Poliwrath (QC 3/3) [GP 2/2]

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[Overview]

<p>Poliwrath might just look like just an average fighter with mediocre stats, but in reality, it is quite a formidable threat. A well-balanced stat distribution gives Poliwrath a few options in offensive and defensive sets, Its and a unique Water / Fighting typing gives Poliwrath grants it many useful resistances, while Water Absorb gives it a full immunity to Water-type attacks. This allows These traits allow it to take on many of the most dangerous threats in RU, including Crawdaunt, Kabutops, Aggron, and Feraligatr. In addition, BW brought Poliwrath Circle Throw, a STAB phazing move which works extremely well on a bulky set. Even though Poliwrath is unable to excel in one specific role due to its all-around mediocre stats, it is certainly a Pokemon that has a solid niche in RU.</p>

[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Rest
move 2: Sleep Talk
move 3: Circle Throw
move 4: Scald / Toxic
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Relaxed
evs: 252 HP / 252 Def / 4 SpD

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Poliwrath is able to function as a wall in RU due to its unique typing, 90 / 95 / 90 defenses, and Water Absorb. These, along with Circle Throw, allow Poliwrath to counter and phaze many of the most prominent threats, including Entei, Crawdaunt, Aerodactyl, Kabutops, Feraligatr, Aggron, and Scolipede. With a RestTalk set, Poliwrath is able to accomplish a couple of things; . First, it can absorb status for the team and heal itself with Rest, providing which is a form of semi-reliable recovery. Poliwrath is not completely useless when asleep, as Sleep Talk can choose Circle Throw, which will force out Poliwrath's counters. Despite having a low Base Power, Circle Throw gets STAB, allowing which allows it to hit relatively hard. For example, it 2HKOes Clefable and Cryogonal, both of which take minimal damage from Scald. Scald is a great move on this set, as it has a chance to burn troublesome opponents, such as Qwilfish, Tangrowth, and Dusknoir, which would otherwise wall this set. It also does more damage than Waterfall to Pokemon such as Aggron and Klinklang; this can come in handy, as Scald has a 100% chance to than Waterfall does. Most notably, Scald will break Klinklang's Substitute 100% of the time, whereas Waterfall does might not. Toxic can be used instead of Scald, though, so that Poliwrath can cripple Grass-types that threaten it.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The EV spread maximizes Poliwrath's physical bulk, as it will be primarily used to take on physical attackers. </p>

<p>Poliwrath loves entry hazard support, as it can phaze Pokemon opponents with Circle Throw to rack up damage against the opponent and rack up damage. Thus, Roselia makes for a great partner, as she sets up can lay Spikes or Toxic Spikes, and her weaknesses and resistances pair well with Poliwrath's ("she has good type synergy with Poliwrath"). Because Poliwrath is weak to the ever-present Grass- and Psychic-type moves, so Pokemon that can switch in on the likes of Sceptile, Tangrowth, Rotom-C, Sigilyph, and Slowking make great teammates. Mandibuzz is one Pokemon that n particular comes to mind, as it resists Grass-type moves and is immune to Psychic-type moves; it can also take advantage of the team's entry hazards with Whirlwind. Fire-types, such as Entei and Moltres, are great switch-ins to Grass-type Pokemon the aforementioned Grass-types and can eliminate them with ease. These teammates will allow Poliwrath to excel at walling and phazing.</p>

[SET]
name: SubPunch
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Focus Punch
move 3: Waterfall
move 4: Bulk Up / Encore
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Adamant
evs: 160 HP / 252 Atk / 96 Spe

[SET COMMENTS]

<p>Poliwrath is able to can run an effective SubPunch set, as its numerous resistances allow it to easily set up a Substitute on the majority of Pokemon in RU. In addition to allowing Focus Punch to hit successfully, Substitute also blocks status, so Poliwrath won't have to worry about being burned by Spiritomb's Will-O-Wisp or being put to sleep by Lilligant's Sleep Powder. A STAB Focus Punch hits hard despite coming off of base 85 Attack; it destroys common Normal-, Rock-, and Steel-types such as Clefable, Kabutops, and Steelix, respectively. Waterfall is the Poliwrath's secondary STAB move, and it hits Fire- and Ground-type Pokemon for super effective damage. It also comes in handy when Poliwrath does not have a Substitute up, as Focus Punch will then be unreliable. As for the last moveslot, Bulk Up makes Poliwrath's Substitutes much harder to break with physical attacks and . Bulk Up boosts Poliwrath's Attack stat as well, allowing which allows it to deal more damage with Focus Punch and Waterfall. However, Encore gives Poliwrath more opportunities to set up its Substitute Substitutes on Pokemon locked into Water-type moves.</p>

[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]

<p>The given EV spread allows Poliwrath to outspeed Adamant Aggron, It also allows Poliwrath to and lets it hit as hard as possible while retaining as much bulk as possible. Alternative EV spreads of 120 HP / 252 Atk / 136 Spe or 40 HP / 252 Atk / 216 Spe allow for Poliwrath to outspeed Modest Omastar or Timid Omastar and 230 Speed Feraligatr, respectively. Poliwrath should use these if it has Encore, as it can lock them these opponents into a Water-type move and set up a free Substitute. This is important, as Poliwrath's main goal is to set up a Substitute and break the opponent with Focus Punch. Toxic can be used in the last moveslot to hit Pokemon that resist Focus Punch, such as Spiritomb and Slowking.</p>

<p>Pokemon that The likes of Tangrowth can take Poliwrath's moves, such as Tangrowth, can heal off the damage from Focus Punch , and break Poliwrath's Substitutes. Thus, Pokemon that can eliminate such threats are great teammates. Fire-types are the best for the job; strong attacks such as Choice Band Entei's Flare Blitz can break through most walls with prior damage dealt walls weakened by Focus Punch. In addition to helping to break walls, Poliwrath will can provide solid resistances to Rock- and Water-type moves for Fire-types its Fire-type teammates. Rotom-C is another recommended partner, as it resists Grass- and Electric-type attacks, and can get Poliwrath a free switch-in by scouting with Volt Switch has Volt Switch to nab Poliwrath a free switch-in. Finally, a teammate with Toxic Spikes is extremely useful for wearing down opposing walls, such as Spiritomb and Slowking. Good setters of Toxic Spikes include (examples).</p>

[Other Options]

<p>Poliwrath has very few other options. It can use a Belly Drum set to raise its Attack to sky-high levels, but Poliwrath it will be easily revenge killed due to its low Speed. Hypnosis is another option, but its low accuracy makes it extremely unappealing, and Poliwrath has much better options. Finally, Poliwrath gets Swift Swim from the Dream World, which can help it overcome its poor Speed. However, other Water-type Pokemon, such as Kabutops and Ludicolo, are much better at sweeping in rain due to their wider movepools.</p>

[Checks and Counters]

<p>Tangrowth is the best counter to Poliwrath because of its massive Defense stat and Grass typing. Grass- and Electric- types in general are good checks to Poliwrath, as they can usually OHKO it with a super effective attack; some specific checks include Sceptile, Lilligant, Rotom-C, and Manectric. Ghost-types are also good counters to Poliwrath, as they are immune to its Fighting-type STAB. In addition, Cofagrigus, Rotom, Dusknoir, and Spiritomb can burn the SubPunch set, making it useless. Psychic-types will also destroy Poliwrath, and Sigilyph, Slowking, Uxie, and Mesprit all take minimal damage from anything Poliwrath can throw at them. Qwilfish walls Poliwrath and can set up entry hazards or Taunt it. Mandibuzz and other Flying-type Pokemon Flying-types can hit Poliwrath with a super effective STAB move, and Mandibuzz in particular can prevent Poliwrath from healing or setting up a Substitute with Taunt. Lastly, bulky Swords Dance Scyther is a solid check, as it will beat Poliwrath one-on-one.</p>

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