What is a good moveset for Poliwrath?

Question

If you have a good moveset for Poliwrath, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Remember, this is for competitive movesets, not in-game. Ability, EVs etc should be included, and we encourage sets for VGC doubles as well as singles. Make sure to read all the guidelines here.

Poliwrath Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Comments

Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 252 HP / 24 Atk / 96 Def / 136 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up
- Overhead Throw
- Waterfall
- Rock Slide

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Your Poliwrath seems to have the roll of a Tank/Staller, because your moveset makes it difficult to take down. For your Poliwrath's roll, I suggest


Trait: Damp (Opponents who give up and use explode to try to take you down (which would usually work) will not be able to because Damp will prevent all damage from the attack while the user still faints, and since Aftermath never misses and always takes 1/4 of the opponents help away, it would work well against your Poliwrath, but not with Damp)

Nature: Timid/Hasty                  If you find attack more important then defense, use Hasty. If the other way around, use Timid.

Brick Break

Waterfall

--Use Body Slam until the target is paralyzed, then keep using Waterfall so the opponent can't attack--

Body Slam

Rock Slide (Higher accuracy and damage than Rock Tomb. Although Rock Tomb lowers speed, Rock Slide does 15 more damage and has 100 accuracy).

You picked out an amazing moveset.


Brick Break

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Gen V+ (Generation 5 and up)

You could also do this, but it does not do type advantage very well, but it is a great set:

Hypnosis and Focus Punch (put the opponent to sleep with Hypnosis, then use Focus Punch. Unless it misses, it has no chance of failing since the user can't attack.)

Wake-Up Slap/Bulk Up (Use Wake-Up Slap after Focus Punch to finish off the enemy, or you could use Bulk Up until it wakes up to make Poliwrath even harder to take down.)

Hydro Pump/Waterfall: Hydro Pump, after breaking down the enemy with Hypnosis - Focus Energy - Wake Up Slap, will finish the enemy off, while Waterfall has a good chance of making the target flinch, making it hard for them to make a comeback after recovering from their slumber.

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Jolly nature definetly

Answer 1

Nature: Brave (if going with Payback), Adamant (if going with Brick Break)
Ability: Water Absorb

Waterfall- STAB, takes care of Fire, Ground, and Rock.
Ice Punch- Takes care of Flying, Grass, and Ground
Payback/Brick Break- Payback: covers Psychic and Ghost, low
speed makes it more likely to do 100 damage. Brick Break: STAB, covers Rock, Steel, Dark, and Ice.
Earthquake- Covers Electric, Fire, Poison, Steel, and Rock

Comments

Don't forget Normal coverage on Brick Break.

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Give him EXPERT BELT with those 15 super effectiveness (unless I counted wrong...)

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i would teach mine atleast a move to put the target to sleep and wake-up slap to deal double damage

Answer 2

Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers

Role: Belly Sweeper

Trait: Water Absorb

EVs: 160 HP / 96 Atk / 252 Spd

Jolly Nature (+Spd, -SAtk)

• Belly Drum
• Hypnosis
• Waterfall
• Wake-up Slap

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Okay, most think this is Gimmiky, but I have swept whole teams with it.

If You can plan a switch right, you can Water Absorb an Attack, pissing someone off and most likely getting them to switch Out.

On that turn, you can pull off your Belly Drum.

Now, you can Put something to sleep and use Wake-up Slap, or just use it in General to take down Resisting foes, such as other water types, or Ferrothorn.

Hypnosising those who You doubt you can OHKO.

Comments

i don't think its gimmicky at all its a very effective move set i prefer hypnosis over substitute any day because of poliwrath's sub par health he cant hold a decent sub to begin with. you just don't have that edge against dark types, but when you have the belly drum you aren't really worried about that. on my poliwrath i have substitute and focus punch as the only differences. but very good move set very effective poliwrath can be dangerous when used proporly

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high risk huge returns

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Hypnosising?

Answer 3

Gen III

Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers

Ability: Water Absorb

EVs: 252 Atk / 40 Def / 80 SDef / 136 Spd

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

• Hypnosis
• Focus Punch
• Earthquake
• Bulk Up

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This is a fun to use " Try your luck " Set.

You can switch into a water move to force a switch, or just hope for a hit and use Hypnosis.
Now you can bulk up, or Hit someone in the face with an STAB Focus Punch, your choice.
And Earthquake gives great coverage.

