Why Every Change to Competitive Pokemon Breaks Porygon-Z (The Porygon-Z Theorem) 

I really like porygon-Z I really hope they give it 120 speed so it can get banned to Ubers next gen

To be fair its very fitting for such a physically unstable being to easily cause this much chaos with the slightest change

It’s always bugged me how PZ gets TBolt, Ice Beam and Tri Attack but not Flamethrower

porygon z is the person who keeps making those "what is hyper beam didnt need to recharge if it got a kill like in gen 1" posts every thursday on r/stunfisk

It always a shame that some pokemon are so close to being good but have one or more fatal flaws

Funnily enough, the Porygon-Z theorem has not only been put to the test, i'd argue it has been proven. During generation 8, VGC had a cycle of formats that lasted a couple of months each, called Series, Series 6 started in September, and in it, the 10 most used mons in both the singles and doubles ladder in SwSh were banned, and suddenly, Porygon-Z (usually accompanied by Friend Guard Clefairy) became a SUPER THREAT, base 90 speed wasnt as mid as it used to be without Dragapult, especially after the -1 provided by Max Strike coming off of adaptability hyper beam, plus the added bulk provided by the Friend Guard Clefairy and the 2x HP of the Dynamax made Porygon-Z one of, if not THE strongest pokemon in the series 6 format. It only lasted for around 2 months, but Porygon-Z dominated a format

When I was a kid playing Platinum I thought I was such a genius giving my Adaptability Porygon-Z a Silk Scarf and turning his Hyper Beam into a nuclear option when a fight was giving me trouble

The philosophy behind Normal types has typically been "they can use almost any type's moves" when it comes to their movesets. Just about every Normal type made before Gen 6 gets the trio of Flamethrower, Ice Beam and Thunderbolt, and others even get access to moves like Fire Blast, Blizzard and Thunder respectively. I am 95% sure they intentionally didn't give Porygon-Z a fire attack when it was made in a generation where it was standard for Normal types to have a fire move.

porygon-z was actually a good dynamax abuser in vgc in at least one of the sets. Hyper beam turned max strike had enormous base power and was spread, and so you'd just use a support pokemon like friend guard clefairy to keep it alive as it presses adaptability max strike 3 times.

I want clawitzer to be good so bad, in current meta, its basically a different (sometimes better, mostly worse) glimmora with assualt vest

Porygon Z is tied as my favorite Pokémon as well. Have always loved since my brother traded me one back in Platinum. Z Moves are the best mechanic and a big part of that is having fun using Z Conversion. Feels right that something with Z in its name gets to abuse it. Can’t for it to come back in the DLC.

I think Poygon-z will benefit from terra. Everything gets fighting coverage, and having such mid speed makes it easily revenge killed. Terra that weakness away, and get an adaptability boost on your Terra type.

If you want another example of porygon-z being broken, then let me introduce you to 1v1. This little glitch is a top tier staple on every generation it has been in, except for gen 4, because it's banned. No doubt porygon-z will still be a staple if released since it can still do its conversion shenanigans, or outright kill (almost) everything in its path with hyper beam

This video was already peak because it's a video about one of my favorite Pokemon, but it instantly became perfect when you called Porygon-Z your favorite Pokemon

Kabutops is a very similar pokemon. It's never really happened in a proper competitive format yet, but some of Showdown's custom metas and OMs show just how close Kabutops is to being absolutely insane.

Here’s some move-set additions I feel like make sense for Porygon-Z thematically and could help with its viability Overheat/Heat Wave: These are Fire coverage for Porygon-Z. Overheat since as you mentioned, computers can overheat, and Heat Wave to reference the one Porygon hair dryer in Gen 7 Volt Switch: This is a pivot move that’d allow for Download to be more viable, and it’d help Porygon2 as well. Porygon’s lines are reminiscent of electric types despite not being electric, so I think the move makes sense for it Dazzling Gleam: Just an extra coverage option against things like Fighting types. A lot of viruses involve distorted graphics or pop-ups, which I think fits Porygon-Z well. Given it’s a Normal move, Techno Blast would be a massive edition for Porygon-Z as well, but it’s a mythical exclusive move, so I doubt it’d ever learn it. Thematically though, obviously it’s quite similar to Genesect, with it being the only other Download user and all

I feel like the entire Porygon line should get Volt Switch. It benefits the slow, tanky P2 and the hard hitting P-Z. If we have to de-signature a move, Techno Blast fits Porygon-Z to tee. This not only gives it a stronger Normal STAB but also the ability to use a Water or Fire attack.

Considering this is a theorem, I’d say nominating another case, albeit not one ad extreme as PZ is, would be a good idea: Gyarados. This long boi was THE poster child for Dynamax’s brokenness in OU, with Togekiss and Excadrill not far behind, to the point you basically had to run Ditto to not get swept by it, and made the mechanic get banned before other nonsense like Garm. Like PZ, Z-moves also made it broken in UU, mainly Supersonic Skystrike, although hilariously enough Z-Splash was also an option, but SS was the main one to finally give it a flying nuke. And of course the mega just scrapped the flying type and gave it a different, better stab in dark, alongside a shit ton of bulk and the ability to destroy Rotom with Earthquake. It doesn’t tend to get banned from OMs the way PZ does, but it tends to get big boosts in them. For instance, in current stabmons it gets stuff like Jet Punch, Wave Crash, Aqua Step and Dragon Ascent. Tera hasn’t broken it, but its probably a great abuser, idk I don’t play UU.

He's my favorite too. Mainly because it's fascinating how it's the only Pokémon who truly exists in our world in its intended form.

I always thought Porygon-Z should know flamethrower, because it is the 3rd element in one of its signature moves, Tri-Attack. It gets ice beam and thunderbolt, so why not flamethrower?

Something I used to theorize is to make Porygon-Z the most busted Electric Type (before Xurk) by having it launch the strongest electric move with Adaptability. Simply by converting Porygon-Z into an electric type turn 1 and having Electric Terrain setup on that very turn as well, once hit with Electrify it's Hyper Beam becomes the most devastating electric attack. The only other one that could be similar would be Electrode's Explosion in a Trick Room being hit with Electrify however it lacks the physical strength for it. The Physical opposite would have to be pairing Boltund with Electivire using Electrify and Giga Impact turn 1 since Boltund can easily outspeed it. But most terrifying would be to pair Boltund with a Choice Specs Toxricity using Boom Burst while having Punk Rock as its ability. Or within 2 turns setup both charge and Electric Terrain to unleash a powerful Boom Burst or Hyper Voice if you don't want to KO Boltund that turn. This is easily one of the most terrifying move combinations which only has one similar matchup. Typhlosion and Sceptile using fire and grass pledge while the sun is up and Flash Fire being activated. It's a bit of setup but it also actively damages the foes with a sea of fire that lasts 4 turns. But yeah... it is weird the Porygons do not get access to any fire moves at all when considering: a balloon, a moon fairy, a four-armed mass of pure muscle, a palm tree, SLOWPOKE, Marowak (regular), LICKITUNG, RHYDON, TOGEPI, AND EVEN DUNSPARSE can learn Flamethrower. Almost forgot to mention this but the Geodude line can also learn flamethrower and fire blast. A rock. A ROCK can even use two powerful fire attacks yet this computer birb cannot... I can't even. Though Porygon shares the ability to use thunder and blizzard with Rattata. Fun video hope your day is well.

Porygon-Z is my third favorite Pokémon after Breloom and Milotic. Not only is it nutty as hell but it’s got a fire shiny.

Imagine if he got Analytical, the amount of Quiet Natured Trick Room sweeps would be absurd

My man, if you missed it, dynamax formats are the ones where porygon-z is the closest to be competitively viable on VGC

Neat analysis video! Thanks for uploading!

3:00 But Porygon-Z doesn't learn Leaf Storm?

The bit with the laptops fighting with ice and leaves gave me the head canon of porygon z spewing out printed paper for its leaf move

porygon-z has been a staple of my mono normal teams since z-moves were a thing. z-conversion + shadow ball + adaptability makes for a super fun and deadly reverse sweeper!

I was not ready for the IRL demo in the middle 😆 made my day

And just like that, my love for my favorite Pokémon has not only been further validated, but made even funnier with how close he is to spiraling out of control.

In generation 7 Porygon-Z is absolutely insane, it gains access to conversion, if you turn it into a z move, you can turn yourself into a ghost type with an Omni boost, firing adaptability STAB Shadow Balls at +1 special attack

My #1 favourite Pokémon! I loved using this guy in Sun/Moon. Electric Terrain Adaptability +1 STAB TBolt was just ridiculously strong

porygon Z is also my favourite Pokémon so I'm glad you covered it in a video!

Honestly laughed at the leaf storm computer cutaway

There was a time in SWSH VGC where PZ was meta and primarily used to Dynamax. Max-Hyper Beam boosted by adaptability was incredibly strong and hit many Pokemon for neutrally and the Max normal effect lowering both opponents speed was crucial in the arms race for speed control. Dynamax made it difficult to quickly remove from play. Also it is worth mentioning the Agility set as combined with Porygon's Download and strong neutral coverage make it an effective sweeper. In later gens it is an effective wall breaker and may also Trick it's item.

every time i remember Volcarona i think back to this video

How to break Porygon-Z -Give it Flamethrower -Give it a base 100-105 Speed -Give it Hyper Voice -(A kekw idea) Revert Hyper Beam to Gen 1 Mechanics (Resets on kill) Boom, it's now ubers

i cracked up at the ice bag hahahahah, subscribed!

Actually, Porygon-Z was pretty devastating in doubles with dynamax, specifically during the series that banned the top 10 most used pokemon. The things that held it back most were gone, and nothing could take both a Max Hyper Beam AND Max Shadow Ball. Max normal moves lowered speed of targets, helping aid its speed issue, and max ghost lowered spdef of targets to make it hit even harder. I would argue it was the most influential pokemon in that meta.

Huh interesting, I always thought Porygon-Z has access to flamethrower, thunderbolt and icebeam as a "reference" to Tri Attack. ( which I just learned is not Porygon exclusive in gen I, oops)

lmao the bit where you attack the laptops is breaking me and about to make me become ique-Z

Great video :O

First time I got exposed to your channel When the Hive Knight Hollow Knight theme started I immediately knew it's a great vid

As someone whose whole channel is themed are porygon-z this brings me joy

This is more in reference to Other Metas like STABmons, which end up with PZ broken a disproportionately high amount of the time

I can only think of a handful of areas in which Porygon-Z not being buffed as the meta shifts.

I love this guy, my favorite Normal type and a top 6 Pokémon I always try to use whenever I get the chance, hope he gets buffed in the future so we can see more of him

I'm using Tera Normal Adaptability Hyper Beam and no one can stop me

What did I miss in the example video where normal type porygon-z gets OHKO'd by shadow ball? Was someone inexplicably running ring target?

Only played till gen 5. In current games can the move order be rearranged while in battle?

As an almost exclusively gen 3/ gen 4 player the Porygon line scares me. I have always used suicune and the number of times I tried to set up in it only to get bent over by zap cannon or thunderbolt is amazing. Even by tri attack and getting para haxxed is crazy.

I'd actually argue that dynamax does fix some of P-Z's problems to an extent. In the context of VGC, dynamax not only allows P-Z to run the more powerful stab move Hyper Beam as it's max move, but max normal moves lower the opposing side's speed, making room for P-Z to run a modest nature or to support more purely offensively oriented teammates.

Porygon-Z is my favorite mon too, I’m devastated it’s not in SV

Computers can’t learn Blizzard, you say? I raise you this: System freeze.

Blip's character design is clearly based off of Porygon-Z. It's undeniable

Like not even UU straight to the ban list, from ban list to ban list 💀

Z conversion Pory was terrifying to play against

Give P-Z Boomburst

I would disagree that “normal is a terrible attacking type” (2:00). It is similar to ghost in the sense that it hits a lot of types neutrally, which is valuable. It’s not the best offensive type but most offensive normal types run a normal move since having such a splashable offensive option is generally great

Fitting considering how PoryZ's design is a corrupted Porygon

There were a few VGC metagames in Sw/Sh where you'd somewhat consistently see Porygon Z Dynamaxed, going for a pretty deadly Max Strike off Hyper Beam. But Porygon-2 was a defensive staple and got more representation.

I love the Z conversation set. I actually use in adv Lc a porygon2 conservation set that's similar with shadowball and return.

A member of the Porygon family using an Ice-Type move is literally it weaponizing its coolant. Awesome.

I really hate when a Pokemon has almost everything it needs to be competitively viable and then is trapped in the lower tiers because it is missing just one thing to be good enough, especially if its a Pokemon I like, e.g. Porygon Z which really cant take advantage of Adaptability and has not the coverage it needs, Leavanny having the potential to be a fast sword dancer, but has 1001 weaknesses or Kecleon who cant be saved from his low stats by Protein anymore

I love what they did to PZ in the inclement emerald rom hack,It one of my favorite mons in that.Normal electric type,still has adaptability,and has access to genesects signature move techno blast,a 120 bp normal move with good accuracy and no drawbacks.Its an absolute monster with a choice item.

Subbed for the "razor leaf" and "Blizzard"

"Why every change keeps Staraptor in OUBL"

I'm a simple man, I see a Porygon-related video, I click

porygon-z is the best pokemon for this theorem to be about, because computer bugs and glitches occur when just the slightest thing is out of place, causing system-wise failures. if even the slightest thing in the battle system changes, who else but the pokemon defined by its errors to take fullest advantage of it? porygon-z is my favorite pokemon too, i love my funny little malware duck 😊

I love Porygon-Z, it’s one of my favorite Pokémon of all time

Porygonz amongst my favourite mons, with drifblim and missingno

There was a format in SW/SH we’re it was good in vgc (Series 6) but it’s mainly cause of the bans they put on the top 20 common mons.

Cant wait for his new form in gen 11 with the ability debug, which doubles his speed

I might be missing something obvious here but why at 2:16 does the Shadow Ball deal super effective damage to Porygon-Z or rather hit it at all.?

They should give Porygon-Z Boomburst with the justification of ear-shattering broken computer sounds. Or at least give it Hyper Voice...

2:40 I've always felt alone for being confused that Porygon-Z doesn't get flamethrower. thank you

I mean porygon z was a vgc nightmare on series 6 and i can't be happier for that so yes the theorem rings true still

4:45 oh boy, i wonder what pokemon your sona is inspired by

Am I learning about Porygon-Z or fighting Hive Knight?

Now, the Tera in Porygon-Z can destroy you...

For my fangame, Hyper Beam and its clones act the same way they did in Gen 1 (KO=no recharge). Yeah, it’ll break Porygon-Z, but I’d also like to ask this question: Are there any other Pokémon that are just one change in the metagame away from being broken?

Porygon-Z is also my favorite Pokémon, he is mid tier but is so fun

Porygon-Z is my favourite pokémon as well ✨️

Hive knight is such a good song

I have no idea what anything said here means, I know nothing about competitive Pokemon and haven't played a Pokemon game since Platinum But I'm glad to know my fave pokemon from that gen is good lol

I love porygon Z I would always run an agility silk scarf or life orb set and have so much fun

Rel, Poryogn-Z is my fav pokemon too.

I really want it to get Boomburst. These 10 minutes its gonna be allowed in are gonna be so fun

Tera porygon-z especially fire is op. Adaptability tera blast plus bolt beam.

Porygon-Z does not learn Leaf Storm

Porygon-Z definitely does not learn Leaf Storm.

Honestly, PZ was pretty good with Dynamax. Not for every season, granted, but it was for a while pretty terrifying.

I honestly get by with only using Porygon Z in trick when I’m playing a team with high speed. If I see a match up where he might be too quick for Trick room he will get left behind

Love Porygon z need builds that people when I put into my games

4:38 ok pokemon video is about the last place i expected that reference

With adaptability, i think neutral damage is fine with a base 300 power hyper beam, and 135 sp. Attack

Why about Terra? And the tier change?

Porygon z Is definitely my favorite pokemon. I tried to hard to add it to every team after diamond

The funny thing is, in my experience PZ works best when not optimizing. Agility Nasty plot Tri attack Prefered coverage move (like dark pulse) Hold PZ in the back to clear out some threats and then you are able to send in PZ to clean up the oponent's team. Being able to set up either agility or nasty plot as needed. PZ works fantastic as a REACTIVE pokemon, instead of an active pokemon. Alternatively set up both agility and nasty plot against the oponent's tank/hazard setter or something and you have a serious threat, at the cost of hard hitting limited coverage. Or alternatively if you're extra ballsy; Invest no points in speed and sp.attack and instead make PZ a tanky set-up mon. It aint good, but it's hilarious to see someone's reaction when PZ is able to tank a hit😂

Because Porygon-Z is just the best of bois Also have to appreciate the close call on that blizzard hit