds from an opponent like Suicune; thanks to your Electric attacks and Recover you should come out on top. Tri Attack can be used over Ice Beam in some sets, but then you are walled by Rotom. Hidden Power Fire can be used to ward off Steels like Scizor and Metagross. If you can come in on Heatran's Fire Blast, it becomes a fairly powerful attack thanks to the Flash Fire boost.</p>
<p>Porygon2 can make use of Sharpen to beat Blissey 1 on 1 with Return, but outside of defeating Blissey it doesn't accomplish much of anything. Porygon2 can be EVed to combat special attackers, but you are almost always better off using Blissey for this role or even Snorlax.</p>
[EVs]
<p> Porygon2 you'll generally just want to max out HP and distribute the majority of the EVs to defense and no less then 40 Special Attack EVs on Bold natured sets to best combat Gyarados. Distributing the EVs to Special Defense can work but generally Porygon2 is better off taking on physical attackers. More offensive sets can even run Modest, with as much as 136 Special Attack EVs. Any more power isn't all that worth it. </p>
<p>Porygon2 can really be EVed to do pretty much anything... just be careful you aren't overspecializing and wasting its potential. The EV spreads listed here are only general guidelines, you can tweak them for a more offensive approach, or add more bulk. </p>
[Opinion]
<p>An interesting Pokémon to use, as it can do almost anything. Porygon2 can make a nice mixed tank, unlike the only other Tracer, Gardevoir. It also spreads status effects as if it had a big sneeze and sprayed its disgusting bacteria everywhere with every status effect possible. Although Porygon2 was initially ignored, it later was used more often because of its ability to stop several OU sweepers, the most notable of which is Gyarados. Unfortunately, its versatility leads to a downfall: it can be tailored to do anything, but as we all know from real life, multi-tasking is hard, and Porygon2 finds it hard as well. Essentially, it's good at everything, but not great at anything. However, Porygon2 is destructive to any opponent's team if used correctly, and is very usable in OU.</p>
[Counters]
<p> Very few Pokemon can switch into Porygon2 without being debilitated, either by Trick, Toxic, paralysis, or an elemental attack. Its balanced defenses and Recover make him a pretty sturdy Pokemon, so it takes considerable firepower to OHKO or even 2HKO. Fighting types in general are excellent choices, especially those with Guts, like Heracross, Machamp and Hariyama. They can take Porygon2's status attacks with little or no detriment to themselves, and scare it off with Fighting attacks. </p>
<p> Metagross and Tyranitar are sturdy enough to take any attack Porygon2 can throw at them, and they don't mind being paralyzed much. Blissey can wall a special attacking Porygon2, but by using Charge Beam, Return or Trick, Porygon2 will come out on top. Blissey needs Toxic to force out Porygon2 however, as the ability to Recover makes Seismic Tossing it futile. Electivire can come in on predicted Electric attacks and threaten with Cross Chop.</p>
<p> Take advantage of Porygon2's relatively low damage output and speed, and just keep hitting it hard. It can't stand up to repeated beatings for long. </p>