Set Description
Thunder and Ice Beam are the best combination of special attacks to hit the highest number of common Pokemon for super effective damage, such as Xatu, Octillery, Dugtrio, Dewgong, Fearow, and Pupitar. Thunder Wave significantly reduces what can safely switch into and take advantage of Porygon, crippling targets like Magmar, Kingler, Flareon, Weezing, Stantler, and Primeape that lack RestTalk. Thunder Wave also is generally a great move to use into basically anything, as actually outspeeding foes allows Porygon to use its moves much more safely; the same speed control works great to support slow but powerful teammates, namely Kingler, Curse Stantler, Primeape, and Magmar, which appreciate threats like Xatu, Fearow, and Weezing being slowed down and potentially fully paralyzed. This particular Porygon set is a great threat to many Xatu + Dugtrio Spikes teams—one of the most common and dominant team structures in the tier—as the only Pokemon commonly used on them that can handle BoltBeam Porygon without being ruined by Thunder Wave is Wigglytuff, which is still not on a majority of them. Still, this potential to face Wigglytuff is the main reason why Thief is a good consideration; Wigglytuff's ability to take hits is significantly reduced without Leftovers, especially with Spikes on the field. Also, Porygon has good enough Special Attack and super effective coverage to gradually chip down threats that can answer a Porygon that lacks Thunder Wave, like Weezing, over the course of a game, which are also further being chipped by Spikes. However, Thief of course leaves Porygon without the all-round amazing utility of Thunder Wave, meaning it has to try and fish for paralysis with Thunder, a mere 21% chance factoring in accuracy; Thief can also only steal one item, and not having Leftovers when first attempting to switch in, especially with Spikes on the field, can make finding entry for Porygon more difficult.
Team Options
Weezing is the best partner for Porygon, appreciating Porygon's prowess in checking Xatu and Dugtrio while taking on Primeape and Hitmonlee itself, and it can use Explosion to eliminate a Wigglytuff or Ninetales that walls Porygon. Pineco is also a prime teammate for Porygon, as its Spikes wears down walls like Wigglytuff and Ninetales, which Porygon struggles with. Fearow and Xatu help to check Primeape, Hitmonlee, Gloom, and RestTalk Stantler while appreciating Porygon's ability to take on Dewgong and Graveler; Porygon can also steal the Leftovers from Wigglytuff or Sudowoodo, which helps Fearow and Xatu wallbreak. Rock-types like Sudowoodo and Graveler serve as effective answers to Pineco, Wigglytuff, and Weezing—bar if Weezing has Hidden Power Water—which can take advantage of Porygon, and Porygon can handle Dewgong and—if at high health—Octillery for them. Graveler also clears away Spikes with Rapid Spin, making entry for Porygon easier. Octillery itself is a great ally for Porygon, stopping Ninetales and Sudowoodo in their tracks, and Octillery and Porygon can help each other in checking Xatu, other Octillery, and Ground-types like Dugtrio and Graveler so that neither gets overwhelmed too quickly. Good wincons that take advantage of paralysis, such as Kingler, Curse + Light Screen Stantler, and Primeape, like having Thunder Wave Porygon around to facilitate setup and check Xatu. Thunder Wave also makes setup easier for Wigglytuff, as does Porygon checking Sudowoodo and Graveler for it, and Wigglytuff can answer Chinchou, unlike Porygon, which is afraid of Thunder paralysis. Ninetales also has great synergy with Porygon, as Porygon can switch into and threaten out Octillery, Dewgong, and Graveler, while Ninetales walls Weezing and is a great answer to Magnemite. Gloom also works well with Porygon, halting Primeape, Hitmonlee, Chinchou, and Octillery that lack Ice Beam, while Porygon can switch into Xatu and Dewgong for Gloom; the two also combine to form a potentially overwhelming, paralysis-spamming core, with Gloom having Stun Spore and Porygon having Thunder Wave.
