[OVERVIEW]
Normal
========
Porygon-Z is one of the best stat boosters available to Normal thanks to Z-Conversion giving it +1 in all stats; it can prove to be an amazing sweeper when utilized late-game. Z-Conversion allows Porygon-Z to change its typing, which can prove invaluable in certain matchups. Notably, turning into Ghost provides an important Fighting immunity. This is complemented by great Special Attack and coverage moves, most notably BoltBeam, allowing it to hit a large majority of Pokemon at least neutrally. BoltBeam coverage enables Porygon-Z to blast through the Flying matchup, cleanly sweeping through entire Flying-type teams after a Z-Conversion. Adaptability further enhances Porygon-Z's ability to act as a sweeper after setting up by boosting its Shadow Ball's power even further. It also has access to Recover, which gives it sustain after receiving its stat boosts, granting it longevity throughout the battle. However, Porygon-Z generally relies on its stat boosting to be threatening in a battle, and its only mediocre bulk and Speed leave it vulnerable to faster attackers such as Landorus and Keldeo, therefore limiting its ability to set up and sweep. Its mediocre Speed also leaves it susceptible to powerful Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Greninja and Victini even after Z-Conversion. Porygon-Z also relies on its teammates to weaken foes and eliminate its checks prior to setting up in order to sweep teams. While gaining +1 in all stats can be game changing, Porygon-Z can only do so once, so choosing the right time to do so is crucial in a battle. On balance-oriented teams, Porygon Z has a hard time fitting onto a team, as it typically competes for the same slot as the amazing physical wallbreaker Diggersby.
[SET]
name: Z-Conversion Sweeper
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Conversion
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Recover / Ice Beam
item: Normalium Z
ability: Adaptability
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball becomes Porygon-Z's most spammable move after utilizing Z-Conversion thanks to Adaptability and being able to hit the vast majority of types neutrally. Conversion is utilized in combination with Normalium Z to boost all of Porygon-Z's stats by 1 and change its typing to its first-in-slot move. Thunderbolt is a fantastic coverage move, being able to super effectively threaten Flying- and Water-types such as Mantine and Celesteela. Recover grants Porygon-Z a means of reliable recovery, which grants Porygon-Z longevity throughout the battle, minimizing its reliance on avoiding chip damage. Alternatively, Ice Beam is amazing in combination with Thunderbolt to threaten a large number of Pokemon, most notably Ground- and Dragon-types such as Diggersby, Garchomp, and Dragonite.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature maximize Porygon-Z's offensive presence and Speed, allowing it to outspeed threats such as Mega Altaria and Gyarados as well as common Choice Scarf Pokemon like Excadrill when at +1. Normalium Z enables Porygon-Z to use Z-Conversion, which boosts all of its stats by 1 and changes its typing to Ghost. Adaptability maximizes Porygon-Z's STAB attack damage, boosting Shadow Ball after Porygon-Z uses Z-Conversion.
Usage Tips
========
Porygon-Z works best as a late-game sweeper after its faster checks, such as Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Sand Rush Excadrill, have been eliminated. Weaken Porygon-Z's defensive checks such as Toxapex and Tyranitar prior to setting up so it can easily clean through the remaining team. Take advantage of Ghost's immunity to Fighting to mitigate the threat of offensive Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion after Porygon-Z changes its type through Z-Conversion. Porygon-Z has mediocre bulk, so it should avoid switching into attacks. In the same vein, because Porygon-Z can only set up once, it should look for opportune times to set up its Z-Conversion to not be overly weakened or KOed on its setup turn. Take advantage of Porygon-Z's ability to force switches by using Recover to heal up any lost health while its checks are still healthy, prior to using Z-Conversion to prolong Porygon-Z's life throughout the battle. Recover should also be utilized after it gains its stat boosts in order to heal back chip damage that defensive Pokemon deal out in an effort to wear Porygon-Z down. Utilizing Recover correctly will also help bring Porygon-Z out of range of common priority users' attacks such as Bullet Punch from Scizor. Do not set up against Pokemon that commonly run Haze or phazing moves, such as Mantine and Hippowdon, as setting up on them can lead to the stat boosts being removed, wasting Porygon-Z's Z-Move. Porygon-Z should be wary of status effects and entry hazards, as they all wear it down, leaving it vulnerable to faster revenge killers and minimizing its ability to set up effectively. Paralysis prevents Porygon-Z from effectively performing its job as a late-game sweeper, as it relies on outspeeding threats to eliminate them.
Team Options
========
Chansey supports Porygon-Z by utilizing both Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock. Thunder Wave helps slow down opposing Pokemon such as Keldeo and Terrakion, which gives Porygon-Z more opportunities to set up and the ability to outspeed its common checks, and Stealth Rock chips down opposing Pokemon and enables Porygon-Z to more easily sweep through weakened foes late-game. Porygon2 forms an amazing defensive core with Chansey and supports Porygon-Z thanks to Toxic, further whittling down opposing Pokemon into KO range from Porygon-Z late-game. Staraptor removes entry hazards from the field for Porygon-Z and lowers opposing Pokemon's Attack stats with Intimidate, allowing it to act as a physical wall. It also can act as a pivot with U-turn to bring Porygon-Z in safely to begin its sweep. Ditto helps check opposing setup sweepers and faster offensive Pokemon for Porygon-Z, granting it more opportunities to sweep late-game. Mega Lopunny and Diggersby are both offensive powerhouses that can help take down common special walls and Dark-types that check Porygon-Z such as Alolan Muk, Chansey, and Bisharp. Smeargle sets Sticky Web for Poyrgon-Z, which on more offensively oriented teams allows Porygon-Z to effectively outspeed all grounded Pokemon after a Z-Conversion boost. Additionally, Smeargle can spread both sleep and paralysis between Spore and Nuzzle, giving Porygon-Z more opportunities to set up safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Utilizing Thunderbolt in the first slot enables Porygon-Z to changes its typing to Electric following Z-Conversion, which is helpful in preventing Porygon-Z from being paralyzed as well as helping immensely in the Steel matchup. However, it loses out on the important Fighting immunity that the Ghost typing grants and becomes unable to take advantage of Shadow Ball's general lack of Pokemon that resist it. This set should also utilize Hidden Power Fire over Shadow Ball to help take down troublesome Steel-types such as Excadrill after prior chip damage. Nasty Plot could be utilized to bolster Porygon-Z's Special Attack to tremendous levels, allowing it to blast through even most of its common defensive checks. However, without Z-Conversion, Porygon-Z lacks the Speed necessary to handle its common offensive checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Alolan Muk are able to absorb attacks from a boosted Porygon-Z and whittle it down with status while taking little damage from its attacks.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Bisharp resist Porygon-Z's primary attack in Shadow Ball and prevent it from utilizing Z-Conversion effectively. They also threaten Porygon-Z after it sets up due to resisting Shadow Ball and being able to hit back hard with Dark-type STAB moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Porygon-Z's awkward Speed tier leaves it vulnerable to most common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Victini and Blacephalon, which can revenge kill it even after a Z-Conversion boost.
**Haze and Phazing Moves**: Pokemon that threaten to remove Porygon-Z's stat boosts with Haze, such as Toxapex, or moves like Whirlwind and Roar, such as Swampert, effectively nullify Porygon-Z's sweeping ability, as it can only set up once.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis completely inhibits Porygon-Z's ability to sweep opposing teams due to the drop in Speed, which makes it unable to outspeed most offensive Pokemon.
