Poliwhirl
TL;DR. Poliwhirl is a pure water-type Pokémon from Generation I. Base Stat Total: 385. Capable of living in or out of water. When out of water, it sweats to keep its body slimy.
Capable of living in or out of water. When out of water, it sweats to keep its body slimy.
Stat spread.
Total of 385. Higher peaks mean specialized roles, flat spreads favor versatility.
Rankings computed across all 1025 base-species Pokémon (Mega and Gigantamax forms excluded). Source: National Pokédex base stats.
Poliwhirl in Pokémon GO.
Pokémon GO uses its own hand-tuned base stats, distinct from the main-series spread above. At a perfect 15/15/15, Poliwhirl reaches 1,419 CP at level 40 and 1,623 CP as a best buddy.
Run the numbers: CP & HP calculator · PvP IV optimizer · Catch CP calculator
Poliwhirl in competitive play.
Recommended builds and battle rankings for Poliwhirl across the current metagames. In Pokémon GO it ranks #725 in the Great League.
Build around it: GO PvP IV optimizer · Team builder · Ask Dia
Movesets via Smogon, GO ranks via PvPoke. Updated 2026-06-01.
Common questions about Poliwhirl.
Direct, sourced answers to the most-asked questions about Poliwhirl, each computed straight from its Pokédex data.
What type is Poliwhirl?
Poliwhirl is a pure Water-type Pokémon. It has a single typing, which means a simpler matchup chart but also fewer resistances.
What is Poliwhirl weak to?
Poliwhirl takes 2× damage from Grass, Electric. It has no 4× weaknesses.
What is Poliwhirl resistant to?
Poliwhirl resists Fire, Water, Ice, Steel. It has no full immunities.
How does Poliwhirl evolve?
Poliwhirl evolves from Poliwag (Level 25). Poliwhirl evolves into Poliwrath (Use Water Stone) or Politoed (Trade holding Kings Rock).
What generation is Poliwhirl from?
Poliwhirl was introduced in Generation I (the Kanto region). Its Pokédex number is #0061.
What are Poliwhirl's base stats?
Poliwhirl has HP 65, Attack 65, Defense 65, Special Attack 50, Special Defense 50, and Speed 90. Total base stat total: 385.
What are Poliwhirl's abilities?
Poliwhirl can have the abilities Water Absorb, Damp, plus the Hidden Ability Swift Swim.
Is Poliwhirl legendary or mythical?
No. Poliwhirl is a regular Pokémon, not classified as Legendary or Mythical.
What is Poliwhirl's best stat?
Poliwhirl's highest base stat is Speed at 90, which ranks 23rd of 154 Water-type Pokémon.
Is Poliwhirl good?
Poliwhirl has a base stat total of 385, the 653rd-highest of all 1025 Pokémon species and 96th among Water-types. That is a modest total, typical of an unevolved or utility Pokémon.
Through the generations.
Poliwhirl as drawn across two decades of Pokémon games, plus the modern Pokémon HOME render. Hit the cry button to hear it.
In battle.
Damage multipliers when Poliwhirl is hit by each attacking type. 4× is two stacked weaknesses, ¼× is two stacked resistances.
Poliwhirl vs. the average Water-type.
Each base stat measured against the mean across all 154 Water-type Pokémon.
| Stat | Poliwhirl | Water avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HP | 65 | 70 | -5 |
| Attack | 65 | 72 | -7 |
| Defense | 65 | 72 | -7 |
| Special Attack | 50 | 71 | -21 |
| Special Defense | 50 | 69 | -19 |
| Speed | 90 | 66 | +24 |
| Total | 385 | 420 | -35 |
Poliwhirl appears in 36 games.
Every mainline release where Poliwhirl is obtainable, has a dex entry, or is transferable. Grouped by generation.
- 1998 Blue
- 1998 Red
- 1999 Yellow
- 2000 Gold
- 2000 Silver
- 2001 Crystal
- 2003 Ruby
- 2003 Sapphire
- 2004 FireRed
- 2004 LeafGreen
- 2005 Emerald
- 2007 Diamond
- 2007 Pearl
- 2009 Platinum
- 2010 HeartGold
- 2010 SoulSilver
- 2011 Black
- 2011 White
- 2012 Black 2
- 2012 White 2
- 2013 X
- 2013 Y
- 2014 Alpha Sapphire
- 2014 Omega Ruby
- 2016 Moon
- 2016 Sun
- 2017 Ultra Moon
- 2017 Ultra Sun
- 2018 Let's Go, Eevee!
