Stats & Training
Poliwag's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, HP trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed stat exp, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Because it is inept at walking on its newly grown legs, it always swims around in water.
The direction of its belly spiral differs by area. The equator is thought to have an effect on this.
Poliwag Weakness
Poliwag is weak to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
 Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
 Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Mareep Electric | D | |
 Paras BugGrass | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Mareep Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Mareep builds →Thunder 2x156-185%KO Thunder Shock 2x58-69% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x37-45% Absorb 2x20-25% | ||
Mareep Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Mareep builds →Thunder 2x148-175%KO Thunder Shock 2x58-70% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
 Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x37-44% Absorb 2x20-24% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x36-43% Absorb 2x19-23% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Hoppip Grass | D | |
Sunkern Grass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sunkern builds →Mega Drain 2x36-43% Absorb 2x19-23% | ||
 Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Tangela builds →Vine Whip 2x86-101%KO Mega Drain 2x75-90% Absorb 2x39-47% | ||
 Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Hoppip Grass | D | |
In Gold & Silver, Jolteon can KO Poliwag with Thunderbolt (194-228%). Venusaur threatens a KO with Giga Drain (150-176%). Electabuzz's Thunder also KOs at 210-247%.
 Jolteon Electric | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x194-228%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Venusaur builds →Giga Drain 2x150-176%KO | ||
 Electabuzz Electric | C | |
Recommended Build ItemScopelens Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Electabuzz builds →Thunder 2x210-247%KO | ||
Gold & Silver Evolution
Poliwag's evolution chain splits 2 ways into Poliwrath and Politoed. The method you choose determines which form you get. Evolving adds up to 210 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Poliwag easily with 37 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Haze, Mind Reader and 2 more to offspring.
Gold & Silver Poliwag Best Moveset
Best Build
Gen 2 build content has limited support (no abilities).
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Poliwag gets Bubble Beam and Haze exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Ice coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Hydro Pump and Surf.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Gold & Silver Poliwag Locations
Easy grab on Poliwag with high spawn rates across 100 locations in early-game fishing spots. Two different catch methods are in play here. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Best Locations to Catch Poliwag in Gold & Silver
Before you go hunting for Poliwag, check which of the 100 spots belong to your version. Gold and Silver each have different fishing and surfing encounters at Lv. 5-44.
Poliwag Guide
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Gold & Silver, Poliwag does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Poliwhirl before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Poliwag is catchable in Gold & Silver. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Poliwag has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 20 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
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