[OVERVIEW]
Porygon-Z is a niche sweeper on Aurora Veil and Sticky Web teams with Z-Conversion, boosting all of its stats by 1 stage. Its STAB move is further boosted by Adaptability and possibly Nasty Plot, making Porygon-Z impossible to stop in the right conditions. Having to meet these conditions, however, is what holds it back. Porygon-Z is dependent on Aurora Veil or Sticky Web to pull off a sweep. Porygon-Z also provides little synergy to a team offensively or defensively due to its poor bulk, vulnerability to Toxic Spikes, and inability to threaten anything without one-time setup. Even after setup, certain Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and Chansey can prevent Porygon-Z from nabbing multiple KOs.
[SET]
name: Z-Conversion
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Conversion
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Normalium Z
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Porygon-Z's main attack, hitting very hard when powered up by Adaptability. It is used in the first slot so Porygon-Z can become an Electric-type following setup. Ice Beam is the best move to pair with Thunderbolt, hitting Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Latias. Nasty Plot rounds off the set, giving Porygon-Z the extra boost it needs in order to force its way past Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and even Chansey. Recover is an option over Nasty Plot for longevity, but it cuts down the number of Pokemon Porygon-Z can break.
Set Details
========
A Modest nature and maximum Special Attack investment ensure Porygon-Z receives the highest damage output possible after a Z-Conversion. Maximum Speed EVs are utilized to outpace as many Pokemon as possible after a Z-Conversion. Normalium Z is required to access Z-Conversion, and Adaptability is the best ability to power up Porygon-Z's Thunderbolt to frightening levels.
A Timid nature can be used, however, for Mega Alakazam, which can possibly counter sweep your team with a Traced Adaptability if Aurora Veil or Sticky Web is not up. A bulkier spread of 248 HP / 40 SpA / 216 Spe and Modest nature can be used on Aurora Veil teams. It is easier to get the double boost with this set, taking around 25% from some of the strongest Choice Scarf users in Kartana and Tapu Lele. The loss in damage output is significant, however.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Porygon-Z in when Aurora Veil or Sticky Web is up, as it will be unable to pull off a sweep otherwise because of how vulnerable it is to Choice Scarf users and priority. Use Z-Conversion right away, as Porygon-Z cannot threaten anything without using it. Nasty Plot should be used to break past Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur or if it is possible to win the game outright. Recover variants of Porygon-Z make good death fodder if they cannot win.
Team Options
========
Porygon-Z is best used on Aurora Veil teams, allowing it to get the double boost with ease. Alolan Ninetales is a mandatory teammate because of this, and other generic Aurora Veil Pokemon are solid teammates. Magearna, Zygarde, Mega Mawile, and Mega Tyranitar are prime options. Porygon-Z can be used effectively on Sticky Web teams too, so Shuckle or Smeargle is required in this case. Common Sticky Web Pokemon include Mega Pinsir, Zygarde, and Mimikyu.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ghost Z-Conversion with Shadow Ball and Discharge seems appealing, but it loses to Haze Toxapex and Tyranitar and cannot threaten Chansey at any level. Any other typing is a gimmick due to their poor typing or coverage. Hidden Power Fire can be used on Sticky Web teams to beat Ferrothorn faster and prevent a Defog from Mega Scizor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pressuring Setup**: This is the most effective way to stop Porygon-Z. Try to keep Aurora Veil or Sticky Web off the field, since Porygon-Z only seems unstoppable when it has this support. Mega Scizor deals with Aurora Veil teams rather well. Toxic Spikes are nice to put Porygon-Z on a timer, since hyper offense does not appreciate Toxapex at all. Choice Scarf Landorus-T pressures a lot of hyper offense teams as well, and Sticky Web does not affect it.
**Select Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Mega Venusaur, Chansey, and Gastrodon are all solid answers, and they can limit the number of KOs Nasty Plot variants can achieve with racked residual damage.
**Pokemon That Can Tank a Hit**: Choice Band Tyranitar, Mamoswine, Hoopa-U, Mega Charizard X, and Twinkle Tackle Magearna are some Pokemon that can tank a hit from Porygon-Z and put it in range of priority if not OHKO it. However, they should watch out if Aurora Veil is up, since it can cost their side a couple more Pokemon.
Porygon-Z is a niche sweeper on Aurora Veil and Sticky Web teams with Z-Conversion, boosting all of its stats by 1 stage. Its STAB move is further boosted by Adaptability and possibly Nasty Plot, making Porygon-Z impossible to stop in the right conditions. Having to meet these conditions, however, is what holds it back. Porygon-Z is dependent on Aurora Veil or Sticky Web to pull off a sweep. Porygon-Z also provides little synergy to a team offensively or defensively due to its poor bulk, vulnerability to Toxic Spikes, and inability to threaten anything without one-time setup. Even after setup, certain Pokemon such as Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and Chansey can prevent Porygon-Z from nabbing multiple KOs.
[SET]
name: Z-Conversion
move 1: Thunderbolt
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Conversion
move 4: Nasty Plot
item: Normalium Z
ability: Adaptability
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Thunderbolt is Porygon-Z's main attack, hitting very hard when powered up by Adaptability. It is used in the first slot so Porygon-Z can become an Electric-type following setup. Ice Beam is the best move to pair with Thunderbolt, hitting Pokemon such as Landorus-T, Zygarde, and Mega Latias. Nasty Plot rounds off the set, giving Porygon-Z the extra boost it needs in order to force its way past Pokemon such as Ferrothorn, Mega Venusaur, Gastrodon, and even Chansey. Recover is an option over Nasty Plot for longevity, but it cuts down the number of Pokemon Porygon-Z can break.
Set Details
========
A Modest nature and maximum Special Attack investment ensure Porygon-Z receives the highest damage output possible after a Z-Conversion. Maximum Speed EVs are utilized to outpace as many Pokemon as possible after a Z-Conversion. Normalium Z is required to access Z-Conversion, and Adaptability is the best ability to power up Porygon-Z's Thunderbolt to frightening levels.
A Timid nature can be used, however, for Mega Alakazam, which can possibly counter sweep your team with a Traced Adaptability if Aurora Veil or Sticky Web is not up. A bulkier spread of 248 HP / 40 SpA / 216 Spe and Modest nature can be used on Aurora Veil teams. It is easier to get the double boost with this set, taking around 25% from some of the strongest Choice Scarf users in Kartana and Tapu Lele. The loss in damage output is significant, however.
Usage Tips
========
Bring Porygon-Z in when Aurora Veil or Sticky Web is up, as it will be unable to pull off a sweep otherwise because of how vulnerable it is to Choice Scarf users and priority. Use Z-Conversion right away, as Porygon-Z cannot threaten anything without using it. Nasty Plot should be used to break past Pokemon such as Ferrothorn and Mega Venusaur or if it is possible to win the game outright. Recover variants of Porygon-Z make good death fodder if they cannot win.
Team Options
========
Porygon-Z is best used on Aurora Veil teams, allowing it to get the double boost with ease. Alolan Ninetales is a mandatory teammate because of this, and other generic Aurora Veil Pokemon are solid teammates. Magearna, Zygarde, Mega Mawile, and Mega Tyranitar are prime options. Porygon-Z can be used effectively on Sticky Web teams too, so Shuckle or Smeargle is required in this case. Common Sticky Web Pokemon include Mega Pinsir, Zygarde, and Mimikyu.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ghost Z-Conversion with Shadow Ball and Discharge seems appealing, but it loses to Haze Toxapex and Tyranitar and cannot threaten Chansey at any level. Any other typing is a gimmick due to their poor typing or coverage. Hidden Power Fire can be used on Sticky Web teams to beat Ferrothorn faster and prevent a Defog from Mega Scizor.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Pressuring Setup**: This is the most effective way to stop Porygon-Z. Try to keep Aurora Veil or Sticky Web off the field, since Porygon-Z only seems unstoppable when it has this support. Mega Scizor deals with Aurora Veil teams rather well. Toxic Spikes are nice to put Porygon-Z on a timer, since hyper offense does not appreciate Toxapex at all. Choice Scarf Landorus-T pressures a lot of hyper offense teams as well, and Sticky Web does not affect it.
**Select Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Mega Venusaur, Chansey, and Gastrodon are all solid answers, and they can limit the number of KOs Nasty Plot variants can achieve with racked residual damage.
**Pokemon That Can Tank a Hit**: Choice Band Tyranitar, Mamoswine, Hoopa-U, Mega Charizard X, and Twinkle Tackle Magearna are some Pokemon that can tank a hit from Porygon-Z and put it in range of priority if not OHKO it. However, they should watch out if Aurora Veil is up, since it can cost their side a couple more Pokemon.
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