Porygon-Z Best Moveset
AbilityAdaptability doubles Normal TermStab from 1.5x to 2x, and 135 Sp. Atk behind Held ItemChoice Specs with NatureTimid fires the hardest-hitting special Normal damage available. 90 Speed is modest but the damage output compensates. Tera Normal under Adaptability and Choice Specs produces damage numbers few Pokemon can switch into. B-Tier as a dedicated special wallbreaker.
Download boosted whichever offensive stat the opponent was weaker against in Gen IV (Diamond & Pearl). Choice Scarf fixed the 90 Speed problem, and Tri Attack hit hard after a free boost.
Best Moves
Best Build
Porygon-Z best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Dark Pulse
Recommended Teammates
Same Download formula in Gen V (Black & White). Consistent damage output but Porygon-Z was stuck between tiers. Too strong for the level below, too prediction-dependent for the top.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
- Agility
Recommended Teammates
Adaptability replaced Download as the preferred ability in Gen VI (X & Y). Normal STAB went from 1.5x to 2x power. Raw damage that few walls could stomach.
Special Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Nasty Plot
Recommended Teammates
Z-Conversion turned Porygon-Z into any type with +1 to all stats in Gen VII (Sun & Moon). The gimmick worked once per game, but when it worked, it swept entire teams.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Conversion
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
No Z-Moves in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield) meant no Conversion trick. Adaptability from 135 Sp. Atk wasn't enough to compete without the setup boost that defined the previous gen.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Ice Beam
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
Fell further in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet). Two gens without Z-Conversion exposed that base stats alone weren't enough to carry the power creep.
Special Sweeper Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
- Shadow Ball
Recommended Teammates
Porygon-Z Weakness
Type-wise, Porygon Z takes extra damage from Fighting. Ghost moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 85 HP and balanced defenses, Porygon Z can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
What is Porygon Z Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Porygon-Z
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn15-18% Scald12-14% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Moltres builds →Flamethrower32-38% U Turn20-23% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Hydrapple builds →Giga Drain25-30% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemHeatrock NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Torkoal builds →Rapid Spin13-15% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Zapdos builds →Hurricane39-46% Volt Switch25-30% Heat Wave34-40% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Corviknight builds →U Turn20-23% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Gliscor builds →Earthquake30-35% Knock Off20-23% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityUnaware ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves View Dondozo builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemDamprock NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Porygon Z View Pelipper builds →Hurricane31-36% U Turn13-15% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityOvercoat ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Mandibuzz builds →
| ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemRocky Helmet NatureBold Moves View Skarmory builds →
| ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves View Rotom-Wash builds →
| ||
Recommended Build AbilityNeutralizinggas ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Weezing-Galar builds →
| ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemRocky Helmet NatureJolly Moves View Landorus-Therian builds →
| ||
Evolution
Porygon Z doesn't evolve through normal leveling. You'll need a trade to get here from Porygon's line. Breed this form to get Porygon eggs (average hatch time). Evolving from Porygon gave Porygon Z the biggest boost in Sp.Atk (+50), bringing the total to 535 stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Porygon-Z is genderless — breed with Ditto to produce Porygon eggs. Part of the Mineral egg group.
Ditto onlyShiny Porygon-Z
Porygon-Z gets a lighter, slightly washed-out palette that looks more like a rendering error than an intentional design choice. For a glitched-out digital duck, maybe that's appropriate. But "maybe it's bugged" shouldn't be the first reaction to a shiny form.
Shiny Porygon-Z Odds & Hunting Methods
14 of 14 VerifiedHow do we research these odds?
We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.
Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.
Read our full methodologyHow to Get Porygon-Z
A trade step sits in Porygon-Z's 3-stage chain from Porygon. The step cards below map each stage with catch locations and evolution methods. Porygon shows up in the wild.
Porygon-Z, its code gone haywire, glitches into Lumiose's Wild Zones as a high-level overworld encounter, confined to a slim level 54 to 56 stretch near the end of the game.
Where To Catch Porygon-Z in LZA
The path to Porygon-Z starts with Porygon at Lv. 21-52 via walking encounters. 3 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 2Catch or Evolve Porygon2or evolve from Porygon (Step 1)
Step 3Porygon-Z ✓or evolve from Porygon2 (Step 2)
Porygon-Z's 3-stage chain starts with Porygon, which appears at decent rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.
Where To Catch Porygon-Z in PLA
Porygon is your first catch on the way to Porygon-Z. You'll find walking encounters from Lv. 35-50 across 3 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch PorygonSpace-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveUncommon
Step 2Catch or Evolve Porygon2Space-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveUncommonor evolve from Porygon (Step 1)
Step 3Porygon-Z ✓Space-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveRareor evolve from Porygon2 (Step 2)
The chain to Porygon-Z requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Porygon in the wild and level through the stages, but line up the trades first. This chain has more than one trade step.
Base Stats
Porygon-Z's built around special offense. Sp. Atk leads the charge, Defense pays for it. Tough to catch, worth 3 Sp. Atk EVs. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Porygon-Z had a program installed to allow it to move between dimensions, but the program also caused instability in Porygon-Z’s behavior.
Porygon-Z Event Distributions
Porygon Z is available only through a single Mystery Gift event distribution.
Jeong Sangyun's Porygon-Z GiftSwordShieldNot shiny
Porygon-Z Guide
Porygon-Z is obtained by trade-evolving Porygon2. Catch or evolve a Porygon2 first, then trade. The Dubious Disc must be held during the trade.
Porygon-Z plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.
Porygon-Z pairs best with Scizor. Scizor has Decent synergy and covers what Porygon-Z can't handle on its own.
Porygon-Z's hidden ability is Analytic. It strengthens moves to 1.3× their power when moving last. Situational compared to Adaptability and Download.
Timid is the go-to nature for Porygon-Z. That's +Speed / -Attack. Pair it with 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the wallbreaker role.
Game Availability
Porygon Z has been available in 14 games since Diamond & Pearl, though obtaining it requires a trade evolution. This extra step makes it less common than Pokemon found through standard wild encounters.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Porygon-Z.
Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex