Special
Balanced
405Average
80Moderate
DTier

Quilava sits in the middle of its evolution line — stronger than Cyndaquil but not yet at full power. Most trainers push through to Typhlosion as fast as possible. A competitive option since Gen 2. Only weak to Water, Ground, and Rock.

Quilava's stats barely vary. 2 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 2 Sp. Atk and Speed EVs, 1.06M XP medium-slow curve to max.

Base Stats
405Above
HP58
D
Attack64
C
Defense58
D
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def65
C
Speed80
C
Total405
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Quilava yields +1 SpA, +1 Spe
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe+1
Details
Catch45ChallengingMedium Slow1.06M XP0.9m / 2'11"19kg / 41.9 lbs142Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Before battle, it turns its back on its opponent to demonstrate how ferociously its fire blazes.

Crystal

Quilava Weakness

Avg

Quilava is weak to Water, Ground, and Rock-type moves. It resists 5 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. 3 weaknesses is about average, nothing too hard to play around.

Gen II Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
  • Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
3Weak
5Resist
0Immune
Scorei-1
Stealth Rock25% on switch
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
BlazeStrengthens fire moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Flash FireHAProtects against fire moves. Once one has been blocked, the Pokémon's own Fire moves inflict 1.5× damage until it leaves battle.
Flash Fire grants Fire immunity

Quilava is the middle stage between Cyndaquil and Typhlosion. It's a three-stage line with one more evolution to go. For breeding, average hatch time with plenty of partners via one egg group. Sp.Atk has grown the most so far (+20), but there's still another 129 stats to gain in the final evolution.

How to Evolve

3 Forms
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Quilava
Fire
HP
39
58+19
78+20
ATK
52
64+12
84+20
DEF
43
58+15
78+20
SP.ATK
60
80+20
109+29
SP.DEF
50
65+15
85+20
SPE
65
80+15
100+20
BST
309D-Tier
405D-Tier+96
534B-Tier+129
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Sweeper
TYPE
Utility
Special
Special
Breeding
Moderate

Breed with Quilava to get Cyndaquil eggs using 66 partners from the Ground egg group. Notable egg moves include Foresight, Fury Swipes, Quick Attack and 3 more.

Egg Groups
Ground
Gender
87.5%12.5%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
6moves
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

For an attacker, Quilava wants flexible EVs EVs and Charcoal. The a nature nature tilts toward balanced duty, and an ability contributes without taking a move slot.

Best Build

Utility
Ability
Not in Gen 2
Item
Charcoal
Nature
Not in Gen 2

Best Quilava Moveset

  • FlamethrowerSTAB
  • Quick Attack
  • Double Edge
  • Sunny DaySTAB

Egg moves make a real difference. Quilava gets Foresight and Fury Swipes exclusively through breeding, filling gaps that TMs and level-up can't touch. Normal and Ground coverage and more rounds out the picture alongside Fire Blast and Flamethrower.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Leer
10030Normal
Lv 1
Smokescreen
10020Normal
Lv 1
Tackle
3510035Normal
Lv 6
Smokescreen
10020Normal
Lv 12
Ember
4010025Fire
Lv 21
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Lv 31
Flame Wheel
6010025Fire
Lv 42
Swift
6020Normal
Lv 54
Flamethrower
9510015Fire

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM03
Curse
10Ghost
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM40
Defense Curl
40Normal
TM43
Detect+4
5Fighting
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM20
Endure+4
10Normal
TM38
Fire Blast
120855Fire
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM49
Fury Cutter
109520Bug
TM02
Headbutt
7010015Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM31
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM05
Roar-6
20Normal
TM08
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM04
Rollout
309020Rock
TM35
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM13
Snore
4010015Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM34
Swagger
8515Normal
TM39
Swift
6020Normal
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Foresight
10040Normal
Egg
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Egg
Quick Attack+1
4010030Normal
Egg
Reversal
10015Fighting
Egg
Submission
808025Fighting
Egg
Thrash
12010020Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Flamethrower
9510015Fire

Quilava doesn't appear wild. Catch Cyndaquil instead, it shows up but it's a rare spawn. Evolve it at level 14 to get Quilava. The 2-stage line is mapped in the step cards below.

How to Obtain Quilava in Crystal

  1. Cyndaquil
    Step 1Catch Cyndaquil
    New Bark Town
    Gift from NPCLv.5LimitedEarlyCityStarter choice
    MODERATE
  2. Quilava
    Step 2Quilava
  • Quilava isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Typhlosion to unlock its full potential. At 405 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Quilava's biggest threats include Gyarados (Water), Rhydon (Ground), and Tyranitar (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves.

  • Cyndaquil evolves into Quilava at level 14. Quilava can evolve into Typhlosion and Hisuian Typhlosion depending on the method. Quilava is a middle-stage evolution in the Cyndaquil line.

  • Quilava fills the balanced role. It's a special attacker with base 80 Sp. Atk. Base 80 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many.

  • Quilava appears in 17 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.

Quilava first appeared in Gold & Silver and has been available in 17 games across 8 generations. Obtainable through catching or hatching as a base form in most titles where it appears.