Catching Politoed
Posted November 25, 2017Politoed, introduced in Generation 2 (Gold & Silver), is a green frog Pokémon that evolves from Poliwhirl. That evolution happens when you trade the Poliwhirl, which is a mechanic Game Freak use to encourage players to play together and make friends. Poliwhirl has a small additional wrinkle in that it needs to be holding a King’s Rock when traded in order to evolve into Politoed.
Trade evolutions have been around since the beginning, back in Generation 1 (Red & Blue) Haunter, Graveler, Kadabra, and Machoke were first to showcase traded evolutions. In Generation 2, Game Freak introduced traded evolutions that depend on held items (and introduced the mechanic of Pokémon holding items). This gave new evolutions to existing Pokémon like Poliwhirl, Onix, Scyther, Seadra, and Slowpoke (some of whom already evolved into other Pokémon in Generation 1).
Later on, in Generation 4 (Diamond & Pearl), trading online via the Global Trade System was added. So you don’t even need to be in the same country as your friend to trade with them.
Through the miracle of the internet, you too can trade Magikarp for Magikarp for no reason
But what if you want a Politoed and none of your friends are really into Pokémon? One of the problems you’ll find with the Global Trade System is you can’t ask for a Pokémon holding a specific item. But you can just ask for a Politoed. Chances are, someone will trade you one eventually (for some Pokémon you’re willing to offer up). But what if you don’t have a connection to the internet handy? Or you want your Politoed to definitely be your Politoed.
And who wouldn’t want one of these handsome devils?
Don’t worry, Game Freak have you covered. In Generation 7 (Sun & Moon) Politoed can in fact be caught in the wild.
This is possible through something called an SOS battle. SOS Battles are a new feature in Generation 7 where if a defending wild Pokémon is weakened or otherwise encouraged, it can call for help from other wild Pokémon. Sometimes another wild Pokémon will answer that call and join the battle against the player. And sometimes that other wild Pokémon is of a different species from the Pokémon that originally called for help.
If you want to catch that Politoed in Sun & Moon, then you’ll need to head to Malie Garden (a cultivated garden in one of Alola’s cities). When a Pokémon calls for help there (an SOS battle), there is a 1% chance that the Pokémon that answers the call will be a Politoed. If it’s raining. At night.
1%. Raining. At night.
Someone at Game Freak is laughing at us right now
Best part? It only rains for about an hour every night in Malie Garden. So you’d better be quick!