Porygon

In a landscape dominated by strong offensive Normal-types, Porygon appears outclassed and outgunned by all, especially by Wigglytuff, which is the default bulky, recovery-using Normal-type that blanket checks special attackers like Xatu, Dewgong, and Chinchou. However, Recover is a saving grace, being one of the best moves in Generation 2 and single-handedly making Porygon a legitimate pick. Recover's astonishing 32 PP makes Porygon far more resilient a wall than its stats would show, turning otherwise 3HKOs from unboosted attackers like Xatu, Octillery, and Graveler into attacks that never break past a healthy Porygon without critical hits. Recover also frees up a moveslot since Porygon does not have to use both Rest and Sleep Talk. Porygon additionally has a solid movepool outside of Recover, as well as a good Special Attack stat and the overall amazing Normal typing, allowing it to utilize Recover to the fullest. Porygon answers Xatu and Dewgong well, using Recover to heal off any damage while hitting them super effectively or setting up Curse in return. Porygon can also help to answer Dugtrio and Curse Stantler, 2HKOing the former with Double-Edge or Ice Beam and paralyzing the latter. It's additionally a prime candidate for spreading paralysis with Thunder Wave, using its solid bulk, Recover, and mere one weakness to slow down offensive threats and support slow but dangerous teammates, such as Kingler. However, Porygon still has plenty of flaws, the main ones being competition and vulnerability to status. Porygon has very low base stats when compared to other Normal-types like Fearow, Stantler, and Wigglytuff, all of which are much better than Porygon, primarily Wigglytuff as previously mentioned. Porygon is also the only recovery-using pure Normal-type that cannot effectively check Chinchou or Ninetales, as, although Recover is generally far better than RestTalk, it also means Porygon can't absorb status, so any Thunder paralysis or Toxic poison will effectively make Porygon useless; Sludge Bomb's poison rate also prevents Porygon from being a decent check to Weezing. Porygon is also incredibly slow; the only common Pokemon slower are Graveler, Sudowoodo, and Pineco, meaning Porygon is incredibly reliant on spreading paralysis and gets forced to repeatedly use Recover, instead of using an attacking move. This massively opens it up to critical hits, Ice Beam freezes, or Psychic Special Defense drops from the likes of Octillery, Dewgong, and Xatu on the switch or if they choose to stay in.