[OVERVIEW]
Poliwrath's great bulk and defensive typing make it a prominent physical wall, with its notable resistances to Dark, Ice, Bug, Steel, and Rock and useful immunity to Water-type attacks thanks to Water Absorb allowing it to check threatening attackers such as Durant, Houndoom, and Sneasel. Sadly, Poliwrath's offensive stats are quite underwhelming, relegating it to a defensive role in RU. Its weaknesses to common Grass-, Psychic-, and Electric-type attacks leave it vulnerable against many special attackers in the tier. Poliwrath also faces much competition from Alomomola, which has higher overall bulk and access to reliable recovery in Wish and Regenerator. Conversely, Poliwrath has a wider array of resistances and access to Circle Throw, allowing it to fend off some supposed Alomomola switch-ins such as Mega Abomasnow.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Circle Throw
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Circle Throw forces Poliwrath's foe out, deterring setup sweepers and racking up entry hazard damage. Scald is chosen over other Water-type moves due to its high burn chance, potentially allowing Poliwrath to wall physical attackers even more easily. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allows Poliwrath to stay healthy throughout the match, although Sleep Talk is rather unreliable.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs and maximum Defense EVs maximize Poliwrath's physical bulk while letting it take less damage from entry hazards upon switching in. A Relaxed nature is chosen so as to not compromise the power of Poliwrath's attacks. Leftovers provides Poliwrath with a means of consistent recovery, making it slightly less reliant on RestTalk. Rocky Helmet can be used to further cripple physical attackers, but Leftovers's recovery is much more useful.
Usage Tips
========
Poliwrath should be used to wall physical attackers. Staying at high health is crucial, as Poliwrath should avoid using Rest constantly without cleric support. Using Circle Throw continuously is a rather safe strategy, as it racks up entry hazard damage and deters setup sweepers, unless the opponent has Pokemon with the ability Regenerator, such as Slowking and Tangrowth, which benefit from switching out.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support such as Stealth Rock from Mega Steelix and Diancie, which can also switch into Flying-type attacks for Poliwrath, and Spikes from Roselia and Ferroseed can help Poliwrath rack up more damage with Circle Throw. Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Delphox appreciate the pressure Poliwrath puts on Pokemon that threaten them such as Sneasel, Durant, and Houndoom. Clerics such as Togetic, Aromatisse, and Diancie, the latter of which can also alleviate pressure from Houndoom and check Flying-types, allow Poliwrath to use Rest more freely, making it less reliant on Sleep Talk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially offensive set with Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, Ice Beam, and Vacuum Wave holding Life Orb or Choice Specs can turn Poliwrath into a surprise attacker. Swift Swim turns Poliwrath into a threatening sweeper under rain, but it is outclassed by stronger Swift Swimmers such as Ludicolo and Kabutops. Hypnosis can disrupt the opponent while providing some momentum, but its accuracy is too much of a liability. Protect can be used alongside Toxic, in order to cripple certain walls, or alongside Refresh, if RestTalk is not desired, although the instant recovery Rest provides is much more useful. The combination of Substitute and Focus Punch can be used to pressure opponents, but being unable to immediately use it is a letdown, along with that fact that most Pokemon that resist Fighting can deal with Poliwrath's other attacks. Lastly, Poliwrath could attempt to run certain coverage options such as Earthquake for Electric-types and Ice Beam for Grass-types, but they're usually hard to fit with its other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can comfortably switch into Poliwrath's attacks and can then heavily damage it with their STAB attacks. It should be noted that Venusaur is worn down more easily than Tangrowth and Amoonguss if it gets Scald burned or gets phazed with Stealth Rock on the field, as it lacks Regenerator.
**Electric- and Flying-types**: Although they can't switch into Poliwrath's attacks directly, Electric-types such as Manectric and Jolteon and Flying-types such as Braviary and Fletchinder threaten Poliwrath with their respective STAB moves.
**Jellicent**: Jellicent is immune to both Circle Throw and Scald, countering Poliwrath in any situation.
**Aromatisse**: Aromatisse resists Circle Throw, can cure itself from burns with Heal Bell, and threatens Poliwrath with its STAB Moonblast.
**Psychic-types**: Sigilyph takes little from Poliwrath's attacks, even taking no damage from burns by virtue of Magic Guard, and can OHKO Poliwrath with its STAB moves. Meloetta takes little from Scald and can OHKO Poliwrath with its Psychic-type STAB attacks, although it should avoid switching into Circle Throw. Slowking is an overall great check to Poliwrath, as it resists its STAB moves and can heal itself thanks to Regenerator if it's phazed.
