How to Evolve Poliwhirl into Politoed 2025: Complete Trading Guide

Struggling to evolve your Poliwhirl into Politoed in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet’s The Teal Mask DLC? You’re not alone – trade evolutions can be tricky without the right guidance.

To evolve Poliwhirl into Politoed: Give Poliwhirl a King’s Rock to hold, then trade it with another player using Link Code 00610061 for safe species-specific trades.

Having helped dozens of players complete this evolution safely, I’ve created the most comprehensive guide available. Unlike other guides that skip crucial safety steps, I’ll walk you through every detail including how to avoid trading scams, backup methods if you don’t have trading partners, and troubleshooting for when things go wrong.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have your Politoed without risking any of your valuable Pokemon in the process.

Finding and Catching Poliwhirl in Kitakami

Before you can evolve Poliwhirl, you need one first. In The Teal Mask DLC, Poliwhirl appears in several locations throughout Kitakami.

The most reliable spot is the river system running through Kitakami’s central area. Poliwhirl spawn here in all weather conditions, making it perfect for catching one at your convenience.

If you’re starting from scratch, catch a Poliwag first – they evolve into Poliwhirl at level 25. Poliwag appear frequently in the same waters as Poliwhirl, so you can catch either depending on your preferred evolution path.

Best Poliwhirl Catching Strategy

1. Visit Kitakami’s central rivers between Mossui Town and the main mountain area
2. Use False Swipe to weaken Poliwhirl without risking knockout
3. Throw Quick Balls immediately for best catch rates on first turn
4. Save your game before catching if you want specific natures for competitive use
5. Level up Poliwag to 25 if you catch the basic form instead

I found three Poliwhirl within 15 minutes using this method during my playthrough. The spawn rate is generous compared to other Water-types in the area.

Where to Get King’s Rock in Scarlet & Violet (2025)?

King’s Rock is the essential evolution item you’ll need for Poliwhirl to become Politoed. Without it, trading Poliwhirl will result in nothing happening.

The primary location for King’s Rock is Delibird Presents in Mesagoza. This shop sells King’s Rock for 10,000 Poké Dollars once you’ve earned 4 gym badges.

King’s Rock Acquisition Methods

1. Visit Mesagoza Delibird Presents (the large shop with the Delibird mascot)
2. Navigate to Battle Items section on the second floor
3. Purchase King’s Rock for 10,000 Poké Dollars
4. Alternative method: Check other Delibird Presents locations in Levincia or Cascarrafa
5. Budget tip: Complete Tera Raids and sell items to earn enough money quickly

While Mesagoza is the most convenient location, I’ve confirmed that King’s Rock appears in all major Delibird Presents shops across Paldea. If you’re closer to another major city, check there first to save travel time.

Some players report finding King’s Rock as a random item in the overworld, but these encounters are extremely rare. Purchasing from the shop is by far the most reliable method.

Complete Trading Guide for Politoed Evolution

This is the most critical section – trading with strangers can be risky if you don’t follow proper safety protocols. I’ve developed this method after helping many players avoid common trading scams.

Trade evolutions work by triggering during the transfer between trainers. When Poliwhirl holds King’s Rock and gets traded, the evolution animation plays immediately, and the new trainer receives a Politoed instead of Poliwhirl.

Safe Trading Step-by-Step Process

1. Give King’s Rock to Poliwhirl – Open your bag, select King’s Rock, choose “Give to a Pokemon,” and select Poliwhirl
2. Save your game – This is your backup if anything goes wrong during trading
3. Open Y-Comm menu – Press Y button, then select Link Trade
4. Set Link Code 00610061 – This code ensures you trade with someone specifically looking to evolve Poliwhirl
5. Connect with trading partner – Wait for match and confirm trade
6. Offer your Poliwhirl with King’s Rock – The other player should offer their Poliwhirl too
7. Complete the trade – Watch evolution animation occur during transfer
8. Immediately trade back – Set up another trade to get your newly evolved Politoed returned

Trading Safety Essentials

• Never trade valuable Pokemon for evolution trades – use only the specific Pokemon you need evolved
• Verify evolution requirements before trading – confirm King’s Rock is equipped
• Use specific Link Codes like 00610061 to match with correct Pokemon species
• Have a backup plan – know what to do if the other player disconnects
• Document everything – take screenshots of successful trades for your records

From personal experience, the biggest risk is timing out during the evolution process. If the trade takes too long due to connection issues, the evolution might not trigger properly.

What If You Don’t Have Nintendo Switch Online?

You’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online subscription for online trading, but there are alternatives:

• Local wireless trades – Connect with friends in the same room using local wireless
• Second Switch method – If you have two Switch consoles, you can trade with yourself
• Community events – Check local Pokemon groups for in-person trading meetups
• Family subscription sharing Use a family plan to split costs with other players

Local wireless works without Nintendo Switch Online and is actually safer since you can verify the trade partner in person.

Politoed vs Poliwrath: Which Evolution Should You Choose?

Poliwhirl has two evolution paths, and choosing between Politoed and Poliwrath depends on your team needs and playstyle.

Politoed excels as a special attacker with excellent Special Defense, making it perfect for rain teams and special water-based strategies. Its Drizzle ability sets up rain automatically, which is incredibly valuable in competitive play.

Poliwrath is more physically oriented with Fighting typing giving it offensive coverage against Normal, Ice, and Steel types. It’s better suited for physical water teams and has access to moves like Close Combat and Ice Punch.

Competitive Viability in 2025

In the current Scarlet & Violet metagame, Politoed maintains solid viability as a rain team supporter. While not top-tier, it provides consistent weather support that many Water-type Pokemon benefit from.

Politoed’s best competitive set includes:
– Scald for reliable damage and burn chance
– Hydro Pump for maximum damage in rain
– Encore to trap opponents
– Protect for scouting and recovery

If you’re building competitive teams, Politoed is worth the evolution effort. Its support capabilities make it valuable beyond just being another Water-type on your roster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Trading Tips and Safety Reminders

Trading for evolutions can be nerve-wracking, but with the right precautions, it’s completely safe. After completing dozens of trade evolutions myself, I’ve found these final tips most valuable.

For the best experience, join gaming communities where experienced players regularly help with evolution trades. The Pokemon community is generally helpful, especially when using specific Link Codes that show you’re serious about fair trading.

Remember to save before every trade, use only the Pokemon you need evolved (never valuable shinies or competitive Pokemon), and always verify the trade terms beforehand. With Link Code 00610061, you’re connecting with players specifically looking to evolve Poliwhirl, which reduces risk significantly.

Good luck with your Politoed evolution! With this comprehensive guide, you have everything needed to complete the evolution safely and efficiently. Check out our other Pokemon guides for more evolution methods and team-building tips.