[SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hyper Beam
move 2: Trick
move 3: Icy Wind
move 4: Uproar / Dark Pulse
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 128 HP / 252 SpA / 128 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Hyper Beam, boosted by Adaptability, blasts through most non-resistant foes like Latios and Keldeo before the recharge turn takes effect. Trick stops setup from foes such as Shell Smash Crustle. Trick, Icy Wind, and Hyper Beam together allow Porygon-Z to reliably defeat Crustle. Uproar allows Porygon-Z to avoid a recharge turn, which is useful versus various Endure + Custap Berry users like Garchomp and Venusaur, as well as block Rest from various Pokemon, such as stall Snorlax. Dark Pulse allows Porygon-Z to damage Ghost-types, most notably Jellicent.
EVs
=============
The HP investment allows Porygon-Z to always survive Crustle's Rock Wrecker after Rock Gem is removed. The Speed investment and a Choice Scarf outspeeds Raikou and Starmie.
An alternate spread of 40 HP / 248 Def / 144 SpA / 76 Spe may be used instead to survive Fighting Gem Conkeldurr's Mach Punch and outspeed Latios and Latias, but the lower Special Attack investment means various targets like Crustle and Substitute Thundurus are less reliable.
Usage Tips
=============
Usually, Porygon-Z will use Hyper Beam to OHKO foes before they can move; however, some matchups are less straightforward. Some of the most common matchups with more complex sequences are listed below.
To defeat Crustle, first use Trick to potentially lock the opponent into Shell Smash and remove Rock Gem, then use Icy Wind to break Crustle's Sturdy, and finally use Hyper Beam to KO Crustle.
Versus Custap Berry users like Venusaur and Garchomp, you will have to guess whether to use Uproar on a potential Endure or Hyper Beam. Note that Garchomp more commonly uses Yache Berry instead, so it is usually safer to use Hyper Beam.
Although Hyper Beam does not OHKO Cresselia, it is useful for Porygon-Z in this matchup anyway. Provided Cresselia is not holding Mail, Porygon-Z should use Trick turn 1 onto Cresselia to lock it into a potential status move before continually using Hyper Beam. Hyper Beam outdamages Rest and Moonlight, eventually resulting in a win for Porygon-Z.
Many other stall Pokemon, like Registeel, Snorlax, and Manaphy, may use Mail to block Trick; watch for it on Team Preview and be mindful of it in game.
[SET]
name: Normal Gem
move 1: Hyper Beam
move 2: Nasty Plot
move 3: Substitute
move 4: Uproar / Dark Pulse
item: Normal Gem
ability: Adaptability
nature: Timid
evs: 40 HP / 252 SpA / 216 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=============
Porygon-Z's Adaptability-boosted Hyper Beam overpowers even sturdy specially defensive walls like Snorlax and Cresselia with Normal Gem and can be further boosted with Nasty Plot to break through Special Defense boosts from Calm Mind and Amnesia. Substitute helps beat Snorlax by scouting for Belly Drum. Uproar allows Porygon-Z to defeat Substitute + Protect users like Raikou and Suicune, while Dark Pulse allows Porygon-Z to damage Ghost-types, most notably Jellicent.
EVs
=============
The given EV spread outspeeds Suicune and provides some additional bulk.
An alternative EV spread of 40 HP / 4 SpA / 248 Def / 216 Spe survives Fighting Gem Conkeldurr's Mach Punch and still outspeeds Suicune, but has a much worse matchup against Snorlax.
Usage Tips
=============
Versus most foes, even bulky targets like Cresselia, Porygon-Z should use Hyper Beam.
Versus Snorlax, use Substitute turn 1. If they use Amnesia, use Nasty Plot until they use Seismic Toss to break Substitute or they get to +6 Special Defense. Then, use Hyper Beam repeatedly. If Snorlax uses Giga Impact, Superpower, or any other offensive move, you should use Hyper Beam and hope Snorlax is OHKOed. If they use Belly Drum, use Uproar to KO them so you don't miss Hyper Beam.
Versus Custap Berry users like Venusaur, Porygon-Z should use Nasty Plot if you predict them to Endure. If you do not believe they will, use Hyper Beam.
Versus Pressure stall Pokemon, like Raikou and Suicune, use Substitute turn 1, since they will more than likely scout for Choice Scarf + Trick with Protect. You are then free to use Uproar until they are KOed. Raikou also commonly uses Choice Specs, so Normal Gem Porygon-Z does not defeat all sets.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Specs Porygon-Z is an option if the extra damage with coverage such as Dark Pulse, Hidden Power Fire, Thunderbolt, or Ice Beam is desired. Without the Speed boost from Choice Scarf or Normal Gem's ability to switch moves, it is hard to justify, but still a solid set.
Normal Gem Porygon-Z may opt for Endure for other Porygon-Z and Crustle, forcing them to recharge with Hyper Beam or Rock Wrecker
If you want to be a bit wild with your Porygon-Z set, Chople Berry + Conversion defeats Sawk and most other Fighting-types. With 224 HP / 248 Def / 36 SpA and a Modest nature, Porygon-Z survives Choice Band Sawk's Close Combat before becoming a Ghost-type with Shadow Ball. Keep in mind that all of Porygon-Z's other moves need to be Normal-type for Conversion to work correctly.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Itchy, 518399]]
- Quality checked by: [[Lumii, 493772], [crucify, 437679]]
- Grammar checked by: [[UT, 523866]]
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