Porygon-Z's Normal typing gives it an immunity to Ghost. Only 1 weaknesses on top of that — it has plenty of safe switch-in opportunities. Adaptability adds more value on top. Known as the Virtual Pokemon. Its damage comes from the special side.
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.
Additional software was installed to make it an even better Pokémon. It began acting oddly, however.
Porygon Z Weakness
GoodType-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.
Porygon Z is one of 2 ways Porygon's chain can end. This one takes the trade route, while the siblings go different directions. Breed through Porygon to get eggs. Porygon Z edges out Porygon2 by 20 total stats (535 vs 515). Sp.Atk is where most of the advantage lives.
How to Evolve
Breed with Porygon-Z to get Porygon eggs (with patience) from the Mineral egg group.
Ditto onlyNothing fancy here. Porygon Z builds around Normaliumz for extra utility, Timid nature for the right stat lean, and max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs. Adaptability does its job quietly.
Best Build
Best Porygon-Z Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Ice Beam
- Shadow Ball
- Thunderbolt
Recommended Teammates
Porygon Z develops a solid moveset just through leveling. Zap Cannon and Hyper Beam show up naturally, and the progression handles both STAB and utility without leaning on TMs for the core attacks.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Porygon-Z can't be caught in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Transfer Porygon from Red, Yellow, or Legends: Arceus and evolve through the 2-stage line to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
Don't let Porygon-Z's 535 base stat total fool you. Adaptability is what makes it tick — it punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier as a pivot.
Porygon-Z's biggest threats include Blaziken (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Run Adaptability on Porygon-Z. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Porygon-Z also gets Download and Analytic, but they don't compare.
Porygon-Z fills the pivot role. It's leaning toward the special side (base 135 Sp. Atk). Base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Porygon-Z appears in 14 games, including Platinum, HeartGold & SoulSilver, and Diamond & Pearl.
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.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDPDebut
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A