This is a strategy guide for using Poliwrath in competitive play for the games Pokemon Sword and Shield. Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, and Held Items to use with Poliwrath, as well as its strengths and weak points.
Poliwrath - Related Guides | |
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Evolution and Learnset | Build for Ranked Battle |
List of Contents
Pokemon | Type 1 | Type 2 |
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Abilities | ||
Water Absorb | Restores HP if hit by an Water-type move. | |
Damp | Prevents the use of self-destructing moves. | |
Swift Swim (Hidden) | Boosts the Pokemon's Speed in rain. |
Type | |
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Takes 4x damage |
|
Takes 2x damage | |
Takes 0.5x damage | |
Takes 1/4x damage |
|
Takes 0x damage |
|
HP | Attack | Defense | Sp. Atk | Sp. Def | Speed |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
90 | 95 | 95 | 70 | 90 | 70 |
Best Natures | ||
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Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk) |
Jolly (+Spd, -Sp.Atk) |
Nature | Adamant(+Atk, -Sp.Atk) |
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EV Spread | HP 252 / Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 |
Final Stat Values | HP 197 / Atk 161 / Def 115 / Sp.Def 111 / Spd 90 |
Ability | Water Absorb |
Held Item | Leftovers |
Moveset | ・Bulk Up ・Liquidation ・Drain Punch ・Ice Punch |
Poliwrath received several new physical moves this Generation and can now function as a strong, bulky sweeper that can easily fit in both Offensive and Defensive-oriented teams.
Bulk Up is Poliwrath's most important move, boosting its respectable attack and defense stat by 1 stage. Thanks to Poliwrath's natural bulk, it's possible to use this move several times!
Liquidation is Poliwrath's main Water STAB move - an 85 base power move that has a 20% chance to lower the target's defense by 1 stage. Drain Punch is its secondary STAB move that restores HP by 50% of the damage the move deals.
Ice Punch is its last move and provides great coverage, allowing Poliwrath to hit Grass, Flying, and Dragon-types for super effective damage.
We're using a bulkier stat spread for Poliwrath, with an Adamant Nature and full EV investment in ATK. Full investment in HP ensures Poliwrath is as bulky as possible while also getting as much passive recovery from Leftovers.
The remaining 4 Sp.Def EVs ensure Poliwrath's Special Defense is just 4 points lower than its Defense, giving it great overall bulk.
Water Absorb gives Poliwrath plenty of chances to switch in and set up with Bulk Up. It's best to switch it in on a sweeper that's Choice-locked on a Water-type move, such as Dracovish or Urshifu Rapid-Strike.
We're giving Poliwrath the Leftovers held item to give it some passive recovery. This pairs well with its ability and the move Drain Punch, allowing Poliwrath to easily heal off damage and stay in the battle for a longer time.
Rock Slide | An alternative to Ice Punch. While it gives poorer coverage, it has a nice flinch rate that Poliwrath can use against slower opposing Pokemon. |
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Protect | Allows Poliwrath to scout attacks and get passive healing from Leftovers. |
Substitute | A good alternative to Ice Punch. It protects Poliwrath from status and is not easily broken due to its naturally high bulk and HP. |
Nature | Jolly(+Spd, -Sp.Atk) |
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EV Spread | Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spd 252 |
Final Stat Values | HP 165 / Atk 147 / Def 115 / Sp.Def 111 / Spd 134 |
Ability | Swift Swim |
Held Item | Sitrus Berry |
Moveset | ・Belly Drum ・Liquidation ・Drain Punch ・Ice Punch |
This Poliwrath fills the role of a bulky but fast sweeper under Rain in Doubles, and is best partnered with a Pokemon that can immediately set it up, such as Politoed or Pelipper.
Belly Drum boosts Poliwrath's Attack by 6 stages, but cuts it HP by half. This is easily remedied by using the move Drain Punch as it restores HP by 50% of the damage the move deals.
Liquidation is its secondary STAB move, and the 20% chance to lower the opponent's Defense by 1 stage makes Poliwrath an even more fearsome sweeper, especially after it's gained its Belly Drum boost!
Ice Punch is its last move and provides important coverage, allowing Poliwrath to hit bulky Grass, Flying, and Dragon-types that are common in the Doubles Metagame.
Max EV investmetn in Attack and Speed ensures Poliwrath hits hard and can outpace faster Pokemon under the effects of Rain. The remaining 4 Sp.Def EVs ensure Poliwrath's Special Defense is just 4 points lower than its Defense, giving it great overall bulk.
