Poliwag Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Poliwag in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Poliwag
Poliwag is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 89.200 DPS.
Poliwag can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Poliwag is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Poliwag resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Poliwag is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (89.200 DPS), Regieleki (80.588 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (74.400 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Poliwag: After defeating Poliwag, the catch encounter will have a CP between 444 and 485 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 552-604 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Poliwag from raids will have exactly 485 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Poliwag?
The best counter for Poliwag is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 89.200 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (80.588 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (74.400 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Poliwag?
Poliwag can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Poliwag weak to?
Poliwag is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Poliwag be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Poliwag's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Poliwag from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Poliwag from raids will have 485 CP at level 20, or 604 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 444. If you see 485 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Poliwag worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Poliwag is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Poliwag?
For the best moveset for Poliwag itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Poliwag stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Poliwag without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Poliwag can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (80.588 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (74.400 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Poliwag in raids?
Weather boost information for Poliwag is not currently available. Water-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.