Stats & Training
Attack and Speed carry most of Qwilfish's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 1 Attack EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
To fire its poison spikes, it must inflate its body by drinking over 2.6 gallons of water all at once.
The small spikes covering its body developed from scales. They inject a toxin that causes fainting.
Qwilfish Weakness
Qwilfish's Water/Poison typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric, Ground, and Psychic. With 7 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Qwilfish leans offensive (base 95 Atk) rather than trying to tank its weaknesses.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x49-59% Mud Bomb 2x75-88% Mud-Slap 2x29-35% | ||
 Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing | ||
 Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
 Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
 Plusle Electric | D | |
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x48-58% Mud Bomb 2x73-87% Mud-Slap 2x24-29% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Mud Bomb 2x40-48% Mud Shot 2x35-44% | ||
Slowpoke WaterPsychic | D | |
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing | ||
Bronzor SteelPsychic | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Bronzor builds →Extrasensory 2x45-53% Confusion 2x32-39% Charge Beam 2x21-26% | ||
Plusle Electric | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Plusle builds →Thunder 2x131-155%KO Thunderbolt 2x106-126%KO Spark 2x45-53% Charge Beam 2x61-73% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x47-56% Mud Bomb 2x71-84% Mud-Slap 2x27-32% | ||
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Dig 2x51-60% Mud Bomb 2x37-44% Mud Shot 2x33-40% | ||
 Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x139-164%KO Thunderbolt 2x115-136%KO Spark 2x37-44% Charge Beam 2x68-80% | ||
 Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x44-53% Mud Bomb 2x70-83% Mud-Slap 2x24-30% | ||
 Graveler RockGround | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Dig 2x48-57% Mud Bomb 2x37-43% Mud Shot 2x31-37% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x136-160%KO Thunderbolt 2x113-133%KO Spark 2x33-40% Charge Beam 2x64-77% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x47-55% Mud Bomb 2x70-83% Mud-Slap 2x25-30% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x101-119%KO Dig 2x80-95% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x60-71% Dig 2x48-56% Mud Bomb 2x35-42% Mud Shot 2x30-36% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x139-163%KO Thunderbolt 2x113-134%KO Spark 2x35-42% Charge Beam 2x65-77% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x45-53% Mud Bomb 2x69-83% Mud-Slap 2x22-28% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x98-116%KO Dig 2x81-95% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x57-67% Dig 2x46-55% Mud Bomb 2x36-43% Mud Shot 2x31-37% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x135-159%KO Thunderbolt 2x111-132%KO Spark 2x34-40% Charge Beam 2x64-77% | ||
Whiscash WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Whiscash builds →Zen Headbutt 2x46-54% Mud Bomb 2x69-82% Mud-Slap 2x25-29% | ||
 Gligar Ground | C | |
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Earthquake 2x100-118%KO Dig 2x80-95% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x58-68% Dig 2x46-55% Mud Bomb 2x35-42% Mud Shot 2x31-37% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Flygon can KO Qwilfish with Earthquake (129-152%). Azelf threatens a KO with Explosion (101-120%). Zapdos's Thunderbolt also KOs at 140-165%.
 Flygon GroundDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemChoice Scarf NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x129-152%KO Outrage77-91% U Turn15-18% | ||
 Azelf Psychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityLevitate ItemFocus Sash NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Azelf builds →Explosion101-120%KO U Turn14-17% | ||
 Zapdos Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Zapdos builds →Thunderbolt 2x140-165%KO Heat Wave24-29% | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Qwilfish doesn't evolve by leveling. You'll need an evolution item to push it forward to Overqwil. The evolved forms gain up to 80 total stats over Qwilfish. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Qwilfish easily with 19 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Aqua Jet, Astonish, Bubble Beam and 5 more to offspring.
HeartGold & SoulSilver Qwilfish Best Moveset
One boost from Swords Dance and Qwilfish gets dangerous fast. The Adamant nature targets max Attack and Speed, and Swiftswim backs the whole approach. Waterfall and Normal coverage handle most of what's left standing.
Best Build
Qwilfish best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Explosion
- Poison Jab
- Swords Dance
Recommended Teammates
Moves
STAB runs through Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail for the basics, but Qwilfish's real strength is the 10-type coverage spread. Normal and Rock hit common defensive types, and the movepool keeps going.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Transfer Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Qwilfish Locations
high spawn rates in mid-game fishing spots across 10 locations. Qwilfish's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Best Locations to Catch Qwilfish in HeartGold & SoulSilver
You can catch Qwilfish through 10 fishing and walking encounters from Lv. 20-40, but availability differs between SoulSilver and HeartGold. Some spots are exclusive to one version.
Qwilfish Guide
Qwilfish is meant to evolve into Overqwil. At 430 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Intimidate is what you want on Qwilfish. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Poison Point, Swift Swim) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Qwilfish worth using.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Qwilfish's hidden ability is Intimidate. Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle. Better than the standard options for competitive play.
Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Qwilfish is a physical attacker with base 95 Attack.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Qwilfish has appeared in 20 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLAHisuian
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves