Poliwhirl Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Poliwhirl in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Poliwhirl
Poliwhirl 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 59.500 DPS.
Poliwhirl 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: Poliwhirl is weak to Electric, Grass -type attacks. Avoid using Fire, Ice, Steel-type moves as Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (59.500 DPS), Regieleki (54.118 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (49.600 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Poliwhirl: After defeating Poliwhirl, the catch encounter will have a CP between 776 and 831 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 966-1034 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Poliwhirl from raids will have exactly 831 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 Poliwhirl?
The best counter for Poliwhirl is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 59.500 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (54.118 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (49.600 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Poliwhirl?
Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl weak to?
Poliwhirl is weak to Electric, Grass-type attacks. It resists Fire, Ice, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Poliwhirl be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Poliwhirl's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Poliwhirl from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Poliwhirl from raids will have 831 CP at level 20, or 1034 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 776. If you see 831 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Poliwhirl worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl?
For the best moveset for Poliwhirl itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Poliwhirl can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (54.118 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (49.600 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 Poliwhirl in raids?
Weather boost information for Poliwhirl 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.