Poliwag (Pokémon)

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000 #{{{prevnum}}}: Arcanine
Pokémon
#{{{nextnum}}}: Poliwhirl 000
Poliwag
ニョロモ Nyoromo
#060
060Poliwag.png
Artwork from FR/LG
Type
Water '
Category
Tadpole Pokémon
Abilities
Water Absorb or Damp
Exp. at Lv. 100
1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers
Kanto
#060
Johto
#072
Hoenn
#247
Regional Browser numbers
Height
2′00″
Imperial
0.6 m
Metric
Weight
27.3 lbs.
Imperial
12.4 kg
Metric
Dex color
Blue
Catch rate
255 (33.3%)
Body style
BodyUnknown.png BodyUnknown.png
Blue-Striped
Footprint
 F060.png   F487O.png
Blue-Striped
Gender ratio
Gender unknown
Breeding
Water 1 group 1 cycles
(255 minimum steps)
EV yield
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
Base Exp.: 77 Battle Exp.: 771*

Poliwag (Japanese: ニョロモ Nyoromo) is a Water-type Pokémon.

Biology

Physiology

The swirl on Poliwag's tummy is actually its intenstines showing through its semitransparent skin.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Behavior

Habitat

Poliwag can be found in small freshwater ponds and lakes that have an abundance of lily pads, as well as along the banks of tropical rivers.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime, Poliwag feed on salveyo weed, which can only be found on clear lake bottoms.

In the anime

Misty had a Poliwag that eventually evolved into a Poliwhirl and then a Politoed.

One of the Pokémon used at the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School was a Poliwag. Max used it in a battle but lost to a Magby.

In the manga

Poliwag's first appearance is a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory.

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I
Red Its newly grown legs prevent it from walking well. It appears to prefer swimming over walking.
Blue
Yellow The direction of the spiral on the belly differs by area. It is more adept at swimming than walking.
Stadium The spiral on its belly is its internal organs seen through its thin skin. It is better at swimming than walking.
Generation II
Gold Because it is inept at walking on its newly grown legs, it always swims around in water.
Silver The direction of its belly spiral differs by area. The equator is thought to have an effect on this.
Crystal The swirl on its belly is its insides showing through the skin. It looks clearer after it eats.
Stadium 2 Unknown
Generation III
Ruby Poliwag has a very thin skin. It is possible to see the Pokémon's spiral innards right through the skin. Despite its thinness, however, the skin is also very flexible. Even sharp fangs bounce right off it.
Sapphire Poliwag has a very thin skin. It is possible to see the Pokémon's spiral innards right through the skin. Despite its thinness, however, the skin is also very flexible. Even sharp fangs bounce right off it.
Emerald It is possible to see this Pokémon's spiral innards right through its thin skin. However, the skin is also very flexible. Even sharp fangs bounce right off it.
FireRed Its slick black skin is thin and damp. A part of its internal organs can be seen through the skin as a spiral pattern.
LeafGreen Its newly grown legs prevent it from walking well. It appears to prefer swimming over walking.
Generation IV
Diamond Its skin is so thin, its internal organs are visible. It has trouble walking on its newly grown feet.
Pearl Its skin is so thin, its internal organs are visible. It has trouble walking on its newly grown feet.
Platinum {{{platinumdex}}}
HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}}
SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V
Black {{{blackdex}}}
White {{{whitedex}}}
Black 2 {{{black2dex}}}
White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI
X Unknown
Y Unknown


Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I
Red Blue
Many Viridian City and Route 22 (Fish)
Blue (Japan)
None Trade
Yellow
Many Routes 16, 17, 22, and 23, and Viridian City, Fuchsia City (Fish)
Generation II
Gold Silver
Many Routes 16, 22, 28, 30, 31, 35, 43, and 44, Ruins of Alph, Ilex Forest, Ecruteak City, Violet City, Mt. Silver, Viridian City, and Blackthorn City (Fish)
Crystal
Many Routes 16, 22, 28, 30, 31, 35, 43, and 44, Ruins of Alph, Ilex Forest, Ecruteak City, Violet City, Mt. Silver, Viridian City, and Blackthorn City (Fish)
Generation III
Ruby Sapphire
None Trade
Emerald
None Trade
FireRed LeafGreen
Common Routes 6, 22, 23, 25, Four Island, Fuchsia City, Viridian City, Berry Forest, Cape Brink, Cerulean City, Cerulean Cave, Icefall Cave, Ruin Valley, and Safari Zone (Fish)
Colosseum
None Trade
XD
None Trade
Generation IV
Diamond Pearl
Uncommon Routes 225, 226, and 228 (Fish w/ Good Rod)
Platinum
None Trade
HeartGold SoulSilver
None Trade
Pal Park
None
Pokéwalker
None
Generation V
Black White
None Trade
Black 2 White 2
None Trade
Dream World
None
Generation VI
X Y
None Trade



