[Overview]
<p>UU is a tier chock-full with both Fighting-types and bulky Water-types, so it would seem strange that Poliwrath would ever be a viable Pokemon in UU. However, unlike the rest of his karate brethren, Poliwrath was not designed to be a sweeper, but as a psuedo-hazer. Poliwrath's solid bulk, great ability in Water Absorb, and access to Circle Throw allow Poliwrath to assume a bulkier role on a team and abuse its teammate's entry hazards by forcing the opponent out. As mentioned, Poliwrath's ability Water Absorb allows Poliwrath to be one of the few Pokemon in UU capable of switching into Scald and other Water-type attacks and not have to worry about stray burns or severe damage, as the absorbed attack refills its HP. Poliwrath however, is flawed, as it is burdened with middling attacking stats, multiple weaknesses to common Pokemon, and a Speed stat that leaves Poliwrath outsped by a vast majority of the tier. Despite its downsides though, Poliwrath still makes for an excellent Pokemon for bulkier teams and stall teams.</p>
[SET]
name: Phaser
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Encore
move 3: Circle Throw
move 4: Scald
item: Leftovers
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 8 Def / 252 SpD
- Functions as a great phaser thanks to its bulk
- Water Absorb and its Fighting typing gives it lots of switch-in opportunities
- Behind a Substitute so its tough to clutch-KO it by its counters
- Scald is for burns
- Loves hazards on opponent's field so he can throw more
- "Poliwrath is a very exclusive Pokemon, as there are no other Pokemon that can reliably phaze, beat Snorlax / P2 / Umbreon, and absorb Scald and other Water-types without impunity."
- Switches into many Pokemon and kicks them out with Circle Throw to rack up hazard damage
- Extremely irritating wall overall and can be tough to break with the right support
[SET]
name: Bulk Up
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Bulk Up
move 3: Focus Punch / Circle Throw
move 4: Waterfall
item: Leftovers
nature: Impish
evs: 248 HP / 194 SpD / 68 Spe
- Great ability gives it lots of switch in opportunities
- Sets up on common Waters
- Decent Bulk allows it to give it a fighting chance against opponent physical attackers
- 252+ SpA Life Orb Kingdra Draco Meteor vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Poliwrath: 286-337 (74.47 - 87.76%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
- Damage output is poor but bulk is good
- Roars can be mitigated because of its negative priority; using circle throw on the same turn will keep you in, and kick the opponent out instead(if you're faster)
- 68 Speed EVs are to outspeed 0 Speed Blastoise and kick him out with Circle Throw
[Other Options]
- Specs set is for noobs
- Rain Dance is cool for Kingdra support or Rain teams
- RestTalk is actually viable idk
[Checks and Counters]
- Slowbro is the only Water-type counter
- Common Grass and Electric-types can chase it out, but he's going to hide behind a sub and kick you out with Circle Throw anyway
- Zapdos is dangerous and can outspeed with its Roar(Zapdos learns Roar btw did you know?)
- Bullet Seeders are dangerous. Cinccino is the only example I can think of though...
- Crobat's Taunt can ruin your Substitute, but you shouldn't be setting up on it anyway
- Since Poliwrath's job is to kick pokemon out and rack up hazard damage, nothing can really stay safe from that(except Ghosts but all of them are wrecked by Substitute/Waterfall either way)
- However lots of Pokemon in UU can chase it out, thank goodness it should be hiding behind a Substitute if played right
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