Mixed
Balanced
510High
70Moderate
CTier

Poliwrath doesn't stand out in any single area, but it gets the job done for in-game teams. Only weak to Electric, Grass, Flying, and Psychic. Been around since Gen 1. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped. 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.

Base Stats
510High
HP90
B
Attack95
B
Defense95
B
Sp. Atk70
C
Sp. Def90
B
Speed70
C
Total510
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Poliwrath yields +3 Def
HPAtkDef+3SpASpDSpe
Details
Catch45Challenging•Medium Slow1.06M XP•1.3m / 4'03"•54kg / 119 lbs•230Base XP
Pokedex Entries

An adept swimmer at both the front crawl and breast stroke. Easily overtakes the best human swimmers.

Red / Blue

Poliwrath Weakness

Avg

Type-wise, Poliwrath takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Flying, and Psychic. The Water/Fighting typing picks up 5 resistances to work with.

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
4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricGrassFlyingPsychic
½xResisti
FireWaterIceBugRock
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (5)i
FireGroundRockNormalIce
4Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-3
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Water AbsorbAbsorbs water moves, healing for 1/4 max HP.
DampPrevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
Swift SwimHADoubles Speed during rain.
Water Absorb grants Water immunity

Poliwag's chain leads to Poliwrath (using a Water Stone). A Water/Fighting type at 510 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. Poliwrath edges out Politoed by 10 total stats (510 vs 500). Defense is where most of the advantage lives.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Poliwag
#060Poliwag
25
Level 25
Poliwhirl
#061Poliwhirl
Water Stone
Poliwrath
#062Poliwrath
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Poliwag
Water
Poliwhirl
Water
Poliwrath
WaterFighting
HP
40
65+25
90+25
ATK
50
65+15
95+30
DEF
40
65+25
95+30
SP.ATK
40
50+10
70+20
SP.DEF
40
50+10
90+40
SPE
90
90
70-20
BST
300D-Tier
385D-Tier+85
510C-Tier+125
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

utility options keeps opponents guessing about Poliwrath's real targets. An item provides extra utility while flexible EVs EVs and a nature nature handle the stat profile. An ability ties it together.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 1
Item
Not in Gen 1
Nature
Not in Gen 1

Best Poliwrath Moveset

  • AmnesiaUtility
  • HypnosisUtility
  • SubmissionSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Tauros
TaurosGood
Chansey
ChanseyGood
Alakazam
AlakazamDecent

Most of Poliwrath's flexibility comes from TMs. Same-type output runs through Hydro Pump and Surf, but Normal and Ice and the rest of the TM pool push it from predictable to genuinely threatening.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Lv 1
Double Slap
158510Normal
Lv 1
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Lv 1
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 16
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Lv 19
Water Gun
4010025Water

TM Moves

Src
TM34
Bide+1
——10Normal
TM14
Blizzard
110905Ice
TM08
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM11
Bubble Beam
6510020Water
TM18
Counter-5
—10020Fighting
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM10
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM26
Earthquake
10010010Ground
TM27
Fissure
—305Ground
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM05
Mega Kick
120755Normal
TM01
Mega Punch
808520Normal
TM35
Metronome
——10Normal
TM31
Mimic
——10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM46
Psywave
—10015Psychic
TM20
Rage
2010020Normal
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic Toss
—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull Bash
10010010Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM17
Submission
808025Fighting
TM50
Substitute
——10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM09
Take Down
908520Normal
TM06
Toxic
—9010Poison
TM12
Water Gun
4010025Water

Egg Moves

Poliwrath doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Poliwrath can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Src
Rem
Amnesia
——20Psychic
Rem
Bubble
2010030Water
Rem
Hydro Pump
120805Water

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 Red & Blue

To get Poliwrath, start by catching Poliwag through fishing encounters at Lv. 10-23. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Poliwag
    Step 1Catch Poliwag
    Celadon City
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Celadon City
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Cerulean Cave - 1F
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Cerulean Cave - 1F
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Cerulean Cave - B1F
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Cerulean Cave - B1F
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCave
    EASY
    Fuchsia City
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Fuchsia City
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Route 10
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 10
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 11
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 11
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 12
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 12
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 13
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 13
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 17
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 17
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 18
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 18
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 19
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 19
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 20
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 20
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 21
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 21
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 22
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 22
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 23
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 23
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 24
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 24
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 25
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 25
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 6
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 6
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Safari Zone - Center
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - Center
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - East
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - East
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - North
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - North
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - West
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - West
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyFacility
    EASY
    Seafoam Islands - B4F
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyWater
    EASY
    Seafoam Islands - B4F
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyWater
    EASY
    Seafoam Islands - B3F
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyWater
    EASY
    Seafoam Islands - B3F
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyWater
    EASY
    Vermilion City - City
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Vermilion City - City
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Vermilion City - Harbor
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Vermilion City - Harbor
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Viridian City
    BlueGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Viridian City
    RedGood RodLv.10CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Pallet Town
    RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Route 22
    BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Route 22
    RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRoute
    EASY
    Viridian City
    BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
    Viridian City
    RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCity
    EASY
  2. Poliwhirl
    Step 2Catch or Evolve Poliwhirl
    Celadon City
    BlueSuper RodLv.23CommonMidCity
    EASY
    Celadon City
    RedSuper RodLv.23CommonMidCity
    EASY
    Route 10
    BlueSuper RodLv.23CommonMidRoute
    EASY
    Route 10
    RedSuper RodLv.23CommonMidRoute
    EASY
    or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
  3. Poliwrath
    Step 3Poliwrath ✓

  • 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's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Exeggutor (Grass), and Dodrio (Flying), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Psychic-type attackers are also a problem.

  • Poliwhirl evolves into Poliwrath using a Water Stone. Poliwrath is the final evolution in a 4-stage line starting from Poliwag. At 510 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.

  • Poliwrath is a mixed attacker — base 95 Attack and 70 Sp. Atk. 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.