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.
It’s quite a gifted swimmer, even among Water-type Pokémon, but it normally spends its time on land.
The muscles it has developed through swimming are thick and powerful. When it lands a square punch, it can turn huge boulders to dust.
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 |
 Lunala PsychicGhost | S | |
Obtain MethodMahalo Trail Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Lunala builds →Dream Eater 2x99-116%KO Moonblast 2x62-74% Fly 2x48-57% Thunderbolt 2x59-70% | ||
 Salamence Dragon | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Salamence builds →Fly 2x85-100%KO Zen Headbutt 2x50-59% Thunder Fang 2x41-48% Aerial Ace 2x57-67% | ||
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Decidueye builds →Leaf Storm 2x99-116%KO Brave Bird 2x62-73% Leaf Blade 2x69-82% Energy Ball 2x69-82% | ||
 Noivern Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Noivern builds →Hurricane 2x82-96% Fly 2x49-58% Air Slash 2x57-67% Wing Attack 2x34-40% | ||
 Phantump GhostGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Phantump builds →Wood Hammer 2x66-78% Energy Ball 2x41-49% Horn Leech 2x41-49% | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Tapu Koko threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (121-143%). Primarina's Moonblast also KOs at 170-200%.
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves View Ferrothorn builds →
| ||
 Tapu Koko ElectricFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityElectric Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tapu Koko builds →Thunderbolt 2x121-143%KO Volt Switch 2x94-111%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x107-127%KO | ||
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemChoice Specs NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Primarina builds →Moonblast 2x170-200%KO Scald36-42% | ||
 Tapu Lele PsychicFairy | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPsychic Surge ItemChoice Specs NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tapu Lele builds →Moonblast 2x158-186%KO Psyshock 2x134-157%KO Psychic 2x150-177%KO | ||
 Gliscor Ground | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gliscor builds →Earthquake34-40% | ||
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon 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 95 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more.
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Poliwrath Best Moveset
the remaining moves keeps opponents guessing about Poliwrath's real targets. Sitrus Berry provides a one-time health recovery at low HP while max Attack and Speed EVs and Jolly nature handle the stat profile. Waterabsorb ties it together.
Best Build
Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and Speed
Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Belly Drum
- Brick Break
- Power Up Punch
Recommended Teammates
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Brick Break
- Ice Punch
- Poison Jab
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Breeding's the move. Bubble Beam and Encore give Poliwrath options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 8 types already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Focus Blast. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Poliwrath in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Finding Poliwrath at low spawn rates takes patience. 2 spots are available in mid-game routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Where To Catch Poliwrath in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Poliwag is your first catch on the way to Poliwrath. You'll find walking and surfing encounters from Lv. 14-28 across 14 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch PoliwagBrooklet Hill - NorthUltra MoonSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthUltra SunSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthUltra SunSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthUltra MoonSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthUltra MoonGrass Lv.14-1720%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthUltra SunGrass Lv.14-1720%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthUltra SunGrass Lv.14-1720%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthUltra MoonGrass Lv.14-1720%Early
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlMalie GardenUltra MoonGrass Lv.25-28 Forest20%MidMalie GardenUltra SunGrass Lv.25-28 Forest20%MidMalie GardenUltra MoonGrass Lv.25-28 Forest10%MidSOS chain (rain)Malie GardenUltra SunGrass Lv.25-28 Forest10%MidSOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Poliwrath ✓Malie GardenUltra SunGrass Lv.25-28 Forest1%MidDaySOS chain (rain)Malie GardenUltra MoonGrass Lv.25-28 Forest1%MidDaySOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwhirl (Step 2)
Poliwrath Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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. Waterfall with Sitrus Berry 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.
For Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, the core moveset is Waterfall, Bellydrum, Brickbreak, and Poweruppunch. Waterfall leads at 25% usage. Waterfall provides reliable STAB damage.
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