QC 2/2: TheMantyke | Jio
GP 2/2: Psywaves | TDP
[OVERVIEW]
Porygon2 is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in the VGC metagame. While its Normal typing provides Porygon2 with no resistances, it only leaves it weak to Fighting-type moves, and coupled with reliable recovery, it can be quite difficult to take down, as it can shrug off the majority of neutral and unboosted attacks. Porygon2 also provides valuable speed control for teams in Trick Room and Thunder Wave, and although it faces strong competition from Cresselia, it sets itself apart from the latter due to its Normal typing, more reliable recovery, and abilities. Specifically Trace which allows Porygon2 to copy useful abilities such as Intimidate, Competitive, Prankster, and even Parental Bond, which can deter physical attackers or turn Porygon2 into a hard-hitting tank. Despite all this, Porygon2 can find itself being very passive with without offensive investment, dealing little damage to Pokemon that aren't weak to its coverage moves. Another issue with Porygon2 is that it needs to run Eviolite, which prevents it from running other useful items such as Mental Herb and Sitrus Berry. Taunt is a common move that can stop Porygon2 from setting up Trick Room or spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave. Finally, Fighting-types such as Terrakion, Breloom, and Conkeldurr are fairly common and all completely shut down Porygon2, which also hurts its viability in VGC.
[SET]
name: Bulky Support
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Recover
move 3: Trick Room / Thunder Wave
move 4: Tri Attack / Thunderbolt
item: Eviolite
ability: Trace
nature: Bold / Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 92 Def / 92 SpA / 68 SpD / 4 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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Ice Beam provides necessary coverage in VGC 2015 against threats such as Thundurus, Landorus-T, and Mega Salamence. Recover provides longevity for Porygon2 and allows it to take many repeated hits, which means that it can stay alive throughout the game and sponge neutral hits. Trick Room turns slower Pokemon such as Azumarill and Mega Mawile into powerful sweepers. Thunder Wave slows down opposing Pokemon and has a chance of creating a free turn. Tri Attack has decent neutral coverage alongside Ice Beam; however, it is a fairly weak option despite having a STAB boost. Thunderbolt provides amazing coverage alongside Ice Beam and hits Water-types such as Suicune, Politoed, and Milotic while also hitting Flying-types such as Talonflame.
Set Details
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252 HP EVs and 96 Def EVs along with a Bold or Relaxed nature allow Porygon2 to survive some of the most powerful attacks in the metagame, including +1 Double-Edge from Adamant Mega Salamence, Mega Kangaskahn Double-Edge, and even Life Orb Terrakion's Close Combat. 92 EVs in Special Attack allow Porygon2 to OHKO uninvested Mega Salamence 100% of the time, and the remaining EVs are put into Special Defense. The final 4 EVs are placed into Speed, as they are wasted if put into any other stat. If using Trick Room, run a Relaxed nature with 0 Speed IVs, as this minimizes Speed.
Usage Tips
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Porygon2 should be used to check and cripple powerful attackers in VGC such as Mega Kangaskhan, Mega Salamence, Mega Charizard Y, Thundurus, and Gengar with Thunder Wave and Ice Beam. Be wary of Knock Off users such as Bisharp and Scrafty, as the removal of Porygon2's Eviolite can turn it into a liability on most teams, and be wary of Fighting-types and Steel-types, as the former can deal massive damage to Porygon2 with their powerful STAB moves and the latter take little damage from Porygon2's moves; Aegislash and Heatran can also use Substitute against Porygon2, and Ferrothorn doesn't mind absorbing paralysis. If using Trick Room, set it up as early as possible, and keep Porygon2 as healthy as possible for setting up Trick Room again in the late-game so slow Pokemon such as Azumarill and Mega Mawile can sweep.
Team Options
========
Fairy-types such as Sylveon and Mega Gardevoir can beat the Fighting-types that trouble Porygon2, while Porygon2 can set up Trick Room for them. Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr, Terrakion, and Breloom can beat powerful Knock Off users such as Bisharp and Scrafty, both of which heavily pressure Porygon2 with Knock Off, while they having Mega Salamence removed for them. Fighting-types also remove Steel-types that can wall Porygon2, such as Heatran and Ferrothorn. Pokemon that generally appreciate speed control in Thunder Wave such as Entei, Azumarill, Heatran, Bisharp, and Breloom work well with Porygon2, as they can pressure teams easily when they outspeed their foes. Pokemon such as Azumarill, Mega Mawile, and Mega Camerupt appreciate Trick Room support from Porygon2, as they become very powerful and threatening sweepers when Trick Room is up.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Magic Coat can be used to bounce back status moves such as Spore and Taunt, preventing Porygon2 from being crippled and allowing it to set up Trick Room more easily. Electroweb and Icy Wind can be used as alternate forms of speed control, but it isn't recommended, as they have a chance to miss and can activate Bisharp's Defiant and Milotic's Competitive. Gravity allows Porygon2 to run higher-Base Power moves such as Blizzard and Thunder and allows teammates such as Landorus-T to spam Earthquake or even the likes of Mega Gengar to use a very accurate Hypnosis. Swagger gives Porygon2 a chance to create free turns, but the risk of boosting a physical attacker's Attack by two stages is not worth it most of the time. Download could be used over Trace, as this allows Porygon2 to deal more damage if it gains a boost to Special Attack; however, there are many specially defensive threats in VGC, which can boost Porygon2's unused Attack stat instead. As Porygon2 has low base Speed, it can find plenty of opportunities to utilize Analytic, but it becomes useless against opposing Trick Room teams.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Powerful Fighting-types**: Fighting-types such as Conkeldurr, Breloom, and Terrakion can threaten Porygon2, as they can deal huge damage to it with their powerful STAB moves while Porygon2 can't do a lot back.
**Knock Off**: Porygon2 is very item reliant and is therefore very prone to Knock Off, as the removal of Eviolite severely reduces its bulk.
**Offensive Pressure**: Though Porygon2 can survive powerful attacks such as Mega Salamence's Double-Edge, it is very vulnerable to double targeting and can be overwhelmed very easily.
**Bulky Steel-types**: Bulky Steel-types such as Heatran and Ferrothorn take very little from Porygon2's moves. Additionally, Heatran can use Substitute to avoid Thunder Wave, while said move powers up Ferrothorn's Gyro Ball.
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