What does Poliwag evolve into?

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25, then the line branches. Poliwhirl can become Poliwrath using a Water Stone and Politoed while holding a Kings Rock. Two final forms from the same mid-stage.

At what level does Poliwag evolve?

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.

Should I use Poliwag?

In Ruby & Sapphire, 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.

Where can you catch Poliwag?

Poliwag is catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.

Poliwag - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Balanced

DTier

90Speed · Above Avg

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.

Base Stats

Avg

HP40

Attack50

Defense40

Sp. Atk40

Sp. Def40

Speed90

Total300

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height0.6 m

Weight12.4 kg

Base XP60

Abilities

Water Absorb

Absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.

Damp

Prevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.

Swift SwimHANot in game

Doubles Speed during rain.

Water Absorb grants Water immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1

Speed training source

Pokedex Entries

POLIWAG has a very thin skin. It is possible to see the POKéMON’s spiral innards right through the skin. Despite its thinness, however, the skin is also very flexible. Even sharp fangs bounce right off it.

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.

Poliwag Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Steel

Type ChartGood

2Weak

4Resist

1Immune

Score0

Gen III Type Chart

Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Water

STAB (3)

Fire Ground Rock

How to Beat Poliwag in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Ruby & Sapphire, Jolteon can KO Poliwag with Thunderbolt (241-284%). Breloom's Mach Punch hits Poliwag for 60-71%. Raikou's Thunderbolt also KOs at 249-293%.

Jolteon Electric	A
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves ThunderboltSTAB Baton Pass Hidden Power Ice Hidden Power Grass Damage vs Poliwag Thunderbolt 2x 241-284%KO View Jolteon builds →
Breloom GrassFighting	B
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves SporeUtility Focus Punch Mach Punch Sky Uppercut Damage vs Poliwag Mach Punch 60-71% View Breloom builds →
Raikou Electric	B
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves ThunderboltSTAB Calm Mind Hidden Power Grass SubstituteUtility Damage vs Poliwag Thunderbolt 2x 249-293%KO View Raikou builds →
Venusaur GrassPoison	C
Recommended Build AbilityOvergrow ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves Leech Seed Sleep Powder Giga Drain Sludge Bomb Damage vs Poliwag Giga Drain 2x 180-212%KO Sludge Bomb 68-81% View Venusaur builds →

Ruby & Sapphire 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

4 Forms

#060Poliwag

Level 25

#061Poliwhirl

#062PoliwrathWater Stone

#186PolitoedTrade + Kings Rock

Stat Comparison 4 Stages

Poliwag

Water

Poliwhirl

Water

Poliwrath

WaterFighting

Politoed

Water

65+25

90+25

ATK

65+15

95+30

75+10

DEF

65+25

95+30

75+10

SP.ATK

50+10

70+20

90+40

SP.DEF

50+10

90+40

100+50

SPE

70-20

BST

300D-Tier

385D-Tier+85

510C-Tier+125

500B-Tier+115

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Poliwag easily with 58 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Haze, Ice Ball and 4 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Water1

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

20 cycles·5,140 steps

Quick~5 min with Flame Body

Egg Moves

7moves

Breed With (best first)

Ruby & Sapphire Poliwag Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.

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

Lv 1

Bubble

—2010030Water

Lv 7

Hypnosis

C—6020Psychic

Lv 13

Water Gun

—4010025Water

Lv 19

Double Slap

—158510Normal

Lv 25

Rain Dance

C——5Water

Lv 31

Body Slam

D8510015Normal

Lv 37

Belly Drum

D——10Normal

Lv 43

Hydro Pump

D120805Water

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

——10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D120705Ice

TM28

Dig

—6010010Ground

HM08

Dive

—6010010Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM42

Facade

D7010020Normal

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM07

Hail

———10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM29

Psychic

D9010010Psychic

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM43

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

HM03

Surf

D9510015Water

TM46

Thief

D6010025Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—8510Poison

TM03

Water Pulse

—6010020Water

HM07

Waterfall

C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Bubble Beam

—6510020Water

Egg

Haze

D——30Ice

Egg

Ice Ball

—309020Ice

Egg

Mind Reader

——1005Normal

Egg

Mist

———30Ice

Egg

Splash

———40Normal

Egg

Water Sport

———15Water

Tutor Moves

Poliwag can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Poliwag in Ruby & Sapphire

Poliwag doesn't appear in Ruby & Sapphire. Transfer it from Red to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.

Poliwag is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Also found in:

Red

Poliwag Guide

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25, then the line branches. Poliwhirl can become Poliwrath using a Water Stone and Politoed while holding a Kings Rock. Two final forms from the same mid-stage.
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Ruby & Sapphire, 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 Ruby & Sapphire. 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

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