[OVERVIEW]
Poliwrath has a solid typing, strong moves, and well-rounded stats for taking on Pokemon like Regirock, Lycanroc, Orthworm, and Sneasel. Poliwrath's access to Water Absorb makes it a key answer to Floatzel, one of the most dominant forces in the tier, and only Lanturn can replicate this type of defensive utility. Poliwrath's access to utility moves like Knock Off and Circle throw further distinguishes it as a solid defensive presence. However, Poliwrath's middling Speed leaves it prone to being revenge killed by threats like Rotom-C, Mesprit, and Virizion. Lanturn is a tough competitor for Poliwrath, offering pivot moves for extra momentum, a better matchup against Charizard, and the ability to run Volt Absorb, which shores up its defensive matchups against Jolteon and Magneton. As a Fighting-type, Poliwrath also faces competition from as Passimian, Hisuian Sneasel, and Virizion, which can offer better Speed control and more immediate offensive presence.
[SET]
Bulk Up (Poliwrath) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Dark / Steel / Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off / Liquidation
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up Poliwrath can take advantage of bulky Pokemon like Sandslash and Orthworm to set up and sweep; it's also enabled when Choice item Floatzel locks itself into a Water-type move. Substitute protects Poliwrath from annoying status effects inflicted by users like Thunder Wave Regirock, Toxic Hisuian Qwilfish, and Will-O-Wisp Weezing, giving it more room to maneuver against revenge killers like Mesprit, Rotom-C, and Charizard. The recovery from Drain Punch compensates for Poliwrath's dependence on Leftovers and the HP-lowering effect of Substitute. Knock Off hits Ghost- and Psychic-types like Mismagius and Mesprit super effectively, and its effect of removing items helps Poliwrath against Rocky Helmet users like Weezing and Palossand. Liquidation hits Oricorio-F and Charizard for more substantial damage than Knock Off, fending off these faster Flying-types. Tera Dark powers up Knock Off and flips Poliwrath's Psychic weakness into an immunity, improving Poliwrath's matchups against Mesprit and Farigiraf. Additionally, Prankster users like Sableye and Grafaiai can't use status moves like Encore against Tera Dark Poliwrath. Tera Steel is an alternative for better matchups against Grass-types like Dipplin and Shaymin, while the immunities it provides can be key against Weezing and Toxic Spikes teams. However, the Fighting immunity provided by Tera Ghost enables Poliwrath to suffocate IronPress users like Regirock and Orthworm.
Poliwrath is a good option for bulky offense teams and balance teams thanks to the way it can improve its team's defensive backbone against staple threats like Lycanroc, Floatzel, Snorlax, Sneasel, and Regirock. Charizard and other staple Pokemon weak to Water, such as Sandslash and Regirock, appreciate Poliwrath serving as a defensive pivot against Water-types like Floatzel. Regirock can defensively handle Charizard and other Fire-types, giving Poliwrath more room to handle Water-types in return. Poliwrath may rely on Snorlax to blanket check special attackers like Shaymin and Charizard, and in return, Poliwrath can handle Lycanroc for Snorlax. Poliwrath's ability to remove items with Knock Off synergizes with entry hazard setters like Weezing, Hisuian Qwilfish, and Sandslash. Offensive Dark-types like Brute Bonnet and Sneasel can pressure troublesome Psychic-types like Mesprit and Farigiraf for Poliwrath, making it easier for Poliwrath to run Liquidation. Dark-types like Spiritomb and Sableye can also wall the problematic Psychic-types mentioned earlier. Orthworm is another good defensive answer to Psychic-types, helps against Grass-types, and synergizes with Poliwrath's Knock Off by stacking entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Defensive sets with Rest + Sleep Talk and either full physical or special bulk investment make great counters to Water-types like Floatzel and Clawitzer. Poliwrath has Circle Throw for phazing, but its defensive sets can become very passive and are often outclassed by walls like Regirock, Dipplin, and Snorlax. Poliwrath's Water immunity makes it a great user of alternative defensive Tera Types, but Poliwrath generally sticks to Tera Dark and Tera Steel for their combinations of good defensive utility and number of flipped weaknesses into resistances. With Tera Fairy, Poliwrath becomes a hard counter to Clawitzer sets lacking the uncommon Flash Cannon. Tera Ground Poliwrath effectively counters Lanturn and severely turns the tables on Jolteon and Magneton, allowing it to absorb Volt Switch. Choice Scarf sets can surprise faster Pokemon like Virizion by 2HKOing them, and they can also revenge kill offensive threats like Charizard and Magneton, but Floatzel and Passimian generally outclass such a set because of their access to pivoting moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Dipplin walls Poliwrath, breaks Substitute with Giga Drain, has Sticky Hold for Knock Off, and can phaze Poliwrath and its boosts with Dragon Tail. Whimsicott resists Poliwrath's STAB moves and Knock Off, Shaymin can run recovery to deal with Poliwrath long-term, and Rotom-C may use Poliwrath for momentum with Volt Switch; however, all of them dislike switching in to lose their items to Knock Off. Virizion, on the other hand, can use Justified to gain an advantage from tanking Knock Off, and it has Swords Dance and Leaf Blade to break through Defense boosts.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types cannot be hit by Poliwrath's Drain Punch for recovery. Sableye and Spiritomb threaten Poliwrath with Will-O-Wisp and take neutral damage from Knock Off; the former Ghost-type can use Encore to lock Poliwrath into setup, while the latter has Psychic coverage and Nasty Plot. However, Spiritomb depends on Leftovers for recovery, so Knock Off annoys it. Mismagius outspeeds Poliwrath and can hit it hard with Dazzling Gleam, but its physical frailty leaves it vulnerable to Knock Off and Liquidation.
**Flying-types**: Most Flying-types struggle losing their Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off, but a majority of them can switch into Poliwrath's Fighting attacks and proceed to threaten it with their Flying-type STAB moves. Braviary has Bulk Up and Roost to set up against Poliwrath. Minior, Oricorio-F, and Charizard are all weak to Liquidation, but they can pressure Poliwrath variants that forgo it.
**Psychic-types**: Mesprit and Farigiraf can hit Poliwrath super effectively with their STAB Psychic-type moves, and Psychic Noise from either of them goes through Poliwrath's Substitute and inhibits its recovery from Leftovers and Drain Punch. However, Poliwrath can hit them back super effectively with Knock Off, and item removal severely deters Hattrem.
**Electric-types**: Vikavolt resists Fighting and hits Poliwrath back hard, though it doesn't enjoy losing its item to Knock Off. Lanturn resists Liquidation and is quite bulky, but it also doesn't want to give up its item to Knock Off. Jolteon and Magneton hit Poliwrath hard with their Electric-type STAB moves, and the former can even finish off a weakened Poliwrath behind a Substitute with Alluring Voice. However, Jolteon and Magneton struggle to switch into Poliwrath's Fighting-type attacks or Knock Off unscathed.
**Poison-types**: Weezing resists Drain Punch, runs Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers like Poliwrath, and can use Haze to remove Poliwrath's Bulk Up boosts. Grafaiai can use Encore to lock Poliwrath into a setup move, though its frailty means it's not a defensive switch-in to Poliwrath. Hisuian Qwilfish naturally outspeeds Poliwrath and can put it on a timer with Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
Poliwrath has a solid typing, strong moves, and well-rounded stats for taking on Pokemon like Regirock, Lycanroc, Orthworm, and Sneasel. Poliwrath's access to Water Absorb makes it a key answer to Floatzel, one of the most dominant forces in the tier, and only Lanturn can replicate this type of defensive utility. Poliwrath's access to utility moves like Knock Off and Circle throw further distinguishes it as a solid defensive presence. However, Poliwrath's middling Speed leaves it prone to being revenge killed by threats like Rotom-C, Mesprit, and Virizion. Lanturn is a tough competitor for Poliwrath, offering pivot moves for extra momentum, a better matchup against Charizard, and the ability to run Volt Absorb, which shores up its defensive matchups against Jolteon and Magneton. As a Fighting-type, Poliwrath also faces competition from as Passimian, Hisuian Sneasel, and Virizion, which can offer better Speed control and more immediate offensive presence.
[SET]
Bulk Up (Poliwrath) @ Leftovers
Ability: Water Absorb
Tera Type: Dark / Steel / Ghost
EVs: 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 SpD
Careful Nature
- Bulk Up
- Substitute
- Drain Punch
- Knock Off / Liquidation
[SET COMMENTS]
Bulk Up Poliwrath can take advantage of bulky Pokemon like Sandslash and Orthworm to set up and sweep; it's also enabled when Choice item Floatzel locks itself into a Water-type move. Substitute protects Poliwrath from annoying status effects inflicted by users like Thunder Wave Regirock, Toxic Hisuian Qwilfish, and Will-O-Wisp Weezing, giving it more room to maneuver against revenge killers like Mesprit, Rotom-C, and Charizard. The recovery from Drain Punch compensates for Poliwrath's dependence on Leftovers and the HP-lowering effect of Substitute. Knock Off hits Ghost- and Psychic-types like Mismagius and Mesprit super effectively, and its effect of removing items helps Poliwrath against Rocky Helmet users like Weezing and Palossand. Liquidation hits Oricorio-F and Charizard for more substantial damage than Knock Off, fending off these faster Flying-types. Tera Dark powers up Knock Off and flips Poliwrath's Psychic weakness into an immunity, improving Poliwrath's matchups against Mesprit and Farigiraf. Additionally, Prankster users like Sableye and Grafaiai can't use status moves like Encore against Tera Dark Poliwrath. Tera Steel is an alternative for better matchups against Grass-types like Dipplin and Shaymin, while the immunities it provides can be key against Weezing and Toxic Spikes teams. However, the Fighting immunity provided by Tera Ghost enables Poliwrath to suffocate IronPress users like Regirock and Orthworm.
Poliwrath is a good option for bulky offense teams and balance teams thanks to the way it can improve its team's defensive backbone against staple threats like Lycanroc, Floatzel, Snorlax, Sneasel, and Regirock. Charizard and other staple Pokemon weak to Water, such as Sandslash and Regirock, appreciate Poliwrath serving as a defensive pivot against Water-types like Floatzel. Regirock can defensively handle Charizard and other Fire-types, giving Poliwrath more room to handle Water-types in return. Poliwrath may rely on Snorlax to blanket check special attackers like Shaymin and Charizard, and in return, Poliwrath can handle Lycanroc for Snorlax. Poliwrath's ability to remove items with Knock Off synergizes with entry hazard setters like Weezing, Hisuian Qwilfish, and Sandslash. Offensive Dark-types like Brute Bonnet and Sneasel can pressure troublesome Psychic-types like Mesprit and Farigiraf for Poliwrath, making it easier for Poliwrath to run Liquidation. Dark-types like Spiritomb and Sableye can also wall the problematic Psychic-types mentioned earlier. Orthworm is another good defensive answer to Psychic-types, helps against Grass-types, and synergizes with Poliwrath's Knock Off by stacking entry hazards.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Defensive sets with Rest + Sleep Talk and either full physical or special bulk investment make great counters to Water-types like Floatzel and Clawitzer. Poliwrath has Circle Throw for phazing, but its defensive sets can become very passive and are often outclassed by walls like Regirock, Dipplin, and Snorlax. Poliwrath's Water immunity makes it a great user of alternative defensive Tera Types, but Poliwrath generally sticks to Tera Dark and Tera Steel for their combinations of good defensive utility and number of flipped weaknesses into resistances. With Tera Fairy, Poliwrath becomes a hard counter to Clawitzer sets lacking the uncommon Flash Cannon. Tera Ground Poliwrath effectively counters Lanturn and severely turns the tables on Jolteon and Magneton, allowing it to absorb Volt Switch. Choice Scarf sets can surprise faster Pokemon like Virizion by 2HKOing them, and they can also revenge kill offensive threats like Charizard and Magneton, but Floatzel and Passimian generally outclass such a set because of their access to pivoting moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Dipplin walls Poliwrath, breaks Substitute with Giga Drain, has Sticky Hold for Knock Off, and can phaze Poliwrath and its boosts with Dragon Tail. Whimsicott resists Poliwrath's STAB moves and Knock Off, Shaymin can run recovery to deal with Poliwrath long-term, and Rotom-C may use Poliwrath for momentum with Volt Switch; however, all of them dislike switching in to lose their items to Knock Off. Virizion, on the other hand, can use Justified to gain an advantage from tanking Knock Off, and it has Swords Dance and Leaf Blade to break through Defense boosts.
**Ghost-types**: Ghost-types cannot be hit by Poliwrath's Drain Punch for recovery. Sableye and Spiritomb threaten Poliwrath with Will-O-Wisp and take neutral damage from Knock Off; the former Ghost-type can use Encore to lock Poliwrath into setup, while the latter has Psychic coverage and Nasty Plot. However, Spiritomb depends on Leftovers for recovery, so Knock Off annoys it. Mismagius outspeeds Poliwrath and can hit it hard with Dazzling Gleam, but its physical frailty leaves it vulnerable to Knock Off and Liquidation.
**Flying-types**: Most Flying-types struggle losing their Heavy-Duty Boots to Knock Off, but a majority of them can switch into Poliwrath's Fighting attacks and proceed to threaten it with their Flying-type STAB moves. Braviary has Bulk Up and Roost to set up against Poliwrath. Minior, Oricorio-F, and Charizard are all weak to Liquidation, but they can pressure Poliwrath variants that forgo it.
**Psychic-types**: Mesprit and Farigiraf can hit Poliwrath super effectively with their STAB Psychic-type moves, and Psychic Noise from either of them goes through Poliwrath's Substitute and inhibits its recovery from Leftovers and Drain Punch. However, Poliwrath can hit them back super effectively with Knock Off, and item removal severely deters Hattrem.
**Electric-types**: Vikavolt resists Fighting and hits Poliwrath back hard, though it doesn't enjoy losing its item to Knock Off. Lanturn resists Liquidation and is quite bulky, but it also doesn't want to give up its item to Knock Off. Jolteon and Magneton hit Poliwrath hard with their Electric-type STAB moves, and the former can even finish off a weakened Poliwrath behind a Substitute with Alluring Voice. However, Jolteon and Magneton struggle to switch into Poliwrath's Fighting-type attacks or Knock Off unscathed.
**Poison-types**: Weezing resists Drain Punch, runs Rocky Helmet to punish physical attackers like Poliwrath, and can use Haze to remove Poliwrath's Bulk Up boosts. Grafaiai can use Encore to lock Poliwrath into a setup move, though its frailty means it's not a defensive switch-in to Poliwrath. Hisuian Qwilfish naturally outspeeds Poliwrath and can put it on a timer with Toxic.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/missangelic.452572/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/5dots.543866/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/sleid.601970/
Grammar checked by:
Last edited:
