Porygon is weird. Honestly, it’s one of the most frustratingly unique Pokémon ever coded into existence. While most monsters evolve by hitting level 16 or 32, this low-poly digital duck requires a weird mix of high-end technology, specific held items, and a friend who won't steal your console. It’s a multi-step process. If you’re staring at your screen wondering how do you evolve a porygon, you aren't alone; players have been fumbling with Up-Grades and Dubious Discs since the late nineties.
It’s all about data corruption and software updates. Think of Porygon not as an animal, but as a living piece of software that needs a patch to function in a 3D environment.
The First Patch: Getting to Porygon2
To get your base Porygon to shift into its sleek, rounded successor, Porygon2, you need an Up-Grade. This isn’t a stone. You don’t just "use" it from your bag. You have to make the Porygon hold it. Then comes the part everyone hates: the trade.
In almost every mainline game—from Pokémon Gold and Silver all the way to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet—Porygon only evolves when traded while holding that specific disc. Once the trade animation triggers, the "software" inside the Porygon updates, and you get Porygon2. It’s a tanky, defensive beast that many competitive players actually prefer over its final form because of an item called Eviolite.
But where do you even find an Up-Grade? Usually, it’s tucked away in a late-game laboratory or sold for high-end currency like Battle Points (BP). In Pokémon Go, it’s a random drop from spinning PokéStops or a reward for specific research tasks. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Game Freak finally showed us some mercy. In that game, you can just use the Up-Grade on Porygon like an evolutionary stone. No trading required. It was a massive quality-of-life shift that the fan base had been begging for since the Bush administration.
The Dubious Disc Dilemma
Now, if you want to go further, things get messy. Literally. To evolve Porygon2 into Porygon-Z, you need a Dubious Disc.
The lore here is fascinating. According to various Pokédex entries, the Dubious Disc was created by an unnamed private enterprise to allow Porygon2 to travel through alien dimensions. It didn't work. Or, it worked too well. The software became "glitchy," which is why Porygon-Z twitches, has upside-down eyes, and acts completely erratic in its idle animations.
The process is identical to the first step. Give the Dubious Disc to Porygon2. Trade it. Watch it glitch out.
Why People Mess This Up
Most people try to do it all at once. You cannot jump from Porygon to Porygon-Z in a single trade. It’s a two-step ladder.
- Trade Porygon with Up-Grade -> Becomes Porygon2.
- Trade Porygon2 with Dubious Disc -> Becomes Porygon-Z.
If you try to give a base Porygon a Dubious Disc, nothing happens. It’s like trying to install Windows 11 on a calculator that doesn't even have an operating system yet. You have to follow the sequence.
Competitive Nuance: The Eviolite Factor
Here is a dirty little secret among pro players: Porygon-Z isn't always the "better" version.
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Because Porygon2 is technically a middle-stage evolution, it can use an item called Eviolite. This item boosts the Defense and Special Defense of any Pokémon that can still evolve by 50%. This makes Porygon2 an absolute nightmare to knock out. It becomes a premier "stall" Pokémon, using moves like Recover and Toxic to outlast almost anything.
Porygon-Z, on the other hand, is a glass cannon. It has a massive Special Attack stat and an ability called Adaptability, which makes its Normal-type moves—like Tri Attack—hit like a freight train. It’s built for speed and destruction. Choosing which one to keep depends entirely on whether you want a shield or a sword.
How Do You Evolve a Porygon in Pokémon GO?
The mobile game handles things differently because there is no trading-to-evolve mechanic for this specific family. Instead, you need the item and 25 or 100 candies.
- Porygon to Porygon2: 25 Candies + 1 Up-Grade.
- Porygon2 to Porygon-Z: 100 Candies + 1 Dubious Disc.
Getting those items is the hard part. If you miss a Porygon Community Day, you're basically at the mercy of the Random Number Generator (RNG) when spinning stops or opening 7km eggs.
Sourcing Your Evolution Items
If you are playing Scarlet or Violet, head to the Blueberry Academy. You can buy both the Up-Grade and the Dubious Disc from the school store for Blueberry Points (BP). It’s much easier than hunting for sparkling items on the ground in the Terarium.
In the older Sword and Shield games, you’ll need the Isle of Armor DLC. You can actually craft these items using the Cram-o-matic if you have the right recipe ingredients, which usually involve various candies or Rare Bones.
Practical Next Steps for Your Team
If you’re ready to pull the trigger on these evolutions, here is your checklist:
- Check your stats first. If your Porygon has a "Zero" Speed IV (Individual Value), do not evolve it into Porygon-Z. Keep it as a Porygon2 for a Trick Room team. It’s one of the best Trick Room setters in the history of the game.
- Find a trusted trade partner. Since you have to trade twice to get the final form, use a dedicated Discord server or a close friend. Don't risk your Porygon-Z with a random player on the Link Trade system; they will likely keep it.
- Farm the BP. Don't waste time looking for these items as hidden drops. In modern games, it is always faster to grind out 20 minutes of battles or quests to buy the discs directly from a vendor.
Once you've secured the Up-Grade and the Dubious Disc, ensure you have the items equipped in the correct order. Start with the Up-Grade. Perform the first trade. Exit the trade menu to ensure the evolution triggers. Re-equip the new Porygon2 with the Dubious Disc, and trade one last time to complete the digital transformation.