What does Poliwag evolve into?

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25, then the line branches. Poliwhirl can become Poliwrath using a Water Stone and Politoed while holding a Kings Rock. Two final forms from the same mid-stage.

At what level does Poliwag evolve?

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.

Should I use Poliwag?

In Yellow, 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.

Where can you catch Poliwag?

Poliwag is catchable in Yellow. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 19 other games across the series.

Poliwag - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Special

Balanced

DTier

90Speed · Above Avg

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.

Base Stats

Avg

HP40

Attack50

Defense40

Sp. Atk40

Sp. Def40

Speed90

Total300

Details

Catch Rate

Guaranteed255 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Slow1.06M XP

Height0.6 m

Weight12.4 kg

Base XP60

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

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.

Swift SwimHA

Doubles Speed during rain.

Water Absorb grants Water immunity

EV Yield

HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1

Speed training source

Pokedex Entries

The direction of the spiral on the belly differs by area. It is more adept at swimming than walking.

Yellow

Poliwag Weakness

Poliwag is weak to Electric and Grass. Its Water typing keeps the defensive matchups simple. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Poliwag Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice

Type ChartAvg

2Weak

3Resist

0Immune

Score-1

Gen I Type Chart

Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Grass

½xResist

Fire Water Ice

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (3)

Fire Ground Rock

How to Beat Poliwag in Yellow (Best Counters)

Oddish GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Mega Drain 2x 63-76% Absorb 2x 35-42% View Oddish builds →
Bulbasaur GrassPoison	D
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Moves Moves Razor LeafLv. 27 Vine WhipLv. 13 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Razor Leaf 2x 75-89% Vine Whip 2x 63-76% Mega Drain 2x 56-68% View Bulbasaur builds →
Bellsprout GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Vine WhipLv. 1 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 68-80% Mega Drain 2x 61-72% View Bellsprout builds →
Paras BugGrass	D
TM Move Moves Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Mega Drain 2x 46-55% View Paras builds →
Magnemite Electric	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderboltTM24 Thunder ShockLv. 25 Damage vs Poliwag Thunderbolt 2x 161-190%KO Thunder Shock 2x 75-89% View Magnemite builds →

Yellow Evolution

Poliwag evolves into Politoed, but can't breed. At 300 stats as a Water type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 210 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

3 Forms

#060Poliwag

Level 25

#061Poliwhirl

Water Stone

#062Poliwrath

Stat Comparison 3 Stages

Poliwag

Water

Poliwhirl

Water

Poliwrath

WaterFighting

65+25

90+25

ATK

65+15

95+30

DEF

65+25

95+30

SP.ATK

50+10

70+20

SP.DEF

50+10

90+40

SPE

70-20

BST

300D-Tier

385D-Tier+85

510C-Tier+125

ROLE

Balanced

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Yellow Poliwag Best Moveset

Best Build

Experimental

Utility

Ability

Not in Gen 1

Item

Not in Gen 1

Nature

Not in Gen 1

Utility Moveset

HypnosisUtility
AmnesiaUtility
BlizzardCoverage
SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

AlakazamExcellent

GengarGood

ChanseyGood

Moves

TMs define Poliwag's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Hydro Pump and Surf, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it Normal and Ice coverage. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Bubble

—2010030Water

Lv 16

Hypnosis

S—6020Psychic

Lv 19

Water Gun

D4010025Water

Lv 25

Double Slap

—158510Normal

Lv 31

Body Slam

B8510015Normal

Lv 38

Amnesia

S——20Psychic

Lv 45

Hydro Pump

D120805Water

TM Moves

TM34

Bide+1

———10Normal

TM14

Blizzard

S110905Ice

TM08

Body Slam

B8510015Normal

TM11

Bubble Beam

D6510020Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM10

Double-Edge

C12010015Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

TM31

Mimic

———10Normal

TM29

Psychic

B9010010Psychic

TM46

Psywave

——10015Psychic

TM20

Rage

—2010020Normal

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM40

Skull Bash

C10010010Normal

TM50

Substitute

B——10Normal

HM03

Surf

S9510015Water

TM09

Take Down

—908520Normal

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

TM12

Water Gun

D4010025Water

Egg Moves

Poliwag doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Poliwag can't learn any Tutor moves

Yellow Poliwag Locations

Easy grab on Poliwag with high spawn rates across 31 locations in early-game fishing spots. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations to Catch Poliwag in Yellow

Poliwag is a fishing-only catch in this game. 31 spots at Lv. 5-30 using Super Rod and Good Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.

Viridian City

Super Rod Lv.5-15 City

100%Early

Route 22

Super Rod Lv.5-15 Route

75%Early

Celadon City

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Cerulean Cave - 1F

Good Rod Lv.10 Cave

50%Early

Cerulean Cave - B1F

Good Rod Lv.10 Cave

50%Early

Fuchsia City

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Pallet Town

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Route 10

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 11

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 12

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 13

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 17

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 18

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 19

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 20

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 21

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 22

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 23

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 24

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 25

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Route 6

Good Rod Lv.10 Route

50%Early

Safari Zone - Center

Good Rod Lv.10 Facility

50%Early

Safari Zone - East

Good Rod Lv.10 Facility

50%Early

Safari Zone - North

Good Rod Lv.10 Facility

50%Early

Safari Zone - West

Good Rod Lv.10 Facility

50%Early

Seafoam Islands - B4F

Good Rod Lv.10 Water

50%Early

Seafoam Islands - B3F

Good Rod Lv.10 Water

50%Early

Vermilion City - City

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Vermilion City - Harbor

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Viridian City

Good Rod Lv.10 City

50%Early

Route 23

Super Rod Lv.25-30 Route

50%Mid

Poliwag Guide

Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25, then the line branches. Poliwhirl can become Poliwrath using a Water Stone and Politoed while holding a Kings Rock. Two final forms from the same mid-stage.
Poliwag evolves into Poliwhirl at level 25. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In Yellow, 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 Yellow. 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

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Pikachu Electric	C
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Move Moves Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Thunder Shock 2x 49-60% View Pikachu builds →
Oddish GrassPoison	D
Available Move Moves AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Absorb 2x 33-40% View Oddish builds →
Bulbasaur GrassPoison	D
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 13 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 67-80% View Bulbasaur builds →
Bellsprout GrassPoison	D
Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 67-80% View Bellsprout builds →
Paras BugGrass	D
Upcoming Move Moves View Paras builds →

Pikachu Electric	C
Obtain MethodPallet Town Gift Available Moves Moves ThunderboltTM24 Thunder ShockLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Thunderbolt 2x 100-120%KO Thunder Shock 2x 49-60% View Pikachu builds →
Oddish GrassPoison	D
Available Move Moves AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Absorb 2x 33-40% View Oddish builds →
Bulbasaur GrassPoison	D
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 13 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 67-80% View Bulbasaur builds →
Bellsprout GrassPoison	D
Available Move Moves Vine WhipLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 67-80% View Bellsprout builds →
Paras BugGrass	D
Upcoming Move Moves View Paras builds →

Tangela Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Vine WhipLv. 29 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 27 Damage vs Poliwag Vine Whip 2x 89-106%KO Mega Drain 2x 80-95% Absorb 2x 41-49% View Tangela builds →
Parasect BugGrass	C
TM Move Moves Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Mega Drain 2x 56-67% View Parasect builds →
Oddish GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Petal DanceLv. 33 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Petal Dance 2x 188-222%KO Mega Drain 2x 66-78% Absorb 2x 35-42% View Oddish builds →
Bulbasaur GrassPoison	D
Obtain MethodCerulean City Gift Available Moves Moves Razor LeafLv. 27 Vine WhipLv. 13 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Razor Leaf 2x 78-92% Vine Whip 2x 66-78% Mega Drain 2x 60-71% View Bulbasaur builds →
Bellsprout GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Razor LeafLv. 33 Vine WhipLv. 1 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Razor Leaf 2x 84-99% Vine Whip 2x 68-81% Mega Drain 2x 62-74% View Bellsprout builds →

Tangela Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Vine WhipLv. 29 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 27 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 227-267%KO Vine Whip 2x 86-102%KO Mega Drain 2x 77-91% Absorb 2x 39-47% View Tangela builds →
Parasect BugGrass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 151-179%KO Mega Drain 2x 53-63% View Parasect builds →
Weepinbell GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Razor LeafLv. 38 Vine WhipLv. 1 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 198-234%KO Razor Leaf 2x 94-110%KO Vine Whip 2x 77-91% Mega Drain 2x 67-80% View Weepinbell builds →
Gloom GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Petal DanceLv. 38 Solar BeamTM22 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Petal Dance 2x 198-234%KO Solar Beam 2x 198-234%KO Mega Drain 2x 67-80% Absorb 2x 35-41% View Gloom builds →
Exeggcute GrassPsychic	D
Available Move Moves Solar BeamLv. 42 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 151-179%KO View Exeggcute builds →

Tangela Grass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Vine WhipLv. 29 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 27 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 237-279%KO Vine Whip 2x 90-107%KO Mega Drain 2x 82-97% Absorb 2x 42-50% View Tangela builds →
Parasect BugGrass	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 159-188%KO Mega Drain 2x 55-65% View Parasect builds →
Weepinbell GrassPoison	C
Available Moves Moves Solar BeamTM22 Razor LeafLv. 38 Vine WhipLv. 1 Mega DrainTM21 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 208-245%KO Razor Leaf 2x 97-115%KO Vine Whip 2x 79-94% Mega Drain 2x 70-83% View Weepinbell builds →
Gloom GrassPoison	D
Available Moves Moves Petal DanceLv. 38 Solar BeamTM22 Mega DrainTM21 AbsorbLv. 1 Damage vs Poliwag Petal Dance 2x 208-245%KO Solar Beam 2x 208-245%KO Mega Drain 2x 70-83% Absorb 2x 37-44% View Gloom builds →
Exeggcute GrassPsychic	D
Available Move Moves Solar BeamLv. 42 Damage vs Poliwag Solar Beam 2x 159-188%KO View Exeggcute builds →