In side games

Game Location
Pokémon Channel Secret Cove
Pokémon Trozei Phobos Submarine
Endless Level 22
Pair Trozei
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Silent Chasm (5F-9F)
Northwind Field (1F-4F)
Waterfall Pond (1F-5F)
Pokémon Ranger Krokka Tunnel

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
40
100 - 147 190 - 284
50
49 - 112 94 - 218
40
40 - 101 76 - 196
40
40 - 101 76 - 196
40
40 - 101 76 - 196
90
85 - 156 166 - 306
Total:
300
Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
  • This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 40.

Type effectiveness

Template:DP type effectiveness

Note: if Poliwag has Water Absorb, the effectiveness of Water attacks will be 0.

Learnset

Template:Learnset introMoves in Italics aren't STAB for Poliwag, but are for some/all evolutions.

By leveling up

Game Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV
Start Bubble Bubble Bubble Water Sport
5       Bubble
7   Hypnosis Hypnosis  
8       Hypnosis
11       Water Gun
13   Water Gun Water Gun  
15       Doubleslap
16 Hypnosis      
18       Rain Dance
19 Water Gun Doubleslap Doubleslap  
21       Body Slam
25 Doubleslap Rain Dance Rain Dance Bubblebeam
28       Mud Shot
31 Body Slam Body Slam Body Slam Belly Drum
35       Wake-up Slap
37   Belly Drum Belly Drum  
38 Amnesia     Hydro Pump
43   Hydro Pump Hydro Pump Mud Bomb
45 Hydro Pump      

By TM/HM

Number Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV
TM02   Headbutt    
TM03   Curse Water Pulse Water Pulse
TM06 Toxic Toxic Toxic Toxic
TM07     Hail Hail
TM08 Body Slam      
TM09 Take Down      
TM10 Double-Edge Hidden Power Hidden Power Hidden Power
TM11 Bubblebeam      
TM12 Water Gun      
TM13 Ice Beam Snore Ice Beam Ice Beam
TM14 Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard Blizzard
TM16   Icy Wind    
TM17   Protect Protect Protect
TM18   Rain Dance Rain Dance Rain Dance
TM20 Rage Endure    
TM21   Frustration Frustration Frustration
TM27   Return Return Return
TM28     Dig Dig
TM29 Psychic Psychic Psychic Psychic
TM31 Mimic      
TM32 Double Team Double Team Double Team Double Team
TM34 Bide Swagger    
TM35   Sleep Talk    
TM40 Skull Bash Defense Curl    
TM42     Facade Facade
TM43     Secret Power Secret Power
TM44 Rest Rest Rest Rest
TM45   Attract Attract Attract
TM46 Psywave Thief Thief Thief
TM50 Substitute      
TM58       Endure
TM78       Captivate
TM82       Sleep Talk
TM83       Natural Gift
TM87       Swagger
TM90       Substitute
HM03 Surf Surf Surf Surf
HM06   Whirlpool    
HM07   Waterfall Waterfall Waterfall
HM08     Dive  

By breeding

Side game data

Template:Side game

Evolution

Template:EvoChart Box

Template:EvoChart Box

Template:EvoChart Box

Template:EvoChart Box

Trivia

  • Poliwag has the same in-game cry as Ditto.

Origin

Poliwag has the appearance of a tadpole. The spiral pattern on its belly is supposed to represent how the intestines of tadpoles are sometimes seen through their transparent skin.

Name origin

Poliwag appears to be a misspelling of polliwog, outdated English for tadpole. The wag may refer to its tail, although it is worth noting that polliwog literally means head-wiggle. Its Japanese name may come in part from ニョロニョロ nyoronyoro, the sound of slithering.

In other languages

  • German: Quapsel
  • French: Ptitart - P'tit is a contraction of petit meaning small, têtard means tadpole.
  • Korean: 발챙이 Balchaengi

Related articles

External links

000 #{{{prevnum}}}: Arcanine
Pokémon
#{{{nextnum}}}: Poliwhirl 000
Project Pokédex logo.png This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon as a species.