0062 Poliwrath

Counter is the best Fast Attack in the game, and Poliwrath has STAB on it. While Mud Shot and Bubble aren't bad Fast Attacks, Counter is just too good to pass up on most of the time

Various charged attack combinations are viable depending on team needs. Any combination works, except for Power-Up Punch + Dynamic Punch or anything involving Hydro Pump or Submission.

Icy Wind provides coverage against Flying-, Grass-, and Dragon-type Pokemon and provides a guaranteed Attack debuff. Ice Punch provides the same coverage and is cheaper, but is inferior due to the lack of debuffing. Scald benefits from STAB and provides additional coverage against targets that Counter cannot deal significant damage against; it also has a substantial chance of debuffing Attack. Power-Up Punch can ramp up Counter's damage to absurd levels in the long game, but sacrifices coverage and burst. Dynamic Punch can be used to further bolster Poliwrath's Fighting-type damage, although Counter is usually enough. Hydro Pump is generally too expensive. Submission is outclassed.

Poliwrath is a solid Pokemon for the Great League, featuring good bulk and a unique Water/Fighting typing. Weaknesses to common typings is a major risk for using Poliwrath in open formats, which makes Poliwrath more dependent on restricted formats to limit its vulnerabilities. The addition of Counter greatly aids its reliability and coverage

Poliwrath does surprisingly well in Ultra League, countering numerous Steel-, Dark-, and Ice-type Pokemon. Good overall coverage and bulk further helps its role. Although a weakness to Zap Cannon can make its Registeel matchup shaky, Poliwrath will still perform well as a Fighter.

Thanks to Icy Wind, Poliwrath can stand up incredibly well to the omnipresent Giratina-A, despite the latter neutering much of Counter's damage output.

Poliwrath lacks sufficient stats to compete comfortably in the Master League.