- Attack
- 101
- Defense
- 82
- HP
- 120
100% CP
- Shadow RaidsLv20
- 473
- min 402
- Weather boostLv25
- 592
- min 502
- MaxLv50
- 937
- Lv40 829
At a glance
Basics
Shadow Poliwag is a Water-type Pokémon. Its 100% IV CP is 473 at level 20 (Shadow Raids), 592 at weather-boosted level 25 and up to 937 at level 50. It is weak to Electric/Grass attacks (1.6×). It resists Fire/Water/Ice/Steel attacks. In raids, Mud Shot + Bubble Beam is its strongest moveset (level 40, 100% IVs). It evolves into Shadow Poliwhirl with 25 Candy. As your buddy, it earns 1 Candy every 3 km you walk together.
- Category
- Tadpole Pokémon
- Buddy distance
- 3 km
- Second Charged Attack
- 60,000 Stardust · 60 Candy
- Max CP · Lv50 / Lv51 (Best Buddy)
- 937 / 948
- Shadow modifiers
- Attack ×1.2, Defense ×0.83 in battle (not shown in CP)
Poliwag has a very thin skin. It is possible to see the Pokémon's spiral innards right through the skin. Despite its thinness, however, the skin is also very flexible. Even sharp fangs bounce right off it.
All values are for Pokémon GO; main-series values are not listed. The Pokédex entry is the game's own English text.
Related tips
- Shadow Pokémon: when to purifyShadow Pokémon have 1.2× Attack but also take more damage, and they cost 1.2× Stardust and Candy to power up.
- How to read IVs and appraisalsIVs run from 0 to 15 for each of Attack, Defense and HP, and appraisal stars are set by the sum of the three (0–45).
- What to power up first (power-up priorities for beginners)Stardust is limited, so first power up strong counters you'll use for a long time across many raids.
Best movesetsLv40 · 15/15/15 IVs
- 1
Mud Shot
Bubble BeamBest100% efficiency6.9TDO 52 - 2BubbleBubble Beam99% efficiency6.8TDO 51
- 3Mud ShotMud Bomb96% efficiency6.6TDO 50
- 4Mud Shot
Body Slam96% efficiency6.6TDO 50 - 5BubbleMud Bomb95% efficiency6.5TDO 49
Top 5 of 6 movesets.
Raid and Gym efficiency against an ordinary neutral 5-star boss. DPS is damage per second, TDO is total damage dealt before fainting, and efficiency compares (DPS³ × TDO)^¼ with the top moveset. Shadow modifiers (1.2× Attack, 0.83× Defense) are included. Against a specific boss, moves of the types it's weak to do more.
Learnable moves
Fast Attack2
| Moves | Power | Energy | DPS | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud ShotBestGround · 0.5s | 4 | +6 | 8 | 12 |
| BubbleWater · 1s · STAB | 10 | +12 | 12 | 12 |
Charged Attack3
| Moves | Power | Energy | DPS | DPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble BeamBestWater · 2s · STAB | 45 | 33 | 27 | 1.64 |
| Body SlamNormal · 2s | 50 | 33 | 25 | 1.52 |
| Mud BombGround · 2.5s | 60 | 33 | 24 | 1.82 |
- DPS is damage per second, EPS energy per second and DPE damage per energy. A Charged Attack costing 100 energy uses 1 bar, 50 uses 2 bars and 33 uses 3 bars.
- STAB (same-type attack bonus) applies to moves of the Pokémon's own type, which deal 1.2× damage (included in DPS, DPT and DPE).
Calculate with your Pokémon
Move the sliders or enter a CP and Shadow Poliwag's stats, move performance and power-up cost update instantly.
Enter the CP shown in the game to find the closest level for these IVs.
- Actual Attack
- 83.2
- Actual Defense
- 48.3
- Actual HP
- 80
Actual stat = (base stat + IV) × level multiplier. Shadow ×1.2 Attack and ×0.83 Defense are included (not in the in-game CP). Level 51 is the Best Buddy boost.
Move performance at these stats
BubbleBubble BeamBest100% efficiencyThis is the best moveset at these stats. That's 77% of the same moveset's DPS at Lv40 with 15/15/15.
Raid calculation against a neutral 5-star boss. * Exclusive moves need an Elite TM.
Power-up cost
- Stardust
- 270,000
- Candy
- 312
- Candy XL
- 0
Lv 20 → 40: 40 power-ups, CP 829 after
Based on the game's power-up cost table. Shadow costs 1.2× and purified 0.9× (rounded up per power-up); Lucky Pokémon pay half the Stardust. Event bonuses are not included.
IV rankings by leagueBy stat product
Shadow Poliwag only reaches CP 937 at level 50 with 100% IVs, so it can't reach this league's cap. In that case, higher IVs are better.
| Rank | Attack | Defense | HP | Level | CP | vs. #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 937 | 100.0% |
| 2 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 929 | 99.1% |
| 3 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 50 | 933 | 99.1% |
| 4 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 50 | 932 | 99.0% |
| 5 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 50 | 921 | 98.3% |
| 6 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 50 | 925 | 98.3% |
| 7 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 50 | 930 | 98.2% |
| 8 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 50 | 924 | 98.1% |
| 9 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 50 | 928 | 98.1% |
| 10 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 50 | 927 | 97.9% |
Stat product = Attack × Defense × HP (up to level 50, excluding Best Buddy). It shows how long a Pokémon lasts under the same CP cap and doesn't include move matchups.
EvolutionFrom game data
- Base
- Shadow PoliwagViewingBest movesMud ShotBubble Beam
From Shadow Poliwag to the final evolutionShadow Poliwrath 125 CandyShadow Politoed 125 Candy
- Best moves are the top raid moveset at level 40 with 15/15/15 IVs.
Damage takenGO multipliers
- ×1.6
Electric
Grass - ×0.625
FireWater
Ice
Steel
Show all 18 types
- Normal×1
- Fire×0.625
- Water×0.625
- Electric×1.6
- Grass×1.6
- Ice×0.625
Fighting×1
Poison×1- Ground×1
Flying×1
Psychic×1
Bug×1
Rock×1
Ghost×1
Dragon×1
Dark×1- Steel×0.625
Fairy×1
Offensive matchupsBased on learnable moves
Events2 past
No upcoming events are known yet.
- 2024.03.19Spotlight Hour: Vulpix, Poliwag, Snorunt, Hippopotas · 2× Catch XP
- 2023.07.30Community Day: Poliwag · Exclusive move: Counter