[OVERVIEW]
With its excellent Speed stat and access to Belly Drum, Poliwag can make a decent sweeper for offensive teams. Its access to Hypnosis can also help it set up and gives it a small niche over other Belly Drum users. However, better Belly Drum users such as Zigzagoon and, to an extent, Magby do a much better job at sweeping due to their access to good priority options. Poliwag is also held back by its relatively small movepool and paper-thin defenses, which keep it from finding reliable setup opportunities. It is incredibly vulnerable to being revenge killed by Choice Scarf and priority users as well. Finally, Poliwag needs a lot of support to even be worth using over almost any other offensive Water-types and Belly Drum users.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Hypnosis / Thief
move 4: Return / Thief
item: Berry Juice
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum boosts Poliwag's Attack to an extremely high level, allowing it to sweep. Waterfall, when boosted, can hit anything that doesn't resist it for huge damage. Hypnosis allows Poliwag to set up more easily by immobilizing its foe temporarily, but its poor accuracy can be quite unreliable. Return covers all Pokemon that Waterfall does not, such as Mareanie, Foongus, and Shellder. Thief is an alternate coverage option that can be used to remove foes' items after Poliwag has consumed its Berry Juice, as well as hit Pumpkaboo-XL and Frillish, two Pokemon that otherwise wall Poliwag. Wake-Up Slap is another option, as it can hit Ferroseed and Lileep, which would otherwise wall Poliwag.
Set Details
========
Poliwag needs Berry Juice to restore its HP after a Belly Drum. Poliwag's EVs and Jolly nature help maximize its power and let it outspeed Doduo and Gastly. An even-numbered HP stat is essential to activate Berry Juice after a Belly Drum, and as such, the remaining 116 EVs are put into HP to achieve this. Water Absorb is Poliwag's most useful ability, as it lets it avoid Aqua Jet, Scald burns, and other potential chip damage from other Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Be sure to conserve Poliwag for late-game, as its primary role is a late-game sweeper. However, sometimes Poliwag can come in on more passive Pokemon such as Spritzee and proceed to sweep. Also, avoid switching Poliwag into attacks, as its paper-thin defenses will usually result in it being KOed. The one exception to this is switching into Water-type attacks, as Water Absorb will absorb them, although this is incredibly dangerous and should only be done when you are sure the foe will use a Water-type move. Instead, try to get Poliwag in with a Volt Switch or U-turn user or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. Before Poliwag sets up, it is a good idea to use Hypnosis to cripple the foe by putting them to sleep. Be sure to eliminate all revenge killers, primarily faster Pokemon, priority users, and Abra, as they can stop Poliwag's sweep quite quickly. Also, be sure to eliminate Ferroseed and Lileep if Poliwag is not running Wake-Up Slap and Frillish and Pumpkaboo-XL if Poliwag is not running Thief.
Team Options
========
Slow U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Chinchou, Vullaby, and Mienfoo can easily help Poliwag get in without it suffering any damage. Sticky Web support from the likes of Surskit can help Poliwag outspeed Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou, Mienfoo, and certain faster Pokemon, mainly Elekid and Diglett. Other entry hazards from Dwebble, Pawniard, or Onix can help break Sturdy and Focus Sashes for Poliwag to more easily sweep. Memento support from Cottonee or Diglett can be helpful to cripple foes to a point where they essentially need to switch out while also safely getting Poliwag in. Pancham can also cripple foes and function as a slow pivot with Parting Shot and has the benefit of being able to beat Ferroseed for Poliwag. Furthermore, checks to bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Foongus and Snivy can help ease Poliwag's job of cleaning up. Dark-types, particularly Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, can eliminate Ghost-types if Poliwag is not running Thief.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychium Z with Hypnosis can be used to boost Poliwag's Speed, but Poliwag can't afford to give up Berry Juice to do so. Poliwag can try functioning as a rain sweeper thanks to its Swift Swim ability, but rain is very lackluster, as its main setters and sweepers aren't very good. Protect can shield Poliwag from Fake Out, but Poliwag has trouble finding room for the move, and Protect doesn't do anything else of use anyway. Encore is a potential alternative to Hypnosis that doesn't miss, but it is actually less reliable, as if the foe attacks with a powerful move, Poliwag will most likely be KOed anyway. Refresh can be used to clear Poliwag of status conditions but forces it to give up a moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon**: Chinchou, Lileep, and Ferroseed all are threats to Poliwag due to their bulk and Water resistance. Ferroseed commonly runs Thunder Wave, which can cripple Poliwag. All of them can easily KO Poliwag as well, but Chinchou must be wary of Return, while Lileep and Ferroseed can be easily taken out by Wake-Up Slap. Pumpkaboo-XL and Frillish both fear Thief, but they also resist or are immune to Waterfall, are immune to Return and Wake-Up Slap, and can use Will-O-Wisp on Poliwag to halve its Attack.
**Faster Pokemon**: Diglett and especially Elekid can both OHKO Poliwag before it even gets the chance to use Belly Drum. Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou and Magnemite also give Poliwag a lot of trouble, as they can OHKO Poliwag while generating momentum for their team.
**Priority**: Priority users such as Zigzagoon and Croagunk can give Poliwag problems, as Poliwag has no priority moves. Fake Out users, in particular Aipom and Meowth, can continually switch in and out and easily defeat Poliwag.
With its excellent Speed stat and access to Belly Drum, Poliwag can make a decent sweeper for offensive teams. Its access to Hypnosis can also help it set up and gives it a small niche over other Belly Drum users. However, better Belly Drum users such as Zigzagoon and, to an extent, Magby do a much better job at sweeping due to their access to good priority options. Poliwag is also held back by its relatively small movepool and paper-thin defenses, which keep it from finding reliable setup opportunities. It is incredibly vulnerable to being revenge killed by Choice Scarf and priority users as well. Finally, Poliwag needs a lot of support to even be worth using over almost any other offensive Water-types and Belly Drum users.
[SET]
name: Belly Drum
move 1: Belly Drum
move 2: Waterfall
move 3: Hypnosis / Thief
move 4: Return / Thief
item: Berry Juice
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Jolly
evs: 116 HP / 196 Atk / 196 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Belly Drum boosts Poliwag's Attack to an extremely high level, allowing it to sweep. Waterfall, when boosted, can hit anything that doesn't resist it for huge damage. Hypnosis allows Poliwag to set up more easily by immobilizing its foe temporarily, but its poor accuracy can be quite unreliable. Return covers all Pokemon that Waterfall does not, such as Mareanie, Foongus, and Shellder. Thief is an alternate coverage option that can be used to remove foes' items after Poliwag has consumed its Berry Juice, as well as hit Pumpkaboo-XL and Frillish, two Pokemon that otherwise wall Poliwag. Wake-Up Slap is another option, as it can hit Ferroseed and Lileep, which would otherwise wall Poliwag.
Set Details
========
Poliwag needs Berry Juice to restore its HP after a Belly Drum. Poliwag's EVs and Jolly nature help maximize its power and let it outspeed Doduo and Gastly. An even-numbered HP stat is essential to activate Berry Juice after a Belly Drum, and as such, the remaining 116 EVs are put into HP to achieve this. Water Absorb is Poliwag's most useful ability, as it lets it avoid Aqua Jet, Scald burns, and other potential chip damage from other Water-types.
Usage Tips
========
Be sure to conserve Poliwag for late-game, as its primary role is a late-game sweeper. However, sometimes Poliwag can come in on more passive Pokemon such as Spritzee and proceed to sweep. Also, avoid switching Poliwag into attacks, as its paper-thin defenses will usually result in it being KOed. The one exception to this is switching into Water-type attacks, as Water Absorb will absorb them, although this is incredibly dangerous and should only be done when you are sure the foe will use a Water-type move. Instead, try to get Poliwag in with a Volt Switch or U-turn user or after one of your Pokemon has fainted. Before Poliwag sets up, it is a good idea to use Hypnosis to cripple the foe by putting them to sleep. Be sure to eliminate all revenge killers, primarily faster Pokemon, priority users, and Abra, as they can stop Poliwag's sweep quite quickly. Also, be sure to eliminate Ferroseed and Lileep if Poliwag is not running Wake-Up Slap and Frillish and Pumpkaboo-XL if Poliwag is not running Thief.
Team Options
========
Slow U-turn or Volt Switch users such as Chinchou, Vullaby, and Mienfoo can easily help Poliwag get in without it suffering any damage. Sticky Web support from the likes of Surskit can help Poliwag outspeed Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou, Mienfoo, and certain faster Pokemon, mainly Elekid and Diglett. Other entry hazards from Dwebble, Pawniard, or Onix can help break Sturdy and Focus Sashes for Poliwag to more easily sweep. Memento support from Cottonee or Diglett can be helpful to cripple foes to a point where they essentially need to switch out while also safely getting Poliwag in. Pancham can also cripple foes and function as a slow pivot with Parting Shot and has the benefit of being able to beat Ferroseed for Poliwag. Furthermore, checks to bulky Grass- and Water-types such as Foongus and Snivy can help ease Poliwag's job of cleaning up. Dark-types, particularly Pursuit trappers such as Alolan Grimer and Pawniard, can eliminate Ghost-types if Poliwag is not running Thief.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psychium Z with Hypnosis can be used to boost Poliwag's Speed, but Poliwag can't afford to give up Berry Juice to do so. Poliwag can try functioning as a rain sweeper thanks to its Swift Swim ability, but rain is very lackluster, as its main setters and sweepers aren't very good. Protect can shield Poliwag from Fake Out, but Poliwag has trouble finding room for the move, and Protect doesn't do anything else of use anyway. Encore is a potential alternative to Hypnosis that doesn't miss, but it is actually less reliable, as if the foe attacks with a powerful move, Poliwag will most likely be KOed anyway. Refresh can be used to clear Poliwag of status conditions but forces it to give up a moveslot.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Bulky Water-resistant Pokemon**: Chinchou, Lileep, and Ferroseed all are threats to Poliwag due to their bulk and Water resistance. Ferroseed commonly runs Thunder Wave, which can cripple Poliwag. All of them can easily KO Poliwag as well, but Chinchou must be wary of Return, while Lileep and Ferroseed can be easily taken out by Wake-Up Slap. Pumpkaboo-XL and Frillish both fear Thief, but they also resist or are immune to Waterfall, are immune to Return and Wake-Up Slap, and can use Will-O-Wisp on Poliwag to halve its Attack.
**Faster Pokemon**: Diglett and especially Elekid can both OHKO Poliwag before it even gets the chance to use Belly Drum. Choice Scarf users such as Chinchou and Magnemite also give Poliwag a lot of trouble, as they can OHKO Poliwag while generating momentum for their team.
**Priority**: Priority users such as Zigzagoon and Croagunk can give Poliwag problems, as Poliwag has no priority moves. Fake Out users, in particular Aipom and Meowth, can continually switch in and out and easily defeat Poliwag.
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