Porygon Best Moveset
Normal at 85 Sp. Atk with AbilityDownload boosting Attack or Sp. Atk based on the opponent's lower defense. Held ItemEviolite adds real bulk since Porygon2 and Porygon-Z exist. The moveset runs special Normal TermStab behind Eviolite defenses. Functional in lower tiers as a bulky pivot.
Trace copied the opponent's ability in Gen I (Red & Blue). Actually, abilities didn't exist yet. 75/70/75 special stats were mid for the format.
Support Moveset
- Recover
- Thunder Wave
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Download boosted the lower offensive stat in Gen II (Gold & Silver). Actually, Download was Gen IV. Porygon rose with the Special split giving 85 Sp. Atk.
Best Moves
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Thunder Wave
- Recover
- Return
- Curse
Recommended Teammates
Three gens before Porygon2 or Porygon-Z existed fully in Gen III (Ruby & Sapphire). Trace copied abilities. 395 BST did what it could.
Physical Tank Moveset
- Psychic
- Recover
- Toxic
- Facade
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen IV (Diamond, Pearl & Platinum). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Download with Life Orb, favoring a Quiet nature.
Special Tank Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Thunderbolt
- Trick Room
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen V (Black & White / B2W2). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Analytic with Eviolite, favoring a Modest nature.
Special Attacker Moveset
- Tri Attack
- Recover
- Shadow Ball
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Trace with Eviolite, favoring a Hardy nature.
Wall Moveset
- Psychic
- Tri Attack
- Toxic
- Recover
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Download with Eviolite, favoring a Sassy nature.
Wall Moveset
- Trick Room
- Ice Beam
- Toxic
- Recover
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Trace with Eviolite, favoring a Sassy nature.
Wall Moveset
- Toxic
- Trick Room
- Recover
- Teleport
Recommended Teammates
Porygon saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Porygon maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Trace with Eviolite, favoring a Sassy nature.
Wall Moveset
- Recover
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Tri Attack
Recommended Teammates
Porygon Weakness
Fighting moves hit Porygon for super-effective damage. The upside? Ghost-type moves can't touch it at all. Porygon's Normal typing only leaves 1 gap to cover.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
What is Porygon Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Porygon
Lucario can KO Porygon with Close Combat (122-143%).
 Lucario FightingSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityInnerfocus ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Porygon View Lucario builds →Extreme Speed27-32% Close Combat 2x122-143%KO Aura Sphere 2x40-48% | ||
Evolution
To get Porygon2 from Porygon, you need a trade. The evolution method matters here. The evolved forms gain up to 140 total stats over Porygon. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Porygon is genderless and can only breed with Ditto. Part of the Mineral egg group.
Ditto onlyHow to Get Porygon
A trade step sits in Porygon'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, so the starting catch is the easy part.
Porygon can't be caught in Legends: Z-A. Transfer Porygon from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Scarlet & Violet and evolve through the 3-stage chain to get it. The step cards below map the full chain.
How to Obtain Porygon in LZA
Step 1Porygon ✓CARTRIDGE TRADEfrom Scarlet & VioletAvailableCatch in Scarlet & Violet via Overworld · Polar Biome, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Gift · Celadon City · 5,555 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Trophy Garden. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Porygon2
Step 3Evolve into Porygon-Z
A trade step sits in Porygon'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, so the starting catch is the easy part.
Where To Catch Porygon in PLA
The path to Porygon starts with Porygon at Lv. 35-50 via walking encounters. 3 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Porygon ✓Space-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveRate 15%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into Porygon2Space-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveRate 15%or evolve from Porygon (Step 1)
Step 3Catch or Evolve into Porygon-ZSpace-Time Distortion - Crimson MirelandsLv.35-50CaveRate 5%or evolve from Porygon2 (Step 2)
Porygon isn't available in the wild in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl. Start by transferring Porygon from Red & Blue, Yellow, or Scarlet & Violet. The evolution path from Porygon to Porygon is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Porygon in BDSP
Step 1Porygon ✓CARTRIDGE TRADEfrom Legends: ArceusAvailableCatch in Legends: Arceus via Walking · Space-Time Distortion, then trade to the current game via link cable.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom YellowNot TradeableAppears in Yellow via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Gold & SilverNot TradeableAppears in Gold & Silver via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom CrystalNot TradeableAppears in Crystal via Gift · Celadon City · 5,555 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom FireRed & LeafGreenNot TradeableAppears in FireRed & LeafGreen via Gift · Celadon City · 9,999 Coins. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Diamond & PearlNot TradeableAppears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Trophy Garden. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Porygon2
Step 3Evolve into Porygon-Z
Base Stats
Nothing fancy in Porygon's spread. It leans special with Sp. Atk out front. And you'll get 1 Sp. Atk EV per KO for it. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
State-of-the-art technology was used to create Porygon. It was the first artificial Pokémon to be created via computer programming.
Porygon Guide
At 395 BST, Porygon is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Porygon2 before bringing it to any serious fight.
Watch for Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Porygon. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about. At base 40 Speed, Porygon won't outrun any of these threats so switching to a resist is usually the safer play.
No. Porygon only evolves into Porygon2 through a real trade. There is no in-game alternative in . Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Porygon to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Upgrade must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
Trace copies an opponent's ability upon entering battle. That's the one you want on Porygon. Analytic is the hidden ability. Niche, but it has its uses. Download works too if your team needs something different.
Porygon is a special attacker with base 85 Sp. Atk. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 40 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. Fits the trick room role.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Porygon appears in 22 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Porygon have the longest track record of availability in the series.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
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 7LGPE
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