Stats & Training
You won't find a real weakness in Poliwrath's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Tadpole Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 3 Defense EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
With its extremely tough muscles, it could keep swimming in the Pacific Ocean without resting.
With its extremely tough muscles, it could keep swimming in the Pacific Ocean without resting.
Poliwrath Weakness
Type-wise, Poliwrath takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy. It resists 7 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, Rock, Dark, Steel |
 Dragonite Dragon | S | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Dragonite builds →Hurricane 2x83-98% Thunder 2x55-65% Thunderbolt 2x46-55% Thunder Punch 2x47-56% | ||
 Gyarados Water | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gyarados builds →Hurricane 2x57-67% Thunder 2x38-45% Thunderbolt 2x31-36% | ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Slowbro builds →Psychic 2x69-82% Zen Headbutt 2x48-56% Psyshock 2x62-73% Confusion 2x40-47% | ||
 Brambleghast GrassGhost | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Brambleghast builds →Power Whip 2x97-115%KO Solar Beam 2x77-91% Seed Bomb 2x66-78% Giga Drain 2x49-58% | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Salamence builds →Hurricane 2x91-107%KO Psychic Fangs 2x53-63% Zen Headbutt 2x50-59% Air Slash 2x63-75% | ||
In Scarlet & Violet, Tyranitar's Earthquake hits Poliwrath for 53-63%. Hippowdon deals 35-41% with Earthquake.
 CyclizarResists Water, recovers HP on switch via Regenerator, sheds status via Shed Skin DragonNormal | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemAssault Vest NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Cyclizar builds →Rapid Spin14-16% U Turn6-7% Knock Off6-7% Draco Meteor25-29% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemChoice Band NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tyranitar builds →Knock Off26-30% Stone Edge40-47% Pursuit16-19% Earthquake53-63% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemRocky Helmet NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake35-41% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityWaterbubble ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Araquanid builds →Liquidation15-17% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
Scarlet & Violet Evolution
Poliwrath is one of 2 ways Poliwhirl's chain can end. This one takes the item path, while the siblings go different directions. Breed through Poliwag to get eggs. Poliwrath edges out Politoed by 10 total stats (510 vs 500). Defense is where most of the advantage lives. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily using 87 partners from the Water1 egg group.
Scarlet & Violet Poliwrath Best Moveset
Bulk and offense in one package. Poliwrath runs Assault Vest for a special bulk boost with no status moves allowed with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Liquidation. Max Attack without Speed EVs and the remaining moves make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and HP
Physical Tank Moveset
- Liquidation
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Circle Throw
Recommended Teammates
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Liquidation
- Bulk Up
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Liquidation
- Knock Off
- Belly Drum
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Liquidation
- Bulk Up
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Belly Drum
- Liquidation
- Protect
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Most of Poliwrath's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Focus Punch and Close Combat, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Poliwrath in Scarlet & Violet
Poliwrath isn't available in the wild in Scarlet & Violet. Start by transferring Poliwag from Red. The evolution path from Poliwag to Poliwrath is covered in the steps below.
Poliwrath Guide
In Scarlet & Violet, Poliwrath looks average on paper at 510 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list. Liquidation with Assault Vest is the standard set.
Poliwrath gets Swift Swim, Water Absorb, and Damp. But Swift Swim is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Poliwrath is a physical attacker with base 95 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.
In Scarlet & Violet, Swift Swim is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during rain. Worth hunting for if you want Poliwrath to compete at a higher level.
Game Availability
Present since Red & Blue, Poliwrath appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Poliwrath have the longest track record of availability in the series.
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