Mid-stage Pokemon like Poliwhirl rarely see competitive play outside of special formats. It's a waypoint on the road to Poliwrath, which is where the real potential kicks in. An original Gen 1 pick. Sits at a decent but contested Speed tier.
Speed and HP carry most of Poliwhirl's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 2 Speed EVs. Follows a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
It can live in or out of water. When out of water, it constantly sweats to keep its body slimy.
Its two legs are well developed. Even though it can live on the ground, it prefers living in water.
Poliwhirl Weakness
GoodElectric and Grass-type moves hit Poliwhirl for super-effective damage. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
From here, Poliwhirl's line branches into Poliwrath and Politoed. That's 2 possible evolutions, each with its own method. So far, HP got the biggest boost (+25 from Poliwag). The final form adds another 125 stats on top.
How to Evolve
Breed with Poliwhirl to get Poliwag eggs easily from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more.
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Without breeding, Poliwhirl misses out on Bubble Beam and Encore. That's 13 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Hydro Pump and Surf, with Normal and Ground coverage and more rounding things out.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
Plenty of locations for Poliwhirl with high spawn rates across mid-game fishing spots. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Poliwhirl in X & Y
To get Poliwhirl, start by catching Poliwag through fishing, surfing, and more encounters at Lv. 15-59. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PoliwagEASYCouriway TownXOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYCouriway TownYOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYFrost Cavern - 2FXOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyIceEASYFrost Cavern - 2FYOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideYOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideXOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyIceEASYLaverre CityYOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYLaverre CityXOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYPokémon VillageYOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyEASYPokémon VillageXOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyEASYRoute 14YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 14XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 15YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 15XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 16YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 16XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYVictory Road - Cave 1XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 1YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYVictory Road - Outside Section 3YOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYVictory Road - Outside Section 3XOld RodLv.15CommonEarlyCaveEASYPokémon VillageYGrassLv.25UncommonMidHorde battleEASYPokémon VillageXGrassLv.25UncommonMidHorde battle
Step 2Poliwhirl ✓MODERATECouriway TownXGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCityMODERATECouriway TownYGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCityMODERATEFrost Cavern - 2FXGood RodLv.25UncommonMidIceMODERATEFrost Cavern - 2FYGood RodLv.25UncommonMidIceMODERATEFrost Cavern - OutsideXGood RodLv.25UncommonMidIceMODERATEFrost Cavern - OutsideYGood RodLv.25UncommonMidIceMODERATELaverre CityXGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCityMODERATELaverre CityYGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCityMODERATEPokémon VillageYGood RodLv.25UncommonMidMODERATEPokémon VillageXGood RodLv.25UncommonMidMODERATERoute 14XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 14YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 15XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 15YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 16XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 16YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 19XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATERoute 19YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidRouteMODERATEVictory Road - Cave 1XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveMODERATEVictory Road - Cave 1YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveMODERATEVictory Road - Cave 4XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveMODERATEVictory Road - Cave 4YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveMODERATEVictory Road - Outside Section 3XGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveMODERATEVictory Road - Outside Section 3YGood RodLv.25UncommonMidCaveEASYCouriway TownXSuper RodLv.35CommonLateCityEASYCouriway TownYSuper RodLv.35CommonLateCityEASYFrost Cavern - 2FXSuper RodLv.35CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - 2FYSuper RodLv.35CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideXSuper RodLv.35CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideYSuper RodLv.35CommonLateIceEASYLaverre CityXSuper RodLv.35CommonLateCityEASYLaverre CityYSuper RodLv.35CommonLateCityEASYPokémon VillageXSuper RodLv.35CommonLateEASYPokémon VillageYSuper RodLv.35CommonLateEASYRoute 14XSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYRoute 14YSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYRoute 15XSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYRoute 15YSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYRoute 16XSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYRoute 16YSuper RodLv.35CommonLateRouteEASYVictory Road - Cave 1XSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 1YSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4XSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4YSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - Outside Section 3XSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYVictory Road - Outside Section 3YSuper RodLv.35-55CommonLateCaveEASYFrost Cavern - 2FYSurfing on waterLv.38-40CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - 2FXSurfing on waterLv.38-40CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideXSurfing on waterLv.38-40CommonLateIceEASYFrost Cavern - OutsideYSurfing on waterLv.38-40CommonLateIceMODERATERoute 21XGood RodLv.40UncommonLateRouteMODERATERoute 21YGood RodLv.40UncommonLateRouteEASYPokémon VillageXSurfing on waterLv.48-50CommonPostEASYPokémon VillageYSurfing on waterLv.48-50CommonPostEASYRoute 19XSuper RodLv.50CommonPostRouteEASYRoute 19YSuper RodLv.50CommonPostRouteEASYRoute 21XSuper RodLv.50CommonPostRouteEASYRoute 21YSuper RodLv.50-55CommonPostRouteEASYVictory Road - Cave 1YSurfing on waterLv.57-59CommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 1XSurfing on waterLv.57-59CommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4XSurfing on waterLv.57-59CommonPostCaveEASYVictory Road - Cave 4YSurfing on waterLv.57-59CommonPostCaveor evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Poliwhirl is meant to evolve into Poliwrath. At 385 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Swift Swim is what you want on Poliwhirl. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Water Absorb, Damp) work on paper but Swift Swim is what makes Poliwhirl worth using.
Base 90 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Poliwhirl is leaning toward the physical side (base 65 Attack).
Poliwhirl appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Poliwhirl has appeared in 20 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A