[OVERVIEW]
Porygon is a threatening bulky attacker because of its boosted Tri Attack being difficult to switch into, great coverage options such as Psychic and Ice Beam, and ability to threaten prominent Pokemon like Timburr, Vullaby, and Onix. It can also run a defensive set that allows it to counter trappers like Diglett, Trapinch, and Wynaut with Trace and gain momentum with Teleport or spread paralysis with Thunder Wave. However, Porygon struggles with Fighting-type Pokemon such as Choice Scarf Mienfoo and Timburr due to these two outpacing and KOing it, while slower Mienfoo can tank a Psychic and OHKO with High Jump Kick. Additionally, Porygon cannot take on Steel-types like Ferroseed, Magnemite, and Pawniard because they can tank any of Porygon's attacks and cripple it with Thunder Wave or Knock Off. Porygon also struggles to take Knock Off as well, as losing Eviolite makes it unable to sponge attacks from Focus Sash Abra, Onix, and Ponyta, leaving it vulnerable to being KOed.
[SET]
name: Download
move 1: Tri Attack
move 2: Psychic
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Agility
item: Eviolite
ability: Download
nature: Modest
evs: 36 Def / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Tri Attack hits targets that don't resist it hard after a Special Attack boost from Download. Psychic allows Porygon to take care of Mienfoo, Foongus, and Mareanie. Ice Beam is able to OHKO Onix, Archen, and Vullaby and is Porygon's best move against Ferroseed, as it resists Psychic and Tri Attack. Agility makes Porygon a good mid- or late-game sweeper when most of its checks are significantly weakened, allowing it to outspeed Choice Scarf users like Mienfoo and Vullaby.
Set Details
========
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment with a Modest nature allows Porygon to hit as hard as possible and outpace Timburr, while the remaining EVs go into Defense to help it take physical attacks.
Usage Tips
========
Porygon should be saved for mid- or late-game once most of its threats are weakened or KOed so it can set up with Agility and sweep. Porygon should come in on a predicted switch, Stealth Rock from Onix, or after a teammate is knocked out to keep it healthy, but it should avoid setting up on Vulpix, Dewpider, or Abra, as coming in on them will give Porygon an Attack boost from Download instead of a Special Attack boost. Porygon can also be used on slower threats to soften them up for mid- or late-game, but be careful about switching it into a powerful attack, as, if it takes too much damage, it will be unable to set up with Agility and sweep. Make sure that Steel-types are weakened or KOed; once they are, Porygon can freely use its attacks. Do not allow Porygon to be chipped by entry hazards, as this makes it easier to take care of. Be sure to not leave Porygon in against Knock Off users such as Pawniard, Vullaby, and Ferroseed, as losing its Eviolite makes it less bulky and unable to tank attacks from Spritzee, Ponyta, and Grookey.
Team Options
========
Porygon appreciates entry hazard support from Onix, Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Mareanie because it makes it easier for Porygon to sweep; it especially goes well with Ferroseed for its Spikes support to wear down Pokemon like opposing Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Mienfoo. Pawniard also threatens Abra, which could otherwise hinder Porygon, with Sucker Punch. Pokemon that can get rid of entry hazards such as Staryu and Vullaby are great to avoid Porygon being poisoned from Toxic Spikes and worn down from Stealth Rock and Spikes. Vullaby can also tank priority attacks from Mienfoo and Grookey. Mienfoo, Diglett, and Ponyta are also good to pair with Porygon in order to help with taking down Steel-types like Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Magnemite that resist Porygon's attacks. Pokemon like Mienfoo, Pawniard, and Ferroseed can soften up Pokemon with Knock Off to make it easier for Porygon to sweep. Mareanie and Foongus are great to pair with Porygon due to them being able to switch into Fighting-type attacks from Mienfoo and Timburr.
[SET]
name: Trace
move 1: Tri Attack
move 2: Ice Beam / Psychic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Thunder Wave / Teleport
item: Eviolite
ability: Trace
nature: Calm
evs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Tri Attack is a good STAB move to use against any Pokemon that does not resist it, such as Staryu and Spritzee, with the added benefit of a small chance to inflict status. Ice Beam is used to OHKO Diglett and 2HKO Onix, Mudbray, and Vullaby. Psychic can be used for Mareanie and on a predicted switch to Mienfoo or Timburr. Recover allows Porygon to keep itself healthy throughout the game. Thunder Wave is used to hinder switch-ins like Mienfoo, Pawniard, and Vullaby. Teleport can be used over Thunder Wave to keep momentum for the team and be less passive than Mareanie, Spritzee, and Foongus, as Porygon can lure its checks such as Mienfoo, Onix, and Ferroseed and pivot into a Pokemon that can take care of them.
