[OVERVIEW]
Porygon2's main function is trapping Dugtrio to allow grounded attackers to shine. Its ability, Trace, also gives it cool tricks such as blanking Claydol's Earthquake, absorbing Jolteon's Thunderbolt, and stealing Natural Cure. Furthermore, thanks to great bulk, solid Special Attack, and BoltBeam coverage, Porygon2 is able to counter dangerous sweepers such as Salamence and Gyarados. However, Porygon2 is usually the sole Pokemon with no pace on offensive teams, so it can be exploited by setup attackers such as Curse Snorlax and Dragon Dance Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Recover
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Thunderbolt / Thunder / Toxic
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Recover makes it hard to wear down Porygon2. Ice Beam lets Porygon2 take on Pokemon such as Dugtrio, Salamence, and Flygon. Thunderbolt or Thunder does some damage to Skarmory and turns Porygon2 into one of the best Gyarados counters in ADV OU. While the raw power and paralysis rate of Thunder can be helpful, the accuracy of Thunderbolt makes it more reliable. Alternatively, Toxic hits common targets such as Tyranitar. Thunder Wave cripples threats like Jirachi, Jolteon, and Aerodactyl. Using a set with double status is a viable option, because an Electric-type attacking move is not very useful on teams with Magneton.
The physical bulk investment allows Porygon2 to avoid being 2HKOed by Adamant Dugtrio's Earthquake in sand, which is important because Porygon2 cannot guarantee an OHKO on Dugtrio with Ice Beam. A more offensive spread can be used as well. For example, an EV spread of 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpA with a Modest nature allows Porygon2 to guarantee an OHKO on 8 HP / 40 SpD Dugtrio with Ice Beam. However, this comes with the risk of being worn down by Pokemon such as Salamence and Aerodactyl more easily.
Team Options
========
Porygon2 fits on Calm Mind spam teams, where it traps Dugtrio for key threats such as offensive Celebi, Jirachi, and the rare Raikou. Dugtrio itself appreciates opposing Dugtrio being removed too, because it can use Hidden Power Bug and Aerial Ace without worrying about being revenge trapped. The combination of Porygon2 and Dugtrio also checks Salamence, Tyranitar, and Flygon, allowing a team to use a more offensive check to them like Suicune. Meanwhile, with support from Porygon2, Heracross, Tyranitar, Magneton, Starmie, and offensive Swampert no longer worry about being trapped by Dugtrio. In return, they can deal with Porygon2's counters such as Snorlax, Metagross, and Jirachi.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain Dance can be used to clear sand for Pokemon such as Salac Berry Heracross. Hidden Power Fire does significant damage to Forretress and hits Metagross. Hidden Power Fighting pressures Tyranitar. Sharpen can be used to set up on Dugtrio and attempt to sweep the opposing team with boosted STAB Return. However, it is not useful in matchups where Dugtrio isn't present. Furthermore, even if Porygon2 manages to set up, there are still numerous things that can stop it such as Explosion and Fighting-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Pokemon like Snorlax, Substitute Jirachi, and Metagross that don't care too much about Porygon2's attacks or status moves are solid counters to it. Curse Snorlax and Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi can set up on Porygon2, while Metagross hits it hard with its STAB Meteor Mash. Forretress can lay Spikes on Porygon2 quite easily. Tyranitar does not appreciate Porygon2's status moves, but it can generally do great damage to Porygon2, especially if it can hit Porygon2 with Focus Punch. Additionally, although Dragon Dance Tyranitar is not a check to Porygon2, it can set up on it Porygon2 while avoiding status with Lum Berry or Taunt, which is dangerous because opposing players will aim to use Porygon2 as setup fodder when it's used on offensive teams with frail defensive backbones. Blissey is easily forced out by Toxic, but it can use Toxic, Thunder Wave, or the rare Sing to make Porygon2 rather useless. Suicune takes solid damage from Porygon2's Thunderbolt or Thunder when its Special Defense isn't boosted, but if it is, Suicune can set up on Porygon2. Celebi can easily pivot in, shrug off damage by using Recover, and switch out to prevent status from crippling its teammate unless Porygon2 predicts the switch. Furthermore, Baton Pass + Calm Mind or Swords Dance Celebi can also set up on Porygon2. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Heracross, Machamp, and Hariyama threaten Porygon2 with their STAB moves and don't take much damage from it. Finally, although Porygon2 has potential to remove status by getting Natural Cure via Trace from Pokemon such as Blissey and Starmie, it is otherwise quite afraid of status, which severely hinders its ability to do its job.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[wyc2333, 336830]]
- Quality checked by: [[vapicuno, 5454], [Triangles, 118250]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 336073]]
Porygon2's main function is trapping Dugtrio to allow grounded attackers to shine. Its ability, Trace, also gives it cool tricks such as blanking Claydol's Earthquake, absorbing Jolteon's Thunderbolt, and stealing Natural Cure. Furthermore, thanks to great bulk, solid Special Attack, and BoltBeam coverage, Porygon2 is able to counter dangerous sweepers such as Salamence and Gyarados. However, Porygon2 is usually the sole Pokemon with no pace on offensive teams, so it can be exploited by setup attackers such as Curse Snorlax and Dragon Dance Tyranitar.
[SET]
name: Standard
move 1: Recover
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Thunderbolt / Thunder / Toxic
move 4: Thunder Wave / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Trace
nature: Bold
evs: 252 HP / 200 Def / 56 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Recover makes it hard to wear down Porygon2. Ice Beam lets Porygon2 take on Pokemon such as Dugtrio, Salamence, and Flygon. Thunderbolt or Thunder does some damage to Skarmory and turns Porygon2 into one of the best Gyarados counters in ADV OU. While the raw power and paralysis rate of Thunder can be helpful, the accuracy of Thunderbolt makes it more reliable. Alternatively, Toxic hits common targets such as Tyranitar. Thunder Wave cripples threats like Jirachi, Jolteon, and Aerodactyl. Using a set with double status is a viable option, because an Electric-type attacking move is not very useful on teams with Magneton.
The physical bulk investment allows Porygon2 to avoid being 2HKOed by Adamant Dugtrio's Earthquake in sand, which is important because Porygon2 cannot guarantee an OHKO on Dugtrio with Ice Beam. A more offensive spread can be used as well. For example, an EV spread of 252 HP / 192 Def / 64 SpA with a Modest nature allows Porygon2 to guarantee an OHKO on 8 HP / 40 SpD Dugtrio with Ice Beam. However, this comes with the risk of being worn down by Pokemon such as Salamence and Aerodactyl more easily.
Team Options
========
Porygon2 fits on Calm Mind spam teams, where it traps Dugtrio for key threats such as offensive Celebi, Jirachi, and the rare Raikou. Dugtrio itself appreciates opposing Dugtrio being removed too, because it can use Hidden Power Bug and Aerial Ace without worrying about being revenge trapped. The combination of Porygon2 and Dugtrio also checks Salamence, Tyranitar, and Flygon, allowing a team to use a more offensive check to them like Suicune. Meanwhile, with support from Porygon2, Heracross, Tyranitar, Magneton, Starmie, and offensive Swampert no longer worry about being trapped by Dugtrio. In return, they can deal with Porygon2's counters such as Snorlax, Metagross, and Jirachi.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Rain Dance can be used to clear sand for Pokemon such as Salac Berry Heracross. Hidden Power Fire does significant damage to Forretress and hits Metagross. Hidden Power Fighting pressures Tyranitar. Sharpen can be used to set up on Dugtrio and attempt to sweep the opposing team with boosted STAB Return. However, it is not useful in matchups where Dugtrio isn't present. Furthermore, even if Porygon2 manages to set up, there are still numerous things that can stop it such as Explosion and Fighting-type moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
Pokemon like Snorlax, Substitute Jirachi, and Metagross that don't care too much about Porygon2's attacks or status moves are solid counters to it. Curse Snorlax and Substitute + Calm Mind Jirachi can set up on Porygon2, while Metagross hits it hard with its STAB Meteor Mash. Forretress can lay Spikes on Porygon2 quite easily. Tyranitar does not appreciate Porygon2's status moves, but it can generally do great damage to Porygon2, especially if it can hit Porygon2 with Focus Punch. Additionally, although Dragon Dance Tyranitar is not a check to Porygon2, it can set up on it Porygon2 while avoiding status with Lum Berry or Taunt, which is dangerous because opposing players will aim to use Porygon2 as setup fodder when it's used on offensive teams with frail defensive backbones. Blissey is easily forced out by Toxic, but it can use Toxic, Thunder Wave, or the rare Sing to make Porygon2 rather useless. Suicune takes solid damage from Porygon2's Thunderbolt or Thunder when its Special Defense isn't boosted, but if it is, Suicune can set up on Porygon2. Celebi can easily pivot in, shrug off damage by using Recover, and switch out to prevent status from crippling its teammate unless Porygon2 predicts the switch. Furthermore, Baton Pass + Calm Mind or Swords Dance Celebi can also set up on Porygon2. Fighting-type Pokemon such as Heracross, Machamp, and Hariyama threaten Porygon2 with their STAB moves and don't take much damage from it. Finally, although Porygon2 has potential to remove status by getting Natural Cure via Trace from Pokemon such as Blissey and Starmie, it is otherwise quite afraid of status, which severely hinders its ability to do its job.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[wyc2333, 336830]]
- Quality checked by: [[vapicuno, 5454], [Triangles, 118250]]
- Grammar checked by: [[The Dutch Plumberjack, 232216], [Rabia, 336073]]
Last edited:
