Porygon (QC 3/3)

[DTC]

TRI ATTACK + DOWNLOAD IS LEGAL NOW!!

Overview
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• Ability Capsule makes Tri Attack with Download legal.
• Great coverage + 19 Special Attack + Download makes Porygon a powerful threat that is also bulky at the same time
• Good catch-all answer to many Little Cup Pokemon, such as Misdreavus, Murkrow, and Carvanha. It can do this because of its astounding physical and special bulk and weakness to only 1 type.
• Reliable recovery in Recover. However, because Porygon does not have any resistances besides a Ghost immunity, it needs to maintain its health by using Recover a lot, which opens way for a free switch-in to a Fighting-type.
• Its extremely low Speed makes it hard to Recover when at low HP.
• Patches up a lot of annoying holes in one teamslot.
• Makes for a good sweeper with Agility backed by good bulk to set it up, great coverage, and a nice 19 Special Attack.

Bulky Attacker
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name: Bulky Attacker
move 1: Tri Attack
move 2: Shadow Ball
move 3: Psychic / Hidden Power Fighting
move 4: Recover
ability: Download
item: Eviolite
evs: 236 HP / 36 Def / 236 SpA
nature: Modest

Moves
========

• Tri Attack is STAB and hits pretty hard when backed by a Download boost
• Shadow Ball hits Misdreavus, Bronzor, and Honedge
• Psychic hits Timburr, Mienfoo, and Croagunk hard on the switch.
• Hidden Power Fighting usually OHKO's Eviolite Pawniard before a Download boost, and always OHKO's Pawniard when it is using Berry Juice or when Porygon is at +1. Hidden Power Fighting also hits Ferroseed and Magnemite harder than Porygon's other moves.
• Recover keeps Porygon healthy
• Download is used to give Porygon more power

Set Details
========

• 236 EVs in SpA and a Modest nature to maximize Special Attack, rest goes in HP and Defense to keep Porygon.
• Eviolite gives Porygon more bulk which goes well with Recover
• If you use Hidden Power Fighting, the EVs you use should be 236 HP / 240 SpA. Note that you lose 2 points in Defense (factoring in Eviolite) by doing this.
• An alternate EV spread of 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD and a calm nature is viable if you want to give Poygon more bulk.

Usage Tips
========

• Try to acquire Special Attack Download boosts whenever possible, as they massively increase Porygon's power.
• Tri Attack should be the move used most often, as it hits many Pokemon hard and the few Pokemon that resist it are generally destroyed by the other moves.
• Not much prediction is needed, as most of the Pokemon that switch into Tri Attack will lose the next turn to its coverage moves.
• Remember, Porygon, unlike some other bulky attackers, has a way to consistently heal its health back up. Make sure to keep Porygon healthy, as it may not be able to heal itself back up when it really needs to because of its terrible Speed.

Team Options
========

• Larvesta synergizes really well with this set because it beats Fighting-types, checks Pawniard, and can help Porygon get the Special Attack boost from Download via U-turn
• Misdreavus is a nice offensive partner as they can easily weaken each others checks, and Misdreavus also beats Fighting-types and Munchlax depending on its set.
• Timburr can switch into and break through Steel-types, Munchlax, and can break through Misdreavus/Frillish if Porygon is not using Shadow Ball

Wall
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name: Wall
move 1: Recover
move 2: Tri Attack
move 3: Shadow Ball
move 4: Thunder Wave
ability: Trace
item: Eviolite
evs: 236 HP / 196 Def / 76 SpD
nature: Calm

Moves
========

• Recover keeps Porygon healthy so it can consistently beat threats
• Tri Attack is a decently strong STAB move
• Porygon makes for a good paralysis spreader with Thunder Wave, crippling many offensive Pokemon that may want to try to take advantage of Porygon.
• Shadow Ball hits Misdreavus, and a few other assorted Pokemon like Meditite on the switch as well as Abra and Honedge.
• Trace has cool situational usage, notably for Regenerator Slowpoke, Volt Absorb Chinchou, and Flash Fire Ponyta.
• Charge Beam can be used to raise Special Attack and do a little bit of damage at the same time.

Set Details
========

• EVs and a Calm nature give Porygon a very bulky 26 HP / 16 Defense / 16 Special Defense before Eviolite
• Eviolite is the best item because Porygon has reliable recovery and wants the extra bulk.

Usage Tips
========

• Porygon can be switched into most offensive Pokemon that are not Fighting-types or Pawniard, but make sure it has near full HP before doing so.
• It is not recommended to switch Porygon into defensive Pokemon unless they are weak to one of Porygon's moves as Porygon is not that strong and is vulnerable to status.
• Maintain Porygon's health with Recover as much as possible so it can check big threats like Murkrow later on in the match.

Team Options
========

• Porygon wants teammates that beat either Fighting-types or Pawniard. Cleric support is also a bonus.
• Slowpoke counters Fighting-types while Porygon patches up most of Slowpoke's Special Defense weaknesses, but this combination is weak to Pawniard.
• Spritzee and Snubbull beat most Fighting-types handily and have Heal Bell. Note that Porygon can not provide much support to Spritzee and Snubbull back, and that this combination is vulnerable to Pawniard.
• Fighting-types like Timburr and Mienfoo can beat Pawniard, Munchlax, and Steel-types

Agility
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name: Agility
move 1: Agility
move 2: Tri Attack
move 3: Psychic
move 4: Hidden Power Fighting / Shadow Ball
ability: Download
item: Berry Juice
evs: 36 Def / 240 SpA / 200 Spe
nature: Modest

Moves
========

• Agility boosts Porygon's Speed so it can sweep
• Tri Attack is STAB
• Psychic hits Fighting-types, OHKO'ing standard Mienfoo after a Special Attack boost
• Hidden Power Fighting hits Pawniard and Magnemite
• Shadow Ball hits Steel- and Ghost-types besides Pawniard along with Misdreavus, but otherwise isn't really needed.

Set Details
========

• EVs maximize Porygon's Special Attack and Speed
• Modest nature is used because Porygon is already fast enough after an Agility
• Berry Juice is used so Porygon has an easier time setting up + extra bulk is always great.
• An alternate EV spread of 156 HP / 40 Def / 240 SpA / 40 Spe can be used for more bulk. However, this spread does not outspeed Choice Scarf Pawniard after +2, and underspeeds a lot of common Pokemon unboosted.

Usage Tips
========

• Try to set up Agility vs Pokemon you get the Special Attack Download boost from.
• This set up condition is pretty specific, but Porygon does not always need a Download boost to sweep, as long as the opposition is properly weakened (Steel-types, Munchlax, and certain very specially bulky Pokemon) and Porygon can get an Agility boost, it should be fine.
• Note Porygon can still avoid the OHKO from most non Fighting-type attacks even without Eviolite or defensive investment.

Team Options
========

• A slow U-turn/Volt Switch/Baton Pass Pokemon such as Larvesta or Chinchou is very useful for assisting Porygon in set up; while Porygon is not frail, it has very specific sweeping conditions in that it could really use a Special Attack boost from Download for sweeping.
• Misdreavus wears down a lot of Porygon's checks
• Pawniard can bait physical walls as well as Knock Off Eviolite's for Porygon to sweep
• Timburr

Other Options
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• Thunderbolt and Discharge are decent moves but don't provide much notable coverage
• Choice Scarf (3 attacks + Trick) revenges Chlorophyll Pokemon but otherwise isn't that great because it does not get to take advantage of Porygon's awesome coverage, Recover, or Agility
• Trick Room can be used instead of Agility, but the short duration of Trick Room may cut Porygon's sweep short.
• Ice Beam hits certain Pokemon like Murkrow harder but otherwise isn't needed.
• Recycle + Berry Juice can be used on the bulky attacker or wall set. Berry Juice gives Porygon 7 more HP than Recover, and gives Porygon a one-time passive heal, but Porygon usually prefers the additional bulk granted by Eviolite, and Recover healing is usually sufficient enough.
• Life Orb with Agility can be used for extra power, but it makes Porygon die too fast and makes it lose any defensive utility it would otherwise have.

Checks & Counters
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• Fighting-types are the best Pokemon for breaking through Porygon, but they will take a lot of damage if they switch directly into a boosted Tri Attack or Psychic. Meditite is the best Fighting-type for switching in, as it can live a Tri Attack with some HP to spare, outspeed Porygon, and then Drain Punch Porygon to regain most of its HP back. Fake Out + Bullet Punch Meditites can get some decent chip damage against Agility Porygon. Timburr is another good candidate as it is also pretty bulky, and has Mach Punch to stop an Agility Porygon's sweep.
  
