Poliwhirl
Water-type, Generation 1. Evolves into Poliwrath for 100 Candy — no raid or PvP ranking of its own.
Best moveset
- Highest damage
- Bubble Mud Bomb
Same-type attack bonus on Bubble. Mud Bomb costs 33 energy for 60 power.
Type effectiveness
Damage Poliwhirl takes from each attacking type
Base stats
- Stat total
- 416
- Buddy distance
- 3.0 km per candy
- Second charged move
- 50,000 Dust + 50 Candy
- 100% IV at Lv 20
- 811 CP
Poliwhirl moves
2 fast · 4 charged
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DUR | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Beam STAB | Water | 45 | 33 | 2.0s | 22.5 | 1.36 |
| Mud Bomb Best | Ground | 60 | 33 | 2.5s | 24 | 1.82 |
| Water Pulse STAB | Water | 65 | 50 | 3.0s | 21.7 | 1.30 |
| Scald STAB Elite | Water | 75 | 50 | 3.5s | 21.4 | 1.50 |
Fast moves
Charged moves
| Move | Type | PWR | EN | DPE | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Beam | Water | 25 | 40 | 0.63 | Buff / debuff |
| Mud Bomb | Ground | 65 | 45 | 1.44 | — |
| Water Pulse | Water | 80 | 50 | 1.60 | — |
| Scald | Water | 85 | 50 | 1.70 | Buff / debuff |
Moveset analysis
The highest-damage fast move is Bubble (10 DPS); Bubble builds energy fastest (12 EPS). Scald is an Elite TM move and cannot be taught with a regular Charged TM.
Evolution
Family
Raids
- Status
- Poliwhirl is not in the current raid rotation
Best counters against Poliwhirl
How to get Poliwhirl
- Evolve from
- Poliwag · 25 Candy
- Team GO Rocket
- Shadow Poliwhirl 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 | 33 | 1,226 |
| Wild (Weather Boost) | Lv 1–35 | 33 | 1,328 |
| Raid Catch | Lv 20 | 776 | 831 |
| Raid (Weather Boost) | Lv 25 | 966 | 1,034 |
| Egg Hatch | Lv 20 | 776 | 831 |
| Research Encounter | Lv 15 | 587 | 628 |
| GO Battle League | Lv 20 | 776 | 831 |
Is Poliwhirl good in Pokemon GO?
| Power up | Stardust | Candy | XL Candy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lv 20 → 40 | 135,000 | 15 | — |
Poliwhirl 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 (123 Defense / 163 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 4 charged moves to pick from it is the single biggest PvP upgrade you can buy.
- Shadow Poliwhirl 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 | 20 |
| Lv 2 | 62 |
| Lv 3 | 105 |
| Lv 4 | 148 |
| Lv 5 | 191 |
| Lv 6 | 234 |
| Lv 7 | 277 |
| Lv 8 | 319 |
| Lv 9 | 362 |
| Lv 10 | 405 |
| Lv 11 | 446 |
| Lv 12 | 486 |
| Lv 13 | 527 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 14 | 567 |
| Lv 15 | 608 |
| Lv 16 | 648 |
| Lv 17 | 689 |
| Lv 18 | 729 |
| Lv 19 | 770 |
| Lv 20 | 811 |
| Lv 21 | 851 |
| Lv 22 | 892 |
| Lv 23 | 932 |
| Lv 24 | 973 |
| Lv 25 | 1,013 |
| Lv 26 | 1,054 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 27 | 1,095 |
| Lv 28 | 1,135 |
| Lv 29 | 1,176 |
| Lv 30 | 1,216 |
| Lv 31 | 1,236 |
| Lv 32 | 1,257 |
| Lv 33 | 1,277 |
| Lv 34 | 1,297 |
| Lv 35 | 1,318 |
| Lv 36 | 1,338 |
| Lv 37 | 1,358 |
| Lv 38 | 1,378 |
| Lv 39 | 1,399 |
| Level | Max CP |
|---|---|
| Lv 40 | 1,419 |
| Lv 41 | 1,437 |
| Lv 42 | 1,455 |
| Lv 43 | 1,473 |
| Lv 44 | 1,492 |
| Lv 45 | 1,510 |
| Lv 46 | 1,529 |
| Lv 47 | 1,547 |
| Lv 48 | 1,566 |
| Lv 49 | 1,585 |
| Lv 50 | 1,604 |
Pokedex info
- Pokedex number
- #0061
- Height
- 1.00 m
- Weight
- 20.00 kg
- Buddy size
- Big
- Candy to evolve
- 100
- Family forms
- 8 released forms
- Game ID
- V0061_POKEMON_POLIWHIRL
FAQ
What is the best moveset for Poliwhirl in Pokemon GO?
Poliwhirl's best moveset is Bubble (fast) with Mud Bomb (charged). Use a Fast TM or Charged TM to reroll onto it.
What are Poliwhirl's weaknesses in Pokemon GO?
Poliwhirl takes super effective damage from Electric, Grass-type moves. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water, so avoid those types against it.
What is Poliwhirl's max CP in Pokemon GO?
Poliwhirl reaches 1,604 CP at level 50 with XL Candy, or 1,419 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 Poliwhirl?
A perfect 15/15/15 Poliwhirl shows 811 CP at level 20 (raid and egg catches) and 1,013 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 Poliwhirl better than regular Poliwhirl?
Shadow Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl in Pokemon GO?
Evolve it from Poliwag (25 Candy). It can be traded between trainers.
Can Poliwhirl be shiny in Pokemon GO?
Shiny Poliwhirl 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.