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
Body07.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 Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Poliwhirl starting at level 25, whom evolves into Poliwrath by Template:Stone, or into Politoed by trade with King's Rock.

Biology

Physiology

Poliwag resembles a blue, spherical tadpole. It has large eyes, a pink mouth, and a long, mostly transparent tail. It has newly developed legs that still are not used to walking. Poliwag's most famous feature is the black and white swirl on its abdomen, which is actually its innards showing through its semitransparent skin. This skin is also very elastic so that it won't break if the Pokémon is bitten.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Along with the standard Water-related abilities, it is capable of making its opponent drowsy with Hypnosis. It is also much more at home in the water, as it can be healed by water using Water Absorb. Its skin is also quite Damp.

Behavior

They are most likely found swimming then on dry land.

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. However, it did help defeat Team Rocket.

A Poliwag appeared in DP089.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Special manga

Poliwag makes a cameo in Bulbasaur, Come Home! as one of the Pokémon that escapes from Professor Oak's Laboratory and in Danger: High Voltorb in a Red's flashback remembering his journey with his Poliwhirl.

Gold has a Poliwag as of Template:PSV. It was lost when Team Rocket stole Gold's backpack and its Poké Ball fell into the water. Gold eventually retrieved Poliwag at the Famous Fishing Zone. It evolved into Poliwhirl in Template:PSV.

In the TCG

Main article: Poliwag (TCG)

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 Because it is inept at walking on its newly grown legs, it always swims around in water.
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
??? Routes 227 and 228 (Surf)
HeartGold SoulSilver
None Trade
Pal Park
Pond
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 Snap River
Pokémon Channel Secret Cove
Pokémon Trozei! Phobos Submarine
Endless Level 22
Pair Trozei
Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
(Red and Blue)
Silent Chasm (5F-9F)
Northwind Field (1F-4F)
Waterfall Pond (1F-5F)
Pokémon Ranger Krokka Tunnel
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon
(Time and Darkness)
Waterfall Cave (B1-B8)
Serenity River (B1-B7)

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

Learnset

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

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | water | style="background:#2980EF" |  water 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Poliwag | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By TM/HM

Template:Movelisttm Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By breeding

Template:Eggmoves Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Eggmoves/note

By tutoring

Template:Tutor Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4 Template:Mtentry4


|- style="background:#9DC1B7" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available.
|} |}

TCG-only Moves

Side game data

Template:Side game

Evolution

Unknown
Unevolved
Unknown
 Unknown 
Unknown
Unknown
First Evolution
Unknown
 Unknown 
Unknown
Unknown
Second Evolution
Unknown
 Unknown 
Unknown
Unknown
Second Evolution
Unknown
 Unknown 

Sprites

Gen Game
I Red Blue Yellow Red (Ja) Green Back
Spr 1b 060.png Spr 1y 060.png Spr 1g 060.png Spr b g1 060.png
II Gold Silver Crystal   Back
Spr 2g 060.png Spr 2s 060.png Spr 2c 060.png Spr b 2g 060.png
Spr 2g 060 s.png Spr 2s 060 s.png Spr 2c 060 s.png Spr b 2g 060 s.png
III Ruby Sapphire Emerald FireRed LeafGreen Back
Spr 3r 060.png Spr 3e 060.png Spr 3f 060.png Spr b 3r 060.png
Spr 3r 060 s.png Spr 3e 060 s.png Spr 3f 060 s.png Spr b 3r 060 s.png
IV Diamond Pearl Platinum HeartGold SoulSilver Back
Spr 4d 060.png Spr 4p 060.png Spr 4h 060.png Spr b 4d 060.png
Spr 4d 060 s.png Spr 4p 060 s.png Spr 4h 060 s.png Spr b 4d 060 s.png
V Black White Black 2 White 2 Back
Spr 5b 060.png Spr 5b2 060.png Spr b 5b 060.png
Spr 5b 060 s.png Spr 5b2 060 s.png Spr b 5b 060 s.png
Poliwag For other sprites and images, please see Poliwag images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

  • Poliwag and Ditto have extremely similar cries.
  • Curiously, the swirl on Poliwag's stomach is in the opposite direction to Poliwhirl's and Poliwrath's, but in the same direction of the light green swirl on the stomach of Politoed.
  • In Generation I s sprites, the swirl on Poliwag's stomach is in a counter-clockwise direction, starting from the outside. In later Generations, the direction was reversed.
  • In its FireRed Pokédex entry, it is stated Poliwag has black skin. The Ruby and Sapphire Pokédex entry for Poliwhirl states that Poliwhirl's skin is covered in oily fluid - if the same applies to Poliwag, it might be a case similar to common bilberry: the berry itself is black but covered in a wax-like coating that makes it look blue.
  • Despite having a visible tail, it cannot learn any moves that require a tail.
  • Poliwag's eyes, nose and the swirl on its stomach are visible in Generation I and IV's backsprites, but the tail is not. The opposite is true for the Generation II and III backsprites.
  • In Pokémon Gold and Silver its sprite has very big eyes but in other games its eyes are normally small.
  • In The Official Pokémon Handbook, published by Scholastic Corporation, the back cover says "Did you know that the swirls on Poliwhirl's stomach changes direction when it evolves into Poliwag?" This should be reversed.

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, and 子供 kodomo, child.

In other languages

  • German: Quapsel - from (Kaul)Quappe (tadpole).
  • French: Ptitard - P'tit is a contraction of petit meaning small, têtard means tadpole.
  • Korean: 발챙이 Balchaengi
  • Chinese (Taiwan and Hong Kong): 蚊香蝌蚪 - 蚊香 is a kind of mosquito repellent used in China that is shaped like a spiral (like poliwag's belly). Literally 'mosquito repellent tadpole'

Related articles

Notes


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 species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.