Poliwrath is a blue, bipedal amphibian Pokémon with a round body and muscular arms. It has bulbous eyes that protrude from the top of its head and its belly is covered by a white and black swirl. There appear to be white gloves on its hands, and it has rounded, digit-less feet.
Poliwrath's body is almost entirely muscle, and the muscles in its arms and legs never tire. It also has zero percent body-fat. When it swims, it uses all of the muscles in its body and is able to swim vast distances with minimal breathing. It is even capable of briefly running on the water's surface. It can also smash through ice and plow forward using its strong arms. Poliwrath is capable of out-swimming even world-class swimmers. Poliwrath is also skilled at martial arts. It can launch powerful square punches capable of crushing boulders into dust. Many children learn how to swim by replicating Poliwrath's movement. It is one of the most gifted swimmers of all Water-type Pokémon.
Being the result of an evolution via Evolution stone, Poliwrath is rarely found in the wild. When found, it is usually seen living on dry land near the water's edge, despite it being an excellent swimmer. In Alola, Poliwrath found are strong enough to use the breaststroke while swimming.
Main series
Major appearances
In Charizard Chills, Tad used a Poliwrath in his battle against Ash. It was able to defeat both Pikachu and Charizard easily. Later, Charizard managed to defeat Poliwrath in a rematch. It reappeared in a flashback in The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!.
In Hook, Line, and Stinker, Andreas's Poliwrath participated in a Seaking Catching contest. It later battled Misty's Poliwhirl to decide who would win the contest and was defeated.
In Machoke, Machoke Man, Chuck used a Poliwrath during his Gym battle against Ash. It quickly defeated Pikachu with Double Slap, but then lost to Bayleef's Body Slam. After a long absence, it reappeared in Octo-Gridlock at the Gym!, where it battled Bea's Grapploct.
In Outrageous Fortunes, Delaney's Poliwrath upheld an excelling winning streak, prompting an impressed Team Rocket to target it.
In A Young Royal Flame Ignites!, the Revengers own a Poliwrath. It helped Viren during his Battle Royal by distracting Incineroar.
In Kicking It from Here Into Tomorrow!, James pulled a Poliwrath from the Rocket Prize Master. It was used to battle Ash and Goh when the latter intruded on Team Rocket's base, but it was soon defeated.
Minor appearances
Poliwrath debuted in The Punchy Pokémon, where one was seen competing in the P1 Grand Prix.
In The Battling Eevee Brothers!, a Poliwrath evolved from a Poliwhirl during the evolution party in Stone Town.
A Poliwrath was depicted in the Pokémon League entrance exam in the dubbed version of The Ultimate Test.
A Poliwrath appeared in The Breeding Center Secret.
In Pikachu's Vacation, a Poliwrath was at the Pokémon Theme Park.
In Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, a Poliwrath was part of the cast for the movie "Pokémon in Love".
A Poliwrath appeared in Marina's fantasy in Bye Bye Psyduck.
In The Power of One, multiple Poliwrath sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.
In Wired for Battle!, a Poliwrath was in Muramasa's dojo.
In Ring Masters, a Poliwrath competed in Rikishii Town's Sumo Conference.
In Got Miltank?, a Poliwrath lived at a Pokémon-exclusive oasis.
A Poliwrath appeared in Extreme Pokémon!, under the ownership of a participant in the Extreme Pokémon Race.
In Pop Goes The Sneasel, a Trainer's Poliwrath was knocked out off-screen after training near the place where the Sacred Fire of Ho-Oh was kept.
A Poliwrath appeared in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, under the ownership of a competitor in the Tour de Alto Mare.
In Journey to the Starting Line!, a Poliwrath was at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
Multiple Poliwrath appeared in A Six Pack Attack!.
In One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!, the Pokémon Summer Academy temporarily lent a Poliwrath to one of the students for the second leg of the Pokémon Triathlon.
A Poliwrath appeared in a flashback or a fantasy in The Forest Champion!.
In Battle Royal 151!, a Trainer's Poliwrath competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference but was defeated by Ash's Pikachu.
In Caring for a Mystery!, a Poliwrath battled a wild Riolu after it attacked it.
A Trainer's Poliwrath appeared in A Festival Reunion!.
A Poliwrath appeared in These Could be the Starts of Something Big!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP105
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Poliwrath
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Ash's Pokédex
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Poliwrath, the Tadpole Pokémon. Poliwrath is an excellent swimmer and its powerful muscles make its attacks extremely effective.
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GOTCHA!
A Poliwrath briefly appeared in GOTCHA!, under the ownership of Chuck.
Pokémon Evolutions
A Poliwrath appeared in The Discovery, briefly disrupting Green and her Blastoise in Cerulean Cave.
Pocket Monsters DP
A Poliwrath appeared in PMDP16.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Poli
Poliwrath debuted in Buzz Off, Electabuzz! when Red's Poliwhirl Poli evolved into it to save his Trainer from drowning. His evolution wasn't explained until the Yellow arc, where it was revealed there were four Evolution stones that could be used without any limit.
A Poliwrath appeared in Gold's fantasy after seeing Polibo evolved into Politoed in Ampharos Amore.
Chuck, Blue's own master, owns a Poliwrath, as seen in Scrappy Skarmory. It was first seen training with him and his Primeape. Together with Primeape, it used Dynamic Punch to reveal Suicune's presence in the ocean off the Cianwood coast, but the Gym Leader was defeated in the end, even after being joined by a friend.
A Poliwrath appeared alongside a Venusaur in PSs1, kidnapping Pibu.
Magnus's Poliwrath first appeared in Attaway, Aipom!.
A Trainer's Poliwrath appeared in Weavile Wobbles But It Won't Fall Down as one of the Pokémon seen at the Safari Zone.
A Trainer's Poliwrath appeared in Truth and the Mastermind Behind Team Skull.
Pokémon Battle Frontier
A Poliwrath appeared in Aim for the Top!.
Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
A Poliwrath first appeared in The Secret Of The Fighting Type Pokémon, under the ownership of Chuck.
A Poliwrath appeared in a flashback in Let's Fight For The Future!!.
Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All
A Poliwrath appeared in GDZ36.
A Poliwrath appeared in GDZ51.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In Kicking It from Here into Tomorrow!, a Poliwrath was used by Team Rocket through the Rocket Prize Master, like in the anime.
A Poliwrath appeared in Caring for a Mystery!.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
Green's Poliwrath debuted in The Big Battle In The Viridian Forest!!.
A Poliwrath appeared in Part-Time Job At The Swimming Pool!!.
One of Giovanni's Poliwhirl appeared in The Thrill of a Perfect Score, Big Rampage at the Amusement Park!, where it evolved into a Poliwrath in order to get rid of Red and his Clefairy and Pikachu when they went to the amusement park that he built.
Professor Oak owns a Poliwrath, which debuted in Save the Pokémon Zoo!!.