Pokémon counters guide

Best Counters for Poliwrath

Find practical counter Pokémon, attacking types, and defensive matchup notes for Poliwrath.

WaterFighting
Poliwrath Pokémon sprite

Poliwrath

#0062

Quick answer

Poliwrath is best pressured by Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type attacks at 2x damage. Because there is no 4x weakness, defensive safety, Speed, and raw stats matter more.

Best move types

Electric×2Grass×2Flying×2Psychic×2

Top weaknesses (5)

Electric×2Grass×2Flying×2Psychic×2Fairy×2

Type matchup table

Electric type iconElectric2x
Grass type iconGrass2x
Flying type iconFlying2x
Psychic type iconPsychic2x
Fairy type iconFairy2x
Normal type iconNormal1x
Fighting type iconFighting1x
Poison type iconPoison1x
Ground type iconGround1x
Ghost type iconGhost1x
Dragon type iconDragon1x
Fire type iconFire0.5x
Water type iconWater0.5x
Ice type iconIce0.5x
Bug type iconBug0.5x
Rock type iconRock0.5x
Dark type iconDark0.5x
Steel type iconSteel0.5x

Recommended practical counters

Dragonite Pokémon sprite

Dragonite

#0149

Resists both STABsStrong physical attacker
DragonFlying
  • Deals 2x damage with Flying-type attacks
  • Has STAB Flying-type attacks
  • Resists the target's Water 0.5x, Fighting 0.5x STAB attacks
  • Strong attacking stats help convert the matchup
  • Solid mixed bulk improves switch-in safety
Best typeFlying×2

Safe into Water 0.5x, Fighting 0.5x

134 offense · 80 Speed

Strong theoretical counters

Best move types to use

Electric×2Grass×2Flying×2Psychic×2Fairy×2

Move availability depends on game version and learnset data, so this page recommends move types rather than guaranteed moves.

Electric type pageGrass type pageFlying type pagePsychic type pageFairy type page

Counter notes for Poliwrath

  • Poliwrath is a Water / Fighting Pokémon with 70 base Speed and stronger physical attack (95 Attack). Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy attacks all work offensively, but safer counters are usually the ones that reduce risk from its own STAB types.
  • Poliwrath has several 2x weaknesses rather than a single 4x weakness, so the best counters are the ones that can hit it super-effectively while also reducing the risk from Water / Fighting STAB.
  • Known abilities include Water Absorb, Damp, and Swift Swim. This page does not assume ability-specific battle effects, so verify the format before relying on a single counter.
  • Avoid counters that are weak to Water / Fighting unless they are fast enough to pressure immediately or bulky enough to survive the exchange.
  • Poliwrath does not need a separate alternate-form note for the standard National Dex matchup shown here.

What not to use

Fire×0.5Water×0.5Ice×0.5Bug×0.5Rock×0.5Dark×0.5Steel×0.5

These attacking types are resisted or blocked by the defender's typing, so they are usually lower-priority choices unless they provide a special battle role.

Battle caveats

  • This ranking uses modern Gen 6+ type matchups, STAB value, defensive switch-in safety, and base stats.
  • Abilities, held items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and format rules can change real battle outcomes.
  • Coverage moves can punish obvious counters, so treat this as type-based guidance rather than a full matchup simulator.
  • Move availability depends on game version and learnset data; this page recommends attacking types rather than guaranteed moves.

Related pages

Poliwrath weakness chartPoliwrath PokédexWater / Fighting countersElectric type pageGrass type pageFlying type pagePokémon type chartSpeed tiers

FAQ

What is the best counter for Poliwrath?

Poliwrath is best countered by Pokémon that can use Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy (2x) attacks while avoiding bad defensive matchups into Water / Fighting STAB attacks. Because there is no 4x weakness, Speed, bulk, and offensive stats matter more when choosing the actual Pokémon.

What type is best against Poliwrath?

Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy are the strongest attacking types against Poliwrath, dealing 2x damage under the modern Gen 6+ type chart.

How many useful attacking types hit Poliwrath super-effectively?

Poliwrath has 5 super-effective attacking options: Electric, Grass, Flying, Psychic, and Fairy. Use the highest multiplier first, then choose a Pokémon that is not exposed to Water / Fighting STAB attacks.

Are abilities included in this counter ranking?

No. The ranking uses base typing and base stats. Abilities, items, Terastallization, weather, terrain, and special move rules can change the real matchup.

Does Terastallization change Poliwrath counters?

Yes. Terastallization can replace the defensive typing used here, so the recommended counter types may change completely in formats where Tera is active.

What should I avoid using against Poliwrath?

Avoid relying on Fire, Water, Ice, Bug, and Rock attacks unless they have a special role or unusually high power.

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