Physical
Balanced
CTier
70Speed · Below Avg

Stats & Training

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.

Base Stats
High
HP90
B
Attack95
B
Defense95
B
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def90
B
Speed70
C
Total510
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Slow1.06M XP
Height1.3 m
4'03"Average
Weight54.0 kg
119.0 lbsStandard
Base XP230
High Yield
Abilities
Water AbsorbTop Pick
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 SwimHANiche
Doubles Speed during rain.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity
EV Yield
HPAtkDef+3SpASpDSpe
Strong Defense training target
Pokedex Entries

With its extremely tough muscles, it could keep swimming in the Pacific Ocean without resting.

Poliwrath Weakness

Type-wise, Poliwrath takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy. 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.

Poliwrath Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, Fairy
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, Rock, Dark, Steel
Type ChartAvg
5Weak
7Resist
1Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrassFlyingPsychicFairy
½xResist
FireWaterIceBugRockDarkSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Water
STAB (7)
FireGroundRockNormalIceDarkSteel
How to Beat Poliwrath in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (Best Counters)

In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Clefable's Moonblast hits Poliwrath for 56-67%.

Clefable
Clefable
Fairy
A
Recommended Build
AbilityMagic Guard
ItemLeftovers
NatureBold
Moves
  • MoonblastSTAB
  • Soft Boiled
  • Calm Mind
  • Knock Off
Damage vs Poliwrath
Moonblast 2x
56-67%
Knock Off
4-5%
View Clefable builds →

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Evolution

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

4 Forms
Poliwag
#060Poliwag
25
Level 25
Poliwhirl
#061Poliwhirl
Poliwrath
#062PoliwrathWater Stone
Politoed
#186PolitoedTrade + Kings Rock
Stat Comparison 4 Stages
Poliwag
Water
Poliwhirl
Water
Poliwrath
WaterFighting
Politoed
Water
HP
40
65+25
90+25
90+25
ATK
50
65+15
95+30
75+10
DEF
40
65+25
95+30
75+10
SP.ATK
40
50+10
70+20
90+40
SP.DEF
40
50+10
90+40
100+50
SPE
90
90
70-20
70-20
BST
300D-Tier
385D-Tier+85
510C-Tier+125
500B-Tier+115
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Physical
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily using 69 partners from the Water1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 5 more.

Egg Groups
Water1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
azumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolodewgongcrawdaunt
12 of 69·

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl Poliwrath Best Moveset

The Sash lets Poliwrath ignore defensive shortcomings for one turn. Use that turn to deal early damage, and Waterabsorb squeezes extra value from the position. Max HP and Attack EVs push damage output.

Best Build

Experimental
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Poliwrath
Adamant+ATK

Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Doubles Physical Sweeper Moveset

  • Belly Drum
  • Rock Slide
  • WaterfallSTAB
  • Drain PunchSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Pelipper
PelipperExcellent

Moves

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

Lv 1
Belly Drum
S——10Normal
Lv 1
Body Slam
C8510015Normal
Lv 1
Bubble Beam
C6510020Water
Lv 1
Circle Throw-6
B609010Fighting
Lv 1
Double-Edge
C12010015Normal
Lv 1
Dynamic Punch
C100505Fighting
Lv 1
Earth Power
C9010010Ground
Lv 1
Hydro Pump
C110805Water
Lv 1
Hypnosis
C—6020Psychic
Lv 1
Mind Reader
———5Normal
Lv 1
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Lv 1
Pound
—4010035Normal
Lv 1
Rain Dance
C——5Water
Lv 1
Submission
C808020Fighting
Lv 1
Water Gun
—4010025Water

TM Moves

TM
TM45
Attract
C—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
D110705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
A7510015Fighting
TM08
Bulk Up
A——20Fighting
TM83
Bulldoze
D6010020Ground
TM28
Dig
C8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
———15Normal
TM60
Drain Punch
S7510010Fighting
TM26
Earthquake
S10010010Ground
TM58
Endure+4
C——10Normal
TM42
Facade
C7010020Normal
TM56
Fling
——10010Dark
TM52
Focus Blast
C120705Fighting
TM01
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
TM68
Giga Impact
B150905Normal
TM07
Hail
C——10Ice
TM15
Hyper Beam
C150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
C9010010Ice
TM27
Low Sweep
—6510020Fighting
TM66
Payback
D5010010Dark
TM84
Poison Jab
C8010020Poison
TM17
Protect+4
C——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
C——5Water
TM44
Rest
B——10Psychic
TM100
Rock Climb
—908520Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
S759010Rock
TM98
Rock Smash
D4010015Fighting
TM39
Rock Tomb
D609515Rock
TM49
Scald
A8010015Water
TM82
Sleep Talk
B——10Normal
TM96
Strength
—8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
C——10Normal
TM95
Surf
C9010015Water
TM87
Swagger
D—8515Normal
TM46
Thief
D6010025Dark
TM03
Water Pulse
C6010020Water
TM99
Waterfall
S8010015Water
TM10
Work Up
D——30Normal

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bubble Beam
C6510020Water
Egg
Encore
C—1005Normal
Egg
Endeavor
D—1005Normal
Egg
Haze
C——30Ice
Egg
Mind Reader
———5Normal
Egg
Mist
D——30Ice
Egg
Mud Shot
D559515Ground
Egg
Splash
D——40Normal

Tutor Moves

Poliwrath can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Poliwrath in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Poliwrath doesn't appear wild. Catch Poliwag instead, it shows up at solid rates. Evolve it through a special method to get Poliwrath. The 3-stage chain is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Poliwrath in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

The path to Poliwrath starts with Poliwag at Lv. 10-63 via walking, surfing, and more encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Poliwag
    Step 1Catch Poliwag
    Route 225
    Shining PearlGood Rod Lv.10-25 Route
    35%Early
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondGood Rod Lv.10-25 Route
    35%Early
    Route 227
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 227
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Route 228
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.20-30 Route
    30%Mid
    Fountainspring Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Fountainspring Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
  2. Poliwhirl
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Poliwhirl
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondSuper Rod Lv.30-55 Route
    35%Mid
    Route 225
    Shining PearlSuper Rod Lv.30-55 Route
    35%Mid
    Route 227
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 227
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 228
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 228
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-55 Route
    70%Late
    Route 225
    Brilliant DiamondSurfing on water Lv.40-50 Route
    30%Late
    Route 225
    Shining PearlSurfing on water Lv.40-50 Route
    30%Late
    Fountainspring Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Fountainspring Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Grassland Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Riverbank Cave
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Still-Water Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Brilliant DiamondGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    Sunlit Cavern
    Shining PearlGrass Lv.58-63 Cave
    Post
    Post-game
    or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
  3. Poliwrath
    Step 3Poliwrath ✓

Poliwrath Guide

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, 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. Earthquake with Focus Sash is the standard set.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Poliwrath's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Exeggutor (Grass), and Dodrio (Flying), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Psychic and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter.

  • 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. Speed tells the real story. Base 70 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many.

  • In Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, Swift Swim is the hidden ability. It doubles Speed during rain. Worth hunting for if you want Poliwrath to compete at a higher level.

Game Availability

Present since Red & Blue, Poliwrath appears in 20 games spanning 10 generations. Gen 1 originals like Poliwrath have the longest track record of availability in the series.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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