Pokémon Sword and Shield Walkthrough & Guides Wiki

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Porygon-Z - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle

6

★ Tier List / Doubles Tier List / Movesets / Rental Teams
☆ Competitive Battle Guide

Porygon-Z - Movesets and Counters.png
This is a strategy guide for using Porygon-Z in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Porygon-Z, as well as its strengths and weak points.

Porygon-Z - Related Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Porygon-Z Evolution and LearnsetEvolution and Learnset Pokemon SWSH - Porygon-Z Best BuildBuild for Ranked Battle

List of Contents

Basic Information for Porygon-Z

Types and Abilities

Pokemon Type 1 Type 2
Porygon-Z ImagePorygon-Z
 Pokemon Sword and Shield - Normal Type
Abilities
Adaptability Powers up moves of the same type.
Download Compares an opposing Pokémon's Defense and Sp. Def stats before raising its own Attack or Sp. Atk stat, whichever will be more effective.
Analytic (Hidden) Boosts move power when the pokemon moves last.

Porygon-Z Weaknesses and Resistances

Type
Takes 4x damage
-
Takes 2x damage
Pokemon Fighting Image
Takes 0.5x damage
-
Takes 1/4x damage
-
Takes 0x damage
Pokemon Ghost Image

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

HP Attack Defense Sp. Atk Sp. Def Speed
85 80 70 135 75 90

Best Nature for Porygon-Z

Best Natures
Timid
(+Spd, -Atk)		 Modest
(+Sp.Atk, -Atk)

Singles Movesets for Porygon-Z

Life Orb Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Life Orb Attacker Porygon-Z.png

Nature Timid(+Spd, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 161 / Def 90 / Sp.Atk. 187 / Sp.Def 95 / Spd 156
Ability Download
Held Item Life Orb
Moveset ・Tri Attack
・Dark Pulse
・Thunderbolt
・Ice Beam

Porygon-Z is a powerful special attacker that teams should not underestimated. High special attack, powerful abilities, and a wide special movepool allow it to fit comfortably in teams that require a special sweeper.

About Porygon-Z's Moves

Tri Attack is Porygon-Z's STAB move and has a 20% chance to inflict Paralyze, Freeze, or a Burn. Dark Pulse allows it to hit Ghost-type Pokemon that are immune to its STAB move.

It's last two attacks are for coverage. Thunderbolt and Ice Beam form the fabled BoltBeam coverage, allowing Porygon-Z to hit several types for super-effective damage.

About Porygon-Z's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Porygon-Z can as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are allocated to HP to improve its overall bulk.

About Porygon-Z's Ability

We're using the Download ability for this build. This raises Porgyon-Z's attack or special attack by one stage.

The boost it gets depends on the opposing Pokemon's defensive stat. If Porygon-Z is facing a Pokemon with a lower special defense, it will get a special attack boost and vice-versa.

About Porygon-Z's Held Item

We're giving Porygon-Z Life Orb, which boosts the power of all of its moves by 30% at the cost of sustaining residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Ball A good alternative to Dark Pulse. While it doesn't have a 20% chance to flinch, it can hit Fairy-types with a secondary Psychic typing such as Gardevoir and Hatterene for super effective damage
Psychic Another alternative to Dark Pulse that allows Porygon-Z to hit Poison-type Pokemon for super effective damage.
Icy Wind An alternative to Ice Beam. Although weaker, it allows Porygon-Z to support its team by lowering the opposing Pokemon's speed by one stage.

Hyper Beam Moveset & Best Build

Hyper Beam Porygon-Z.png

Nature Modest(+Sp.Atk, -Atk)
EV Spread HP 4 / Sp.Atk. 252 / Spd 252
Final Stat Values HP 161 / Def 90 / Sp.Atk. 205 / Sp.Def 95 / Spd 142
Ability Adaptability
Held Item Wise Glasses or Life Orb
Moveset ・Hyper Beam
・Dark Pulse
・Thunderbolt
・Ice Beam

This is a variant special attacking set that centers around a high-risk, high-reward gameplay by unleashing one of the most powerful Hyper Beams in the metagame.

About Porygon-Z's Moves

Dark Pulse allows Porygon-Z to hit Ghost-type Pokemon that are immune to its STAB move and has a 20% chance to flinch the opposing Pokemon.

Thunderbolt and Ice Beam form the fabled BoltBeam coverage, allowing Porygon-Z to hit several types for super-effective damage.

The crux of this set is Hyper Beam, a 150 base power STAB move that requires Porygon-Z to recharge on its next turn. Although it leaves Porygon-Z vulnerable, the move allows it to KO opposing Pokemon that can otherwise shrug off its main attacks!

About Porygon-Z's EV Spread

We're using a straightforward EV spread with full investment in Special Attack and Speed so that Porygon-Z can as hard and as fast as possible. The remaining 4 EVs are allocated to HP to improve its overall bulk.

About Porygon-Z's Ability

We're using Adaptability to further boost the power of Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam. Instead of a 1.5x STAB boost, Porgyon-Z gets a 2x STAB Boost with this ability.

About Porygon-Z's Held Item

Wise Glasses boosts the power of Porygon-Z's special moves by 10%. Alternatively, you can give it Life Orb for more power at the cost of residual damage.

Other Viable Moves

Shadow Ball A good alternative to Dark Pulse. While it doesn't have a 20% chance to flinch, it can hit Fairy-types with a secondary Psychic typing such as Gardevoir and Hatterene for super effective damage
Psychic Another alternative to Dark Pulse that allows Porygon-Z to hit Poison-type Pokemon for super effective damage.
Icy Wind An alternative to Ice Beam. Although weaker, it allows Porygon-Z to support its team by lowering the opposing Pokemon's speed by one stage.

How to Use Porygon-Z Effectively

Switch in to a Physically Defensive Pokemon

To ensure that Porygon-Z gets the special attack boost from its Download ability, it's a good idea to switch in to an opposing Pokemon with a lower special defense stat. Even if the opponent switches, Porygon-Z still retains its special attack boost!

Use Hyper Beam as a Finishing Move

Although it's tempting to use Porygon-Z's Hyper Beam whenever you get the chance, it's best used sparingly and only as a finishing attack as the move leaves Porygon-Z in a prone state afterwards.

How to Build a Team with Porygon-Z

Porgyon-Z faces stiff competition in both Singles and Doubles due to its relatively mediocre speed stat. Despite this, it's a powerful special sweeper and a good choice for teams looking to round out its coverage.

A Powerful Sweeper for Defensive Teams

Porygon-Z thrives in balanced or defensive teams that have ways to boost its teams defenses. It's likely that Porygon-Z will be the fastest Pokemon in a team composed of slow, bulky attackers. This proves the team some form of offensive momentum that can turn the tide of the battle!

Check out our guide below to learn how to build a Defensive Team.

How to Build a Defensive Team

A Doubles Sweeper

Porygon-Z is a great choice for special attacker in Doubles. It's teammate can patch up its speed with Tailwind or protect it from damage using Follow Me or Rage Powder.

Counters for Porygon-Z

Porygon-Z
Weakness Pokemon Fighting Image

Outspeed and KO It

Porygon-Z has a relatively mediocre speed stat and is easily outspeed by the metagame's premiere special attackers.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Urshifu Single-Strike Style ImageUrshifu Single-Strike Style Ranking: ★★★★★
・Outspeeds Porygon-Z and easily KOs with Close Combat
Moveset & Best Build for Urshifu Single-Strike Style

Wall it with a Bulky Pokemon

Despite its special attacking prowess, there are bulky Pokemon that can withstand Porygon-Z's powerful attacks and cripple it for the rest of the match.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon Description
Pokemon SWSH - Porygon2 ImagePorygon2 Ranking: ★★★★★
・Can survive Life Orb, Adaptability boosted Hyper Beam and cripple Porygon-Z with Thunder Wave.
・Can withstand and heal damage from its other special attacks thanks to Recover and Eviolite.
Moveset & Best Build for Porygon2

Related Links

Pokemon Sword and Shield - Best Builds for Ranked Battle

All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle

Competitive Guides for Pokemon Sword and Shield

Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides
Pokemon SWSH - Tier ListTier List Pokemon SWSH - Best BuildsBest Builds Pokemon Sword and Shield - Ranked Battle Series 10 Contenders.pngSeries 10 List of Contenders
Pokemon SWSH - Doubles Tier ListDoubles Tier List Pokemon SWSH - Competitive Team BuildingTeam Building Pokemon SWSH - Rental TeamsRental Teams

Best Builds for The Isle of Armor Pokemon

Movesets & Best Builds for The Isle of Armor Pokemon
Pokemon SWSH - Scizor Best BuildsScizor Pokemon SWSH - Kingdra Best BuildsKingdra Pokemon SWSH - Magnezone Best BuildsMagnezone
Pokemon SWSH - Volcarona Best BuildsVolcarona Pokemon SWSH - Chansey Best BuildsChansey Pokemon SWSH - Blissey Best BuildsBlissey
Pokemon SWSH - Talonflame Best BuildsTalonflame Pokemon SWSH - Azumarill Best BuildsAzumarill Pokemon SWSH - Galarian Slowbro Best BuildsGalarian Slowbro
Pokemon SWSH - Porygon2 Best BuildsPorygon2 Pokemon SWSH - Urshifu Single-Strike Style Best BuildsUrshifu Single-Strike Style Pokemon SWSH - Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style Best BuildsUrshifu Rapid-Strike Style
Pokemon SWSH - Slowbro Best BuildsSlowbro Pokemon SWSH - Alolan Marowak Best BuildsAlolan Marowak Pokemon SWSH - Dragalge Best BuildsDragalge
Pokemon SWSH - Klefki Best BuildsKlefki Pokemon SWSH - Lycanroc Best BuildsLycanroc Pokemon SWSH - Amoonguss Best BuildsAmoonguss
Pokemon SWSH - Poliwrath Best BuildsPoliwrath Pokemon SWSH - Palossand Best BuildsPalossand Pokemon SWSH - Mienshao Best BuildsMienshao
Pokemon SWSH - Starmie Best BuildsStarmie Pokemon SWSH - Heracross Best BuildsHeracross Pokemon SWSH - Comfey Best BuildsComfey
Pokemon SWSH - Porygon-Z Best BuildsPorygon-Z Pokemon SWSH - Alakazam Best BuildsAlakazam Pokemon SWSH - Politoed Best BuildsPolitoed

Comment

See more comments (6 Comments)

Author

Pokémon Sword and Shield Walkthrough Team
This article was created by Game8's elite team of writers and gamers.
    Leave feedback(Login required)

    Walkthrough Menu

    Latest News

    Events

    Online Competitions

    The Crown Tundra

    Crown Tundra Story Guides

    Crown Tundra Pokemon Lists

    Crown Tundra New Features

    Crown Tundra Maps

    Crown Tundra New Items

    Crown Tundra Updated Guides

    Crown Tundra Tips & Tricks

    How to Get Crown Tundra Pokemon

    Obtainable via the Story
    Non-Story Pokemon

    The Isle of Armor

    New Features

    Tips & Tricks

    Game Information

    Maps

    Isle of Armor

    Hot Articles

    Message Boards

    Story Walkthrough

    Main Story

    Trainer Battles

    Post Game Content

    Advice for Finishing the Story

    Pokedex

    Pokemon in Sword and Shield

    List of Pokemon by Type

    How to Get Rare Pokemon

    Wild Area

    Guide to the Wild Area

    Wild Area Maps and Obtainable Pokemon

    Items

    Moves

    Abilities

    Competitive Play

    Training & Breeding Your Pokemon

    Tier Lists for Ranked Battle

    Competitive Team Building

    Movesets & Best Builds for Ranked Battle

    The Crown Tundra
    The Isle of Armor Pokemon
    New Pokemon
    Returning Pokemon

    Best Teams for Ranked Battle

    Beginner's Tips & Guides

    Pokemon Guides & Strategy

    New to Pokemon Sword and Shield

    Trade & Battle Pokemon Online

    Miscellaneous

    New Features

    Japanese Pokemon Sword and Shield Walkthrough

    Other Pokemon Wikis

    Rankings

    Popular Articles
    Message Board
    • We could not find the message board you were looking for.

    Gaming News

    Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium Review | Where Have You Been All My Life?

    Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium Review

    Popular Games

    Recommended Games

    All rights reserved

    ©2019 Pokémon. ©1995-2019 Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

    The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
    The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
    We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.