How to get Poliwrath in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?

Pokemon GO keeps its players excited with the thrill of catching many varieties of creatures. One of these is the Water/Fighting Tadpole Pokemon hailing from Kanto, Poliwrath. Many trainers want to catch this Pocket Monster, and some even wonder if its shiny form is available in the game.

This article explains how to get Poliwrath in Pokemon GO and if there is a shiny variant players could encounter.

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How to get Poliwrath in Pokemon GO

Poliwrath's Paldean Pokedex entry (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Poliwrath can be found in the wild in Pokemon GO. It's not as common as many other critters, but it still has a chance of appearing in the open world. Other than that, it is sometimes the highlight of 3-Star Raids or a final reward in certain Research tasks.

Another way to get this Water/Fighting Pokemon is through evolution. Poliwrath is the final evolution of Poliwag, a Water-type critter from the Kanto region.

To evolve Poliwag into Poliwrath, follow these steps:

1. Catch or hatch Poliwag: Poliwag can be found in the wild, mostly near sources of water. You can also hatch one from 2 km eggs.
2. Evolve Poliwag into Poliwhirl: This evolution will cost a total of 25 Poliwag candies. You can collect these candies by catching multiple Poliwags, with the aid of a Pinap Berry to double the amount of candy rewarded, or by making a Poliwag your buddy. Poliwhirl will also appear in the Water regions during the Pokemon GO Shared Skies between June 1 to September 3.
3. Evolve Poliwhirl into Poliwrath: Once you have Poliwhirl, you will need 100 Poliwag candies and a King's Rock to get the critter's final form, Poliwrath.

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How to get King's Rock in Pokemon GO

King's Rock as seen in Pokemon GO (Image via The Pokemon Company)

King's Rock is a crucial item for evolving Poliwhirl into Poliwrath. Here are some ways to acquire it:

• PokeStops and Gyms: You have a chance to receive a King's Rock when you spin PokeStops and Gyms. The chance is random, so persistence is key.
• Research Breakthroughs: Completing a week's worth of Field Research tasks can yield a Research Breakthrough, which might include a King's Rock.
• Special Research Tasks: Some Special Research tasks offer a King's Rock as a reward. Keep an eye on event-specific tasks that might provide this item.

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Can Poliwrath be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Poliwrath and its shiny variant (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Yes, Poliwrath can be shiny in Pokemon GO. A shiny variant has an alternative coloring compared to its regular form. Shiny Poliwrath sports the striking green color as opposed to the normal blue.

Other than the good luck involved in finding a shiny variant of Poliwrath, you can get this unique enounter through means of catching a shiny pre-evolutionary:

• Catch or Hatch Shiny Poliwag: The first step is to find a shiny Poliwag. Shiny Poliwag can appear in the wild or be hatched from 2 km eggs during specific events or community days.
• Evolve Shiny Poliwag into Shiny Poliwhirl and Poliwrath: After receiving a shiny Poliwag, players can continue with the same process of evolution. Evolve shiny Poliwag into shiny Poliwhirl for 25 Poliwag candies. Then, evolve shiny Poliwhirl into shiny Poliwrath for 100 candies, along with a King's Rock.

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Tips for finding shiny Poliwag

• Community Days and Events: During Community Days and special events, the spawn rate for certain Pokemon, including Poliwag, can be significantly increased. These events often provide a higher chance of encountering shiny versions.
• Use Incense and Lures: These items increase the spawn rate of Pokemon around you, boosting your chances of finding a shiny Poliwag.
• Field Research Tasks: Sometimes, specific field research tasks offer encounters with Poliwag. Completing these tasks can give you more opportunities to find a shiny.

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To conclude, players have to evolve Poliwag into Poliwhirl and subsequently to Poliwrath - a process that is a bit tedious and requires quite a few candies and a King's Rock.

Shiny Poliwrath is available, and finding it requires patience and participation in events that boost shiny encounter rates.