[OVERVIEW]
Porygon2's good Eviolite-boosted defenses and access to Trace make it one of the best special walls in the tier. Porygon2 utilizes Trace to great effect, copying abilities such as Chandelure's Flash Fire, Vaporeon's Water Absorb, Amoonguss's Regenerator, and Toxtricity's Punk Rock. Boasting an impressive Special Attack, Porygon2 can circumvent its passivity by threatening 2- or 3HKOs on most offensive Pokemon with Tri Attack or super effective coverage options. Porygon2's Normal typing is great for letting it be a general blanket check, but its lack of resistances can lead to it being overwhelmed, especially with its susceptibility to entry hazards, since it cannot run Heavy-Duty Boots. Porygon2 is also very vulnerable to physical attackers such as Incineroar and Gligar using Knock Off as well as Choice item users like Chandelure and Munkidori using Trick, since it relies heavily on Eviolite to boost its bulk. Additionally, Porygon2 struggles to threaten bulky Steel-types, such as Registeel and Bronzong, which can allow them opportunities to come in on it for free. On top of that, Porygon2 cannot handle Calm Mind setup sweepers like Sylveon and Scream Tail on its own, especially if they have Recovery moves, but it can slow them down with Thunder Wave, allowing a teammate to handle them.
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Recover
move 2: Tri Attack / Ice Beam
move 3: Shadow Ball / Thunderbolt / Foul Play
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Eviolite
ability: Trace
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
tera type: Poison / Ghost / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Shadow Ball complements Tri Attack, hitting Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Decidueye, and Hisuian Typhlosion, while also dealing super effective damage to Bronzong. Porygon2 can also run a BoltBeam set. Ice Beam threatens Ground-types that might be tempted to switch into a Thunder Wave, such as Flygon and Gligar as well as Grass-types such as Breloom and Amoonguss, which are otherwise very threatening to Porygon2. Thunderbolt handles bulky Water-types like Milotic and Vaporeon that could otherwise chip down Porygon2 or Wish pass to allies for free. Foul Play is useful against any physical attackers, such as Basculegion-M, Scyther, and Tera Steel Flygon, as well as physically frail Pokemon such as Espeon and Munkidori. Trace gives Porygon2 amazing defensive utility, providing a massive advantage against a number of Pokemon. For example, it can Trace Vaporeon's Water Absorb, Porygon-Z's Adaptability, Munkidori's Toxic Chain, Toxtricity's Punk Rock, Chandelure's Flash Fire, Incineroar's as well as Paldean Tauros-W's Intimidate, and Klefki's as well as Tornadus's Prankster. Tera Ghost makes Porygon2 Fighting-immune and boosts the power of Shadow Ball. Alternatively, Tera Poison is an excellent defensive typing overall and prevents Porygon2 from being poisoned, which is vital against Pokemon like Munkidori, Alolan Muk, and Amoonguss that will attempt to cripple Porygon2 by poisoning it. Finally, Tera Fairy, if Porygon2 copies Flygon's Levitate, allows it to completely wall both of Flygon's STAB attacks while being a generally useful defensive typing. In addition to that, unlike Tera Ghost, Tera Poison and Fairy allow Porygon2 to resist Scrappy Flamigo's Close Combat.
Porygon2's weakness to Knock Off users and physical attackers, especially Fighting-types such as Flamigo, Toxicroak, and Heracross, means that it appreciates teammates that can switch into these Pokemon. Amoonguss and Galarian Slowbro make for excellent partners thanks to their Poison typing and Regenerator, allowing them to come in repeatedly throughout the game and tank hits from these threats. Avalugg is another physical wall that pairs well with Porygon2. Despite Avalugg still being weak to Fighting and Knock Off, Porygon2 covers many of its weaknesses by being a blanket special wall that can take on special attackers for it. In return, Avalugg removes entry hazards for Porygon2. Other hazard control options such as Defog Scyther and Altaria are also good partners for Porygon2, since they remove hazards for it while providing good defensive synergy with their Fighting resistances. Porygon2 also appreciates teaming up with physical wallbreakers, especially Fighting-types that can take advantage of bulky Steel-types, which Porygon2 tends to allow in. Flamigo, Paldean Tauros-W and -F, and Heracross are great for this, since they also have good defensive synergy with Porygon2 and appreciate it spreading paralysis to faster Pokemon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel can spread status to physical attackers like Flamigo, Flygon, and Scyther that threaten Porygon2 while also checking Hisuian Typhlosion, one of the only special attackers that consistently carries Fighting-type coverage moves. These bulky Water-types also often carry phazing moves, which are very helpful against bulky setup sweepers like Registeel and Bronzong, which Porygon2 struggles against. Tentacruel can also provide Rapid Spin support for Porygon2.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Discharge can be used as an alternative to Thunder Wave, since it gives Porygon2 space for more offensive options while still letting it fish for paralysis, though Thunder Wave's guaranteed paralysis is generally preferred. Download can be used over Trace, boosting Porygon2's offensive power and making it more difficult for offensive threats to safely switch into it. However, Trace's overall utility is usually much better.
Checks and Counters
====
**Item Displacement**: Porygon2 relies on Eviolite for much of its walling power, meaning it is very susceptible to moves like Knock Off and Trick, which can remove the Eviolite. Many physical attackers such as Incineroar, Swampert, Alolan Muk, and Gligar carry Knock Off and can hinder Porygon2's bulk to allow partners to break through it more easily. Additionally, special attackers with Choice items, such as Chandelure, Porygon-Z, and Munkidori, can cripple Porygon2 by giving it a Choice item using Trick.
**Steel-types**: Porygon2 struggles against bulky Steel-types such as Registeel, Bronzong, and Copperajah. They aren't generally hindered by Thunder Wave and have ways to set entry hazards or boost their own stats, letting these Steel-types exploit Porygon2's lack of coverage to hit them. The first two also threaten Porygon2 with a powerful Body Press.
**Fighting-types**: Powerful physical Fighting-types such as Paldean Tauros-F and -W, Breloom, and Flamigo all threaten Porygon2 with their strong Close Combat. While most do not want to switch into a Thunder Wave, they can pivot in and force Porygon2 out, and Lum Berry Paldean Tauros formes as well as Poison Heal Breloom ignore Thunder Wave altogether and can use Porygon2 as a chance to set up with Bulk Up, Swords Dance, or Substitute.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/emikatana.680530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/shengineer.312113/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murphy-lawden.594972/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Porygon2's good Eviolite-boosted defenses and access to Trace make it one of the best special walls in the tier. Porygon2 utilizes Trace to great effect, copying abilities such as Chandelure's Flash Fire, Vaporeon's Water Absorb, Amoonguss's Regenerator, and Toxtricity's Punk Rock. Boasting an impressive Special Attack, Porygon2 can circumvent its passivity by threatening 2- or 3HKOs on most offensive Pokemon with Tri Attack or super effective coverage options. Porygon2's Normal typing is great for letting it be a general blanket check, but its lack of resistances can lead to it being overwhelmed, especially with its susceptibility to entry hazards, since it cannot run Heavy-Duty Boots. Porygon2 is also very vulnerable to physical attackers such as Incineroar and Gligar using Knock Off as well as Choice item users like Chandelure and Munkidori using Trick, since it relies heavily on Eviolite to boost its bulk. Additionally, Porygon2 struggles to threaten bulky Steel-types, such as Registeel and Bronzong, which can allow them opportunities to come in on it for free. On top of that, Porygon2 cannot handle Calm Mind setup sweepers like Sylveon and Scream Tail on its own, especially if they have Recovery moves, but it can slow them down with Thunder Wave, allowing a teammate to handle them.
[SET]
name: Special Wall
move 1: Recover
move 2: Tri Attack / Ice Beam
move 3: Shadow Ball / Thunderbolt / Foul Play
move 4: Thunder Wave
item: Eviolite
ability: Trace
nature: Calm
evs: 252 HP / 4 SpA / 252 SpD
tera type: Poison / Ghost / Fairy
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Details
====
Shadow Ball complements Tri Attack, hitting Ghost-types such as Chandelure, Decidueye, and Hisuian Typhlosion, while also dealing super effective damage to Bronzong. Porygon2 can also run a BoltBeam set. Ice Beam threatens Ground-types that might be tempted to switch into a Thunder Wave, such as Flygon and Gligar as well as Grass-types such as Breloom and Amoonguss, which are otherwise very threatening to Porygon2. Thunderbolt handles bulky Water-types like Milotic and Vaporeon that could otherwise chip down Porygon2 or Wish pass to allies for free. Foul Play is useful against any physical attackers, such as Basculegion-M, Scyther, and Tera Steel Flygon, as well as physically frail Pokemon such as Espeon and Munkidori. Trace gives Porygon2 amazing defensive utility, providing a massive advantage against a number of Pokemon. For example, it can Trace Vaporeon's Water Absorb, Porygon-Z's Adaptability, Munkidori's Toxic Chain, Toxtricity's Punk Rock, Chandelure's Flash Fire, Incineroar's as well as Paldean Tauros-W's Intimidate, and Klefki's as well as Tornadus's Prankster. Tera Ghost makes Porygon2 Fighting-immune and boosts the power of Shadow Ball. Alternatively, Tera Poison is an excellent defensive typing overall and prevents Porygon2 from being poisoned, which is vital against Pokemon like Munkidori, Alolan Muk, and Amoonguss that will attempt to cripple Porygon2 by poisoning it. Finally, Tera Fairy, if Porygon2 copies Flygon's Levitate, allows it to completely wall both of Flygon's STAB attacks while being a generally useful defensive typing. In addition to that, unlike Tera Ghost, Tera Poison and Fairy allow Porygon2 to resist Scrappy Flamigo's Close Combat.
