The little duck that could
[OVERVIEW]
It's easy to brush off Porygon2 as a useless pre-evolution, but thanks to Eviolite, Porygon2 is a Battle Spot Singles super star! Eviolite gives Porygon2 an incredible amount of bulk, which, when combined with Porygon2's sole weakness to Fighting, makes it a very versatile Pokemon. Porygon's checking prowess is nearly unmatched, allowing Porygon2 to take on fearsome threats such as Greninja, Mega Salamence, and Aegislash. With Download and Analytic, Porygon2 takes the opposite role and becomes a surprisingly strong special attacker that surprises its offensive checks. Porygon2 is even the premier Trick Room user of Battle Spot Singles, allowing fearsome threats such as Mega Mawile to run rampant!
This awesome versatility comes at a cost though: Porygon2's uncanny ability to glue teams together makes it an extremely high-value target. Many teams will run problematic Pokemon for Porygon2 together, such as Blaziken and Mega Gengar, specifically to try to overload Porygon2. Also, although Porygon2 is only weak to Fighting-type attacks, it has no resistances and only a Ghost immunity, meaning that strong, boosted neutral attacks can still do a lot of damage to Porygon2. Porygon2's wonderful Eviolite can also be its undoing, as Trick and Knock Off can get rid of it, crippling Porygon2's bulk. While these are important flaws to address, they don't change the fact that Porygon2 is an incredibly easy Pokemon to fit on most teams. If your team is in desperate need of a defensive check to Battle Spot Singles's top threats, or you are in need of a bulky offensive Pokemon, Porygon2 should always be highly considered.
[SET]
name: Defensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Foul Play
move 3: Recover
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic / Discharge
item: Eviolite
ability: Trace
nature: Bold
evs: 244 HP / 252 Def / 12 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is Porygon2's most important offensive tool, allowing it to check dangerous threats such as Garchomp, Mega Salamence, and Landorus-T. Be careful about Landorus-T though, as it has a habit of carrying Knock Off. Foul Play is Porygon2's other main offensive tool. When combined with Trace, it allows Porygon2 to check threats such as Mega Kangaskhan and Belly Drum Azumarill. Recover allows Porygon2 to have some serious staying power.
Thunder Wave is an excellent status move in Battle Spot Singles and is a good choice if your team has more problems with Porygon2's offensive checks. Toxic, meanwhile, is the only way Porygon2 can do any meaningful damage to the extremely common Rotom-W. Toxic is also Porygon2's best tool against its other main problem: other defensive Pokemon with Toxic! Discharge is a good midway option if you want to have a secondary special attack while still being able to spread paralysis, thanks to its 30% infliction rate. Discharge will allow Porygon2 to deal a good amount of damage to Azumarill, making it far more risky for Azumarill to set up Belly Drum. Discharge also allows Porygon2 to 2HKO Gyarados and offensive Talonflame. If you just want to do a bit more damage to foes (especially Azumarill) but don't care about the paralysis, you can opt to use Thunderbolt instead.
Set Details
========
Eviolite is what makes Porygon2 such a bulky Pokemon, so make sure you don't forget to put that on your Porygon2! The HP EVs may seem a bit strange, but they give Porygon2 an odd amount of HP. This lets Porygon2 take less damage from sand, Stealth Rock, hail, and status, giving it an extra bit of longevity at almost no cost to bulk. Maximizing the Defense stat is a must, as it allows Porygon2 to check a ton of Pokemon. The remaining EVs are put into Special Defense for an extra bit of bulk.
Usage Tips
========
Because Porygon2 is all about checking many of Battle Spot Singles's big threats, you'll usually find yourself using Porygon2 in a rather reactionary way, switching into big threats and using the predicted switch to try to punish your opponent with status moves or Foul Play. A word of warning: in most cases, you should resist the urge to use Foul Play on Aegislash. Most Aegislash use a mixed attacking set with Weakness Policy. Porygon2 can normally wall this set, but if you use Foul Play, Aegislash will now be able to 2HKO Porygon2 with Sacred Sword!
