Is Poliwrath Good in Emerald Playthrough?
Water/Fighting with AbilityWater Absorb healing from Water moves. Poliwrath handles Norman and Flannery while absorbing Water attacks from Wallace's Champion team instead of taking damage. The Fighting type also gives it an edge against Sidney. One of the more useful imports if you can complete the line.
Poliwag resists most of Roxanne's coverage and hits back hard.
Poliwag has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.
Poliwag trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.
Poliwag resists most of Flannery's coverage and hits back hard.
Poliwag trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.
Poliwag trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.
Poliwag has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.
Juan's typing presses Poliwag's defenses.
Sidney's team hits Poliwag's weaknesses hard.
Poliwag trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.
Glacia's typing presses Poliwag's defenses.
Drake's typing presses Poliwag's defenses.
Wallace's team hits Poliwag's weaknesses hard.
Poliwrath cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus Punch225100%20
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- After Winona
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- After Tate & Liza
- HM08WaterDive120100%10
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- After Juan
- TM31FightingBrick Break113100%15
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
Poliwrath cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus Punch225100%20
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- After Winona
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- After Tate & Liza
- HM08WaterDive120100%10
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- After Juan
- TM31FightingBrick Break113100%15
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
Politoed cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
- STARTING (Lv 1)
- LV 1PsychicHypnosis—60%20
- After Norman
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- TM01FightingFocus Punch150100%20
- After Winona
- TM15NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- After Tate & Liza
- HM08WaterDive120100%10
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- After Juan
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
How to Get Poliwrath in Emerald
Poliwrath isn't available in the wild in Emerald. Start by transferring Poliwag from Red & Blue. The evolution path from Poliwag to Poliwrath is covered in the steps below.
How to Obtain Poliwrath in E
Step 1Obtain PoliwagBREEDINGAvailableLeave Poliwhirl with a compatible partner at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Poliwag egg.LATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Good rod · Safari Zone. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
Step 2Evolve into Poliwhirl
Step 3Poliwrath ✓
Poliwrath Weakness
Type-wise, Poliwrath takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Flying, and Psychic. 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 |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, Rock, Dark, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Poliwrath Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Poliwrath
 Manectric Electric | C | |
 Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Psychic 2x79-93% Shock Wave 2x35-42% | ||
 Plusle Electric | C | |
 Kirlia Psychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kirlia builds →Psychic 2x51-60% Thunderbolt 2x35-42% | ||
 Pelipper Water | C | |
Obtain MethodEvergrande City Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Pelipper builds →Shock Wave 2x30-36% Wing Attack 2x28-33% | ||
 Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Thunderbolt 2x58-68% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x106-125%KO Shock Wave 2x37-43% | ||
Manectric Electric | C | |
 Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
 Electrode Electric | B | |
Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Thunderbolt 2x59-70% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x106-126%KO Shock Wave 2x36-43% | ||
 Grumpig Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Grumpig builds →Psychic 2x65-78% Shock Wave 2x30-36% | ||
Manectric Electric | C | |
Magneton ElectricSteel | A | |
Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Thunderbolt 2x58-69% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x106-125%KO Shock Wave 2x37-43% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x89-105%KO Solar Beam 2x59-70% Fly 2x42-49% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tropius builds →Solar Beam 2x72-85% Fly 2x40-47% | ||
Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Thunderbolt 2x58-69% | ||
Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x106-125%KO Shock Wave 2x37-43% | ||
Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x89-105%KO Solar Beam 2x59-70% Fly 2x42-49% | ||
Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tropius builds →Solar Beam 2x72-85% Fly 2x40-47% | ||
 Latios DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latios builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Solar Beam 2x75-88% Thunderbolt 2x60-70% Fly 2x31-37% | ||
 Latias DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latias builds →Psychic 2x73-86% Solar Beam 2x65-77% Thunderbolt 2x52-61% Fly 2x28-33% | ||
 Rayquaza Dragon | S | |
Obtain MethodSky Pillar Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Rayquaza builds →Solar Beam 2x85-100%KO Fly 2x72-85% Thunderbolt 2x67-79% | ||
 Deoxys Psychic | A | |
Obtain MethodBirth Island Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Deoxys builds →Psycho Boost 2x148-174%KO Solar Beam 2x85-100%KO Thunderbolt 2x67-79% Aerial Ace 2x41-48% | ||
Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Thunderbolt 2x57-68% | ||
In Emerald, Tyranitar's Earthquake hits Poliwrath for 44-52%.
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemLeftovers NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Blissey builds →Ice Beam13-15% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilitySand Stream ItemLeftovers NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tyranitar builds →Rock Slide17-20% Earthquake44-52% | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityTorrent ItemLeftovers NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Swampert builds →Earthquake28-33% Ice Beam10-12% Hydro Pump12-14% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Suicune builds →Surf10-12% Ice Beam10-12% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMarvelscale ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Milotic builds →Surf11-13% | ||
Poliwrath Evolutions
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 and Politoed share the same 500 total stats, but they're distributed differently. Check the comparison below to see where each one specializes. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily using 58 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Haze, Ice Ball and 4 more.
E Poliwrath Best Moveset
Water/Fighting physical fighter at 95 Attack and 95 Defense with Water immunity through AbilityWater Absorb. The moveset fires MoveBrick Break for Fighting TermStab on the physical side and MoveSurf for Water from the weaker 70 Sp. Atk. Dual typing covers nine types super-effectively. 70 Speed limits initiative.
Best Build
Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and Sp. Atk
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Brick Break
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding's the move. Bubble Beam and Haze give Poliwrath options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ice coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Hydro Pump. The egg moves push it further.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
Its highly developed muscles never grow fatigued, however much it exercises. This POKéMON can swim back and forth across the Pacific Ocean without effort.
Poliwrath Emerald Guide
In Emerald, Poliwrath looks average on paper at 500 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play. Build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list. Focuspunch with Leftovers is the standard set.
Poliwrath gets Water Absorb and Damp. But Water Absorb is the one that matters. It's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Poliwrath is a mixed attacker with base 85 Attack and 70 Sp. Atk. 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 Emerald, the core moveset is Focuspunch, Substitute, Brickbreak, and Ice Beam. Focuspunch leads at 0% usage. This set covers the balanced role with a mix of damage and utility.
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 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves