Is Poliwrath Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?
Water/Fighting at Water Stone. AbilityWater Absorb heals from Water attacks. Fighting coverage handles Whitney's Miltank, Pryce, and most of the Kanto Rock and Steel trainers. The physical/special split gives Poliwrath proper physical Fighting alongside special Water.
Poliwhirl has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.
Poliwhirl has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.
Poliwhirl has the type edge here and should clean up Whitney's team.
Poliwhirl has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.
Chuck's typing presses Poliwhirl's defenses.
Poliwrath resists most of Jasmine's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Jasmine:
Poliwrath resists most of Pryce's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Pryce:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Clair:
Poliwrath resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Brock:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Misty:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Lt. Surge:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Erika:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Janine:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Sabrina:
Poliwrath resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Blaine:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Blue:
Poliwrath trades roughly evenly with Will's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Will:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Koga:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Bruno:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Karen:
Poliwrath has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.
Your evolution path matters here. Pick a branch to see how it fares against Lance:
Catch Poliwhirl
Catch Poliwhirl on Route 30 (Surf, Lv 15-32, uncommon).
Recommended Moves
- After Bugsy
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Goldenrod Game Corner
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- LV 21NormalBody SlamPower 85Accuracy 100%PP 15
- LV 27WaterBubble BeamPower 98Accuracy 100%PP 20
- After Chuck
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Prize for defeating Chuck
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- After Clair
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Victory Road
- LV 48WaterHydro PumpPower 180Accuracy 80%PP 5
Evolve Poliwhirl to Poliwrath
Poliwhirl evolves into Poliwrath with a Water Stone. You can receive the Water Stone from an NPC in Route 42. 2 other locations are also available.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 31)
- LV 31FightingSubmissionPower 120Accuracy 80%PP 25
- LV 31WaterBubble BeamPower 98Accuracy 100%PP 20
- After Bugsy
- TM52FightingFocus BlastPower 180Accuracy 70%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- After Chuck
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 225Accuracy 100%PP 20Prize for defeating Chuck
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- After Clair
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Victory Road
Evolve Poliwhirl to Politoed
Poliwhirl evolves into Politoed when traded. Most players are ready to trade before reaching Jasmine.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 31)
- LV 31WaterBubble BeamPower 98Accuracy 100%PP 20
- After Bugsy
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Goldenrod Game Corner
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- After Chuck
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Prize for defeating Chuck
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- After Clair
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Victory Road
- LV 48NormalHyper VoicePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 10
How to Get Poliwrath in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Poliwrath never spawns wild. A Water Stone on Poliwhirl makes it, while a King's Rock trade instead branches the line to Politoed. The split is permanent, so settle which one you want before you spend the stone.
Wild Poliwrath may be holding when caught:
Kings Rock (5% chance) An item to be held by a Pokemon. It may cause the foe to flinch when the holder inflicts damage.Catch Poliwag or Poliwhirl at any of these 20 spots to eventually evolve into Poliwrath.
Encountered via fishing with a Rod, Surfing
Badge 1
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Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8How to Obtain Poliwrath in HGSS
The path to Poliwrath starts with Poliwag at Lv. 5-40 via fishing and surfing encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
- Step 1Catch PoliwagRoute 22Lv.5-10Surfing on waterRate 90%Viridian CityLv.5-10Surfing on waterRate 90%Ecruteak CityLv.10-25Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 30Lv.10-25Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 31Lv.10-25Surfing on waterRate 90%Violet CityLv.10-25Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 44Lv.15-30Surfing on waterRate 90%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.12-15Old RodRate 40%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.12-15Old RodRate 40%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.12-15Old RodRate 40%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.15-17Surfing on waterRate 40%Safari Zone - Rocky BeachLv.15-16Surfing on waterRate 30%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.15-16Surfing on waterRate 30%Blackthorn CityLv.10Old RodRate 15%Ecruteak CityLv.10Old RodRate 15%Ilex ForestLv.10Old RodRate 15%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 30Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 31Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 35Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 43Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 44Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 45Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.10Old RodRate 15%Violet CityLv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 22Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 28Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Route 6Lv.10Old RodRate 15%Viridian CityLv.10Old RodRate 15%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.22-24Good RodRate 70%Blackthorn CityLv.20Good RodRate 60%Ecruteak CityLv.20Good RodRate 60%Ilex ForestLv.20Good RodRate 60%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 30Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 31Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 35Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 43Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 45Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.20Good RodRate 60%Violet CityLv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 22Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 28Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 6Lv.20Good RodRate 60%Viridian CityLv.20Good RodRate 60%Route 44Lv.20Good RodRate 55%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 55%NightCerulean Cave - 2FLv.20Good RodRate 55%NightCerulean Cave - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 55%NightCerulean Cave - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 45%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - 2FLv.20Good RodRate 45%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 45%Morning/daySafari Zone - MeadowLv.22-24Good RodRate 40%Mt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.20Good RodRate 30%Cliff Edge GateLv.20Good RodRate 15%Morning/dayMt. Silver - BaseLv.30-40Surfing on waterRate 9%Cliff Edge GateLv.20Good RodRate 5%NightMt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.40Super RodRate 100%Route 28Lv.35-40Surfing on waterRate 90%Blackthorn CityLv.40Super RodRate 80%Ecruteak CityLv.40Super RodRate 80%Ilex ForestLv.40Super RodRate 80%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 30Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 31Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 35Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 43Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 45Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.40Super RodRate 80%Violet CityLv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 22Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 28Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 6Lv.40Super RodRate 80%Viridian CityLv.40Super RodRate 80%Route 44Lv.40Super RodRate 70%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 70%NightCerulean Cave - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 70%NightCerulean Cave - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 70%NightMt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.35Surfing on waterRate 60%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.35-37Super RodRate 50%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.35-36Super RodRate 40%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 40%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 40%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 40%Morning/dayCliff Edge GateLv.40Super RodRate 30%
- Step 2Catch or Evolve PoliwhirlRoute 22Lv.10Surfing on waterRate 10%Viridian CityLv.10Surfing on waterRate 10%Ecruteak CityLv.15-25Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 30Lv.15-32Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 31Lv.15-32Surfing on waterRate 10%Violet CityLv.15-25Surfing on waterRate 10%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.30-48Surfing on waterRate 91%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.24-25Good RodRate 60%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.23-25Good RodRate 30%Safari Zone - Rocky BeachLv.16-17Surfing on waterRate 20%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.24-25Good RodRate 20%Route 44Lv.20-30Surfing on waterRate 10%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.35-38Super RodRate 80%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.35-38Super RodRate 60%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.35-37Super RodRate 50%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Morning/dayCerulean Cave - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Morning/dayRoute 28Lv.40Surfing on waterRate 10%or evolve from Poliwag (Step 1)
- Step 3Poliwrath ✓
How to Get Shiny Poliwrath in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Poliwrath needs a Water Stone, so breed a Poliwag Masuda-style and evolve the line once it shines. Compare Shiny Poliwrath odds across every game
HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Poliwrath Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 173-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 472-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 1,136-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 3,773-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Planning a longer hunt? Set up Poliwrath in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Odds Calculator to compare every method side by side.
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 |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Poliwrath Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Poliwrath
 Latios DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodPewter City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latios builds →Dream Eater 2x94-111%KO Solar Beam 2x75-88% Thunderbolt 2x60-70% Fly 2x40-47% | ||
 Latias DragonPsychic | S | |
Obtain MethodPewter City Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Latias builds →Dream Eater 2x82-96% Solar Beam 2x65-77% Thunderbolt 2x52-61% Fly 2x36-42% | ||
 Rayquaza Dragon | S | |
Obtain MethodEmbedded Tower Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Rayquaza builds →Fly 2x92-108%KO Solar Beam 2x85-100%KO Thunderbolt 2x67-79% | ||
 Mewtwo Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodCerulean Cave Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Mewtwo builds →Future Sight 2x130-153%KO Solar Beam 2x87-102%KO Thunderbolt 2x69-81% Aerial Ace 2x31-37% | ||
 Dragonite Dragon | A | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Dragonair (Dragons Den Super Rod) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Dragonite builds →Fly 2x83-98% Thunder Punch 2x46-55% | ||
 Slowbro WaterPsychic | C | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
 Tangrowth Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Tangrowth builds →Solar Beam 2x97-115%KO Shock Wave 2x33-39% Aerial Ace 2x29-34% | ||
 Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Pallet Town Gift) | ||
 Ho-Oh Fire | S | |
Obtain MethodBell Tower Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Ho-Oh builds →Brave Bird 2x107-127%KO Solar Beam 2x65-77% Dream Eater 2x55-64% Thunderbolt 2x52-61% | ||
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Victreebel builds →Leaf Storm 2x104-123%KO | ||
 Sceptile Grass | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Treecko (Silph Co Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Sceptile builds →Leaf Storm 2x109-128%KO Aerial Ace 2x25-30% | ||
 Lugia Psychic | S | |
Obtain MethodWhirl Islands Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Poliwrath View Lugia builds →Dream Eater 2x70-82% Aeroblast 2x70-82% Thunderbolt 2x44-52% Giga Drain 2x28-33% | ||
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 69 partners from the Water 1 egg group. Notable egg moves include Bubble Beam, Encore, Endeavor and 8 more.
HGSS Poliwrath Best Moveset
Water/Fighting dual typing with 95 Attack and 95 Defense creates a physical attacker that absorbs hits. AbilityWater Absorb adds free HP recovery from Water moves the moveset would already resist. 70 Speed is the constraint, but the bulk compensates.
Best Build
Poliwrath best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Substitute
- Ice Punch
- Bulk Up
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding's the move. Bubble Beam and Encore 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 Focus Blast. 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 28 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
This strong and skilled swimmer is even capable of crossing the Pacific Ocean just by kicking.
Although an energetic, skilled swimmer that uses all of its muscles, it lives on dry land.
Poliwrath HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Poliwrath plays as a balanced. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully. Waterfall is the primary attack.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Jolly is the go-to nature for Poliwrath. That's +Speed / -Sp. Atk. Pair it with 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe EVs. Fits the balanced role.
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
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