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.
Poliwrath in the Alola region are strong swimmers that use the breaststroke. Many children learn to swim by imitating Poliwrath.
Its percentage of body fat is nearly zero. Its body is entirely muscle, which makes it heavy and forces its swimming prowess to develop.
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 |
 Primarina WaterFairy | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Primarina builds →Moonblast 2x88-104%KO Energy Ball 2x55-65% Acrobatics 2x21-25% Disarming Voice 2x38-45% | ||
 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 (Iki Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Decidueye builds →Brave Bird 2x62-73% Leaf Blade 2x69-82% Energy Ball 2x69-82% Pluck 2x32-38% | ||
 Drifblim Ghost | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Drifblim builds →Fly 2x55-65% Acrobatics 2x35-42% Charge Beam 2x24-29% Gust 2x29-35% | ||
 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 Sun & 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% | ||
Sun & 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.
Sun & 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 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Focus Blast and Hydro Pump. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
How to Get Poliwrath in Sun & Moon
low spawn rates across 2 encounter spots for Poliwrath. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.
Where To Catch Poliwrath in Sun & Moon
The path to Poliwrath starts with Poliwag at Lv. 14-55 via walking, gift, and more encounters. 3 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch PoliwagBrooklet Hill - NorthMoonSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthSunSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthSunSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthMoonSurfing on water Lv.14-1740%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthSunGrass Lv.14-1720%EarlyBrooklet Hill - SouthMoonGrass Lv.14-1720%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthMoonGrass Lv.14-1710%EarlyBrooklet Hill - NorthSunGrass Lv.14-1710%EarlyMalie GardenMoonGrass Lv.24-27 Forest20%MidMalie GardenSunGrass Lv.24-27 Forest20%MidPoké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reachedMoonGift from NPC Lv.21-278%MidPoké Pelago - Ula'ula Island reachedSunGift from NPC Lv.21-278%MidPoké Pelago - Poni Island reachedMoonGift from NPC Lv.37-435%LatePoké Pelago - Poni Island reachedSunGift from NPC Lv.37-435%LatePoké Pelago - Elite Four defeatedMoonGift from NPC Lv.49-554%PostPoké Pelago - Elite Four defeatedSunGift from NPC Lv.49-554%Post
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlKonikoni CityMoonIn-game trade Lv.22 CityMidTrade for (give Zubat)Konikoni CitySunIn-game trade Lv.22 CityMidTrade for (give Zubat)Malie GardenMoonGrass Lv.24-27 Forest10%MidSOS chain (rain)Malie GardenSunGrass Lv.24-27 Forest10%MidSOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Poliwrath ✓Malie GardenSunGrass Lv.24-27 Forest1%MidDaySOS chain (rain)Malie GardenMoonGrass Lv.24-27 Forest1%MidDaySOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwhirl (Step 2)
Poliwrath Guide
In Sun & 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 Sun & 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