Poliwrath's stats are solid on their own, but Swift Swim is what pushes it over the line. It doubles its Speed in rain. 5 type weaknesses to keep in mind. Known as the Tadpole Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.
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.
Poliwrath Weakness
AvgType-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.
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.
How to Evolve
Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily using 114 partners from the Water1 egg group.
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
Best Poliwrath Moveset
- Liquidation
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off
- Circle Throw
Recommended Teammates
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
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 Punch and Focus Blast. The egg moves push it further.
Breeding's the move. Endeavor and Haze give Poliwrath options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Close Combat and Focus Blast. The egg moves push it further.
Most of Poliwrath's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Superpower and Surf, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.
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 doesn't appear wild. Catch Poliwag instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Poliwrath. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.
How to Obtain Poliwrath in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
The path to Poliwrath starts with Poliwag at Lv. 10-63 via walking, surfing, and more encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch PoliwagEASYRoute 225Shining PearlGood RodLv.10-2535%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 225Brilliant DiamondGood RodLv.10-2535%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 227Brilliant DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-3030%MidRouteEASYRoute 227Shining PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-3030%MidRouteEASYRoute 228Brilliant DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-3030%MidRouteEASYRoute 228Shining PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-3030%MidRouteFountainspring CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameFountainspring CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-game
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlEASYRoute 225Brilliant DiamondSuper RodLv.30-5535%MidRouteEASYRoute 225Shining PearlSuper RodLv.30-5535%MidRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 227Brilliant DiamondSurfing on waterLv.40-5570%LateRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 227Shining PearlSurfing on waterLv.40-5570%LateRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 228Brilliant DiamondSurfing on waterLv.40-5570%LateRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 228Shining PearlSurfing on waterLv.40-5570%LateRouteEASYRoute 225Brilliant DiamondSurfing on waterLv.40-5030%LateRouteEASYRoute 225Shining PearlSurfing on waterLv.40-5030%LateRouteFountainspring CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameFountainspring CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameGrassland CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameRiverbank CaveBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameStill-Water CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernBrilliant DiamondGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameSunlit CavernShining PearlGrassLv.58-63PostCavePost-gameor evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Poliwrath ✓
You're catching Poliwag first, not Poliwrath. Poliwag appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 3-stage chain with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Poliwrath in Sword & Shield
To get Poliwrath, start by catching Poliwag through walking and surfing encounters at Lv. 13-45. The chain covers 1 catchable stage before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PoliwagEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveSnowingEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveRainingEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveOvercastEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveNormal WeatherEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveThunderstormEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveIntense SunEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveSnowingEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveRainingEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveThunderstormEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveOvercastEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordOverworldLv.13-1816%EarlyCaveIntense SunEASYBrawlers' CaveShieldSurfing on waterLv.40-4550%LateCaveAll WeatherEASYBrawlers' CaveSwordSurfing on waterLv.40-4550%LateCaveAll Weather
Step 2Evolve into Poliwhirl
Step 3Poliwrath ✓
Finding Poliwrath at low spawn rates takes patience. 4 spots are available in endgame water routes, but the rate difference between them matters. Lock in the top one from the sorted list below.
Where To Catch Poliwrath in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
Poliwag is your first catch on the way to Poliwrath. You'll find surfing encounters from Lv. 3-56 across 24 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch PoliwagEASYRoute 22Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.3-445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 22Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.3-445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 25Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.9-1445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 25Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.9-1445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 23Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.41-4645%LateRouteEASYRoute 23Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.41-4645%LateRouteEASYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCave
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlCHALLENGINGRoute 22Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.3-410%EarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 22Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.3-410%EarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 25Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.9-1410%EarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 25Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.9-1410%EarlyRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 23Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.41-4610%LateRouteCHALLENGINGRoute 23Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.41-4610%LateRouteCHALLENGINGCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-569%PostCaveCHALLENGINGCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-569%PostCaveCHALLENGINGCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-569%PostCaveCHALLENGINGCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-569%PostCaveor evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Poliwrath ✓LEGENDARYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-561%PostCaveLEGENDARYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-561%PostCaveLEGENDARYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-561%PostCaveLEGENDARYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-561%PostCaveor evolve from Poliwhirl (Step 2)
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.
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. But the speed tells the real story — base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Poliwrath appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Present since Red & Blue, Poliwrath appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Poliwrath have the longest track record of availability in the series.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A