• Pawniard does not take much from anything besides Hidden Power Fighting, and massively cripples Porygon with Knock Off.
• Munchlax doesn't directly beat Porygon, but can easily switch in and withstand its assaults. From there, Munchlax can Body Slam Porygon until paralysis, or Whirlwind/Toxic Porygon, and then switches into a Fighting-type when it forces Porygon to Recover.
• Berry Juice Magnemite undergoes a similar procedure as Munchlax; it wears down Porygon until Porygon is forced to Recover, and then switches into a Fighting-type while Porygon uses Recover.
• Lickitung can wall even Download Porygon and Dragon Tail it out, or pass a Wish to a Fighting-type so the Fighting-type can beat Porygon.
• Ferroseed does not care about most of Porygon's attacks and can set up hazards and Leech Seed on Porygon.
• Toxic/WoW in general will really wear Porygon down
• Bronzor either sets up or uses Toxic on Porygon sets that lack Shadow Ball
• Frillish also counters sets that lack Shadow Ball
• Forfeiting the match and then using Porygon yourself

 

[Goddess Briyella]

Wow, this is really thorough. I'll QC in a bit.

 

[Electrolyte]

Alright, all changes we covered on irc were implemented.

QC APPROVED 1/3

 

[dcae]

Looks solid overall. Personally I find the wall set still the premier Porygon set, especially as it can easily beat Pokemon that are notable atm while also abusing their abilities, such as copying Carvanha Speed Boost. On the wall set, I strongly believ that Thunder Wave should be thr first slash, since it allows it to cripple an insane amount of shit. Shadow ball is really not as notable as Porygon can defeat Missy anyways with paralyze, and Missy never runs HP Fighting anymore.

 

[DTC]

blarajan wanted me to test Agility Porygon more and I've decided that Berry Juice is a much better item than Life Orb. A Porygon that has no defensive utility isn't a very good Porygon, and you don't particularly need the extra power from Life Orb. I've mentioned Life Orb in tandem with Agility in OO.

(also I will put Thunder Wave > Shadow Ball since Misdreavus don't use Taunt as much these days. The bulky attacker set, however, I feel is quite a bit better than the wall set.)

 

[Ray Jay]

• Charge Beam is worth a mention somewhere, it was pretty standard last gen before people started hyping Twave and is still solid if Porygon can get going late. Doesn't need to be a slash, just a mention on the wall set or something.
• "Set Details" is the best place to include why a specific ability is used, so make sure you do that for the first two sets
• It's worth noting in the analysis that Download + Tri Attack was illegal at one point but is made legal by Ability Capsule just to prevent confusion.
• A bulky spread is possible for the first set, so I would like to see a mention of the exact ev spread from set 2 in "set details" of set 1.
• I don't really like the name "Wall", I would go with "Defensive"

QC 2/3 GLAD AGILITY HAS A SET WITH BERRY JUICE AND GOOD DAY TO YOU SIR

 

[Goddess Briyella]

Mention somewhere that Porygon's STAB Download Hyper Beam is the strongest attack in the entire tier, and this is good to go.



Excellent job. QC 3/3

 

[Rowan]

make changes to this DTC! Personally, I'd never run Ice Beam anymore, which really frees up some of Porygon's 4mss, particularly on set 1. though Pory still functions the same, so there's not much work to be done.

 

[blarajan]

Completely remove all mentions of Ice Beam, it was terrible even WITH Gligar. Replace each one with Shadow Ball (removing all Shadow Ball slashes). Slash Psychic with HP Fighting on the Download set, and mention Psychic in all subsequent sets. Psychic is the best attack / option to maintain Porygon's ev spread.

I would make the EV spread on Agility: 156 HP / 40 Def / 240 SpA / 40 Spe Modest. I have actually used Agility Porygon quite a bit and have never found the need for more than 11 Speed, as doubling it outruns scarf 14s and below. At the very least, mention this spread heavily. I really appreciate the bulk when setting up, like on Murkrow.

 

[DTC]

updated but i don't have much time to write this up :X

can someone take this over?