Misty's Politoed

History

Pokémon the Series: The Beginning

Poliwag helping to collect Salveyo weed

In The Stun Spore Detour, Ash and Tracey were paralyzed by a Vileplume's Stun Spore attack. Misty was left to fetch the cure, Salveyo weed, a special type of aquatic plant found at the bottom of lakes on which Poliwag feed. A friendly wild Poliwag helped her gather the special plant out of thanks for Misty protecting it from Team Rocket. Poliwag obviously liked Misty, because it insisted on coming along with her, and Misty added it to her team.

In Viva Las Lapras, Poliwag was called out, along with Misty's Goldeen, Staryu, and Ash's Squirtle, to help defeat the pirate poachers attempting to capture Lapras's mother and family. It joined the other Pokémon in destroying the pirates' cannons with its Water Gun. Then it gave Captain Crook a point-blank Water Gun to the face when he refused Misty's demand to call off his Tentacruel from their ordered attack on Ash, Pikachu, and Lapras.

Pokémon the Series: Gold and Silver

In The Totodile Duel, Ash and Misty both used Lure Balls on a wild Totodile. The Balls caught the Pokémon out of sight, so Ash and Misty had a tournament to see who got the Water-type. During a battle against Bulbasaur, Misty's Poliwag evolved into Poliwhirl. Although Misty still lost, she concluded that she preferred the Poliwhirl who was willing to evolve to help her, rather than the Totodile who essentially did whatever it wanted.

In The Fortune Hunters, Poliwhirl was sent out alongside Pikachu and Totodile to stop Butch and Cassidy's fake Day Care scheme.

In Hook, Line, and Stinker, Misty used Poliwhirl in the Seaking Catching Competition. During the competition, Misty and Poliwhirl formed a rivalry with Andreas and his Poliwrath. Poliwhirl and Misty hooked a Seaking just as time ran out for the competition. Andreas and Misty both had a 55-kilogram Seaking, meaning they had to battle each other to decide the winner. The battle started with Poliwhirl getting overwhelmed due to battling its evolved form. It lost its confidence and hid behind Misty. Misty's Psyduck, Staryu, and Goldeen then popped out of their Balls to encourage Poliwhirl, and it decided to resume the match. Poliwhirl then beat Poliwrath, winning the competition for Misty.

In Mewtwo Returns, Poliwhirl was sent out alongside Misty and Brock's Pokémon to stop Giovanni and the rest of Team Rocket from recapturing Mewtwo. Their distraction gave Ash the time he needed to take Mewtwo to the top of Mount Quena so it could be healed.

Poliwhirl in the Whirl Cup

Misty used Poliwhirl in the second and third rounds of the Whirl Cup in The Perfect Match!. In the second round, Poliwhirl went up against Ash's Totodile. Ash started the battle by having Totodile use Water Gun, but Poliwhirl dove underwater to evade it. Poliwhirl jumped out of the water and attacked with Bubble, dazing Totodile for a while. Poliwhirl attempted to use Double Slap, but Totodile dodged and headbutted it back into a pillar. However, Poliwhirl kicked off the pillar and dove towards Totodile, using Double Slap again, and knocking Totodile out. Ash recalled Totodile and sent out Kingler. Misty again commanded Poliwhirl to unleash another Bubble, but Kingler used Crabhammer first. An energy sphere was sent across the arena, causing whirlpools to form. The attack knocked Poliwhirl into the whirlpools, and another Crabhammer attack knocked Poliwhirl out.

The King's Rock Poliwhirl used to evolve

Misty again started with Poliwhirl in the third round against Trinity and her Gyarados. Misty told Poliwhirl to use Bubble, but Trinity responded with Gyarados's Hyper Beam. Gyarados quickly charged up and fired the Hyper Beam, knocking the Bubble away and defeating Poliwhirl.

In Outrageous Fortunes, on the way to Blackthorn City, Misty fought a Trainer with a Poliwrath and lost. Misty started to consider evolving Poliwhirl. Misty took Poliwhirl to the local Pokémon Center to be healed, with Poliwhirl picking up the King's Rock that Ash had won in a tournament on the way. Misty did not notice this and simply gave Poliwhirl to Nurse Joy for treatment. Shortly afterward, in a battle against Team Rocket, Misty recovered her Poliwhirl via transfer machine from another Pokémon Center and let it out. It was summoned wearing the King's Rock, surprising Misty when it evolved into Politoed before her eyes. Although it wasn't the Poliwrath she wanted, Misty was thrilled with her newly evolved Pokémon.

In I Politoed Ya So!, Politoed was mistaken by Tammy for her Politoed, Bean. She took Politoed to her dance school and quickly figured out Politoed wasn't hers, but was impressed by its clapping and excellent rhythm. While practicing, Misty found them and insisted she be given Politoed back. Tammy believed Politoed was key to winning the National Cheering Competition and begged Misty to let her use Politoed. While deciding what to do, Team Rocket arrived to steal the dancing troupe. Politoed teamed up with Bean to send them blasting off and, finding that Bean had discovered its sense of rhythm, Tammy agreed to let Politoed return to Misty.

In Gotta Catch Ya Later!, Politoed defeated Kim's Hitmonchan with Bubble, while Ash's Pikachu and Brock's Forretress handled the other brothers' Pokémon.

Pokémon Chronicles

In Cerulean Blues, Politoed was sent out of its Poké Ball to calm down a rampaging Gyarados.

Pokémon Journeys: The Series

In A Fated Face-Off!, Politoed was used in Misty's battle against Ash to decide who would get to catch a Clauncher they were both trying to get. Politoed battled against Corphish, and after a tough battle, Politoed emerged victorious, allowing Misty to add Clauncher to her team. During the battle, Misty revealed that Politoed had become the guardian deity of the Cerulean Gym.

In A Squad's Worth of Passion!, Politoed was called out alongside Psyduck and Clauncher to help the Squirtle Squad stop a rampaging fire.

Personality and characteristics

Politoed and Misty

Politoed's habit of clapping

As a Poliwag, it was very friendly, cheerful, and liked to help people, as shown when Misty first caught it in The Stun Spore Detour. It was shown to be highly affectionate toward Misty even before its capture, as shown by it nuzzling up against her after Misty used some Pokémon cream on it. After it evolved into a Poliwhirl, Misty began to use it in many of her battles as it developed more stability on land. Poliwhirl, however, also had a bit of a confidence problem, where it tended to hide behind Misty's legs to avoid confrontation. In Hook, Line, and Stinker, Poliwhirl overcame its fears after Misty's other Pokémon offered support. In its future battles during the Whirl Cup and against Delaney, Poliwhirl leaped into the rounds with visible determination.

After evolving into Politoed, it became particularly cheerful. Its habit of clapping, even at inappropriate moments or when being scolded, often irritated Misty. However, its excellent rhythm proved useful in I Politoed Ya So!, where it took up cheerleading with Tammy's Pokémon cheer squad. Tammy rekindled her interest in entertaining audiences with cheers rather than winning tournaments, while her own Politoed, nicknamed Bean, learned Misty's Politoed's clap routine. Politoed also continued to show its affection toward Misty in that same episode, running joyously toward her when she had found it at Tammy's home.

Since Misty stopped traveling with Ash, Politoed has become one of her most trusted Pokémon as of A Fated Face-Off!. Its improved strength has made it the current guardian of the Cerulean Gym.

Appearance

As a Poliwag	As a Poliwhirl

Moves used

Using Double Slap as a Poliwag Using Bounce	Move First Used In Water Gun The Stun Spore Detour Double Slap The Stun Spore Detour Bubble Roll On, Pokémon! Body Slam The Totodile Duel Mega Punch † Hook, Line, and Stinker Tackle × Wings 'N' Things Headbutt The Kecleon Caper Swagger Outrageous Fortunes Bounce † A Fated Face-Off! Focus Blast † A Fated Face-Off! Hydro Pump † A Fated Face-Off!
An × shows that the move cannot be legitimately known by this Pokémon in the games.
A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.

Moves improvised

Picture	First Used In	Moves Involved	Partnered With
	Gotta Catch Ya Later!	Thunderbolt, Water Gun, and Rapid Spin	Ash's Pikachu and Brock's Forretress
	Description: Politoed combines its Water Gun with Pikachu's Thunderbolt and Forretress's Rapid Spin, creating a tornado of water and electricity. This was used to send Team Rocket and the Invincible Pokémon Brothers blasting off.

In the Stadium series

Misty uses a Poliwhirl during Pokémon Stadium 2's Round 1, and a Politoed during Round 2.

Pokémon Stadium 2
Round 1	Round 2
Type: Water Unknown Held item: Focus Band Poliwhirl♀ Lv.50-100 Rain Dance Water   --       Earthquake Ground   --       Hydro Pump Water   --       Body Slam Normal   --	Type: Water Unknown Held item: Focus Band Politoed♂ Lv.50-100 Rain Dance Water   --       Surf Water   --       Ice Beam Ice   --       Earthquake Ground   --

In the spin-off games

Pokémon: Catch the Numbers!

Politoed appears in Pokémon: Catch the Numbers! as one of the Pokémon the player needs to get back from Team Rocket.

Poliwhirl in Ash & Pikachu

Ash & Pikachu

Misty's Poliwhirl appeared in The Grand Rhydon Plan.

The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Poliwhirl in The Electric Tale of Pikachu

Misty owns a Poliwag in Clefairy Tale. Later, in To Evolve or Not to Evolve, That is the Question!, Misty expressed interest in evolving her Poliwhirl into a Poliwrath. However, she was unable to do so because Evolution stones were too expensive.

Appearance

As a Poliwag

Politoed was featured in the TCG as one of Misty's Pokémon. The following is a list of cards named Misty's Poliwag, Poliwhirl, and Politoed.

Misty's Poliwag Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Misty's Poliwag		Gym Heroes		87/132	Hanada City Gym
Misty's Poliwag		Gym Challenge		89/132	Leaders' Stadium
Misty's Poliwhirl
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Misty's Poliwhirl		Gym Heroes		53/132	Leaders' Stadium
Misty's Politoed
Card	Type	English Expansion	Rarity	#	Japanese Expansion	Rarity	#
Misty's Politoed					Theater Limited VS Pack		003/018

Merchandise

S9a accessories

Other sleeves: Two more standalone sleeve designs were also made available. Each pack of sleeves includes 64 copies.

• The Misty & Starmie Sleeves (Japanese: デッキシールド カスミ＆スターミー Deck Shield: Kasumi & Starmie) feature Gym Leader Misty and her Starmie taking a break after a training session. The sleeves were illustrated by You Iribi.

Sleeve images:

Misty & Starmie Sleeves	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins
The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins	The Sneak-Peek Tins

• Poliwag was the first of Misty's Pokémon to be seen evolving in the animated series.
  • Poliwag's evolution into Poliwhirl marked the first onscreen evolution of any Pokémon belonging to one of Ash's friends.
  • Politoed is the only Pokémon owned by Misty in the animated series that has evolved twice.
• Poliwag was the last Generation I Pokémon that a main character captured in the original series, excluding those caught and either released or given away in the same episode (such as Ash's Beedrill and James's second Victreebel).
• Politoed is the first Pokémon belonging to a main character that has evolved via the use of an item (in this case, a King's Rock).
• Politoed has used the most moves out of all of Misty's Pokémon, with eleven total.
• Politoed is Misty's first Pokémon to defeat a regional Champion's Pokémon, defeating Ash's Corphish in A Fated Face-Off!.
• Politoed is the only Pokémon in Pokémon the Series to have used the move Swagger.
  • Although Politoed learned Swagger in Outrageous Fortunes, it hasn't used the move since that episode.

For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Poliwag, Poliwhirl, and Politoed.

Misty's Pokémon
In rotation:	Staryu	Starmie	Psyduck	Politoed	Gyarados	Azurill
	Clauncher
At Cerulean Gym:	Goldeen	Horsea	Corsola	Caserin
Released:	Togetic	Seaking
Other:	Dewgong	Seaking	Goldeen (multiple)	Shellder (multiple)	Seel	Luverin
Borrowed:	Pikachu	Vulpix	Bulbasaur	Scyther	Marill
Befriended:	Golduck
Ride Pokémon:	Mantine	Dragonair
Adventures only:	Krabby	Chinchou	Lanturn	Omanyte	Suicune
Electric Tale only:	Shellder	Lapras
Pocket Monsters only:	Blastoise	Jigglypuff
Newspaper Strip only:	Squirtle	Butterfree

This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation.