Poliwrath Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Poliwrath in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Poliwrath
Poliwrath is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water/Fighting typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 40.300 DPS.
Poliwrath 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: Poliwrath is weak to Electric, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Dark, Fire-type moves as Poliwrath 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 Poliwrath is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (40.300 DPS), Shadow Mewtwo (38.000 DPS), and Mega Alakazam (36.667 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Poliwrath: After defeating Poliwrath, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1441 and 1514 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1792-1884 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Poliwrath from raids will have exactly 1514 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 Poliwrath?
The best counter for Poliwrath is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 40.300 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Mewtwo (38.000 DPS) and Mega Alakazam (36.667 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Poliwrath?
Poliwrath 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 Poliwrath weak to?
Poliwrath is weak to Electric, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Dark, Fire, Ice, Rock, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Poliwrath be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Poliwrath's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Poliwrath from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Poliwrath from raids will have 1514 CP at level 20, or 1884 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1441. If you see 1514 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Poliwrath worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Poliwrath 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 Poliwrath?
For the best moveset for Poliwrath itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Poliwrath 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 Poliwrath without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Poliwrath can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (36.235 DPS) and Deoxys (Attack) (34.903 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 Poliwrath in raids?
Weather boost information for Poliwrath 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.