Utility
Balanced
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
D
Attack50
D
Defense40
D
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed90
B
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 SwimHA
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
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
How to Beat Poliwag in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire (Best Counters)

In Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, Magnezone threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (271-319%). Jolteon's Thunderbolt also KOs at 241-284%.

Whimsicott
Whimsicott
GrassFairy
B
Recommended Build
AbilityPrankster
ItemLeftovers
NatureBold
Moves
  • TailwindUtility
  • EncoreUtility
  • TauntUtility
  • SafeguardUtility
View Whimsicott builds →

Omega Ruby & Alpha 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
Poliwag
#060Poliwag
25
Level 25
Poliwhirl
#061Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
#062Poliwrath
Water Stone
Politoed
#186Politoed
Trade + Kings Rock
Stat Comparison 4 Stages
Poliwag
Water
Poliwrath
WaterFighting
HP
40
65+25
90+25
90+25
ATK
50
65+15
95+30
75+10
DEF
40
65+25
95+30
75+10
SP.ATK
40
50+10
70+20
90+40
SP.DEF
40
50+10
90+40
100+50
SPE
90
90
70-20
70-20
BST
300D-Tier
385D-Tier+85
510C-Tier+125
500B-Tier+115
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Physical
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Poliwag easily with 87 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 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
13moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolodewgongcrawdaunt

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire Poliwag Best Moveset

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.

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

Lv 1
Water Sport
15Water
Lv 5
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 8
Hypnosis
D6020Psychic
Lv 11
Bubble
4010030Water
Lv 15
Double Slap
158510Normal
Lv 18
Rain Dance
C5Water
Lv 21
Body Slam
D8510015Normal
Lv 25
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Lv 28
Mud Shot
559515Ground
Lv 31
Belly Drum
C10Normal
Lv 35
Wake-Up Slap
7010010Fighting
Lv 38
Hydro Pump
D110805Water
Lv 41
Mud Bomb
658510Ground

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
D10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
D110705Ice
TM100
Confide
20Normal
TM28
Dig
D8010010Ground
HM07
Dive
C8010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
D10020Normal
TM07
Hail
D10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
D9010010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM29
Psychic
D9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
C5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
TM48
Round
D6010015Normal
TM55
Scald
D8010015Water
TM94
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
C10Normal
TM90
Substitute
C10Normal
HM03
Surf
D9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM06
Toxic
C9010Poison
HM05
Waterfall
C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
Egg
Encore
C1005Normal
Egg
Endeavor
D1005Normal
Egg
Endure+4
D10Normal
Egg
Haze
C30Ice
Egg
Ice Ball
309020Ice
Egg
Mind Reader
5Normal
Egg
Mist
30Ice
Egg
Mud Shot
559515Ground
Egg
Refresh
D20Normal
Egg
Splash
40Normal
Egg
Water Pulse
D6010020Water
Egg
Water Sport
15Water

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Endeavor
D1005Normal
Tutor
Helping Hand+5
C20Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Water Pulse
D6010020Water

Transfer Moves

Gen
Gen 4
Captivate
10020Normal
Gen 3
Defense Curl
40Normal
Gen 3
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Gen 4
Headbutt
D7010015Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 4
Natural Gift
D10015Normal
Gen 4
Whirlpool
358515Water

How to Get Poliwag in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire

Poliwag doesn't appear in Omega Ruby & Alpha 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:

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 Omega Ruby & Alpha 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 Omega Ruby & Alpha 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.

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