Warning: Do not use agaisn't Gengar

Answer 4

Poliwrath

Nature: Adamant
Ability: Swift swim
Item: Leftovers
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 speed, 6 hp

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Waterfall
Brick-break
Earthquake
Bulk-up/Belly-drum/Rain-dance

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Leftovers keeps him alive he has decent bulk which can provide him the ability to survive longer. Waterfall is great STAB that he can even flinch with. Brick-break and Earthquake provide great coverage. Bulk up is for reliable attack raising and Def Raising, Belly drum is great but lowers his hp by half which is a huge draw back even with healing from leftovers use rain dance when you lack Rain support.

Answer 5

Physical Sweeper

![][1]

Poliwrath (M) @Leftovers
Trait: Water absorb
Nature: Adamant (+Atk. -Sp.Atk.)
EV's: 252 Atk. 252 Def. 4 Hp.

• Ice Punch
• Waterfall
• Bulk Up
• Brick Break

>Ice Punch- Coverage against Flying and Grass.
Waterfall- As Trachy Said Waterfall has STAB, Accuracy, And a good chance to make the foe flinch.
Bulk Up- Raises Attack & Defense for Poliwrath.
Brick Break- STAB, And Accuracy.
[1]: http://sprites.pokecheck.org/i/062.gif

Answer 6

SUB-DRUM-SALAC POLIWRATH
Poliwrath(M/F) @ Salac Berry
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 12 HP 244 ATK 252 SPEED
Nature: Adamant (+Atk-SpAtk) Jolly (+Speed-SpAtk)
-Substitute
-Belly Drum
-Brick Break|Waterfall|Ice Punch (emerald move tutor)
-Brick Break|Waterfall|Ice Punch (emerald move tutor)

Switch in against a water type Pokemon/one that will flee, Set up Substitute on the switch-in, Belly Drum as they break the sub, Activate the salac berry for boosted speed stat, and sweep!

Comments

Doomed by priority moves.

Answer 7

I'm surprised no mind reader set:

Poliwrath @ Life Orb
Ability: Water Absorb
Nature: Adamant (if not hydro pumping)/Brave
EVs: 252 Attack, 252 Defence/Sp.Atk (if hydro pumping), 4 HP

Mind Reader
Dynamic Punch
Ice Punch
Waterfall/Hydro Pump

Totally outclassed by a no guard Pokemon, other than the coverage water brings. Mind reader to guarantee a hit next turn, then use dynamic punch or hydro pump. I prefer waterfall, as you don't need to EV train sp.atk for it, so you can have more bulk. Ice Punch is for coverage.

Comments

Ice Punch might be a better choice than submission, for the sake of coverage against Grass and Flying types.

Answer 8

How about Rock Slide instead of Rock Tomb because Rock Slide may cause the opponent to flinch.

Comments

I should have put down that my Poliwrath has really horrible Speed. I didn't EV train it in that stat at all. Should I still keep Rock Tomb to even things up.

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Then how about Ice Beam to deal with flying types

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How will you kill Psychic types

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I'll take Ice Beam. Freezing might also even things up.

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Poliwrath has horrible sp. atck.
so ice beam isn't a good choice

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ICE PUNCH

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poliwrath deserves OU

Answer 9

Gen V

Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers

Trait: Water Absorb

EVs: 136 HP / 124 Atk / 248 Def

Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

• Circle Throw
• Waterfall
• Bulk Up
• Ice Punch

Bulky attacker. Use Bulk Up and you'll be hard to take down. Circle Throw is a really nice move, as it does nice damage while preventing the foe from setting up. If you have entry hazards up already, so much the better. Waterfall is there for STAb of course. Ice Punch is type coverage. Water Absorb and Leftovers help with making it bulky, and the EVs also fit in with that, while also providing a nice starting Attack for Bulk Up to boost.

Answer 10

Double/Triple battle

Poliwrath (M) @ Damp Rock
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 156 HP / 252 Atk / 100 Def
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Waterfall
- Rain Dance
- DynamicPunch
- Rock Slide

Rain Dance actually makes things very interesting. Okay, so most people will expect Poliwrath to have Water Absorb. But then you use Rain Dance and they'll think you have Swift Swim. But then it turns out you have Water Absorb. A bit of a mind-game going on here. Waterfall is STAB. DynamicPunch is also STAB. While it has horrible accuracy on its own, having Gravity support brings it up to 80%, the equal of Cross Chop. Rock Slide is coverage that hits multiple foes.

Answer 11

Poliwrath (M) @ Leftovers
Trait: Water Absorb
EVs: 128 HP / 254 Atk / 128 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)
- Bulk Up (Stat)
- Waterfall (Stab)
- Earthquake (Coverage, Power)
- Brick Break (Stab)

Answer 12

[email protected] leftovers
evs 252 defence 252spdefence 4hp role anoyer

mind reader ...
dynamicpunch goes with mind reader
waterfall STAB
toxic...

Comments

I'd call this a sweeper, not annoyer.

Answer 13

[email protected] zoom lens or water incense

Evs: invested in attack and defence/ speed

Role: physical tank

Ice punch: deals with flying and grass, good power, extra coverage. An alternative is power up punch because it raises attack and also has s
STAB

Earthquake/ bulldoze: high power, counters ground. Bulldoze has less power but also lowers speed of Pokemon hit. Both give extra coverage

Waterfall: STAB, God power, chance to flinch

Dynamic punch: this is what the zoom lens is for, STAB, high power,100% for confusion if the target is hit. An alternative is brick break because it has higher accuracy and it breaks screens while also having STAB.

Hoped this helped:)

Answer 14

My Poliwrath has a Hidden Ability aka Swift Swim

Move Set

Rain Dance (Speed doubles)

Dive (Will always go first and has decent attack)

Dig (Good damage against an electric type)

Endeavor (When all else fails use Endeavor)

Nature: Adamant

EVs

Atk: 252

Speed: 252

HP: 4

Item: Focus Sash or Damp Rock

Answer 15

Power-Switch Poliwrath

Item: Sitrus Berry/Zoom Lens
Ability: Damp
EVs: 152 ATK/ 100 DEF/ 252 SP. DEF
Nature: Impish (+Defence -Sp. Attack)

-Hypnosis
-Circle Throw
-Power-Up Punch
-Waterfall

The trick here is to train your Poliwrath's Defence and Sp. Defence to make it more bulky, as it's already blessed with decent HP. Using Hypnosis will send your opponent to sleep, during which you can increase your attack by using Power-Up Punch once or twice, before switching them out with Circle Throw. This starts their sleep cycle over again and essentially gives you one or two free hits. Waterfall is for coverage as well as STAB. It's definitely possible to send all 3 opponents to sleep before switching them out to secure a 3-0 victory. Zoom Lens is for Hypnosis and Circle Throw or the Sitrus Berry is to regain health as Poliwrath will most likely attack second.

Answer 16

Poliwrath @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 248 HP / 220 Atk / 40 SpD
Adamant Nature
- Focus Punch
- Substitute
- Payback
- Bulk Up

Pretty solid set, Works pretty good. Just enough sp. def to even out the defensive stats. He is pretty hard to take down once you get his checks/counters out of the ways.

Answer 17

Poliwrath
Nature: Jolly (-Sp. Atk, +Spe.)
Ability: Damp(for when someone gets tired of you sweeping through their Pokemon)
EVs: 100 HP, 100 Def., 56 Sp. Def., 252 Spe.

Mind Reader- Just in case Fissure misses
Fissure- A guaranteed OHKO just make sure you're faster than the opponent in case they 2HKO you
Waterfall- A backup move
Double Team- Raise evasiveness

Answer 18

Poliwrath (Gender doesn't matter) holding leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb

Hypnosis- Can put the opponent to sleep. Pretty useful if you have high accuracy
Scald- Deals with charizard (which can be a problem for Poliwrath) and other popular Pokemon
Ice Beam- Can deal with grass types, ground types, etc.
Dynamic Punch- Confuses the opponent and is good against fighting types like Lucario

Comments

I'm not sure why Charizard is a problem for Poliwrath, considering he's fire type, I guess he has Flying type STAB, but there's far bigger threats out there, but you really shouldn't use Dynamic Punch, unless your 'mon has the No Guard ability. It's only 50 accuracy, so it's going to miss more times than it hits. Even if you're lucky and it hits every other turn, that only gives it 50 power per turn... Brick Break is 75 power with 100 accuracy, plus breaks through reflect.

Answer 19

Poliwrath @ Luminous Moss Ability: Water Absorb
EVs: 190 Atk / 8 Def / 190 SpD / 120 Spe
Careful Nature
- Haze
- Brick Break
- Waterfall
- Refresh
if you ever need a water fighter,call this guy. brick break is STAB, stop setting you with screens.waterfall is STAB plus a small chance for flinch. haze resets its stats so it can keep at normal power.refresh gets rid of T wave, and other status conditions. good nature, ability, item and EVs