Stats & Training
Poliwag's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, HP trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed EV, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
Despite the danger, it wants to come up on land. So it does its best to waddle along, but when an enemy finds it, it rushes back to the water.
The direction of the swirl on their stomachs differs depending on where they live. Poliwag aficionados can tell them apart at a glance.
Poliwag Weakness
Poliwag is weak to Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
 Sceptile Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Sceptile builds →Leaf Storm 2x268-316%KO Leaf Blade 2x157-185%KO Mega Drain 2x83-99% Absorb 2x44-52% | ||
 Decidueye GrassGhost | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Rowlet (Route 1 Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Decidueye builds →Leaf Storm 2x257-303%KO Leaf Blade 2x188-222%KO Razor Leaf 2x117-138%KO Leafage 2x86-102%KO | ||
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x237-279%KO Solar Beam 2x237-279%KO Petal Blizzard 2x152-180%KO Razor Leaf 2x95-112%KO | ||
 Leafeon Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Paniola Ranch Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Leafeon builds →Leaf Blade 2x192-227%KO Giga Drain 2x102-120%KO Magical Leaf 2x82-97% Razor Leaf 2x119-141%KO | ||
 Lurantis Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodHeahea Beach Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Lurantis builds →Solar Blade 2x257-303%KO Petal Blizzard 2x186-219%KO Leaf Blade 2x186-219%KO Razor Leaf 2x115-136%KO | ||
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, Zapdos can KO Poliwag with Thunderbolt (241-284%). Amoonguss threatens a KO with Giga Drain (130-153%). Jolteon's Thunderbolt also KOs at 241-284%.
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStatic ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Zapdos builds →Heat Wave42-50% Thunderbolt 2x241-284%KO | ||
 Amoonguss GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemBlack Sludge NatureSassy Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Amoonguss builds →Giga Drain 2x130-153%KO | ||
 Jolteon Electric | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Jolteon builds →Shadow Ball71-84% Discharge 2x214-252%KO Volt Switch 2x188-221%KO Thunderbolt 2x241-284%KO | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityChlorophyll ItemFocus Sash NatureMild Moves
Damage vs Poliwag View Venusaur builds →Sludge Bomb124-146%KO Giga Drain 2x208-244%KO | ||
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon 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 95 breeding partners from the Water1 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more to offspring.
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Poliwag Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 7.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Egg moves make a real difference. Poliwag gets Bubble Beam and Encore exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Ground coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Hydro Pump and Surf.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Poliwag Locations
Easy grab on Poliwag with high spawn rates across 8 locations in early-game water routes. 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
Which version you're playing matters for Poliwag. 8 surfing and walking spots at Lv. 14-17 spread across Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Poliwag Guide
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon, 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 Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon. 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