Is Poliwrath Good in Emerald Playthrough?
Water/Fighting with AbilityWater Absorb healing from Water moves. Poliwrath handles Norman and Flannery while absorbing Water attacks from Wallace's Champion team instead of taking damage. The Fighting type also gives it an edge against Sidney. One of the more useful imports if you can complete the line.
Poliwrath resists most of Roxanne's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Roxanne:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Brawly's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Brawly:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Wattson's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Wattson:
Poliwrath resists most of Flannery's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Flannery:
Poliwrath resists most of Norman's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Norman:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Winona:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Tate & Liza:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Juan's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Juan:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Sidney:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Phoebe's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Phoebe:
Poliwrath resists most of Glacia's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Glacia:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Drake's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Drake:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Wallace:
Trade
Poliwrath cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 5)
- LV 5FightingSubmissionPower 120Accuracy 80%PP 25
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 225Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 115
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wally's father at Wally's house in Petalburg City after you defeat Norman
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Lilycove Department Store
- After Tate & Liza
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wallace in Sootopolis City
- TM31FightingBrick BreakPower 113Accuracy 100%PP 15Sootopolis City
- TUTORNormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Sootopolis City
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Seafloor Cavern
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalMega KickPower 120Accuracy 75%PP 5Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalMega PunchPower 80Accuracy 85%PP 20Battle Frontier
- TUTORIceIce PunchPower 75Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
Breed Poliwrath
Poliwrath cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 1)
- LV 1FightingSubmissionPower 120Accuracy 80%PP 25
- After Norman
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 225Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 115
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wally's father at Wally's house in Petalburg City after you defeat Norman
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Lilycove Department Store
- After Tate & Liza
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wallace in Sootopolis City
- TM31FightingBrick BreakPower 113Accuracy 100%PP 15Sootopolis City
- TUTORNormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Sootopolis City
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Seafloor Cavern
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalMega KickPower 120Accuracy 75%PP 5Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalMega PunchPower 80Accuracy 85%PP 20Battle Frontier
- TUTORIceIce PunchPower 75Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
Breed Politoed
Politoed cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 1)
- LV 1PsychicHypnosisPower —Accuracy 60%PP 20
- After Brawly
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Mauville Game Corner
- After Norman
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wally's father at Wally's house in Petalburg City after you defeat Norman
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Route 115
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Lilycove Department Store
- After Tate & Liza
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Given by Wallace in Sootopolis City
- TUTORNormalDouble-EdgePower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Sootopolis City
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Seafloor Cavern
- Post-Game
- TUTORNormalMega KickPower 120Accuracy 75%PP 5Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15Battle Frontier
- TUTORNormalMega PunchPower 80Accuracy 85%PP 20Battle Frontier
How to Get Poliwrath in Emerald
Poliwrath has no wild presence in Emerald. Take an imported Poliwhirl and apply a Water Stone to finish this branch. The whole chain depends on a transfer.
How to Obtain Poliwrath in E
- Step 1Obtain PoliwagLATER APPEARANCEfrom Red & BlueNot TradeableAppears in Red & Blue via Good rod · Safari Zone. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
- Step 2Evolve into Poliwhirl
- Step 3Poliwrath ✓
How to Get Shiny Poliwrath in Emerald
Poliwrath falls outside the Hoenn roster, so trade one in from a Generation 3 game that carries the Poliwag line, or evolve a shiny Poliwhirl with a Water Stone, then link it into Emerald. See every game where Shiny Poliwrath can be hunted
Poliwrath Weakness
Type-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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, Rock, Dark, Steel |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Poliwrath Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Poliwrath
 Latios DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latios builds →Psychic 2x84-99% Solar Beam 2x75-88% Thunderbolt 2x60-70% Fly 2x31-37% | ||
 Latias DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodRoaming Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latias builds →Psychic 2x73-86% Solar Beam 2x65-77% Thunderbolt 2x52-61% Fly 2x28-33% | ||
 Rayquaza Dragon | S | |
Obtain MethodSky Pillar Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Rayquaza builds →Solar Beam 2x85-100%KO Fly 2x72-85% Thunderbolt 2x67-79% | ||
 Deoxys Psychic | A | |
Obtain MethodBirth Island Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Deoxys builds →Psycho Boost 2x148-174%KO Solar Beam 2x85-100%KO Thunderbolt 2x67-79% Aerial Ace 2x41-48% | ||
 Lugia Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodNavel Rock Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Lugia builds →Psychic 2x63-74% Fly 2x47-56% Thunderbolt 2x44-52% Giga Drain 2x28-33% | ||
 Gardevoir Psychic | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Gardevoir builds →Future Sight 2x109-128%KO Thunderbolt 2x57-68% | ||
 Altaria Dragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Altaria builds →Sky Attack 2x75-89% Solar Beam 2x45-53% | ||
 Mew Psychic | B | |
Obtain MethodFaraway Island Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Mew builds →Psychic 2x67-79% Solar Beam 2x60-70% Thunderbolt 2x48-56% Fly 2x33-40% | ||
 Kadabra Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Kadabra builds →Future Sight 2x104-123%KO Shock Wave 2x35-41% | ||
 Salamence Dragon | S | |
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Ho-Oh Fire | S | |
Obtain MethodNavel Rock Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Ho-Oh builds →Solar Beam 2x65-77% Fly 2x63-74% Thunderbolt 2x52-61% Psychic 2x48-57% | ||
 Tropius Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tropius builds →Solar Beam 2x70-82% Fly 2x37-44% | ||
 Xatu Psychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Xatu builds →Future Sight 2x86-102%KO Solar Beam 2x57-68% Fly 2x40-48% | ||
Poliwrath Evolutions
Poliwrath is one of 2 ways Poliwhirl's chain can end. This one takes the Water Stone path, while the siblings go different directions. Breed through Poliwag to get eggs. Poliwrath and Politoed share the same 500 total stats, but they're distributed differently. Check the comparison below to see where each one specializes. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed with Poliwrath to get Poliwag eggs easily using 58 partners from the Water 1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Haze, Ice Ball and 4 more.
E Poliwrath Best Moveset
Water/Fighting physical fighter at 95 Attack and 95 Defense with Water immunity through AbilityWater Absorb. The moveset fires MoveBrick Break for Fighting TermStab on the physical side and MoveSurf for Water from the weaker 70 Sp. Atk. Dual typing covers nine types super-effectively. 70 Speed limits initiative.
Best Build
Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and Sp. Atk
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Brick Break
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding's the move. Bubble Beam and Haze give Poliwrath options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Ice coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Focus Punch and Hydro Pump. The egg moves push it further.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
All 29 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
Its highly developed muscles never grow fatigued, however much it exercises. This POKéMON can swim back and forth across the Pacific Ocean without effort.
Poliwrath Emerald Guide
In Emerald, Poliwrath plays as a balanced. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.
In Emerald, Poliwrath pairs best with Salamence, Forretress, and Blissey. Salamence has Decent synergy and covers what Poliwrath can't handle on its own.
In Emerald, Mild is the go-to nature for Poliwrath. That's +Sp. Atk / -Defense. Pair it with 216 Atk / 160 SpA / 132 Spe EVs. Fits the balanced role.
No. Poliwrath isn't catchable in Emerald. Obtain one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it over.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
Explore
Where to go next after Poliwrath.
Keep playing · EmeraldEmerald Tier ListThe best Pokemon ranked tier by tierSee Emerald Tier List