Is Politoed Good in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Playthrough?
Trade evolution from Poliwhirl with King's Rock. Pure Water with AbilityWater Absorb. Poliwrath's Fighting coverage is more useful for the story, but Politoed works if you want a bulkier Water option.
Poliwag has the type edge here and should clean up Ilima's team.
Poliwag trades roughly evenly with Hala's team.
Lana's team hits Poliwag's weaknesses hard.
ElectricSteelReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Moon only)
BugElectricReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GrassReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou... (Ultra Sun only)
GhostFairyReceived as a Totem-sized gift Pokemon by collecting enou...
Poliwag has the type edge here and should clean up Kiawe's team.
Mallow's team hits Poliwag's weaknesses hard.
Poliwag has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Poliwhirl trades roughly evenly with Sophocles's team.
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Poliwhirl trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Acerola:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Nanu's team.
Poliwhirl trades roughly evenly with Nanu's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Nanu:
Mina's team hits Poliwrath's weaknesses hard.
Politoed trades roughly evenly with Mina's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Mina:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Hapu's team.
Politoed has the type edge here and should clean up Hapu's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Hapu:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Molayne's team.
Politoed has the type edge here and should clean up Molayne's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Molayne:
Poliwrath resists most of Olivia's coverage and hits back hard.
Politoed has the type edge here and should clean up Olivia's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Olivia:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Acerola's team.
Politoed has the type edge here and should clean up Acerola's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Acerola:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Politoed trades roughly evenly with Kahili's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Kahili:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Politoed trades roughly evenly with Kukui's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Kukui:
Catch Poliwag on Brooklet Hill (walking, Lv 14-17).
Your Poliwag should hit Level 25 before you reach Sophocles, at typical leveling pace.
Most players are ready to trade before reaching Nanu.
You can pick up the Water Stone in Paniola Ranch.
How to Get Politoed in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
The chain to Politoed requires a trade evolution through a trade. Catch Poliwag at solid rates and level through the stages, but line up the trade first. The rest of the chain runs on levels alone.
Where To Catch Politoed in USUM
To get Politoed, start by catching Poliwag through walking and surfing encounters at Lv. 14-28. The chain covers 3 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PoliwagBrooklet Hill - NorthLv.14-17Surfing on waterRate 40%Brooklet Hill - SouthLv.14-17Surfing on waterRate 40%Brooklet Hill - NorthLv.14-17GrassRate 20%Brooklet Hill - SouthLv.14-17GrassRate 20%
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlMalie GardenLv.25-28GrassRate 20%Malie GardenLv.25-28GrassRate 10%SOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Politoed ✓Malie GardenLv.25-28GrassRate 1%NightSOS chain (rain)or evolve from Poliwhirl (Step 2)
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
What is Politoed Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Politoed
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Politoed View Claydol builds →Rapid Spin6-8% Psychic13-15% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityStamina ItemLeftovers NatureSassy Moves
Damage vs Politoed View Mudsdale builds →Earthquake20-24% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Politoed View Mesprit builds →Ice Beam11-13% Psyshock20-23% Shadow Ball20-23% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemIapapaberry NatureHardy Moves
Damage vs Politoed View Jellicent builds →Scald7-8% Ice Beam7-9% | ||
C | ||
Recommended Build AbilityIntimidate ItemAssault Vest NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Politoed View Stoutland builds →Superpower26-31% Wild Charge 2x40-47% Facade15-18% Retaliate15-18% | ||
Politoed Evolutions
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
Breeding
Breed with Politoed to get Poliwag eggs easily using 95 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more.
USUM Politoed Best Moveset
AbilityDrizzle setting rain on entry as a hidden ability is Politoed's entire competitive identity. 90 Sp. Atk at 70 Speed with Water TermStab provides moderate offense under its own rain. The moveset exists to enable rain teams, and that single role justifies the team slot despite unspectacular personal stats.
Best Build
Politoed best EVs are Defense and HP
Wall Moveset
- Scald
- Toxic
- Protect
- Encore
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
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
Although its cries sound like screams, a composer created a beautiful ballad that was influenced by the sounds.
The longer and more luxurious the curled hair on its head, the greater the number of Poliwag and Poliwhirl that will obey it.
Politoed Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Guide
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 C-Tier as a support. Scald with Damprock is the standard set.
Politoed is obtained by trade-evolving Poliwhirl. Catch or evolve a Poliwhirl first, then trade. Trade needs a Game Boy Advance link cable and a second GBA running another Gen 3 game (FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald). Trade Poliwhirl to a friend, then have them trade it back. The 2026 Switch re-release supports the same trade through local wireless on the Pokemon Center 2F Wireless Club, with no cables required. The Kings Rock must be held during the trade. Bring one over from a sibling Gen 3 game if needed.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Politoed fills the support 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.
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
- Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GSDebut
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