- 2018 Let's Go, Pikachu!
- 2019 Shield
- 2019 Sword
- 2020 Isle of Armor DLC
- 2023 Teal Mask DLC
- 2026 Pokémon Pokopia
- 2016 Pokémon GO
Catch Poliwhirl in the wild.
Main-series wild-encounter locations, grouped by game. 27 games have a known habitat.
Poliwhirl appears in 53 episodes.
From EP025 (1997-09-16) through SM066 (2018-03-15).
- EP025 Primeape Goes Bananas Original 1998-10-09
- EP040 The Battling Eevee Brothers Original 1998-10-27
- EP047 A Chansey Operation Original 1999-03-06
- EP058 Riddle Me This Original 1999-09-18
- EP083 Pallet Party Panic Original 1999-12-04
- EP108 The Pokémon Water War Original 2000-08-26
- EP122 Roll On, Pokémon! Original 2000-11-04
- EP147 A Farfetch'd Tale Original 2001-03-17
- EP151 Tunnel Vision Original 2001-04-07
- EP153 The Totodile Duel Original 2001-05-05
- EP155 Love, Totodile Style Original 2001-05-26
- EP157 Forest Grumps Original 2001-06-02
+ 41 more episodes
- EP162 Air Time! Original 2001-09-08
- EP167 Hassle in the Castle Original 2001-09-29
- EP168 Two Hits and a Miss Original 2001-09-15
- EP171 Beauty and the Breeder Original 2001-10-06
- EP173 Power Play! Original 2001-10-20
- EP177 The Trouble with Snubbull Original 2001-11-03
- EP180 The Grass Route Original 2001-11-03
- EP183 A Ghost of a Chance Original 2001-11-10
- EP188 UnBEARable Original 2002-01-19
- EP191 Freeze Frame Original 2002-02-09
- EP193 The Dunsparce Deception Original 2002-02-23
- EP198 Control Freak! Original 2002-03-30
- EP201 Current Events Original 2002-04-27
- EP204 The Big Balloon Blow-Up Original 2002-05-25
- EP205 The Screen Actor's Guilt Original 2002-06-01
- EP210 Fight for the Light Original 2002-09-07
- EP213 Fly Me to the Moon Original 2002-09-21
- EP215 A Corsola Caper! Original 2002-10-05
- EP216 Mantine Overboard! Original 2002-10-12
- EP217 Octillery the Outcast Original 2002-10-19
- EP218 Dueling Heroes Original 2002-10-26
- EP221 Hi Ho Silver... Away! Original 2002-11-16
- EP222 The Mystery Is History Original 2002-11-23
- EP223 A Parent Trapped! Original 2002-11-30
- EP231 An EGG-sighting Adventure! Original 2003-01-11
- EP235 A Tyrogue Full of Trouble Original 2003-02-01
- EP238 Rage of Innocence Original 2003-02-22
- EP240 Nice Pryce, Baby! Original 2003-03-08
- EP243 Hocus Pokémon Original 2003-04-05
- EP246 Enlighten Up! Original 2003-04-26
- EP247 Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up? Original 2002-09-27
- EP265 Address Unown! Original 2003-09-13
- EP268 A Claim to Flame! Original 2003-09-17
- AG074 Hokey PokéBalls Advanced Generation 2005-04-16
- AG090 Pokéblock, Stock, and Berry Advanced Generation 2005-09-03
- DP139 A Faux Oak Finish! Diamond & Pearl 2010-01-09
- XY003 A Battle of Aerial Mobility! XY 2014-02-01
- XY099 The Legend of the Ninja Hero! XY 2016-03-26
- SM013 Racing to a Big Event! Sun & Moon 2017-06-10
- SM040 Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence! Sun & Moon 2017-11-18
- SM066 Smashing with Sketch! Sun & Moon 2018-08-13
TCG Pocket appearances
5 Poliwhirl cards across TCG Pocket.
Every printed variant on iOS / Android. Tap any card for full art.
Pokémon like Poliwhirl
Closest matches by typing, role, stats, and lore, from the same semantic search that powers the Reverse Dex.