Set Details
========
Running 236 HP EVs with 76 Special Defense EVs with a Calm nature allows Porygon to take hits from special attackers like Spritzee, Wingull, and Focus Sash Abra. Using 236 HP EVs with 196 Defense EVs allows Porygon to tank physical attacks from Onix and Diglett. Trace allows Porygon to copy Regenerator from Foongus and Mienfoo, the rare Flash Fire from Ponyta, and Volt Absorb from Chinchou to block Volt Switch, as well as to counter trappers like Trapinch and Diglett.
Usage Tips
========
Porygon can be used early-game to use Thunder Wave against Pokemon like Mienfoo or Teleport on predicted switches into checks like Pawniard and Mienfoo to safely get in a teammate to take care of them. Teleport can also be used to allow Porygon to take an attack and bring in frail Pokemon like Abra and Carvanha safely. However, Porygon should be careful about staying in against Knock Off users like Ferroseed, Vullaby, and Mienfoo, as losing Eviolite will make it unable to withstand attacks from Ponyta, Staryu, and Abra. It should switch in on a passive attack from Mareanie or Spritzee, a predicted switch, or an attack from Ponyta or Onix. It should use Tri Attack early-game to get off decent damage against most Pokemon that do not resist it with a small chance of statusing Pokemon like Pawniard and Mienfoo that will try to switch into Porygon's attacks. Ice Beam should be used on predicted switches into Vullaby and Onix, as it will deal major damage to them; additionally, if Porygon is running Psychic, try to use it on predicted switches into Mienfoo and Mareanie, as it will do a lot of damage to them.
Team Options
========
Stealth Rock setters such as Pawniard and Onix are great to pair with Porygon; Pawniard is able to come in on Knock Off from Ferroseed, while Onix can safely switch into Vullaby to take Knock Off and threaten it to switch out. Bulky Pokemon like Mareanie and Foongus can come in on Fighting-type attacks from Mienfoo and Timburr. Offensive Pokemon like Abra and Wingull are also good to pair with Porygon to check the aforementioned Fighting-types. Defog and Rapid Spin users like Vullaby and Staryu are good to get rid of entry hazards that allow Pokemon like Abra, Wingull, and Grookey to beat Porygon before it can use Recover. Vullaby and Staryu are also helpful by checking Fighting-types that threaten Porygon such as Timburr and Mienfoo, and Staryu is especially helpful against Corphish and Onix. Spritzee is another great Fighting-type check that can pass Wish to Porygon to keep it healthy and also absorb Knock Off from Pokemon like Vullaby, Timburr, and Mienfoo. Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr can force out Steel-types like Pawniard and Ferroseed; in return, Porygon can wall special attackers such as Wingull, Abra, and Mareanie. Setup sweepers and wallbreakers such as Tyrunt, Scraggy, and Grookey appreciate Porygon's Teleport getting them in safely.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Thunderbolt can be used over Psychic to more effectively hit Pawniard while retaining coverage for Mareanie, but it is generally worse against Fighting-types. Recover can be used on Download sets to allow Porygon to stay healthy throughout the match; however, it would have to drop a coverage move or Agility. Running Thunderbolt over Thunder Wave or Tri Attack alongside Ice Beam gives it the best possible neutral coverage. A Choice Scarf Porygon set with Download can be used in order to revenge kill Mienfoo and can use Trick to hinder walls like Ferroseed.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types**: Fighting-types like Mienfoo and Timburr are able to take care of Porygon using their Fighting-type STAB attacks, but they should be careful about switching into Tri Attack or being heavily damaged by Psychic.
**Steel-types**: Steel-types like Ferroseed, Pawniard, and Magnemite can take any attack from Porygon because of their resistance to its attacks. Pawniard and Ferroseed can also use Knock Off to make Porygon easier to take care of. Ferroseed can also use Thunder Wave to cripple Porygon so it can't outpace Timburr.
**Knock Off**: Knock Off users like Vullaby, Pawniard, and Ferroseed hinder Porygon through removing its Eviolite, making it unable to tank attacks from Ponyta and Abra.
**Priority Attacks**: Priority attacks like Mienfoo's Fake Out, Pawniard's Sucker Punch, and Grookey's Grassy Glide can revenge kill Agility Porygon because of its lack of recovery.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[Yami, 393488]]
- Quality checked by: [[DC, 449990], [zizalith, 410251], [San Tomas, 255030]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Estronic, 240732], [Finland, 517429]]
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