Meme and toxic decks have been popular in Pokemon TCG Pocket since day one, and Porygon-Z from the Space-Time Smackdown expansion has become a perfect fit for this archetype. Its ability to interfere with the enemy’s Energy Zone has earned it the reputation of the most toxic deck in the current meta. And many players run it purely for the satisfaction of forcing opponents to concede.
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If you’re looking for a reliable Porygon-Z deck to experience some toxic gameplay, we’ve got you covered. This Pokemon TCG Pocket guide lays out the perfect blueprint for building the most disruptive Porygon-Z setup.
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Porygon-Z Card Overview
- Type: Colorless
- Text: Randomize the type of the next Energy that will be generated for your opponent.
- Base HP: 140
- Base ATK: 80
- Set & Pack: Space-Time Smackdown’s Palkia Packs
- Weakness: Fighting-type
- ATK Energy: Three Colorless
- Retreat: Two
The Best Deck for Porygon-Z
While many opt for a Dialga ex setup with Porygon-Z, stats indicate it performs best in a Palkia ex deck with Manaphy as the Energy generator. The key Trainer Cards of this setup are Misty, Dawn, Leaf, and Pokemon Communication. (See the table below for details.)
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Pokemon |
Trainers |
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Porygon-Z Deck Synergies
- Manaphy is the Energy generator. Play it early to accelerate the setup of both Porygon-Z and Palkia ex (or your other secondary attacker).
- Misty is the secondary Energy generator, helping offset Palkia ex’s Energy-discarding effect.
- Palkia ex is your primary damage dealer. If Porygon-Z doesn’t trap the enemy in time, focus your Energy on powering up Palkia ex.
- Dawn supports Energy min-maxing, a key part of your strategy.
- Pokemon Ball, Professor’s Research, and Pokemon Communication are essential for quickly drawing into Porygon-Z’s lineup.
How to Play Porygon-Z Decks Effectively
Here are some key tips to maximize the potential of Porygon-Z:
- Prioritize card drawing. As a Stage Two Pokemon, Porygon-Z can be tricky to set up. Make sure to use draw-initiating cards like Pokemon Ball, Professor’s Research, and Pokemon Communication to get the lineup into your hand before it’s too late.
- Have a secondary attacker ready. Relying solely on Porygon-Z won’t provide consistency. You need a secondary damage dealer to step in when Porygon-Z isn’t a viable option.
- Push first, but be ready to retreat. If you manage to set up Porygon-Z before your opponent gets their primary attacker online, keep pushing. A few attacks can force them to retreat. However, if your opponent is running a fast-paced deck, focus on your secondary attacker and limit your reliance on Porygon-Z.
Porygon-Z Performance Report
- Tournament Appearance: ~ 100 matches
- Meta Share: 0.03%
- Win Rate: 32.61%
Porygon-Z is one of the worst-performing Pokemon from the Space-Time Smackdown set, with a low win rate against most other lineups, including those considered weak in the meta. However, its popularity comes from its meme-like setup, which can be highly disruptive and frustrating for opponents when it succeeds.
Pros & Cons of Porygon-Z Decks
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Pros |
Cons |
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Incredibly disruptive |
Difficult to set up |
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Strong against slow-build decks |
Weak to fast-paced decks |
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Fun gameplay |
Vulnerable to Colorless decks and Bench DMG |
How Good Is Porygon-Z?
Not very good. Outside of being a meme or troll Pokemon, Porygon-Z offers little value in the current metagame. It’s cumbersome to set up, lacks damage output, and its disruption effect isn’t worth the effort needed to get it going.
When it works, Porygon-Z can feel like the most toxic deck in Pokemon Pocket. Imagine locking your opponent out of their attacks, forcing them to skip turns because they can’t generate the right Energy type—it’s a dopamine-boosting moment. Unfortunately, that’s a rare occurrence. In most cases, your opponent will have their main damage dealer set up before you can even evolve into Porygon-Z, which is why it has such a low win rate.
