Unleash your inner Wrath
[SET]
name: Choice Specs
move 1: Hydro Pump
move 2: Focus Blast
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Vacuum Wave / Scald / Toxic
item: Choice Specs
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Modest
evs: 252 SpA / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Choice Specs Poliwrath is a great wallbreaker with solid power. The STAB combination of Hydro Pump and Focus Blast offers great neutral coverage against most of the tier, exploiting teams that rely on traditional Water- and Fighting-type checks, such as Tangela and Alcremie. Ice Beam targets Grass- and Dragon-types that would otherwise switch in safely, like Altaria, Gourgeist-S, and Appletun. Vacuum Wave bypasses Poliwrath’s mediocre Speed tier and picks off weakened attackers like Thievul and Shiftry. For when Hydro Pump's power isn't needed, Scald can be used as an accurate Water-type STAB move that can also fish for burns. Toxic allows Poliwrath to wear down special walls such as Articuno and Cramorant. Water Absorb gives Poliwrath switch-in opportunities against Pokemon reliant on Water-type moves, like Basculin and opposing Poliwrath.
Poliwrath works well on balance and offensive teams, using its typing and power to force out defensive staples like Stunfisk, Tangela, and Miltank. However, it dislikes taking status from these Pokemon, even if it has the coverage to hit them super effectively. Besides absorbing status for it, Pokemon like Clefairy and Altaria can also provide cleric support to allow statused Poliwrath to continue wallbreaking. Poliwrath's mediocre Speed gives it trouble entering the field and attacking safely; pivoting into Pokemon like Kabutops and defensive Qwilfish can help, but VoltTurn users such as Rotom, Silvally formes, Uxie, and Clefairy can provide additional support. Physical attackers like Kangaskhan, Thwackey, and Silvally-Dark benefit from Poliwrath targeting physical walls, which not only helps them wallbreak or clean mid- or late-game, but also invites special walls in for them to take advantage of.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Scald
move 2: Circle Throw
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers / Rocky Helmet
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Impish
evs: 252 HP / 240 Def / 16 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Thanks to its solid defensive stats and typing, Poliwrath is a sturdy phazer able to comfortably switch into offensive Pokemon like Rhydon, Klinklang, and Basculin. Circle Throw prevents Pokemon like Malamar and Gurdurr from using it as setup fodder. Leftovers gives Poliwrath better overall longevity, especially since RestTalk is not a reliable form of recovery. Rocky Helmet discourages Silvally formes from pivoting with U-turn and racks up chip damage against offensive Qwilfish. Water Absorb lets it safely switch into Pokemon reliant on Water-type moves like Kabutops and Basculin. The Speed EVs enable it to outspeed Jolly Rhydon.
This defensive set fits well on bulkier teams. Although Poliwrath has great bulk, Pokemon that sport type advantage can easily overpower it, such as Thwackey, Rotom formes, and Uxie. Pokemon that can cover its weaknesses, such as Altaria, Stunfisk, and Silvally-Dark, can help by switching into them. Special walls like Miltank, Clefairy, and Articuno can switch into special wallbreakers like Jynx and Rotom that Poliwrath is also vulnerable to, as well as providing additional utility—the former two can provide Stealth Rock and cleric support, which works well with Circle Throw, while the latter can clear entry hazards and pivot. In return, Poliwrath can switch into and wall physical wallbreakers like Rhydon, Rapidash, and Alolan Dugtrio.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Choice Band or Choice Scarf sets are plausible due to Poliwrath's decent Attack and Speed when invested, though Sawk does these sets better thanks to its higher Speed and Attack. A Bulk Up set makes Poliwrath a bulky sweeper, though Gurdurr does this better thanks to its access to Guts, which makes status more helpful than crippling. Poliwrath also struggles to break through common defensive Pokemon like Altaria, Tangela, and Qwilfish, even with several boosts, if lacking the proper coverage move.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Specially Defensive Pokemon**: Articuno, Clefairy, and Throh can stomach any of Poliwrath's attacks with ease and heal off any damage it inflicts with their recovery moves. The former two can status it with Toxic, and all of them can attack Poliwrath without much risk.
**Grass-types**: Grass-types like Thwackey, Gourgeist-S, and Flapple can outspeed and deal massive damage to Poliwrath with their STAB moves, though they take a lot of damage from Choice Specs-boosted attacks. While none of them take much damage from the RestTalk set, they all hate being burned by Scald and can get worn down switching into Circle Throw.
**Super Effective Coverage**: Electric-types like Rotom formes and Manectric can outspeed and threaten Poliwrath with their STAB moves. Similarly, Psychic- and Fairy-types like Uxie, Alcremie, and Jynx can threaten significant damage with their STAB moves. However, all of these Pokemon cannot switch into Poliwrath themselves.
**Faster Attackers**: Due to Poliwrath's mediocre Speed and lack of reliable recovery, numerous faster Pokemon can easily revenge kill it, such as Sawk, Kangaskhan, and Silvally-Poison, though defensive Poliwrath can usually stomach several strong hits in the process.
**Qwilfish**: Qwilfish can take advantage of RestTalk Poliwrath and use its low offensive presence to freely set Spikes, and it can block Rest with Taunt. However, Choice Specs Poliwrath easily overwhelms Qwilfish.
**Flying-types**: Cramorant, Rotom-S, and Altaria can easily wall RestTalk Poliwrath and either threaten it with their STAB moves or cripple it with Toxic, forcing it to use Rest earlier. However, Altaria loses to Choice Specs Poliwrath, while Rotom-S lacks recovery to deal with both sets.
[CREDITS]
- Written by: [[5Dots, 543866]]
- Quality checked by: [[Tuthur, 369076], [Corthius, 484079]]
- Grammar checked by: [[Finland, 517429]]
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