Poliwag
Water-type, Generation 1. Evolves into Poliwhirl for 25 Candy — no raid or PvP ranking of its own.
Best moveset
- Highest damage
- Bubble Body Slam
Same-type attack bonus on Bubble. Body Slam costs 33 energy for 50 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Poliwag takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- Stat total
- 303
- Buddy distance
- 3.0 km per candy
- Second charged move
- 50,000 Dust + 50 Candy
- 100% IV at Lv 20
- 473 CP
Poliwag moves
2 fast · 3 charged
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam Best | Normal | 50 | 33 | 2.0s | 25 | 1.52 |
| Bubble Beam STAB | Water | 45 | 33 | 2.0s | 22.5 | 1.36 |
| Mud Bomb | Ground | 60 | 33 | 2.5s | 24 | 1.82 |
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Slam | Normal | 55 | 35 | 1.57 | — |
| Bubble Beam | Water | 25 | 40 | 0.63 | Buff / debuff |
| Mud Bomb | Ground | 65 | 45 | 1.44 | — |
Moveset analysis
The highest-damage fast move is Bubble (10 DPS); Bubble builds energy fastest (12 EPS).
Evolution
Family
Raids
- Status
- Poliwag is not in the current raid rotation
Best counters against Poliwag
How to get Poliwag
- Wild
- Spawns in the wild — rarity depends on biome and active events
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Poliwag knows Frustration — swap it with a Charged TM
- Purification
- 3,000 Dust + 3 Candy → Return
- Trading
- Can be traded between trainers
Catch CP
| Source | Level | Min CP | Max CP (100% IV) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Catch | Lv 1–30 | 18 | 716 |
| Wild (Weather Boost) | Lv 1–35 | 18 | 775 |
| Raid Catch | Lv 20 | 444 | 485 |
| Raid (Weather Boost) | Lv 25 | 552 | 604 |
| Egg Hatch | Lv 20 | 444 | 485 |
| Research Encounter | Lv 15 | 335 | 367 |
| GO Battle League | Lv 20 | 444 | 485 |
Is Poliwag good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Poliwag has no raid or PvP ranking right now. Keep a high-IV one for the Pokedex and for future move updates or limited-format cups, and spend your Stardust elsewhere.
- Bulk-leaning spread (82 Defense / 120 Stamina) — it stays on the field longer, which suits shielded PvP formats.
- A second charged move costs 50,000 Dust and 50 Candy, and with 3 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Poliwag deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more: better for raids, riskier in PvP.
- Its moves get a damage boost in Rainy weather — worth timing raids around.
CP by level
Maximum CP with perfect 15/15/15 IVs at every level
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 1 | 11 |
| Lv 2 | 36 |
| Lv 3 | 61 |
| Lv 4 | 86 |
| Lv 5 | 111 |
| Lv 6 | 136 |
| Lv 7 | 161 |
| Lv 8 | 186 |
| Lv 9 | 211 |
| Lv 10 | 236 |
| Lv 11 | 260 |
| Lv 12 | 284 |
| Lv 13 | 307 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 14 | 331 |
| Lv 15 | 355 |
| Lv 16 | 379 |
| Lv 17 | 402 |
| Lv 18 | 426 |
| Lv 19 | 450 |
| Lv 20 | 473 |
| Lv 21 | 497 |
| Lv 22 | 521 |
| Lv 23 | 544 |
| Lv 24 | 568 |
| Lv 25 | 592 |
| Lv 26 | 615 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 27 | 639 |
| Lv 28 | 663 |
| Lv 29 | 686 |
| Lv 30 | 710 |
| Lv 31 | 722 |
| Lv 32 | 734 |
| Lv 33 | 746 |
| Lv 34 | 758 |
| Lv 35 | 769 |
| Lv 36 | 781 |
| Lv 37 | 793 |
| Lv 38 | 805 |
| Lv 39 | 817 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 40 | 829 |
| Lv 41 | 839 |
| Lv 42 | 850 |
| Lv 43 | 860 |
| Lv 44 | 871 |
| Lv 45 | 882 |
| Lv 46 | 893 |
| Lv 47 | 904 |
| Lv 48 | 915 |
| Lv 49 | 926 |
| Lv 50 | 937 |
Pokedex info
- Pokedex number
- #0060
- Height
- 0.60 m
- Weight
- 12.40 kg
- Candy to evolve
- 25
- Family forms
- 8 released forms
- Game ID
- V0060_POKEMON_POLIWAG
FAQ
What is the best moveset for Poliwag in Pokemon GO?
Poliwag's best moveset is Bubble (fast) with Body Slam (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Poliwag's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Poliwag takes super effective damage from Electric, Grass-type moves. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water, so avoid those types against it.
What is Poliwag's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Poliwag reaches 937 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 829 CP at level 40. Level 50 needs XL Candy, which only unlocks at Trainer Level 31 and comes from catching, hatching, transferring and walking.
What CP is a 100% IV Poliwag?
A perfect 15/15/15 Poliwag shows 473 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 592 CP at level 25 (weather boosted). Seeing that exact number on the catch screen means it is a hundo — favourite it before you transfer anything.
Is Shadow Poliwag better than regular Poliwag?
Shadow Poliwag deals 20% more damage and takes 20% more. For raids the trade is worth it; for PvP the lost bulk often is not. It arrives knowing Frustration, which should be replaced with a Charged TM during a Team GO Rocket event before you power it up.
How do you get Poliwag in Pokemon GO?
Poliwag spawns in the wild, though how often depends on your biome and the active event. It can be traded between trainers.
Can Poliwag be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Poliwag depends on whether Niantic has released the form. Check the events page for Community Days and event weekends, which is when shiny rates are boosted.