Swift Swim allows Poliwrath to outspeed Pokemon that are normally faster than it under the effects of Rain. At level 50, Poliwrath has an effective speed stat of 268 with this ability, allowing it to outspeed the likes of Jolly Cinderace, Timid Dragapult, and Choice Scarf Dracovish to name a few!
We're giving Poliwrath the Sitrus Berry as it provides greater healing than Leftovers in Doubles. It also activates immediately after it uses Belly Drum.
Check out our article below to learn more about Sitrus Berries and Leftovers in Doubles.
Sitrus Berry vs Leftovers in Doubles
Rock Slide | An alternative to Ice Punch. While it gives poorer coverage, it hits both opposing Pokemon and has a nice flinch rate.. |
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Protect | Allows Poliwrath to scout attacks. |
Substitute | A good alternative to Ice Punch. It protects Poliwrath from status and is not easily broken due to its naturally high bulk and HP. |
Poliwrath separates itself from other sweepers in Singles by filling the role of a true bulky sweeper. Instead of threatening opposing teams from the start, it functions as a slow and sturdy attacker - accumulating attack and defense boosts with Bulk Up until it's sturdy enough to take even super effective attacks and hit back with a boosted Liquidation or Drain Punch.
Poliwrath's great bulk and respectable attack allow it to comfortably fit into many teams, though it excels in a team environment where its strengths are highlighted.
Poliwrath fits perfectly in Rain teams and can function as one of its offensive cores. In Singles, it's fills the role of a bulkier attacker that complements the speed and immediate offensive presence of its teammates, such as Kingdra.
Check out our article below to learn more about how to build a Weather Team.
In Doubles, Poliwrath functions differently. It fills the role of a fast but bulky sweeper under Rain thanks to its ability Swift Swim. This, on top of the attack boost it gets from Belly Drum, make it a fearsome sweeper that can break through unprepared teams.
It's best partnered with Pokemon that can immediately set up Rain, such as Politoed or Pelipper. Check out our article below to learn more about how to build a Doubles Team.
All our Teams are available for free rental, and usable in Ranked Battle with no EV Training necessary.
All Best Teams for Ranked Battle
Sample Rain Team for Ranked Battle | ||
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Kyogre | Poliwrath | Kingdra |
Dracozolt | Starmie | Celesteela |
With the re-introduction of Legendaries in the Crown Tundra DLC, Kyogre returns as the premier Rain-setting Pokemon surpassing Pelipper. With the offense that Kyogre brings, the entire team is built around dealing damage in strong, decisive blows.
The rest of the team comprises of Pokemon that support Kyogre, such as Dracozolt and Celesteela who do well against Kyogre's weaknesses. While the other members are attackers who benefit from rain; Poliwrath and Kingdra get a speed boost thanks to Swift Swim. Read on for insights about this team that might give you new insights to the metagame as a whole.
Sample Rain Team for Ranked Battle
Weakness |
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Even with Bulk Up and Belly Drum boosts, there are Pokemon that take little damage from Poliwrath's attacks or competely ignore its boosts with their ability.
Pokemon | Description |
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Clefable | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Ignores Poliwrath's boost with Unaware ・Resists Poliwrath's Fighting-type STAB ・Can threaten with STAB super effective Moonblast Moveset & Best Build for Clefable |
Quagsire | Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Ignores Poliwrath's boost with Unaware ・Can lock Poliwrath into a move with Encore or cripple it with Toxic Moveset & Best Build for Quagsire |
All Competitive Builds for Ranked Battle
Competitive Pokemon Battle Guides | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tier List | Best Builds | Series 10 List of Contenders | |||
Doubles Tier List | Team Building | Rental Teams |
Movesets & Best Builds for The Isle of Armor Pokemon | ||
---|---|---|
Scizor | Kingdra | Magnezone |
Volcarona | Chansey | Blissey |
Talonflame | Azumarill | Galarian Slowbro |
Porygon2 | Urshifu Single-Strike Style | Urshifu Rapid-Strike Style |
Slowbro | Alolan Marowak | Dragalge |
Klefki | Lycanroc | Amoonguss |
Poliwrath | Palossand | Mienshao |
Starmie | Heracross | Comfey |
Porygon-Z | Alakazam | Politoed |
Poliwrath - Moveset & Best Build for Ranked Battle
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