• ℹ️ CARD INFORMATION
• ✨ ABILITIES
• ⚔️ ATTACKS
• 💰 LATEST PRICES

CARD INFORMATION

• SUBTYPES:
  • Basic
• HP: 60
• TYPES:
  • Water
• EVOLVES TO:
  • Poliwhirl
• WEAKNESSES:
  • TYPE: Lightning
  • VALUE: ×2
• RETREATCOST:
  • Colorless
• RETREAT COST: 1
• RARITY: Common
• FLAVOR TEXT: In rivers with fast-flowing water, this Pokémon will cling to a rock by using its thick lips, which act like a suction cup.
• REGULATIONMARK: G

CARD ABILITIES

This card has no abilities

CARD ATTACKS

• NAME: Bubble
• COST:
  • Water
• ENERGY COST: 1
• DAMAGE: 10
• DETAILS: Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed.

MARKET PRICES FOR POLIWAG 💰

Last updated: 2025/10/11

HIGH	12.47	USD
MID	0.08	USD	TREND
LOW	0.01	USD

Check the latest prices on:

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Poliwag swims into the Pokémon TCG as a humble Basic Water-type with surprising tactical potential.

This 60 HP tadpole might seem unassuming at first glance, but its single-energy attack with a paralyzing effect presents interesting possibilities for budget decks and evolution strategies.

Let's dive into what this spinning tadpole brings to competitive play.

Offensive rating: 4/10

Poliwag's offensive capabilities are minimal but not without utility.

Its lone attack, Bubble, deals just 10 damage for one Water energy, which is underwhelming in the current meta where even Basic Pokémon often hit for 30+.

However, the coin flip paralysis effect creates interesting disruption potential, potentially buying crucial setup time.

At 10 damage per energy, Poliwag's damage efficiency is poor, but the status condition adds significant value.

The paralysis effect can lock down powerful attackers for a turn, though being dependent on a coin flip makes this unreliable at best.

Against massive threats, Bubble's disruption can occasionally save games, but its low damage means Poliwag will almost never secure KOs on its own.

Survival rating: 3/10

With just 60 HP, Poliwag falls on the frailer end of Basic Pokémon.

It will rarely survive a direct attack from any established attacker in the current format.

Its Lightning weakness is particularly problematic in metas where Electric types are prevalent.

The single-colorless retreat cost is a small bright spot, allowing for relatively easy pivoting when needed.

Poliwag lacks any inherent defensive abilities or mechanics to increase its survivability.

It has no damage reduction, no healing capabilities, and no ways to avoid being targeted.

In practical terms, Poliwag will almost always be a one-hit knockout for opponents, making it primarily useful as an early game staller or evolution material rather than a sustainable board presence.

Versatility rating: 4/10

Poliwag's versatility stems primarily from its evolution potential rather than its standalone capabilities.

As the first stage in the Poliwag → Poliwhirl → Poliwrath/Politoed evolution lines, it serves as the gateway to potentially stronger Water-type strategies.

The card's paralysis mechanic provides modest utility against setup-dependent decks, potentially disrupting their game plan for a crucial turn.

Its Water typing grants it access to various support cards in the Water archetype, though most of these would be better utilized by its evolved forms.

Poliwag can function as an emergency attacker in desperate situations, but its primary role is clearly as evolution fodder.

Its low energy requirement does mean it can be quickly deployed in a pinch, but its limited attack power restricts its effectiveness in diverse matchups.

Speed/Setup rating: 8/10

Poliwag shines in the setup department.

Requiring only a single Water energy for its attack, it can be powered up and ready to attack on the very first turn.

This energy efficiency means players can focus resources on developing the rest of their board while still having an active attacker.

The card's Basic status makes it immediately playable without any prerequisites, enhancing its speed advantage.

Additionally, Poliwag can be easily searched with balls like Quick Ball, Poké Ball, or Ultra Ball, making it consistently accessible when needed.

While its evolution forms require more time to set up, Poliwag itself represents one of the quickest options to get a Water attacker operational.

This speed partially compensates for its lackluster attack power and durability.

Poliwag thrives with cards that accelerate its evolution or capitalize on its status effects.

Energy acceleration supports like Raihan or Aqua Patch help power up its evolutions quickly.

Rare Candy can bypass Poliwhirl to reach Poliwrath faster, while cards like Irida improve consistency in finding evolution pieces.

Perfect Partners examples:

Poliwag represents a classic starter Pokémon that performs exactly as expected - a stepping stone rather than a star.

Its greatest strengths lie in its evolution potential, single-energy attack, and the disruptive paralysis effect that can occasionally swing tempo.

Smart players will leverage Poliwag as an early game option that can potentially paralyze threats while building toward its evolved forms.

In competitive play, its minimal damage output and fragile 60 HP frame relegate it primarily to evolution material status.

Budget players and collectors will appreciate its accessibility, while tournament players might include it solely as a necessary evil to reach Poliwrath or Politoed.

While not exciting on its own, Poliwag demonstrates how even humble Basic Pokémon can contribute to strategic depth through status effects and evolution chains.

POWER INDEX

36