Trace is a very unique and useful asset for Porygon2, so make sure to take advantage of it whenever possible. Defensively, Trace makes Porygon2 a great switch-in to Salamence before it Mega Evolves, as Porygon2 can lower its Attack with Intimidate. Porygon2 can also do the same with Mawile, but note that Mega Mawile beats Porygon2 one-on-one. Heatran and Manectric before it Mega Evolves are also good targets for defensive uses of Trace, due to their abilities making Porygon2 immune to their main attacks. For more offensive uses of Trace, Mega Kangaskhan is a prime target, as Parental Bond can give Porygon2 more offensive presence than usual. Greninja's Protean can also aid Porygon2 offensively and remove its Fighting-type weakness when Porygon2 uses Toxic or an Electric-type attack, but note that becoming Ice-type gives Porygon2 many new weaknesses.
If you face an opponent who doesn't appear to have a Porygon2 check, don't take that as an easy win: it's very possible that your opponent is trying to ensnare your Porygon2 with some kind of lure! For example, an opponent might be running Substitute + Toxic Aegislash or Power-Up Punch Mega Kangaskhan. When seeing these kinds of teams, consider choosing the Pokemon that are good at dealing with lure-related emergencies for your team.
On a final note, one topic that must be addressed is Mega Gengar. Mega Gengar can be specialized to become a devastatingly effective way to trap Porygon2 thanks to Destiny Bond and Taunt. Teams that use sweepers particularly weak to Porygon2 are known to do this. Mega Gengar is extremely difficult to directly check due to Shadow Tag, so the best way to check it is not so much bringing a specific Pokemon but more about planning ahead. If you see a team that could be using this kind of Mega Gengar, consider not leading with Porygon2 and possibly even making risky double switches into predicted Gengar switches. Sometimes, it's possible that the key to overcoming a matchup like this is to put Gengar into an unfavorable matchup before it Mega Evolves.
Team Options
========
When talking about Porygon2's teammates, it's important to first note the Pokemon that try to take advantage of Porygon2. Two of the most dangerous examples are Mega Gengar and Mega Mawile, while more general offensive threats to Porygon2 are Fighting-types such as Blaziken, Heracross, and Mega Lopunny. Moreover, Porygon2 doesn't do that great against more defensive threats. While it can cripple opposing Porygon2 and Cresselia with Toxic, having your own Porygon2 hit with Toxic can cripple its ability to check some of the more powerful threats of Battle Spot Singles. Of particular note are Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur, which have nothing to fear from Porygon2 and can ensnare Porygon2 into the clutches of their Leech Seed! Teammates that resist Fighting are highly recommended when using Porygon2. Talonflame is a fantastic offensive example, as it can support Porygon2 in other ways. Its powerful priority Brave Bird preys on Fighting-types and smashes Mega Gengar and Mega Venusaur, while Flare Blitz scorches Mega Mawile and Ferrothorn. In a funny twist of fate, Porygon2's archnemesis, Mega Gengar, works here as well, aiding Porygon2 with a Fighting immunity and Shadow Tag to defeat many defensive Pokemon, while Porygon2's Thunder Wave allows Mega Gengar to effectively revenge kill Choice Scarf threats. On the more defensive side of teammates, Cresselia, the other premier defensive Pokemon, happens to pair reasonably well with Porygon2. Cresselia resists Fighting, while Porygon2 provides Cresselia with backup against Greninja and Aegislash (watch out for Substitute, though).
If you choose Thunder Wave in the last moveslot, make sure to take advantage of it! Most sweepers in general can find a situation where they can win a game because of paralysis, but two Pokemon in particular deserve a special mention. Mega Mawile is a fantastic teammate in this regard. Paralyzing threats such as Blaziken can give Mega Mawile the breakthrough it needs to win the game! Garchomp, while already fast on its own, is much harder to defeat when fast checks such as Mega Lopunny are crippled. Garchomp itself can aid Porygon2 in a particular emergency, surviving a +2 Sucker Punch from Mega Kangaskhan and often destroying it thanks to Rough Skin.
Take special care in avoiding Trick and Knock Off, as losing Eviolite compromises Porygon2's ability to check threats. Common users of Knock Off that don't already hit Porygon2 super effectively include Azumarill, Mega Mawile, Bisharp, and Weavile, while common users of Trick include Rotom-W and Rotom-H. Thankfully, Mega Evolutions are immune to losing their item, making them fine ways to halt attempts at removing Porygon2's Eviolite. Mega Evolutions that resist Knock Off such as Blaziken, Tyranitar, and Heracross work especially well.
[SET]
name: Offensive
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Recover
move 4: Tri Attack / Hidden Power Ground / Hidden Power Fire
item: Eviolite
ability: Download / Analytic
nature: Modest / Quiet
evs: 244 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Ice Beam is Porygon2's main offensive tool, grabbing easy OHKOs on the many Pokemon doubly weak to Ice in Battle Spot Singles and even doing over 90% to physically defensive Hippowdon. Shadow Ball lets Porygon2 smash one of its archnemeses, Mega Gengar, with offensive variants facing a OHKO after a Download boost. Additionally, Analytic Porygon2 will OHKO Aegislash when it is in its Blade forme, while a Download boost can allow Porygon to 2HKO Cresselia. While this Porygon2 focuses on offense, Recover is still a staple, as it allows Porygon2 to check specially offensive threats such as Aegislash and Greninja.
The last move is a bit trickier to choose, as Porygon2 has many viable options. Tri Attack is an easy choice offensively. While it offers Porygon2 no additonal coverage, the STAB boost makes Tri Attack a good general attacking option. Notably, Tri Attack 2HKOes Mega Charizard X with an Analytic boost and 2HKOes Mega Kangaskhan with a Download boost. If you're more worried about coverage, Hidden Power Ground is a fine option, 2HKOing Mega Charizard X, Mega Mawile, and Heatran with a boost. Hidden Power Fire still hits Mega Mawile but also gives Porygon2 a way to smash through Scizor and Ferrothorn. Thunder Wave gives Porygon2 an additional way to support the team, while Discharge gives Porygon2 a move that slams Gyarados and Skarmory while still potentially spreading paralysis. Toxic can also be used to fix Porygon2's issues with walls such as Cresselia and other Porygon2.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack EVs are needed to give Porygon2 a reasonable offensive presence. 244 HP EVs reduce residual damage against Porygon2, while the 12 EVs in Defense are simply filler, giving Porygon2 a bit of extra physical bulk. Eviolite is required, as the massive boosts in defenses are far more useful than an offensive boost. A Modest nature is usually the best for Porygon2, giving it extra special attacking power while letting it outspeed Mega Mawile. However, if using Analytic, a Quiet nature with 0 Speed IVs should be considered, allowing Porygon2 to underspeed Mega Mawile and Speed tie with mixed Aegislash.
The big decsion to make on Porygon2 is choosing between Download and Analytic, which is essentially a choice between power and reliability. Download gives Porygon2 the most power, letting it gain KOs on important targets such as Mega Gengar. However, Download will only boost Porygon2's Special Attack against Pokemon that have a higher Defense stat than Special Defense, making useful Download boosts not guaranteed. Analytic offers a 30% boost instead of a 50% boost and requires Porygon2 to move last or attack on the switch to activate. However, because Porygon2 is already fairly slow, Analytic is less matchup reliant. Note that this will cause Porygon2 to have more problems with slower Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Wobbuffet.
Usage Tips
========
Knowing when to switch in Porygon2 is paramount, because while Porygon2 is bulky, its low Speed means that powerful, boosted offensive threats such as Dragon Dance Mega Salamence and Power-Up Punch Mega Kangaskhan can shatter Porygon2 before it can attack. Pokemon that don't boost, such as Greninja, Choice Scarf Garchomp, Skarmory, physically defensive Hippowdon, and Weakness Policy Aegislash, are good opportunities for Porygon2 to switch in. Also note that all of these Pokemon except Aegislash will give Porygon2 a valuable Download boost. Switching Porygon2 in after losing a Pokemon or through U-turn or Volt Switch is also a good idea, as this preserves Porygon2's ability to take powerful hits.
Team Options
========
Offensive Porygon2's main issue lies within its Fighting-type weakness. Although switching in can be dangerous for them, Blaziken, Mega Lucario, and Heracross can blast though Porygon2. Porygon2's other big issue is against specially bulky Pokemon, with opposing Porygon2, Suicune, Sylveon, Toxic Cresselia, and Ferrothorn (if Porygon2 lacks Hidden Power Fire) tanking offensive Porygon2's assaults. These problems make Mega Gengar a fantastic teammate, thanks to its useful Fighting-type immunity (although Blaziken is still an issue) and its ability to use moves such as Taunt, Destiny Bond, and Perish Song to toy with defensive Pokemon. Thanks to their STAB types, Talonflame and Azumarill do well if you specifically need a Pokemon to deal with Fighting-types, while Mega Mawile and Mega Charizard Y can take on most of Porygon2's defensive problems fairly well.
Because Porygon2 is fairly slow for an offensive Pokémon, paralysis support makes it far more difficult to counter. In particular, paralysis support means that frail Fighting-types such as Blaziken and Mega Lucario are no longer guaranteed to revenge kill Porygon2. Thunder Wave has a huge amount of viable users to choose from, but bulky ones such as Zapdos, Ferrothorn, and Rotom-W work especially well. More offensive users of paralysis such as Thundurus and Serperior can also pair well with Porygon2, as Porygon2 can often switch into their offensive checks such as Greninja.
Pairing Porygon2 with a Volt Switch or U-turn user can be a good way to keep Porygon2 in healthy shape. Mega Manectric and Landorus-T are particulary good choices thanks to Intimidate letting Porygon2 soak up physical threats more easily, but Rotom-W, Rotom-H, and Scizor are fine choices as well.
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Tri Attack / Hidden Power Ground / Recover
item: Eviolite
ability: Download
nature: Quiet
evs: 244 HP / 12 Def / 252 SpA
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Setting up Trick Room is Porygon2's primary objective, letting it change its low Speed into a lightning-fast asset for five turns! Shadow Ball 2HKOes Mega Gengar at minimum, which is extremely important because some Mega Gengar might attempt to stop Porygon2's setup with Taunt or waste Trick Room's time with Perish Song and Protect. Ice Beam offers good coverage, OHKOing the large amount of Pokemon doubly weak to Ice in the metagame and even doing over 90% to physically offensive Hippowdon after a Download boost.
Tri Attack is the easiest choice for the last moveslot, giving Porygon2 a STAB attack that allows it to clean weakened teams in Trick Room with a Download boost. If you want Porygon2 to take on a more supportive role, Hidden Power Ground is a good choice, allowing a boosted Porygon2 to 2HKO Mega Mawile and have a 68% chance to OHKO Heatran, both of which can be problems under Trick Room. If your team can handle the loss in coverage, Recover can be used to give Porygon2 much more lasting power and is especially useful on teams that are only partially Trick Room-based.
Set Details
========
A Quiet nature, full investment in Special Attack, and 0 Speed IVs are needed to give Porygon2 reasonable power and a low Speed stat to take advantage of Trick Room. Eviolite and 244 HP EVs maximize Porygon2's bulk while letting it take less residual damage, while the 12 Defense EVs are simply filler to make Porygon2 slightly bulkier. Download is the best option ability-wise, giving Porygon2 the potential for extra offensive presence.
Usage Tips
========
Conserving Porygon2's HP is an important task; switching recklessly into powerful offensive threats such as Mega Kangaskhan can get Porygon2 KOed before it launches off Trick Room. Switching into less powerful, non-boosting threats such as Greninja and Aegislash and defensive Pokemon such as Cresselia and Hippowdon is ideal. That being said, don't be afraid to sacrifice Porygon2 if you feel that setting up Trick Room and attacking once will open up an opportunity for a teammate to sweep! This tactic works especially well late in the game, when you know what foes your opponent has chosen.
Pay close attention to your opponent's team in Team Preview, as this can dramatically affect how you play your Porygon2. For example, if your opponent's team is packed with Pokemon that give Trick Room trouble, you can still consider using Porygon2 for its bulk and potential to sweep weakened teams under Trick Room and not run its Trick Room teammates. If you are facing an opposing Trick Room team, you can opt to bench Porygon2, as running other Trick Room teammates could turn the momentum of the match in your favor.
Team Options
========
Mega Mawile should almost always be a teammate for this Porygon2. Mega Mawile's low Speed and absurd Attack make it extremely fearsome under Trick Room! Mega Mawile is also a great wallbreaker, using many of Porygon2's defensive checks as setup fodder. Powerful, slow Pokemon in general enjoy Trick Room support, with some good ones including Escavalier, which is immune to Spore thanks to Overcoat; Rhyperior, which is a good check to Talonflame, a problem for Trick Room teams; and Azumarill, which offers backup priority in Aqua Jet.
Don't feel pressured into making your team fully centered around Trick Room support. Bringing fast Pokemon that don't need Trick Room to function well is usually a good idea, in case you face teams that do well against Trick Room, such as stall. Talonflame is the gold standard among these Pokemon, offering priority Brave Bird that works well regardless of the field condition and moves such as Taunt to give defensive Pokemon trouble. Mega Gengar, while not appreciative of Trick Room, gives stall teams trouble thanks to Shadow Tag.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychic doesn't offer very good coverage, but it does allow Porygon2 to 2HKO Conkeldurr and Mega Venusaur with a Download boost. Porygon2 has the ability to boost its Special Attack with Charge Beam, but it usually doesn't have the time to boost. Conversion and Conversion 2 can screw up Fighting-type checks, but it's difficult to fit them onto Porygon2's sets.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Mega Mawile**: By far the most effective check to Porygon2, Mawile can switch in on anything Porygon2 throws at it and threaten to remove its Eviolite with Knock Off, or even set up for a sweep with Swords Dance.
**Bisharp**: While it is not quite as effective as Mega Mawile, Bisharp can similarly Knock Off Porygon2's Eviolite and set up Swords Dance with ease. It must watch out for Hidden Power Ground, though, which will 2HKO it.
**Conkeldurr**: Conkeldurr gets special mention compared to other Fighting-types. Even offensive Porygon2 is unable to 2HKO Assault Vest Conkeldurr, while Conkeldurr gets an easy 2HKO with Drain Punch. Conkeldurr's Guts and low Speed mean that Toxic, Thunder Wave, and Trick Room won't do much either.
**Offensive Fighting-types**: Fighting-type Pokemon such as Blaziken, Heracross, Mega Lopunny, and Mega Lucario can blast through Porygon2's impressive defenses. None of these Pokemon like Thunder Wave or boosted Tri Attacks, though.
**Knock Off and Trick**: Porygon2 relies on Eviolite to withstand powerful attacks, so losing Eviolite via Knock Off or Trick can ruin Porygon2's ability to check threats.
**Mega Gengar**: Although Mega Gengar hates Thunder Wave, it can use Taunt and Destiny Bond to take defensive Porygon2 down. Mega Gengar must watch out for offensive Porygon2, though, as Shadow Ball is an easy 2HKO on it.
**Wobbuffet**: Wobbuffet might not be as effective of a trapper as Mega Gengar, but it can still turn Porygon2 into setup bait for dangerous sweepers. Also, when paired with Mega Gengar, Wobbuffet can trap Porygon2 into a Perish Song cycle.
**Calm Mind**: Calm Mind users such as Suicune, Sylveon, and Mega Sableye can use Porygon2 as setup bait, as Rest (or Magic Bounce in Mega Sableye's case) means they don't care about Toxic.
**Ferrothorn**: Ferrothorn laughs at anything Porygon2 will use, with the exception of Hidden Power Fire, and can stall it out with Leech Seed or Toxic.
**Mega Venusaur**: Much like Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur can Leech Seed stall Porygon2 with ease.
**Toxic and Will-O-Wisp**: Toxic in general is bad news for Porygon2, effectively crippling its ability to wall threats. This can open up avenues for dangerous sweepers to blast through teams! While not quite as effective at wearing Porygon2 down, Will-O-Wisp is still an unwelcoming situation for it.
**Taunt**: Taunt is an effective way of shutting down Porygon2's defensive options, making it a sitting duck against many offensive threats.
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