Porygon2's weakness to Knock Off users and physical attackers, especially Fighting-types such as Flamigo, Toxicroak, and Heracross, means that it appreciates teammates that can switch into these Pokemon. Amoonguss and Galarian Slowbro make for excellent partners thanks to their Poison typing and Regenerator, allowing them to come in repeatedly throughout the game and tank hits from these threats. Avalugg is another physical wall that pairs well with Porygon2. Despite Avalugg still being weak to Fighting and Knock Off, Porygon2 covers many of its weaknesses by being a blanket special wall that can take on special attackers for it. In return, Avalugg removes entry hazards for Porygon2. Other hazard control options such as Defog Scyther and Altaria are also good partners for Porygon2, since they remove hazards for it while providing good defensive synergy with their Fighting resistances. Porygon2 also appreciates teaming up with physical wallbreakers, especially Fighting-types that can take advantage of bulky Steel-types, which Porygon2 tends to allow in. Flamigo, Paldean Tauros-W and -F, and Heracross are great for this, since they also have good defensive synergy with Porygon2 and appreciate it spreading paralysis to faster Pokemon. Bulky Water-types like Vaporeon, Milotic, and Tentacruel can spread status to physical attackers like Flamigo, Flygon, and Scyther that threaten Porygon2 while also checking Hisuian Typhlosion, one of the only special attackers that consistently carries Fighting-type coverage moves. These bulky Water-types also often carry phazing moves, which are very helpful against bulky setup sweepers like Registeel and Bronzong, which Porygon2 struggles against. Tentacruel can also provide Rapid Spin support for Porygon2.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Discharge can be used as an alternative to Thunder Wave, since it gives Porygon2 space for more offensive options while still letting it fish for paralysis, though Thunder Wave's guaranteed paralysis is generally preferred. Download can be used over Trace, boosting Porygon2's offensive power and making it more difficult for offensive threats to safely switch into it. However, Trace's overall utility is usually much better.
Checks and Counters
====
**Item Displacement**: Porygon2 relies on Eviolite for much of its walling power, meaning it is very susceptible to moves like Knock Off and Trick, which can remove the Eviolite. Many physical attackers such as Incineroar, Swampert, Alolan Muk, and Gligar carry Knock Off and can hinder Porygon2's bulk to allow partners to break through it more easily. Additionally, special attackers with Choice items, such as Chandelure, Porygon-Z, and Munkidori, can cripple Porygon2 by giving it a Choice item using Trick.
**Steel-types**: Porygon2 struggles against bulky Steel-types such as Registeel, Bronzong, and Copperajah. They aren't generally hindered by Thunder Wave and have ways to set entry hazards or boost their own stats, letting these Steel-types exploit Porygon2's lack of coverage to hit them. The first two also threaten Porygon2 with a powerful Body Press.
**Fighting-types**: Powerful physical Fighting-types such as Paldean Tauros-F and -W, Breloom, and Flamigo all threaten Porygon2 with their strong Close Combat. While most do not want to switch into a Thunder Wave, they can pivot in and force Porygon2 out, and Lum Berry Paldean Tauros formes as well as Poison Heal Breloom ignore Thunder Wave altogether and can use Porygon2 as a chance to set up with Bulk Up, Swords Dance, or Substitute.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/emikatana.680530/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/shengineer.312113/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/murphy-lawden.594972/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/powerofmemes.583607/
Last edited:
