Competitive Information for Poliwag [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Poliwag? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Poliwag is an astounding Water-typed Pokemon. Poliwag is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Poliwag can be quite a contender in the LC tier (Little Cup). Poliwag's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 160 Hp / 252 Atk / 48 Def / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Waterfall / Dive
- Thief
- Bulldoze / Dig
Physical Sweeper Poliwag (Swift Swim)
Poliwag is a fabulous Physical Sweeper for single battles. It tries to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwag from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Poliwag's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Swift Swim, Poliwag's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Poliwag has no item, it steals the target's).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Dig is a physical 80-base power Ground-type move (digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a3c
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 160 Hp / 48 Def / 252 SpA / 48 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Psychic
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Earth Power / Mud Shot
Special Sweeper Poliwag (Swift Swim)
Poliwag is a remarkable Special Sweeper for single battles. It is meant to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwag from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Poliwag's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Swift Swim, Poliwag's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Earth Power is a special 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a3c
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Poliwag? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield 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 Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 160 Hp / 252 Atk / 48 Def / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Waterfall / Dive
- Bulldoze / Dig
- Thief
Doubles Physical Sweeper Poliwag (Swift Swim)
Poliwag is an astounding Physical Sweeper for double battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwag from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Poliwag's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Swift Swim, Poliwag's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Dig is a physical 80-base power Ground-type move (digs underground turn 1, strikes turn 2).
◆ Thief is a physical 60-base power Dark-type move (if your Poliwag has no item, it steals the target's).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a3c
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 160 Hp / 48 Def / 252 SpA / 48 SpD
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Earth Power / Mud Shot
Doubles Special Sweeper Poliwag (Swift Swim)
Poliwag is a wonderful Special Sweeper for double battles. It is designed to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwag from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Poliwag's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Swift Swim, Poliwag's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ 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 90-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).
◆ Earth Power is a special 90-base power Ground-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Mud Shot is a special 55-base power Ground-type move (100% chance to lower the target's speed by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a3c
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Poliwag 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 Poliwag can perform in Sword/Shield. 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 SS Move and Ability Combos for Poliwag
- Moves: Belly drum + Rest
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect, Helping Hand
- Moves that inflict status: Toxic, Hypnosis, Scald
Moves that boost Poliwag's stats
- Amnesia
- Belly Drum
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Poliwag
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Poliwag in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Poliwag's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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