Poliwag (Pokémon)

← #{{{prevnum}}}: Arcanine

Pokémon

#{{{nextnum}}}: Poliwhirl →

Poliwag ニョロモ Nyoromo #060
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Water ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Tadpole Pokémon
Abilities Water Absorb or Damp Damp Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,059,860
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #060 Johto #072 Hoenn #247 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 2'0" Imperial 0.6 m Metric 2'0"/0.6 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 27.3 lbs. Imperial 12.4 kg Metric 27.3 lbs./12.4 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Blue	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 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*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

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.

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.

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 {{{diamonddex}}} 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
HP: 40		100 - 147	190 - 284
Attack: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Defense: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Sp. Atk: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Sp. Def: 40		40 - 101	76 - 196
Speed: 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

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

• Bubblebeam
• Haze
• Ice Ball
• Mind Reader
• Mist
• Splash
• Water Sport

Trivia

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

• Misty's Poliwag

External links

• Article on Wikipedia

← #{{{prevnum}}}: Arcanine

Pokémon

#{{{nextnum}}}: Poliwhirl →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.