[SET]
Specially Defensive (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
- Tri Attack / Ice Beam
[SET COMMENTS]
Porygon2's excellent bulk thanks to Eviolite, reliable recovery, and few weaknesses make it an excellent defensive answer to special attackers like Charizard and Magneton. Thunder Wave lets Porygon2 slow down Speed-boosting setup sweeepers like Oricorio and Farigiraf while punishing switch-ins like Passimian and Hisuian Decidueye. Foul Play deters frail physical attackers like Lycanroc and Dodrio from using Porygon2 as a setup opportunity. Tri Attack lets Porygon2 spread status as it attacks and has virtually perfect coverage with Foul Play. Ice Beam is an alternative for better coverage against Pokemon weak to Ice like Rhydon, Hisuian Decidueye, and Brute Bonnet, notably enabling Porygon2 to 2HKO defensive Ground-types like Sandaconda and Palossand. Trace gives Porygon2 added defensive utility against Pokemon like Jolteon, Flash Fire Typhlosion, and the Oricorio formes by copying their immunity abilities or Dancer. Trace also copies abilities that defensively augment Porygon2, such as Sticky Hold from Dipplin, Prankster from Grafaiai and Whimsicott, and Pressure from Articuno. Tera Fairy removes Porygon2's Fighting weakness to lessen its vulnerability to coverage moves from special wallbreakers such as Typhlosion and Clawitzer, and it can turn the tables on Fighting-type Pokemon that would otherwise break through Porygon2, such as Passimian and Hisuian Decidueye.
Porygon2 is a capable backbone for bulky teams thanks to its longevity and single Fighting weakness. Physically defensive Pokemon like Palossand, Orthworm, and Sandaconda can form defensive cores with Porygon2, and they especially appreciate it as a check to special attackers that threaten them like Typhlosion, Charizard, and Magneton. Fighting-types like Hisuian Decidueye, Passimian, and Virizion threaten Porygon2, so it relies on checks to these Pokemon such as Weezing, Palossand, and Charizard. Porygon2 depends on its Eviolite for its bulk, so it is greatly appreciative of Pokemon that can absorb Knock Off such as Dipplin and Muk, providing Dipplin an answer to special attackers and Muk a check to Psychic-types in return. Hisuian Decidueye, Cramorant, Hisuian Avalugg, and Sandslash all maximize Porygon2's longevity by removing entry hazards that would otherwise wear it down. Porygon2 appreciates reliable answers to Nasty Plot Mesprit, such as Magneton and Hisuian Qwilfish. Pivots such as Magneton and Mepsrit can make Porygon2 get stuck in a loop of switching in, taking chip damage from entry hazards and pivot moves, and needing to switch out against a strong wallbreaker like Glastrier; Porygon2 benefits from partners that can break said cycle, such as bulky Hisuian Decidueye with its hazard removal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tera Blast has equivalent power to Tri Attack and has solid coverage both with Tera Fairy and Foul Play, but the loss of spreading status while attacking leaves Porygon2 reliant on Thunder Wave, worsening its issues with passivity. Tera Ghost is an alternative to Tera Fairy for an immunity to Fighting-type moves like Focus Blast from Typhlosion, Aura Sphere from Clawitzer, and Body Press from Regirock and Orthworm. However, Passimian has Knock Off for coverage against Tera Ghost Porygon2, and Hisuian Decidueye can hit Porygon2 with its Fighting-type moves anyway because of Scrappy. Tera Poison shares the Fighting resistance of Tera Fairy and gives Porygon2 a coveted poison immunity for increased resilience against Grafaiai, Qwilfish, and Hisuian Qwilfish. However, the additional Psychic weakness makes Porygon2 less reliable as a check to specially offensive Psychic-types it would otherwise check like Mesprit and Farigiraf. Porygon2 has Trick Room in its movepool, tempting it to run it as a setter for its teammates or Trick Room attacker itself with Download. Aside from Trick Room being niche, Porygon2 struggles to be an effective Trick Room setter without a pivoting move, and it struggles to reliably get the right Download boost to be as offensively threatening as attackers like Alolan Exeggutor and Farigiraf. A more offensively inclined set with Download and Agility is similarly enticing, but the inconsistency of Download to get the correct boost and Porygon2's weaker STAB attack make it a poor sweeper compared to Farigiraf, Jolteon, and Oricorio-G.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type Coverage**: Hisuian Decidueye, Virizion, Passimian, and Hitmonlee all threaten Porygon2 with their powerful physical Fighting-type STAB moves, though only Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion can mitigate Porygon2's Thunder Wave by holding a Lum Berry. Hitmonlee's Limber means it isn't deterred by Thunder Wave. Regirock and Orthworm slam Porygon2 with Body Press and can use its passivity as their chance to set entry hazards or use Iron Defense to further power up Body Press. Lycanroc and Glastrier can use Close Combat to KO Porygon2 after a Swords Dance boost.
**Knock Off, Trick, and Switcheroo**: Porygon2 depends on Eviolite for its substantial bulk and should be wary of Pokemon that use item disruption tactics; Mesprit. Grafaiai, Sneasel, and Sandslash commonly run Knock Off and may soften up Porygon2 for their teammates if they can't break through it on their own. A Choice item from Whimsicott, Mismagius, and Rotom can enable these special attackers or their teammates to exploit or overwhelm Porygon2.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards take a toll on Porygon2's longevity and force it to become more passive by using Recover more often. The constant chip damage from Toxic Spikes from the Qwilfish formes and Weezing are especially noxious to Porygon2. Toxic from the Qwilfish formes and Dudunsparce directly puts Porygon2 on a timer to make it less effective as a wall. Poison Touch poisons from Grafaiai and even Will-O-Wisp from Charizard wear on Porygon2's health.
**Substitute and Taunt Users**: Mesprit can use Terastallization, Encore, and Substitute to turn Porygon2 into setup fodder for itself. Frosmoth may struggle to overcome Porygon2's substantial bulk, particularly if it copied Ice Scales with Trace, but Substitute both protects Frosmoth from Thunder Wave and cannot be broken by any of Porygon2's moves, enabling Frosmoth to fish for a desperate freeze against Porygon2. Mismagius may overwhelm Porygon2 with a mix of Terastallization, Taunt or Substitute, and setup.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Specially Defensive (Porygon2) @ Eviolite
Ability: Trace
Tera Type: Fairy
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Calm Nature
IVs: 0 Atk
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Foul Play
- Tri Attack / Ice Beam
[SET COMMENTS]
Porygon2's excellent bulk thanks to Eviolite, reliable recovery, and few weaknesses make it an excellent defensive answer to special attackers like Charizard and Magneton. Thunder Wave lets Porygon2 slow down Speed-boosting setup sweeepers like Oricorio and Farigiraf while punishing switch-ins like Passimian and Hisuian Decidueye. Foul Play deters frail physical attackers like Lycanroc and Dodrio from using Porygon2 as a setup opportunity. Tri Attack lets Porygon2 spread status as it attacks and has virtually perfect coverage with Foul Play. Ice Beam is an alternative for better coverage against Pokemon weak to Ice like Rhydon, Hisuian Decidueye, and Brute Bonnet, notably enabling Porygon2 to 2HKO defensive Ground-types like Sandaconda and Palossand. Trace gives Porygon2 added defensive utility against Pokemon like Jolteon, Flash Fire Typhlosion, and the Oricorio formes by copying their immunity abilities or Dancer. Trace also copies abilities that defensively augment Porygon2, such as Sticky Hold from Dipplin, Prankster from Grafaiai and Whimsicott, and Pressure from Articuno. Tera Fairy removes Porygon2's Fighting weakness to lessen its vulnerability to coverage moves from special wallbreakers such as Typhlosion and Clawitzer, and it can turn the tables on Fighting-type Pokemon that would otherwise break through Porygon2, such as Passimian and Hisuian Decidueye.
