Stats & Training
Poliwag's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, HP trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed EV, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Its skin is so thin, its internal organs are visible. It has trouble walking on its newly grown feet.
Its skin is so thin, its internal organs are visible. It has trouble walking on its newly grown feet.
Poliwag Weakness
Poliwag is weak to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift | ||
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Snivy builds →Leaf Tornado 2x73-87% Vine Whip 2x54-63% | ||
 Blitzle Electric | D | |
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
 Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x210-248%KO Magical Leaf 2x109-129%KO | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x188-222%KO Mega Drain 2x66-78% | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x245-290%KO Mega Drain 2x88-103%KO | ||
 Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x140-166%KO Razor Leaf 2x78-93% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x205-241%KO Magical Leaf 2x103-123%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x180-214%KO Mega Drain 2x65-77% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x239-282%KO Mega Drain 2x85-100%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x235-277%KO Giga Drain 2x150-177%KO Needle Arm 2x100-118%KO Mega Drain 2x80-95% | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x135-159%KO Razor Leaf 2x77-91% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x211-248%KO Magical Leaf 2x108-128%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x187-220%KO Mega Drain 2x64-76% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x244-288%KO Mega Drain 2x84-100%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x237-280%KO Giga Drain 2x152-180%KO Needle Arm 2x101-120%KO Mega Drain 2x81-96% | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x136-160%KO Razor Leaf 2x75-88% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x218-257%KO Magical Leaf 2x110-130%KO | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x181-213%KO Razor Leaf 2x113-134%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x193-228%KO Mega Drain 2x67-80% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x258-304%KO Mega Drain 2x88-105%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x252-296%KO Giga Drain 2x159-188%KO Needle Arm 2x107-127%KO Mega Drain 2x86-101%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x208-245%KO Giga Drain 2x133-157%KO Magical Leaf 2x104-124%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x172-202%KO Leaf Blade 2x174-205%KO Razor Leaf 2x108-127%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x185-218%KO Mega Drain 2x63-75% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x243-287%KO Mega Drain 2x83-98% | ||
 Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x152-179%KO Energy Ball 2x116-137%KO Horn Leech 2x143-170%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x216-255%KO Giga Drain 2x137-162%KO Magical Leaf 2x109-129%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x178-210%KO Leaf Blade 2x181-213%KO Razor Leaf 2x112-132%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x191-225%KO Mega Drain 2x66-78% | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x255-300%KO Mega Drain 2x86-102%KO | ||
Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x158-186%KO Energy Ball 2x119-141%KO Horn Leech 2x150-177%KO | ||
In Black & White, Magnezone can KO Poliwag with Thunderbolt (297-350%). Breloom threatens a KO with Bullet Seed (109-129%). Jolteon's Thunderbolt also KOs at 241-284%.
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x297-350%KO Flash Cannon66-78% Volt Switch 2x232-273%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Breloom builds →Mach Punch87-102%KO Bullet Seed 2x109-129%KO | ||
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemFlame Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x241-284%KO Shadow Ball71-84% Volt Switch 2x188-221%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x189-223%KO Sludge Bomb113-133%KO | ||
Black & White Evolution
Poliwag's evolution chain splits 2 ways into Poliwrath and Politoed. The method you choose determines which form you get. Evolving adds up to 210 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Poliwag easily with 78 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more to offspring.
Black & White Poliwag Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Poliwag gets Bubble Beam and Encore exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Ground coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Hydro Pump and Surf.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Black & White Poliwag Locations
Poliwag appears at high spawn rates across 16 spots in late-game fishing spots. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Poliwag in Black & White
Poliwag is a fishing-only catch in this game. 16 spots at Lv. 35-55 using Super Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.
Poliwag Guide
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Black & White, Poliwag does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Poliwhirl before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Poliwag is catchable in Black & White. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Poliwag has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves