Is Poliwrath with Fast Attack Counter good in Pokemon GO PvP?

Pokemon GO trainers participating in the December 2024 Community Day have a chance to get their hands on a Poliwrath with Fast Attack Counter. Players are advised to take advantage of the opportunity because Counter is a legacy move and requires Elite TMs. During the event, it will be available by merely evolving Poliwhirl.

In this article, we will see if Counter Poliwrath is relevant in the Pokemon GO PvP meta.

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Is Counter Poliwrath worth it in the Pokemon GO Battle League?

Poliwrath with Counter in Pokemon GO (Image via Niantic)

Poliwrath's best moveset involves Counter and Dynamic Punch, which totals 12.13 damage per second and 220.1 total damage output. Counter gives 13 damage (8 in GBL) and provides 9 energy per use (or 3 energy per turn in GBL). The energy gain per use for trainer battles was nerfed from 7 to 6 earlier in GO Battle League Season 20.

The move is super effective against Dark-, Ice-, Normal-, Rock-, and Steel- (learn more in our Pokemon Type Calculator tool). Poliwrath's own Fighting-type adds STAB (same type attack bonus) to Counter, making this a potent combination.

The Pokemon is not high up the tier list as a raid attacker, given its relatively low DPS. Instead, Poliwrath is a decent pick for the Pokemon GO Battle League. The Pokemon's balanced stats (182 ATK, 184 DEF, 207 STA, 2923 Max CP) and ability to take a few hits make it an ally that trainers can include in their party.

In Great League and Ultra League, Poliwrath can fare well, especially with a moveset comprising of Counter and Icy Wind (reducing opponent Pokemon's Attack by 1 stage). Its usability falls massively in Master League, with its CP not being able to cope with the Pokemon that dominates that meta.

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How to get Poliwrath with Counter in Pokemon GO?

During the December 2024 Community Day, evolving any Poliwag into a Poliwrath will unlock the Fast Attack Counter for the critter. You can do so by evolving Poliwag with 25 candy to Poliwhirl and then further into Poliwrath with an extra 100 candy.

Outside of such events where Niantic provides such exemptions, you can use Elite Fast TMs to get Counter on Poliwrath. You can also use an Elite Fast TM to get a Shadow Poliwrath with Counter, further getting an added shadow bonus.