Normal
========
Porygon-Z is one of the best stat boosters available to Normal thanks to Z-Conversion giving it +1 in all stats; it can prove to be an amazing sweeper when utilized late-game. Z-Conversion allows Porygon-Z to change its typing, which can prove invaluable in certain matchups. Notably, turning into Ghost provides an important Fighting immunity. This is complemented by great Special Attack and coverage moves, most notably BoltBeam, allowing it to hit a large majority of Pokemon at least neutrally. BoltBeam coverage enables Porygon-Z to blast through the Flying matchup, cleanly sweeping through entire Flying-type teams after a Z-Conversion. Adaptability further enhances Porygon-Z's ability to act as a sweeper after setting up by boosting its Shadow Ball's power even further. It also has access to Recover, which gives it sustain after receiving its stat boosts, granting it longevity throughout the battle. However, Porygon-Z generally relies on its stat boosting to be threatening in a battle, and its only mediocre bulk and Speed leave it vulnerable to faster attackers such as Landorus and Keldeo, therefore limiting its ability to set up and sweep. Its mediocre Speed also leaves it susceptible to powerful Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Greninja and Victini even after Z-Conversion. Porygon-Z also relies on its teammates to weaken foes and eliminate its checks prior to setting up in order to sweep teams. While gaining +1 in all stats can be game changing, Porygon-Z can only do so once, so choosing the right time to do so is crucial in a battle. On balance-oriented teams, Porygon Z has a hard time fitting onto a team, as it typically competes for the same slot as the amazing physical wallbreaker Diggersby.
[SET]
name: Z-Conversion Sweeper
move 1: Shadow Ball
move 2: Conversion
move 3: Thunderbolt
move 4: Recover / Ice Beam
item: Normalium Z
ability: Adaptability
nature: Timid
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Shadow Ball becomes Porygon-Z's most spammable move after utilizing Z-Conversion thanks to Adaptability and being able to hit the vast majority of types neutrally. Conversion is utilized in combination with Normalium Z to boost all of Porygon-Z's stats by 1 and change its typing to its first-in-slot move. Thunderbolt is a fantastic coverage move, being able to super effectively threaten Flying- and Water-types such as Mantine and Celesteela. Recover grants Porygon-Z a means of reliable recovery, which grants Porygon-Z longevity throughout the battle, minimizing its reliance on avoiding chip damage. Alternatively, Ice Beam is amazing in combination with Thunderbolt to threaten a large number of Pokemon, most notably Ground- and Dragon-types such as Diggersby, Garchomp, and Dragonite.
Set Details
========
252 Special Attack and Speed EVs with a Timid nature maximize Porygon-Z's offensive presence and Speed, allowing it to outspeed threats such as Mega Altaria and Gyarados as well as common Choice Scarf Pokemon like Excadrill when at +1. Normalium Z enables Porygon-Z to use Z-Conversion, which boosts all of its stats by 1 and changes its typing to Ghost. Adaptability maximizes Porygon-Z's STAB attack damage, boosting Shadow Ball after Porygon-Z uses Z-Conversion.
Usage Tips
========
Porygon-Z works best as a late-game sweeper after its faster checks, such as Choice Scarf Blacephalon and Sand Rush Excadrill, have been eliminated. Weaken Porygon-Z's defensive checks such as Toxapex and Tyranitar prior to setting up so it can easily clean through the remaining team. Take advantage of Ghost's immunity to Fighting to mitigate the threat of offensive Fighting-types such as Keldeo and Terrakion after Porygon-Z changes its type through Z-Conversion. Porygon-Z has mediocre bulk, so it should avoid switching into attacks. In the same vein, because Porygon-Z can only set up once, it should look for opportune times to set up its Z-Conversion to not be overly weakened or KOed on its setup turn. Take advantage of Porygon-Z's ability to force switches by using Recover to heal up any lost health while its checks are still healthy, prior to using Z-Conversion to prolong Porygon-Z's life throughout the battle. Recover should also be utilized after it gains its stat boosts in order to heal back chip damage that defensive Pokemon deal out in an effort to wear Porygon-Z down. Utilizing Recover correctly will also help bring Porygon-Z out of range of common priority users' attacks such as Bullet Punch from Scizor. Do not set up against Pokemon that commonly run Haze or phazing moves, such as Mantine and Hippowdon, as setting up on them can lead to the stat boosts being removed, wasting Porygon-Z's Z-Move. Porygon-Z should be wary of status effects and entry hazards, as they all wear it down, leaving it vulnerable to faster revenge killers and minimizing its ability to set up effectively. Paralysis prevents Porygon-Z from effectively performing its job as a late-game sweeper, as it relies on outspeeding threats to eliminate them.
Team Options
========
Chansey supports Porygon-Z by utilizing both Thunder Wave and Stealth Rock. Thunder Wave helps slow down opposing Pokemon such as Keldeo and Terrakion, which gives Porygon-Z more opportunities to set up and the ability to outspeed its common checks, and Stealth Rock chips down opposing Pokemon and enables Porygon-Z to more easily sweep through weakened foes late-game. Porygon2 forms an amazing defensive core with Chansey and supports Porygon-Z thanks to Toxic, further whittling down opposing Pokemon into KO range from Porygon-Z late-game. Staraptor removes entry hazards from the field for Porygon-Z and lowers opposing Pokemon's Attack stats with Intimidate, allowing it to act as a physical wall. It also can act as a pivot with U-turn to bring Porygon-Z in safely to begin its sweep. Ditto helps check opposing setup sweepers and faster offensive Pokemon for Porygon-Z, granting it more opportunities to sweep late-game. Mega Lopunny and Diggersby are both offensive powerhouses that can help take down common special walls and Dark-types that check Porygon-Z such as Alolan Muk, Chansey, and Bisharp. Smeargle sets Sticky Web for Poyrgon-Z, which on more offensively oriented teams allows Porygon-Z to effectively outspeed all grounded Pokemon after a Z-Conversion boost. Additionally, Smeargle can spread both sleep and paralysis between Spore and Nuzzle, giving Porygon-Z more opportunities to set up safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Utilizing Thunderbolt in the first slot enables Porygon-Z to changes its typing to Electric following Z-Conversion, which is helpful in preventing Porygon-Z from being paralyzed as well as helping immensely in the Steel matchup. However, it loses out on the important Fighting immunity that the Ghost typing grants and becomes unable to take advantage of Shadow Ball's general lack of Pokemon that resist it. This set should also utilize Hidden Power Fire over Shadow Ball to help take down troublesome Steel-types such as Excadrill after prior chip damage. Nasty Plot could be utilized to bolster Porygon-Z's Special Attack to tremendous levels, allowing it to blast through even most of its common defensive checks. However, without Z-Conversion, Porygon-Z lacks the Speed necessary to handle its common offensive checks.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Walls**: Specially defensive walls such as Chansey and Alolan Muk are able to absorb attacks from a boosted Porygon-Z and whittle it down with status while taking little damage from its attacks.
**Dark-types**: Dark-types such as Tyranitar and Bisharp resist Porygon-Z's primary attack in Shadow Ball and prevent it from utilizing Z-Conversion effectively. They also threaten Porygon-Z after it sets up due to resisting Shadow Ball and being able to hit back hard with Dark-type STAB moves.
**Revenge Killers**: Porygon-Z's awkward Speed tier leaves it vulnerable to most common Choice Scarf Pokemon such as Victini and Blacephalon, which can revenge kill it even after a Z-Conversion boost.
**Haze and Phazing Moves**: Pokemon that threaten to remove Porygon-Z's stat boosts with Haze, such as Toxapex, or moves like Whirlwind and Roar, such as Swampert, effectively nullify Porygon-Z's sweeping ability, as it can only set up once.
**Paralysis**: Paralysis completely inhibits Porygon-Z's ability to sweep opposing teams due to the drop in Speed, which makes it unable to outspeed most offensive Pokemon.
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