Competitive Information for Poliwhirl [Ruby/Sapphire]
Water
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Poliwhirl? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Ruby/Sapphire Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Ruby/Sapphire generation metagame.
Poliwhirl is a fabulous Water-typed Pokemon. Poliwhirl is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Poliwhirl's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Silk Scarf
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Frustration
- Earthquake / Dig
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
- Defense Curl
Physical Sweeper Poliwhirl (Water Absorb)
Poliwhirl is a spectacular Physical Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. In the dark days prior to Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Frustration is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at minimum happiness).
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. power doubles on dig).
♦ Dig is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, even if the target is immune).
♦ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Poliwhirl's level).
♦ Defense Curl is a status move (raises your Poliwhirl's defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ds10a3d
Item: Mystic Water
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Waterfall
- Ice Beam / Ice Punch
- Psychic
- Thief
Special Sweeper Poliwhirl (Water Absorb)
Poliwhirl is popular Special Sweeper. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Don't forget before Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Waterfall is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
♦ Ice Beam is a special 95-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Ice Punch is a special 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Thief is a special 40-base power Dark-type move (if your Poliwhirl has no item, it steals the target's).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ds11a3d
Item: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Careful (+SpD, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Hp / 104 Def / 152 SpD
Moveset:
- Brick Break
- Belly Drum
- Waterfall
- Earthquake
Poliwhirl Double Wall (This Is A Brain)
Poliwhirl is an awesome Double Wall. The purpose of this moveset is to have enough defenses and bulk to take both physical and special hits. Prior to Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Belly Drum is a status move (Poliwhirl loses 50% max hp; This also maximizes Poliwhirl's attack stat).
♦ Waterfall is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move that deals a nice amount of damage.
♦ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon. power doubles on dig).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/ds12a3d
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Poliwhirl? These builds have been optimized for Ruby/Sapphire Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Ruby/Sapphire generation metagame.
Item: Soft Sand
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Dig
- Double-Edge / Frustration
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
- Defense Curl
Doubles Physical Sweeper Poliwhirl (Water Absorb)
Poliwhirl is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. In the old days prior to Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Dig is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 1/3 recoil).
♦ Frustration is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at minimum happiness).
♦ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, even if the target is immune).
♦ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Poliwhirl's level).
♦ Defense Curl is a status move (raises your Poliwhirl's defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/dd10a3d
Item: Mystic Water
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Surf / Waterfall
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Thief
Doubles Special Sweeper Poliwhirl (Water Absorb)
Poliwhirl is a remarkable Special Sweeper. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Before Generation IV, a move's damage category was determined by its type. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
♦ Waterfall is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move that deals a good amount of damage.
♦ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ Ice Beam is a special 95-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
♦ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
♦ Thief is a special 40-base power Dark-type move (if your Poliwhirl has no item, it steals the target's).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/dd11a3d
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Poliwhirl learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Poliwhirl can perform in Ruby/Sapphire. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive RS Move and Ability Combos for Poliwhirl
- Moves: Defense curl + Ice ball
- Moves: Belly drum + Rest
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Poliwhirl's stats
- Belly Drum
- Defense Curl
Most notable and possible best moves for Poliwhirl
- Earthquake
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Poliwhirl in Ruby and Sapphire
- Nature ( )
- Nature ( )
- Optimize Poliwhirl's EV spread for Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire
Related Videos
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