Poliwhirl (Pokémon)

← #060: Poliwag

Pokémon

#062: Poliwrath →

Poliwhirl ニョロゾ Nyorozo #061
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 #061 Johto #073 Hoenn #248 Sinnoh — Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 3'03" Imperial 1.0 m Metric 3'03"/1.0 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 44.1 lbs. Imperial 20.0 kg Metric 44.1 lbs./20.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Blue	Catch rate 120 (15.7%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Water 1 group 21 cycles (5355 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 2 Base Exp.: 131 Battle Exp.: 1311*
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

Poliwhirl (Japanese: ニョロゾ Nyorozo) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves from Poliwag at level 25, and then into either Poliwrath via Water Stone or Politoed when traded holding a King's Rock.

Biology

Physiology

Poliwag undergoes 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. The skin on most of Poliwhirl’s body is moist, due to an oily fluid. However, the skin on its belly spiral feels smooth.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

In addition to the abilities it had as Poliwag, Poliwhirl can now walk and swim even better then before. 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. Staring at the swirl on Poliwhirl’s belly may gradually cause drowsiness, a property that Poliwhirl puts to use when performing the move Hypnosis. As a Template:Type2, Poliwhirl can learn Water-type moves such as Bubble and Water Gun and, using its glove-like hands, moves like DoubleSlap and Wake-Up Slap.

Behavior

Poliwhirl is skilled at walking and thus is capable of living on land, but prefers to stay in water, where there is less danger. If it is out of water, it sweats to keep its skin moist. If it hears the echoing cries from its evolution, Politoed, it shall respond by gathering from far and wide.

Habitat

File:Watersedge.gif

Water's-edge Pokémon

Poliwhirl live in small freshwater ponds and lakes, usually ones that have an abundance of lily pads.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

Poliwhirl with Poliwrath

Major Appearances

Misty's Politoed

Misty had a Poliwhirl in The Totodile Duel that she caught as a Poliwag; it eventually evolved into a Politoed.

Other

A Poliwhirl was one of the Water Pokémon feuding with the Template:Type2s in Bulbasaur...the Ambassador.

In Tie One On!, Vincent used a Poliwhirl in his battle with Macey.

A Poliwhirl was used by one of the students of the Pokémon Trainer's School in Gonna Rule The School!.

Minor Appearances

Poliwhirl appeared in Poké Ball Peril.

Another Poliwhirl appeared in A Faux Oak Finish!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP151 Poliwhirl Ash's Pokédex Poliwhirl, the Tadpole Pokémon. Its highly developed muscles allow Poliwhirl to move efficintly on land, plus making it more agile in water.

In the manga

File:Poli as Poliwhirl.png

Poliwhirl as it appears in Pokémon Adventures

Pokémon Adventures

Poli was Red's first Pokémon. It debuted in the first round of the Red, Green & Blue arc, 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 (Poltaro) evolved into Poliwhirl in Volume 9 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.

In the TCG

Main article: Poliwhirl (TCG)

Other appearances

Super Smash Bros. Melee

Poliwhirl only appears as a random trophy.

Trophy information

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.
Generation I Red It can live in or out of water. When out of water, it constantly sweats to keep its body slimy. Blue Yellow Under attack, it uses its belly spiral to put the foe to sleep. It then makes its escape. Stadium Capable of living on land, but prefers to stay in water. If it is out of water, it sweats to keep its skin moist.
Generation II Gold The swirl on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it may gradually cause drowsiness. Silver The skin on most of its body is moist. However, the skin on its belly spiral feels smooth. Crystal Though it is skilled at walking, it prefers to live underwater where there is less danger. Stadium 2 The swirl on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it may gradually cause drowsiness.
Generation III Ruby 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. Sapphire 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. Emerald 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. FireRed Its two legs are well developed. Even though it can live on the ground, it prefers living in water. LeafGreen It can live in or out of water. When out of water, it constantly sweats to keep its body slimy.
Generation IV Diamond The spiral pattern on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it gradually causes drowsiness. Pearl The spiral pattern on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it gradually causes drowsiness. Platinum The spiral pattern on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it gradually causes drowsiness. HeartGold The swirl on its belly subtly undulates. Staring at it may gradually cause drowsiness. SoulSilver The skin on most of its body is moist. However, the skin on its belly spiral feels smooth.
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 Common Route 10 and Celadon City with Super Rod Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Common Route 23 with Super Rod
Generation II Gold Silver Common Routes 22, 28, 30, 31, and 44, Ecruteak City, Violet City, Mt. Silver, and Viridian City (Surfing) Crystal Common Routes 22, 28, 30, 31, and 44, Ecruteak City, Violet City, Mt. Silver, and Viridian City (Surfing)
Generation III Ruby Sapphire None Trade Emerald None Trade FireRed LeafGreen Uncommon Routes 6, 22, 23, and 25, Four Island, Viridian City, Cape Brink, Cerulean Cave, Icefall Cave, and Ruin Valley (Fishing) Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Uncommon Routes 225, 227, and 228 (Fish with Super Rod or Surf) Platinum Common 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 Trozei!	Secret Storage 11 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Northwind Field (10F-16F) Waterfall Pond (9F-13F)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	End Lake (B1-B24)
Pokémon Ranger	Krokka Tunnel Panula Cave Sekra Mountain Range
Pokémon Rumble	Shiny Beach

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Berry (100%)
Yellow*
Gold	Silver	King's Rock (8%)
Crystal
Diamond	Pearl	King's Rock (5%)
Platinum

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 65		125 - 172	240 - 334
Attack: 65		63 - 128	121 - 251
Defense: 65		63 - 128	121 - 251
Sp. Atk: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Sp. Def: 50		49 - 112	94 - 218
Speed: 90		85 - 156	166 - 306
Total: 385	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 50.

Pokéthlon stats

Speed 2/3 ★★☆	Power 2/3 ★★☆
Skill 3/4 ★★★☆	Stamina 3/4 ★★★☆
Jump 3/4 ★★★☆	Total 13/18 ★★☆

Learnset

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" | Poliwhirl | 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:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By tutoring

|- 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. |} |}

TCG-only moves

• Double Kick
• Energy Ball

Evolution

Unevolved Poliwag  Water	Level 25 →	First Evolution Poliwhirl  Water	Water Stone →	Second Evolution Poliwrath  Water  Fighting
			Trade holding King's Rock →	Second Evolution Politoed  Water

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Poliwhirl images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

File:Pokemon Center Tokyo Logo.gif

Poliwhirl in the original Tokyo Pokémon Center logo

• The logo for the Pokémon Center in Tokyo featured Poliwhirl until it was replaced by Piplup in July 2007.
• Poliwhirl was also featured prominently on the center of the November 22nd, 1999 issue of Time Magazine.
• Poliwhirl is creator Satoshi Tajiri's favorite Pokémon.
• 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.
  • All spritework from FireRed s and LeafGreen s onwards feature Poliwhirl with mitten-like hands. Because of this, Poliwhirl is one of the few Pokémon to have its Emerald sprite differ from the Ruby s and Sapphire s one.
• 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. Its evolution is based on how a tadpole evolve into a frog.

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.

In other languages

• German: Quaputzi - From Kaulquappe (tadpole).
• French: Tetarte - From têtard (tadpole).
• Korean: 수륙챙이 Suryukchaengi
• Chinese (Taiwan and Hong Kong): 蚊香蛙

Related articles

• Misty's Poliwhirl

Notes

← #060: Poliwag

Pokémon

#062: Poliwrath →

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.