Poliwrath's great bulk and defensive typing make it a prominent physical wall, with its notable resistances to Dark, Ice, Bug, Steel, and Rock and useful immunity to Water-type attacks thanks to Water Absorb allowing it to check threatening attackers such as Durant, Houndoom, and Sneasel. Sadly, Poliwrath's offensive stats are quite underwhelming, relegating it to a defensive role in RU. Its weaknesses to common Grass-, Psychic-, and Electric-type attacks leave it vulnerable against many special attackers in the tier. Poliwrath also faces much competition from Alomomola, which has higher overall bulk and access to reliable recovery in Wish and Regenerator. Conversely, Poliwrath has a wider array of resistances and access to Circle Throw, allowing it to fend off some supposed Alomomola switch-ins such as Mega Abomasnow.
[SET]
name: RestTalk
move 1: Circle Throw
move 2: Scald
move 3: Rest
move 4: Sleep Talk
item: Leftovers
ability: Water Absorb
nature: Relaxed
evs: 248 HP / 252 Def / 8 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Circle Throw forces Poliwrath's foe out, deterring setup sweepers and racking up entry hazard damage. Scald is chosen over other Water-type moves due to its high burn chance, potentially allowing Poliwrath to wall physical attackers even more easily. The combination of Rest and Sleep Talk allows Poliwrath to stay healthy throughout the match, although Sleep Talk is rather unreliable.
Set Details
========
248 HP EVs and maximum Defense EVs maximize Poliwrath's physical bulk while letting it take less damage from entry hazards upon switching in. A Relaxed nature is chosen so as to not compromise the power of Poliwrath's attacks. Leftovers provides Poliwrath with a means of consistent recovery, making it slightly less reliant on RestTalk. Rocky Helmet can be used to further cripple physical attackers, but Leftovers's recovery is much more useful.
Usage Tips
========
Poliwrath should be used to wall physical attackers. Staying at high health is crucial, as Poliwrath should avoid using Rest constantly without cleric support. Using Circle Throw continuously is a rather safe strategy, as it racks up entry hazard damage and deters setup sweepers, unless the opponent has Pokemon with the ability Regenerator, such as Slowking and Tangrowth, which benefit from switching out.
Team Options
========
Entry hazard support such as Stealth Rock from Mega Steelix and Diancie, which can also switch into Flying-type attacks for Poliwrath, and Spikes from Roselia and Ferroseed can help Poliwrath rack up more damage with Circle Throw. Psychic-types such as Meloetta and Delphox appreciate the pressure Poliwrath puts on Pokemon that threaten them such as Sneasel, Durant, and Houndoom. Clerics such as Togetic, Aromatisse, and Diancie, the latter of which can also alleviate pressure from Houndoom and check Flying-types, allow Poliwrath to use Rest more freely, making it less reliant on Sleep Talk.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
A specially offensive set with Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, Ice Beam, and Vacuum Wave holding Life Orb or Choice Specs can turn Poliwrath into a surprise attacker. Swift Swim turns Poliwrath into a threatening sweeper under rain, but it is outclassed by stronger Swift Swimmers such as Ludicolo and Kabutops. Hypnosis can disrupt the opponent while providing some momentum, but its accuracy is too much of a liability. Protect can be used alongside Toxic, in order to cripple certain walls, or alongside Refresh, if RestTalk is not desired, although the instant recovery Rest provides is much more useful. The combination of Substitute and Focus Punch can be used to pressure opponents, but being unable to immediately use it is a letdown, along with that fact that most Pokemon that resist Fighting can deal with Poliwrath's other attacks. Lastly, Poliwrath could attempt to run certain coverage options such as Earthquake for Electric-types and Ice Beam for Grass-types, but they're usually hard to fit with its other moves.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Grass-types**: Venusaur, Amoonguss, and Tangrowth can comfortably switch into Poliwrath's attacks and can then heavily damage it with their STAB attacks. It should be noted that Venusaur is worn down more easily than Tangrowth and Amoonguss if it gets Scald burned or gets phazed with Stealth Rock on the field, as it lacks Regenerator.
**Electric- and Flying-types**: Although they can't switch into Poliwrath's attacks directly, Electric-types such as Manectric and Jolteon and Flying-types such as Braviary and Fletchinder threaten Poliwrath with their respective STAB moves.
**Jellicent**: Jellicent is immune to both Circle Throw and Scald, countering Poliwrath in any situation.
**Aromatisse**: Aromatisse resists Circle Throw, can cure itself from burns with Heal Bell, and threatens Poliwrath with its STAB Moonblast.
**Psychic-types**: Sigilyph takes little from Poliwrath's attacks, even taking no damage from burns by virtue of Magic Guard, and can OHKO Poliwrath with its STAB moves. Meloetta takes little from Scald and can OHKO Poliwrath with its Psychic-type STAB attacks, although it should avoid switching into Circle Throw. Slowking is an overall great check to Poliwrath, as it resists its STAB moves and can heal itself thanks to Regenerator if it's phazed.
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