Poliwrath
[Overview]
<p>Poliwrath might 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, and a unique Water / Fighting typing grants it many useful resistances, while Water Absorb gives it a full immunity to Water-type attacks. 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, Drapion, 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, 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, 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 to Pokemon such as Aggron and Klinklang than Waterfall does. Most notably, Scald will break Klinklang's Substitute 100% of the time, whereas Waterfall 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. Poliwrath loves entry hazard support, as it can phaze opponents with Circle Throw and rack up damage. Thus, Roselia makes for a great partner, as she can lay Spikes or Toxic Spikes and she has good type synergy with Poliwrath. 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 in particular comes to mind, as it resists Grass and is immune to Psychic; 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 the aforementioned Grass-types and can eliminate them with ease.</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 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 a base 85 Attack; it destroys common Normal-, Rock-, and Steel-types such as Clefable, Kabutops, and Steelix, respectively. Waterfall is 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. Bulk Up boosts Poliwrath's Attack stat as well, which allows it to deal more damage with Focus Punch and Waterfall. However, Encore gives Poliwrath more opportunities to set up Substitutes on Pokemon locked into Water-type moves.</p>
[ADDITIONAL COMMENTS]
<p>The given EV spread allows Poliwrath to outspeed Adamant Aggron, 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 these opponents into a Water-type move and set up a free Substitute. Toxic can be used in the last moveslot to hit Pokemon that resist Focus Punch, such as Spiritomb and Slowking.</p>
<p>The likes of Tangrowth can take Poliwrath's moves, heal off the damage, 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 walls weakened by Focus Punch. In addition to helping to break walls, Poliwrath can provide solid resistances to Rock- and Water-type moves for its Fire-type teammates. Rotom-C is another recommended partner, as it resists Grass- and Electric-type attacks, and 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 Roselia and Drapion.</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 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. 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>