Porygon2 is a capable backbone for bulky teams thanks to its longevity and single Fighting weakness. Physically defensive Pokemon like Palossand, Orthworm, and Sandaconda can form defensive cores with Porygon2, and they especially appreciate it as a check to special attackers that threaten them like Typhlosion, Charizard, and Magneton. Fighting-types like Hisuian Decidueye, Passimian, and Virizion threaten Porygon2, so it relies on checks to these Pokemon such as Weezing, Palossand, and Charizard. Porygon2 depends on its Eviolite for its bulk, so it is greatly appreciative of Pokemon that can absorb Knock Off such as Dipplin and Muk, providing Dipplin an answer to special attackers and Muk a check to Psychic-types in return. Hisuian Decidueye, Cramorant, Hisuian Avalugg, and Sandslash all maximize Porygon2's longevity by removing entry hazards that would otherwise wear it down. Porygon2 appreciates reliable answers to Nasty Plot Mesprit, such as Magneton and Hisuian Qwilfish. Pivots such as Magneton and Mepsrit can make Porygon2 get stuck in a loop of switching in, taking chip damage from entry hazards and pivot moves, and needing to switch out against a strong wallbreaker like Glastrier; Porygon2 benefits from partners that can break said cycle, such as bulky Hisuian Decidueye with its hazard removal.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Tera Blast has equivalent power to Tri Attack and has solid coverage both with Tera Fairy and Foul Play, but the loss of spreading status while attacking leaves Porygon2 reliant on Thunder Wave, worsening its issues with passivity. Tera Ghost is an alternative to Tera Fairy for an immunity to Fighting-type moves like Focus Blast from Typhlosion, Aura Sphere from Clawitzer, and Body Press from Regirock and Orthworm. However, Passimian has Knock Off for coverage against Tera Ghost Porygon2, and Hisuian Decidueye can hit Porygon2 with its Fighting-type moves anyway because of Scrappy. Tera Poison shares the Fighting resistance of Tera Fairy and gives Porygon2 a coveted poison immunity for increased resilience against Grafaiai, Qwilfish, and Hisuian Qwilfish. However, the additional Psychic weakness makes Porygon2 less reliable as a check to specially offensive Psychic-types it would otherwise check like Mesprit and Farigiraf. Porygon2 has Trick Room in its movepool, tempting it to run it as a setter for its teammates or Trick Room attacker itself with Download. Aside from Trick Room being niche, Porygon2 struggles to be an effective Trick Room setter without a pivoting move, and it struggles to reliably get the right Download boost to be as offensively threatening as attackers like Alolan Exeggutor and Farigiraf. A more offensively inclined set with Download and Agility is similarly enticing, but the inconsistency of Download to get the correct boost and Porygon2's weaker STAB attack make it a poor sweeper compared to Farigiraf, Jolteon, and Oricorio-G.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Fighting-types and Fighting-type Coverage**: Hisuian Decidueye, Virizion, Passimian, and Hitmonlee all threaten Porygon2 with their powerful physical Fighting-type STAB moves, though only Hisuian Decidueye and Virizion can mitigate Porygon2's Thunder Wave by holding a Lum Berry. Hitmonlee's Limber means it isn't deterred by Thunder Wave. Regirock and Orthworm slam Porygon2 with Body Press and can use its passivity as their chance to set entry hazards or use Iron Defense to further power up Body Press. Lycanroc and Glastrier can use Close Combat to KO Porygon2 after a Swords Dance boost.
**Knock Off, Trick, and Switcheroo**: Porygon2 depends on Eviolite for its substantial bulk and should be wary of Pokemon that use item disruption tactics; Mesprit. Grafaiai, Sneasel, and Sandslash commonly run Knock Off and may soften up Porygon2 for their teammates if they can't break through it on their own. A Choice item from Whimsicott, Mismagius, and Rotom can enable these special attackers or their teammates to exploit or overwhelm Porygon2.
**Residual Damage**: Entry hazards take a toll on Porygon2's longevity and force it to become more passive by using Recover more often. The constant chip damage from Toxic Spikes from the Qwilfish formes and Weezing are especially noxious to Porygon2. Toxic from the Qwilfish formes and Dudunsparce directly puts Porygon2 on a timer to make it less effective as a wall. Poison Touch poisons from Grafaiai and even Will-O-Wisp from Charizard wear on Porygon2's health.
**Substitute and Taunt Users**: Mesprit can use Terastallization, Encore, and Substitute to turn Porygon2 into setup fodder for itself. Frosmoth may struggle to overcome Porygon2's substantial bulk, particularly if it copied Ice Scales with Trace, but Substitute both protects Frosmoth from Thunder Wave and cannot be broken by any of Porygon2's moves, enabling Frosmoth to fish for a desperate freeze against Porygon2. Mismagius may overwhelm Porygon2 with a mix of Terastallization, Taunt or Substitute, and setup.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sinnabyss.626095/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/flampoke.654091/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
Last edited:
