[OVERVIEW]
* Porygon2 is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in the VGC17 metagame.
* Access to Eviolite gives it a major boost to its defenses, making it nearly impossible to OHKO with most common threats.
* Its high Special Attack lets it deal a decent amount of damage as well, threatening Pokemon that are weak to its coverage moves.
* Porygon2 also offers the ability to set up Trick Room, allowing the numerous slower Pokemon in VGC17 to thrive alongside it.
* Overall, Porygon2 is one of the strongest and most popular tanks in the metagame and is something that every team needs to prepare for.
[SET]
name: Bulky Trick Room Setter
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt / Tri Attack / Toxic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Trick Room
item: Eviolite
ability: Download
nature: Sassy
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Tri Attack is Porygon2's strongest STAB move, providing reliable damage as well as a chance to inflict status.
* Ice Beam is used to OHKO most Salamence and Garchomp.
* Shadow Ball is another option, as it's Porygon2's best option against Marowak, which would otherwise wall it.
* Thunderbolt can hit Water- and Flying-types, most notably Celesteela, Pelipper, and Gyarados.
* Toxic can be used against Pokemon that wall Porygon2, such as Gastrodon and opposing Porygon2.
* Recover is used to give Porygon2 more longevity.
* Finally, Trick Room is used to set up Trick Room for your team.
Set Details
========
* Eviolite and HP investment maximizes bulk.
* Physical attackers are the most common Pokemon to deal the most damage to Porygon2, so the Defense investment guarantees survival of two Sacred Swords from max Attack Kartana.
* The Special Attack investment guarantees that Ice Beam can OHKO 4 HP Garchomp.
* Quiet nature and 0 IV in Speed makes Porygon2 as fast as possible in Trick Room.
* Download is used for a more consistency, but Trace can be used as well, as there are very few detrimental abilities for Porygon2 in this metagame.
* Just be careful not to get Swift Swim or Surge Surfer, as these will hurt your performance in Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
* Porygon2 has a very simple but very important role, take hits and set up Trick Room.
* Its bulk means it can take getting doubled into by almost anything, so you only need to be wary of Fake Out or Taunt users.
* Sometimes, both players need to set up trick room.
* In this situation, there is a difficult mind game to get it set up.
* If both players use Trick Room, they cancel each other out.
Team Options
========
* Porygon2 benefits slow Pokemon that thrive in Trick Room, so Pokemon like Muk-Alola, Marowak-Alola, Araquanid, Vikavolt, and Drampa are all great options.
* Hariyama stands out as it has access to Fake Out, stopping Taunt, Sky Drop, or Roar users.
* Tapu Lele is a strong partner as well, stopping priority moves that would bypass Trick Room.
* Porygon2 also fits into most non-hyper-offensive teams, it's amazing bulk and sustainability make it an asset in longer battles.
* Tapu Fini is a strong partner as it can protect Porygon2 from toxic.
* The other Tapus can be good partners as well, to turn off misty terrain so Porygon2 can toxic opponent's mons.
* Pokemon that can check fighting types make strong partners as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Porygon2 can use Psych Up along with a partner that knows Minimize. This lets it gain the evasiveness of its partner in a single turn.
* Return can be used as an alternative coverage move, as snarl can completely disable Porygon2's offensive capabilities.
* Shadow Ball is an option to hit alolan Marowak, but it has no other viable use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxic**: Because Porygon2 can take so many hits, toxic can be used in order to wear it down without attacking it.
**Fighting Types**: Strong fighting types, including Hariyama, Pheromosa, and Buzzwole, can deal a ton of damage to Porygon2.
**Celesteela**: Celesteela can out-stall Porygon2, especially if it lacks thunderbolt. Celesteela's immunity to toxic and access to leech seed gives it a big advantage.
**Snorlax**: Snorlax can comfortably wall Porygon2, and set up with curse. This also makes trick room ineffective against it as well.
**Taunt**: Pokemon that can use Taunt threaten Trick Room teams, as they can prevent it from getting set up.
**Knock Off**: Pokémon like Muk-Alola and Hariyama can knock off Porygon2's Eviolite, making it much more vulnerable.
* Porygon2 is one of the bulkiest Pokemon in the VGC17 metagame.
* Access to Eviolite gives it a major boost to its defenses, making it nearly impossible to OHKO with most common threats.
* Its high Special Attack lets it deal a decent amount of damage as well, threatening Pokemon that are weak to its coverage moves.
* Porygon2 also offers the ability to set up Trick Room, allowing the numerous slower Pokemon in VGC17 to thrive alongside it.
* Overall, Porygon2 is one of the strongest and most popular tanks in the metagame and is something that every team needs to prepare for.
[SET]
name: Bulky Trick Room Setter
move 1: Ice Beam
move 2: Thunderbolt / Tri Attack / Toxic
move 3: Recover
move 4: Trick Room
item: Eviolite
ability: Download
nature: Sassy
EVs: 252 HP / 156 Def / 100 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
* Tri Attack is Porygon2's strongest STAB move, providing reliable damage as well as a chance to inflict status.
* Ice Beam is used to OHKO most Salamence and Garchomp.
* Shadow Ball is another option, as it's Porygon2's best option against Marowak, which would otherwise wall it.
* Thunderbolt can hit Water- and Flying-types, most notably Celesteela, Pelipper, and Gyarados.
* Toxic can be used against Pokemon that wall Porygon2, such as Gastrodon and opposing Porygon2.
* Recover is used to give Porygon2 more longevity.
* Finally, Trick Room is used to set up Trick Room for your team.
Set Details
========
* Eviolite and HP investment maximizes bulk.
* Physical attackers are the most common Pokemon to deal the most damage to Porygon2, so the Defense investment guarantees survival of two Sacred Swords from max Attack Kartana.
* The Special Attack investment guarantees that Ice Beam can OHKO 4 HP Garchomp.
* Quiet nature and 0 IV in Speed makes Porygon2 as fast as possible in Trick Room.
* Download is used for a more consistency, but Trace can be used as well, as there are very few detrimental abilities for Porygon2 in this metagame.
* Just be careful not to get Swift Swim or Surge Surfer, as these will hurt your performance in Trick Room.
Usage Tips
========
* Porygon2 has a very simple but very important role, take hits and set up Trick Room.
* Its bulk means it can take getting doubled into by almost anything, so you only need to be wary of Fake Out or Taunt users.
* Sometimes, both players need to set up trick room.
* In this situation, there is a difficult mind game to get it set up.
* If both players use Trick Room, they cancel each other out.
Team Options
========
* Porygon2 benefits slow Pokemon that thrive in Trick Room, so Pokemon like Muk-Alola, Marowak-Alola, Araquanid, Vikavolt, and Drampa are all great options.
* Hariyama stands out as it has access to Fake Out, stopping Taunt, Sky Drop, or Roar users.
* Tapu Lele is a strong partner as well, stopping priority moves that would bypass Trick Room.
* Porygon2 also fits into most non-hyper-offensive teams, it's amazing bulk and sustainability make it an asset in longer battles.
* Tapu Fini is a strong partner as it can protect Porygon2 from toxic.
* The other Tapus can be good partners as well, to turn off misty terrain so Porygon2 can toxic opponent's mons.
* Pokemon that can check fighting types make strong partners as well.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
* Porygon2 can use Psych Up along with a partner that knows Minimize. This lets it gain the evasiveness of its partner in a single turn.
* Return can be used as an alternative coverage move, as snarl can completely disable Porygon2's offensive capabilities.
* Shadow Ball is an option to hit alolan Marowak, but it has no other viable use.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Toxic**: Because Porygon2 can take so many hits, toxic can be used in order to wear it down without attacking it.
**Fighting Types**: Strong fighting types, including Hariyama, Pheromosa, and Buzzwole, can deal a ton of damage to Porygon2.
**Celesteela**: Celesteela can out-stall Porygon2, especially if it lacks thunderbolt. Celesteela's immunity to toxic and access to leech seed gives it a big advantage.
**Snorlax**: Snorlax can comfortably wall Porygon2, and set up with curse. This also makes trick room ineffective against it as well.
**Taunt**: Pokemon that can use Taunt threaten Trick Room teams, as they can prevent it from getting set up.
**Knock Off**: Pokémon like Muk-Alola and Hariyama can knock off Porygon2's Eviolite, making it much more vulnerable.
Last edited: