Stats & Training
Poliwag's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, HP trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed stat exp, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
The swirl on its belly is its insides showing through the skin. It looks clearer after it eats.
Poliwag Weakness
Poliwag is weak to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
 Hoppip Grass | D | |
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Elekid Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Move Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Elekid builds →Thunder Punch 2x105-126%KO | ||
 Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Elekid Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Elekid builds →Thunder 2x156-185%KO Thunder Punch 2x108-127%KO | ||
Pichu Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Pichu builds →Thunder 2x108-127%KO Thunder Shock 2x42-52% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x40-48% Absorb 2x24-29% | ||
Elekid Electric | D | |
Obtain MethodRoute 34 Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Elekid builds →Thunder 2x160-189%KO Thunder Punch 2x110-131%KO | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x37-44% Absorb 2x20-24% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x36-43% Absorb 2x19-23% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x36-43% Absorb 2x19-23% | ||
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Tangela builds →Vine Whip 2x86-101%KO Mega Drain 2x75-90% Absorb 2x39-47% | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
In Crystal, Jolteon can KO Poliwag with Thunderbolt (194-228%). Venusaur threatens a KO with Giga Drain (150-176%). Electabuzz's Thunder also KOs at 210-247%.
 Jolteon Electric | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x194-228%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x150-176%KO | ||
 Electabuzz Electric | C | |
Recommended Build ItemScopelens Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Electabuzz builds →Thunder 2x210-247%KO | ||
Crystal 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 37 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Haze, Mind Reader and 2 more to offspring.
Crystal Poliwag Best Moveset
Best Build
Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Poliwag gets Bubble Beam and Haze exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Ice coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Hydro Pump and Surf.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Crystal Poliwag Locations
Poliwag's scattered across 55 spots in early-game fishing spots with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Poliwag in Crystal
Poliwag shows up in 55 fishing, surfing, and more spots from Lv. 3-44. Plenty of options, and the list is sorted so the highest-rate locations at each progression stage come first.
Poliwag Guide
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Crystal, 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 Crystal. 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