Poliwag undergoes through a dramatic change when it evolves to Poliwhirl. The most notable difference is that it has become bigger and gained arms with gloved hands while losing its tail. The eyes have moved to the top of its head and it apparently looses its visible mouth. Its nostrils are now visible. Curiously, the swirl on its abdomen as Poliwag reverses when it evolves.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
In addition to the abilities it had as Poliwag, Poliwhirl can now walk and Template:M2 even better then before.
Nyoro was Red's first Pokémon. It debuted in the first round of the Red, Green & Blue chapter, A Glimpse of the Glow as Poliwhirl, however was captured before the start of the chapter as a Poliwag. It gained more importance in Lt. Surge's story arc, in fact it evolved in Buzz Off, Electabuzz! while saving Red from drowning in the sea due to the specks of Water Stone present in the water.
Gold's Poliwag evolved into Poliwhirl in Template:PSV when Gold and Silver were trapped inside Tin Tower. With Silver's knowledge of Pokémon trading, Gold temporarily traded Poliwhirl to Silver via their Pokédexes, prompting Poliwhirl to evolve into Politoed when the effects of its King's Rock activated from the trade, triggering the evolution.
Poliwhirl is a Tadpole Pokémon able to live on either land or in the water. When on dry land, it's constantly sweating to keep its skin nice and slimy. When in danger, it spins the whirlpool marking on its stomach to put enemies into a deep sleep, then it runs away. It evolves into either Poliwrath or Politoed.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
The surface of Poliwhirl's body is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this greasy covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle.
The surface of Poliwhirl's body is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this greasy covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle.
Its body surface is always wet and slick with an oily fluid. Because of this greasy covering, it can easily slip and slide out of the clutches of any enemy in battle.
|- style="background:#74ACF5"
| 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.
|}
|}
Poliwhirl's sprites and artwork are inconsistent with respect to its gloves. Sometimes they are depicted as mittens, while other times they have separate fingers.
In Generation I sprites prior to Pokémon Yellow, the swirl on Poliwhirl's stomach goes in a clockwise direction, starting from the outside. But in other sprites, it is in the counter-clockwise direction. The same goes for Poliwrath.
Poliwhirl is the first Pokémon in National Dex order to evolve by trading while holding an item.
Poliwhirl's speed does not improve upon evolving from Poliwag, and in fact worsens upon its evolution into either Poliwrath or Politoed.
Origin
Poliwhirl seems to be based on a tadpole. The spiral pattern on its belly is supposed to represent how the intestines of tadpoles can sometimes be seen through their transparent skin.
Name origin
Poliwhirl appears to be a combination of polliwog and whirl, referring to the spiral on its stomach. Its Japanese name may come in part from ニョロニョロ nyoronyoro, the sound of slithering.
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.
For other sprites and images, please see Poliwhirl images on Bulbagarden Archives.
