Poliwrath's stats are solid on their own, but Swift Swim is what pushes it over the line. It doubles its Speed in rain. Only weak to Electric, Grass, Flying, and Psychic. Known as the Tadpole Pokemon.
You won't find a real weakness in Poliwrath's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Tadpole Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 3 Defense EVs, on a 1.06M XP medium-slow curve.
With its extremely tough muscles, it can keep swimming in the Pacific Ocean without resting.
Poliwrath Weakness
AvgType-wise, Poliwrath takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Flying, and Psychic. It resists 7 types, so it can switch into a lot of moves safely. Water Absorb grants an additional Water immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Poliwrath is one of 2 ways Poliwhirl's chain can end. This one takes the item path, while the siblings go different directions. Breed through Poliwag to get eggs. Poliwrath edges out Politoed by 10 total stats (510 vs 500). Defense is where most of the advantage lives.
How to Evolve
Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 10 more.
Bulk and offense in one package. Poliwrath runs Leftovers for passive recovery each turn with a Adamant nature, so it survives long enough to threaten with Waterfall. Max Attack and Speed EVs and double STAB make it hard to safely switch into.
Best Build
Best Poliwrath Moveset
- Waterfall
- Brick Break
- Ice Punch
- Scald
Recommended Teammates
Breeding's the move. Bubble Beam and Encore give Poliwrath options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Focus Blast. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Transfer Moves
moderate rates is the best you'll get on Poliwrath in endgame fishing spots. Use the sort toggle below. Best shows where the odds peak, Earliest shows where you can access it soonest in your playthrough.
Where To Catch Poliwrath in Black 2 & White 2
Poliwag is your first catch on the way to Poliwrath. You'll find fishing encounters from Lv. 40-70 across 90 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Catch PoliwagEASYFloccesy RanchWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateFacilityAnyEASYFloccesy RanchBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateFacilityAnyEASYGiant Chasm - CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyEASYGiant Chasm - CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyEASYGiant Chasm - Inner CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyEASYGiant Chasm - Inner CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyEASYLostlorn ForestWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateForestAnyEASYLostlorn ForestBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateForestAnyEASYRelic Passage - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYRelic Passage - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYRoute 19Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 19White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 20Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 20White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 23Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 23White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 6Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYRoute 6White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyEASYVictory Road - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-55CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-55CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - 3FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - 3FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - 4FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - 4FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - OutsideWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYVictory Road - OutsideBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyEASYClay Tunnel - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYClay Tunnel - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYClay Tunnel - Room 3Black 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYClay Tunnel - Room 3White 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYWellspring Cave - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYWellspring Cave - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYWellspring Cave - B1FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAnyEASYWellspring Cave - B1FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70CommonPostCaveAny
Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlEASYFloccesy RanchWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateFacilityAnyShaking spotEASYFloccesy RanchBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateFacilityAnyShaking spotEASYGiant Chasm - CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyShaking spotEASYGiant Chasm - CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyShaking spotEASYGiant Chasm - Inner CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyShaking spotEASYGiant Chasm - Inner CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateIceAnyShaking spotEASYLostlorn ForestWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateForestAnyShaking spotEASYLostlorn ForestBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateForestAnyShaking spotEASYRelic Passage - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYRelic Passage - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 19Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 19White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 20Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 20White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 23Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 23White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 6Black 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYRoute 6White 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateRouteAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-60CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-60CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 3FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 3FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 4FWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - 4FBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - OutsideWhite 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYVictory Road - OutsideBlack 2Super RodLv.40-70CommonLateCaveAnyShaking spotEASYClay Tunnel - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYClay Tunnel - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYClay Tunnel - Room 3Black 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYClay Tunnel - Room 3White 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYWellspring Cave - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYWellspring Cave - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYWellspring Cave - B1FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotEASYWellspring Cave - B1FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-60CommonPostCaveAnyShaking spotor evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
Step 3Poliwrath ✓EXTREMEGiant Chasm - CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostIceAnyShaking spotEXTREMEGiant Chasm - CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostIceAnyShaking spotEXTREMEGiant Chasm - Inner CaveWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostIceAnyShaking spotEXTREMEGiant Chasm - Inner CaveBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostIceAnyShaking spotEXTREMERelic Passage - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMERelic Passage - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMERoute 23White 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostRouteAnyShaking spotEXTREMERoute 23Black 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostRouteAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 3FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 3FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 4FWhite 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEVictory Road - 4FBlack 2Super RodLv.50-70RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEClay Tunnel - Room 2White 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEClay Tunnel - Room 2Black 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEClay Tunnel - Room 3Black 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEClay Tunnel - Room 3White 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEWellspring Cave - 1FWhite 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEWellspring Cave - 1FBlack 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEWellspring Cave - B1FWhite 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotEXTREMEWellspring Cave - B1FBlack 2Super RodLv.60RarePostCaveAnyShaking spotor evolve from Poliwhirl (Step 2)
Poliwrath looks average on paper at 510 BST. But Swift Swim is why it sees play — build around that and it pulls its weight. C-Tier on our tier list.
Poliwrath gets Swift Swim, Water Absorb, and Damp. But Swift Swim is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Poliwrath is a physical attacker with base 95 Attack. Enough bulk to take a hit or two, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 70 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.
Poliwrath appears in 20 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Present since Red & Blue, Poliwrath appears in 20 games spanning 9 generations. Gen 1 originals like Poliwrath have the longest track record of availability in the series.
- 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