Competitive Information for Poliwhirl [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
Prevents Explosion/Mind Blown/Misty Explosion/Self-Destruct/Aftermath while active.
If Rain Dance is active, this Pokemon's Speed is doubled.
This Pokemon heals 1/4 of its max HP when hit by Water moves; Water immunity.
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Note: Pokemon with the Water Absorb ability are immune to Water attacks.
Movesets for Singles
Looking for a competitive moveset for Poliwhirl? These builds are optimized for Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the Sword/Shield metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Discover the strength of Poliwhirl, a first-rate Pokémon known for its Water typing! Poliwhirl is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. Its only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass. Check out the movesets listed below to learn more about Poliwhirl's strategies.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Waterfall / Dive
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Ice Punch
In single battles, Poliwhirl's Physical Sweeper role is a renowned. This moveset is formulated to take down the opponent's team with formidable physical power. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwhirl from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Poliwhirl's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ 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).
◆ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/maa3d
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Earth Power / Mud Shot
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Psychic
Poliwhirl makes an a brilliant Special Sweeper in single battles. This moveset was constructed to overwhelm foes with destructive special power. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwhirl from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Poliwhirl's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ 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).
◆ 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).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mba3d
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 makes an a decent Double Wall in single battles. This moveset focuses to balance defenses for both physical and special attacks. The Sitrus Berry will restore 1/4th of Poliwhirl's max HP when it reaches below half health and gets consumed. 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 physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Earthquake is a physical 100-base power Ground-type move (hits adjacent pokemon).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/mca3d
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Poliwhirl? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive Sword/Shield Double Battles. The VGC is the ultimate test of strategy and skill, and these movesets and EVs are designed to excel against multiple opponents at once while providing essential support to your team. Dominate the Sword/Shield metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Moveset:
- Earthquake / Bulldoze
- Ice Punch / Double-Edge
- Waterfall / Dive
- Brick Break / Seismic Toss
Taking on double battles? Poliwhirl is a superb Physical Sweeper. It is meant to overwhelm foes with lethal physical moves. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwhirl from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Band will increase the damage of Poliwhirl's physical moves by 1.5x at the cost of locking you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity. Ice Punch was added to provide additional threat coverage.
◆ Bulldoze is a physical 60-base power Ground-type move (100% chance lower adjacent Pokemon speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ 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).
◆ Brick Break is a physical 75-base power Fighting-type move (destroys screens, unless the target is immune).
◆ Seismic Toss is a physical 0-base power Fighting-type move (does damage equal to your Poliwhirl's level).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/naa3d
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Earth Power / Mud Shot
- Psychic
Poliwhirl proves to be a sensational Special Sweeper for double battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with lethal special attacks. Focus Sash helps protect Poliwhirl from being one-shotted and allowing it to atleast use a crucial move when brought out. Choice Specs will increase the damage of Poliwhirl's special moves by 1.5x but will lock you into the first move you pick. With Water Absorb, Poliwhirl heals 1/4 of its max hp when hit by water moves; water immunity.
◆ 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).
◆ 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).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/nba3d
Movepool
Want to know what moves Poliwhirl can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon Sword/Shield generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by type, category, accuracy, and power. Moves in bold get the same-type attack bonus (STAB) when used by Poliwhirl.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl
- Moves: Belly drum + Rest
- Moves: Endure + Endeavor
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Move: Endeavor + Item: Focus Sash
- OHKO Combo - Moves: Mind Reader + Fissure
- Moves with Priority: Detect, Endure, Helping Hand, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Poliwhirl's stats
- Amnesia
- Belly Drum
- Curse
- Defense Curl
- Power-Up Punch
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Poliwhirl
- Earthquake
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Poliwhirl in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Jolly Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Timid Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Bold Nature ( 252/0/252/0/0/4 )
- Calm Nature ( 252/0/0/0/252/4 )
- Relaxed Nature ( 252/0/88/0/168/0 )
- Sassy Nature ( 252/0/4/0/252/0 )
- Optimize Poliwhirl's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Usage Data
Explore the latest analytical usage data for this Pokémon from various VGC and online competitions. We use this data to develop our strategies and movesets. The data is categorized by competition and skill level: top-ranking trainers, mid-level players, and entry-level players.
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