Special
Balanced
BTier
70Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

Politoed's spread isn't flashy. Sp. Def leads, Speed trails, 3 stats clear the bar. Tough to catch and worth 3 Sp. Def EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.

Base Stats
High
HP90
B
Attack75
C
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk90
B
Sp. Def100
B
Speed70
C
Total500
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.1 m
3'07"Small
Weight33.9 kg
74.7 lbsLight
Base XP225
High Yield
Abilities
Water Absorb
Absorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
Damp
Prevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
DrizzleHATop Pick
Summons rain that lasts indefinitely upon entering battle.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+3Spe
Strong Special Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

A group of Poliwag and Poliwhirl will form with a Politoed as the leader. Politoed’s cries make the Pokémon of the group obey.

Politoed Weakness

Type-wise, Politoed takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart. Politoed's special bulk (base 100 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.

Politoed Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrass
½xResist
FireWaterIceSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Water
STAB (3)
FireGroundRock
How to Beat Politoed in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Rotom's Discharge hits Politoed for 55-65%.

Leafeon
Leafeon
Grass
A
Recommended Build
AbilityChlorophyll
ItemLife Orb
NatureAdamant
Moves
  • Swords Dance
  • Knock Off
  • Leaf Blade
  • Solar Blade
Damage vs Politoed
Knock Off
30-35%
View Leafeon builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

Politoed is one of 2 ways Poliwhirl's chain can end. This one takes the trade route, while the siblings go different directions. Breed through Poliwag to get eggs. Poliwrath has 10 more total stats, but Politoed makes up for it with a stronger Sp.Def gain (+60 from Poliwag). View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

4 Forms
Poliwag
#060Poliwag
25
Level 25
Poliwhirl
#061Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
#062PoliwrathWater Stone
Politoed
#186PolitoedTrade + Kings Rock
Stat Comparison 4 Stages
Poliwag
Water
Poliwhirl
Water
Poliwrath
WaterFighting
Politoed
Water
HP
40
65+25
90+25
90+25
ATK
50
65+15
95+30
75+10
DEF
40
65+25
95+30
75+10
SP.ATK
40
50+10
70+20
90+40
SP.DEF
40
50+10
90+40
100+50
SPE
90
90
70-20
70-20
BST
300D-Tier
385D-Tier+85
510C-Tier+125
500B-Tier+115
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Physical
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Politoed to get Poliwag eggs easily using 69 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Water1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolodewgongcrawdaunt
12 of 69·

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Politoed Best Moveset

Nothing fancy here. Politoed builds around Sitrus Berry for a one-time health recovery at low HP, Modest nature for the right stat lean, and max HP and Sp. Atk EVs. Drizzle does its job quietly.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Drizzle
Item
Sitrus BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Politoed
Modest+SPA

Politoed best EVs are Sp. Atk and HP

EVs

Doubles Special Tank Moveset

  • Icy Wind
  • ScaldSTAB
  • Helping Hand
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Kingdra
KingdraDecent

Moves

The egg pool carries weight here. Bubble Beam and Encore aren't available any other way for Politoed, and they meaningfully change what it threatens. Stack those on top of Hydro Pump and Surf for solid options.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Belly Drum
C——10Normal
Lv 1
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Lv 1
Bounce
D85855Flying
Lv 1
Bubble Beam
C6510020Water
Lv 1
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Lv 1
Earth Power
B9010010Ground
Lv 1
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
Lv 1
Hyper Voice
C9010010Normal
Lv 1
Hypnosis
B—6020Psychic
Lv 1
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Lv 1
Perish Song
D——5Normal
Lv 1
Pound
—4010035Normal
Lv 1
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 1
Swagger
D—8515Normal
Lv 1
Water Gun
—4010025Water

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
C110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
D7510015Fighting
TM83
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM26
Earthquake
C10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
TM56
Fling
——10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
C120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
C15010020Fighting
TM68
Giga Impact
C150905Normal
TM07
Hail
C——10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
A9010010Ice
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
A——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
A——10Psychic
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM49
Scald
S8010015Water
TM82
Sleep Talk
B——10Normal
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM95
Surf
B9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM03
Water Pulse
C6010020Water
TM99
Waterfall
B8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bubble Beam
C6510020Water
Egg
Encore
S—1005Normal
Egg
Endeavor
D—1005Normal
Egg
Haze
C——30Ice
Egg
Mind Reader
———5Normal
Egg
Mist
D——30Ice
Egg
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Egg
Splash
D——40Normal

Tutor Moves

Politoed can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Politoed in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Politoed's 3-stage chain starts with Poliwag, which appears at solid rates in the locations below. Level through 3 stages while you find a trade partner. Everything except the trade step is solo.

Trade Evolution Required — Requires trading with another player

How to Obtain Politoed in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Poliwag is your first catch on the way to Politoed. You'll find walking, surfing, and more encounters from Lv. 10-63 across 34 total spots in the chain.

  1. Poliwag
    Step 1Catch Poliwag
    Route 225
    Shining PearlGood Rod Lv.10-25 Route
    35%Early
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondGood Rod Lv.10-25 Route
    35%Early
    Route 227
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 227
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 228
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Fountainspring Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Fountainspring Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
  2. Poliwhirl
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Poliwhirl
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondSuper Rod Lv.30-55 Route
    35%Mid
    Route 225
    Shining PearlSuper Rod Lv.30-55 Route
    35%Mid
    Route 227
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 227
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 228
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-50 Route
    30%Late
    Route 225
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-50 Route
    30%Late
    Fountainspring Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Fountainspring Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
  3. Politoed
    Step 3Politoed ✓

Politoed Guide

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Don't let Politoed's 500 base stat total fool you. Drizzle is what makes it tick. It punches way above its weight class. We rate it B-Tier. Icywind with Sitrus Berry is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Politoed's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Exeggutor (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Run Drizzle on Politoed. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Politoed also gets Water Absorb and Damp, but they don't compare.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Politoed fills the balanced role. It's a special attacker with base 90 Sp. Atk. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. And it's enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • For Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, the core moveset is Icywind, Scald, Helpinghand, and Protect. Icywind leads at 19% usage. Scald provides reliable STAB damage.

Game Availability

Politoed has been available in 17 games since Gold & Silver, though obtaining it requires a trade evolution. This extra step makes it less common than Pokemon found through standard wild encounters.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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