This Porygon2 is certified Microsoft Genuine Software.*
[Overview]
<p>Game Freak introduced many new items in BW. While the vast majority of these items turned out to be nothing more than over-hyped gimmicks, a few of them have had a major influence on the metagame. One of these items is Eviolite, and who better to use it than Porygon2? With the item, Porygon2's Defense and Special Defense stats reach 324 and 339 without any investment. To put it in perspective, Eviolite makes Porygon2's defensive stats higher than Registeel's! Porygon2 also boasts Trace, allowing it to wall Pokemon such as Houndoom and Jolteon. In addition, Porygon2 has an impressive base 105 Special Attack and access to the excellent attacking combination of Thunderbolt and Ice Beam, which hits most Pokemon for at least neutral damage; it can even utilize Trick Room to become lightning-fast.</p>
<p>Ironically, though, Eviolite actually undermines Porygon2's defensive capabilities by depriving the virtual duck of the health recovery provided by Leftovers. While some may think that losing Leftovers recovery is insignificant, think again: it's a big reason why players often use Blissey over Eviolite Chansey in the OU tier, or Whimsicott over Cottonee. Sure, Porygon2 can use Recover to gain health, but it must waste a turn doing so. Perhaps even more detrimental is Porygon2's Normal typing, which gives it only one immunity, zero resistances, and a weakness to the ever common Fighting-type attacks. Powerful attacks from Pokemon with Choice Band or Choice Specs can also 2HKO, or perhaps OHKO Porygon2. Overall, a well-played Porygon2 can be a painful experience for any opponent, but make sure it doesn't take too many hard hits, or else your opponent will be the one shoving roasted duck down your throat.</p>
[SET]
name: Defensive Duck
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Toxic / Thunder Wave
move 4: Recover
item: Eviolite
nature: Bold
ability: Trace
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>One of the greatest things about this set is that Porygon2 can pose a threat both defensively and offensively. With Trace, Porygon2 can comfortably wall Pokemon such as Jolteon, Chandelure, and Houndoom. It can also be a menace to Arcanine and Electivire, but you need to be careful since those two commonly carry a Fighting-type move. Additionally, Porygon2 can use take advantage of its nice base 105 Special Attack and access to the infamous BoltBeam combo, which hits many Pokemon for neutral damage or greater. However, when using Porygon2, you should generally be trying to inflict a status condition on your opponent's Pokemon. Toxic is a nice move to use against opposing defensive Pokemon since Porygon2 cannot do a lot of damage to them; as for offensive threats, Porygon2 can use Thunder Wave to slow them down. Finally, after inflicting status and dealing some damage, Porygon2 can use Recover to patch itself up, which is very important since it cannot use Leftovers.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>Porygon2's main function is to act as a defensive pivot that can fight back against frail foes, so the best EV spread is one that maximizes its defenses. The spread listed in this analysis allows Porygon2 to take on most physical attacks without much trouble. Of course, feel free to use a spread of 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD in conjunction with a Calm nature if you want Porygon2 to tank more hits from special sweepers. You can also try a spread of 252 HP / 112 Def / 144 SpD and a Calm nature; this spread allows Porygon2 to avoid being 2HKOed from Mismagius's +2 Hidden Power Fighting while still retaining the capacity to brush off most physical attacks.</p>
<p>Porygon2 does not need any specific teammates to function perfectly; think about what it can do for your team rather than what you can do for it. That being said, Pokemon who can set up entry hazards can greatly help Porygon2 out. Kabutops, Smeargle, Roserade, and Froslass all do an excellent job at laying hazards, and Porygon2 is a great teammate in return for them due to their fragility. Bulkier Pokemon such as Donphan, Nidoqueen, or Deoxys-D work just as well. It would also be nice to have a few offensive sweepers who can switch into Fighting-type attacks aimed at Porygon2. Chandelure, Golurk, and Mismagius are completely immune to such moves, and can easily obliterate walls that Porygon2 cannot break. Other sweepers such as Azelf, Togekiss, Nidoking, and Zapdos can switch in on Fighting-type attacks with ease. It is also recommended to have a revenge killer in reserve, since several offensive powerhouses can break through Porygon2 if it has been weakened.</p>
[SET]
name: Trick Room
move 1: Trick Room
move 2: Thunderbolt
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Recover
item: Eviolite
nature: Quiet
ability: Trace / Download
evs: 252 HP / 252 SpA / 4 SpD
ivs: 0 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
<p>Despite being an excellent tank, the one thing that Porygon2 lacks is a high base Speed stat. Using Trick Room is an easy way to solve this problem, as it quickly turns it into a lightning-fast powerhouse: picture someone strapping on a jet pack on Andre the Giant and you'll get a good idea of how dangerous Porygon2 can be. However, Trick Room only lasts for five turns, so you should play carefully with Porygon2 and let its teammates do most of the sweeping. If necessary, you can use Porygon2 as a hit-and-run sweeper: set up Trick Room when the field effect runs out, fire off an attack or use Recover to patch up if necessary, and get the hell out of the field as soon as possible.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>This set has more offensive potential than the Defensive Duck set, so Porygon2's HP and Special Attack stats are maxed out. However, feel free to invest in Porygon2's HP and one of its defenses instead; use a Relaxed nature if you are maxing out Defense or a Sassy nature for Special Defense. If you choose to do this, then you may also want to drop one of Porygon2's attacking moves for Toxic, which allows it to perform a more defensive role. Porygon2 can use either Trace or Download on this set; Trace allows it to wall the same Pokemon listed in the Defensive Duck set, which is important since this set packs less bulk. Download, however, can raise Porygon2's Special Attack to a wicked 508, allowing it to vaporize all but dedicated special walls. The only downside is that Download can be inconsistent; sending Porygon2 against a Pokemon with a higher Special Defense than Defense will give the duck a useless Attack boost instead. However, this can be useful in determining, say, whether that annoying Cresselia on your foe's team is running a physically defensive or specially defensive set.</p>
<p>If you are running a dedicated Trick Room team, it is recommended to have at least two other Pokemon who can set up Trick Room. Luckily, a great deal of them are Psychic- or Ghost-type Pokemon, and are thus more than happy to switch into Fighting-type attacks. Since this Porygon2 is offensively oriented, you may want to use defensive teammates: Slowbro, Dusclops, and Cresselia are some stellar options since they have immense defenses. Don't shy away from offensive options such as Exeggutor or Slowking, though; Slowking can use Nasty Plot to sweep, and Exeggutor's Sleep Powder will prove invaluable in many situations. Besides these Pokemon, you'll also want teammates who have a low Speed stat but excel in other stats. Physical powerhouses such as Snorlax, Escavalier, Golurk, Machamp, Azumarill, and Donphan have no trouble destroying special walls that Porygon2 hates.</p>
[Other Options]
<p>While useless on the Trick Room set, Analytic is a plausible option for the Defensive Duck set since Porygon2 will usually move after the foe. Download is in a similar vein; while it is even less consistent, it provides Porygon2 with roughly 20% more power than Analytic does. Choosing either ability means that Porygon2 will have a tougher time against Pokemon such as Jolteon and Houndoom, however, so make sure you have teammates who can check or counter these threats.</p>
<p>Porygon2 has a plethora of alternate moves to choose from. Unfortunately, it suffers badly from the four move slot syndrome, and virtually all of the listed moves are essential for it to function. If you choose Analytic or Download as Porygon2's ability, you may be able to get away with using Discharge or even Charge Beam over Thunderbolt since the ability boost will make up for the loss of power. The only problem with Charge Beam is that Porygon2 will be switching out frequently, and won't have much of an opportunity to enjoy the boost.</p>
[Checks and Counters]
<p>Fighting-type Pokemon such as Cobalion, Hitmontop, Machamp, and Heracross can beat Porygon2 to a pulp quite easily, especially if they are using a Choice Band. These Pokemon have to watch out for Thunder Wave, however, but Porygon2 will usually switch out when confronted by them. Plenty of other powerhouses can destroy it: attacks from Victini, Rhyperior, Escavalier, Chandelure, Zapdos, and others will obliterate Porygon2's HP faster than it can use Recover. Substitute + Calm Mind Pokemon are troublesome as Substitute blocks status and Calm Mind boosts their Special Defense to a point where Porygon2's attacks bounce off harmlessly. Chandelure is an excellent counter since its massive base 145 Special Attack means that it only needs a few boosts to KO the duck. Rotom-F and Rotom-H resist both Thunderbolt and Ice Beam and can wipe Porygon2 away with a Choice Specs Blizzard or Overheat, respectively.</p>
<p>Offensive behemoths aren't Porygon2's only fears. Pokemon with high Special Defense, such as Registeel, Chansey, and Snorlax, can sponge its attacks all day long, although the latter two must watch out for Toxic. Speaking of poison, Toxic Spikes can quickly chip away at Porygon2's HP; Pokemon who can set these up include Qwilfish, Scolipede, and Roserade. Taunt is a nice way to screw over Porygon2 since it will be unable to use Recover, inflict status, or set up Trick Room. Whimsicott and Tornadus can land a priority Taunt on Porygon2 thanks to their Prankster ability, but these Pokemon are also frail and will take hefty damage from Ice Beam. Pokemon such as Deoxys-D, Cobalion, and Mismagius won't take as much damage, and are therefore recommended. Perhaps even more threatening than Taunt are the moves Knock Off and Trick, which can remove Porygon2's Eviolite. While Knock Off is rarely used, Trick + Choice Scarf is a common tactic used by Pokemon such as Uxie and Rotom-A.</p>
