Competitive Information for Poliwag [X/Y]
Water
Abilities:
Prevents Explosion/Self-Destruct/Aftermath while this Pokemon is 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 Poliwag? These builds are optimized for X/Y Single Battles. The movesets and EVs are designed to maximize damage against common opponents and threats in the X/Y metagame. Check out the expert movesets below to boost your battle performance and dominate your opponents!
Unleash the power of Poliwag, a sick Pokémon with Water typing. Poliwag is not a Pokémon anyone usually expects to see on the battlefield. The LC tier (Little Cup) is where it shines. Its only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass. Discover how Poliwag excels in battles with the movesets provided below.
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 160 Hp / 252 Atk / 48 Def / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Waterfall / Dive
- Wake-Up Slap
- Thief
Poliwag is a remarkable Physical Sweeper. It's 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.
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Wake-Up Slap is a physical 70-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if target is asleep, and wakes it).
♦ 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/iaa3c
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 160 Hp / 48 Def / 252 SpA / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Psychic
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Round / Snore
Poliwag is an outstanding Special Sweeper. 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).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Poliwag must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/iba3c
Movesets for Doubles
Need a strong doubles moveset for Poliwag? These builds are perfect for VGC (Pokémon Video Game Championship) and other competitive X/Y 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 X/Y metagame with these expert-crafted setups!
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Band
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 160 Hp / 252 Atk / 48 Def / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Double-Edge / Return
- Waterfall / Dive
- Wake-Up Slap
- Thief
Poliwag is an awesome Physical Sweeper. It is designed 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.
♦ Return is a physical 0-base power Normal-type move (max 102 power at maximum happiness).
♦ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to flinch the target).
♦ Dive is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (dives underwater turn 1, strikes turn 2).
♦ Wake-Up Slap is a physical 70-base power Fighting-type move (power doubles if target is asleep, and wakes it).
♦ 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/jaa3c
Item: Focus Sash / Choice Specs
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 160 Hp / 48 Def / 252 SpA / 48 SpD
Moveset:
- Surf / Bubble
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psychic
- Round / Snore
Poliwag is a fabulous Special Sweeper. It's purpose is 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.
♦ Bubble is a special STAB-boosted 40-base power Water-type move (10% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
♦ 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).
♦ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
♦ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Poliwag must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/jba3c
Movepool
Want to know what moves Poliwag can learn? Check out the full list of moves available in the Pokemon X/Y 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 Poliwag.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Poliwag can perform in X/Y. 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 XY Move and Ability Combos for Poliwag
- Moves: Defense curl + Ice ball
- 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, Helping Hand, Protect
- Moves that inflict status: Scald, Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Poliwag's stats
- Belly Drum
- Defense Curl
Most notable and possible best moves for Poliwag
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Poliwag in X and Y
- 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 Poliwag's Defensive EV-spread for Pokemon X and Y
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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