Spikes access with Water/Poison typing make Qwilfish an A-Tier support option in Crystal that can also hit back with Sludge Bomb.
430HP65Attack95Defense75Speed85Sp.Def55Sp.Atk55
Weak to
Mixed
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Is Qwilfish Good in Crystal Playthrough?

Fishing in Route 32 area. Water/Poison with MoveSpikes for entry hazard damage. Crystal's E4 rematches and Battle Tower make hazard strategies more viable than in Gold or Silver's shorter postgame. A niche pick with a niche use.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGGGGEGGEEEGEEGGEEEGGGFalknerGym 1BugsyGym 2WhitneyGym 3MortyGym 4ChuckGym 5JasmineGym 6PryceGym 7ClairGym 8SurgeGym 9SabrinaGym 10ErikaGym 11JanineGym 12MistyGym 13QwilfishCatchableBrockGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16WillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.

You Win
Pidgey
Lv 7
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud Slap
You Win
Pidgeotto
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleMud SlapGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Bugsy's team.

You Win
Metapod
Lv 14
Bug
Shed Skin
TackleString ShotHarden
You Win
Kakuna
Lv 14
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison StingString ShotHarden
Even
Scyther
Lv 16
BugFlying
Swarm
Quick AttackLeerFury Cutter
Whitney
Gym 3
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Whitney's team.

You Win
Clefairy
Lv 18
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
You Win
Miltank
Lv 20
Normal
Thick Fat
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.

You Win
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
You Win
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
Levitate
HypnosisMimicCurseNight Shade
Even
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookDream Eater
You Win
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
Levitate
SpiteMean LookMimicNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Chuck's team.

You Win
Primeape
Lv 27
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerRageKarate ChopFury Swipes
Even
Poliwrath
Lv 30
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisMind ReaderSurfDynamic Punch
Jasmine
Gym 6
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Jasmine's team.

Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Even
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Easy KO
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Rock Head
ScreechSunny DayRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.

You Win
Seel
Lv 27
Water
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
You Win
Dewgong
Lv 29
WaterIce
Thick Fat
HeadbuttIcy WindAurora BeamRest
Easy KO
Piloswine
Lv 31
IceGround
Oblivious
Icy WindFury AttackMistBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.

Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSurfSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveThunderboltSlamDragon Breath
Even
Dragonair
Lv 37
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveIce BeamSlamDragon Breath
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 40
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenSurfHyper BeamDragon Breath
Lt. Surge
Gym 9
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

Even
Raichu
Lv 44
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackThunderboltThunder
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Even
Magneton
Lv 40
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
Lock OnDouble TeamSwiftZap Cannon
Even
Electrode
Lv 40
Electric
Soundproof
ScreechDouble TeamSwiftExplosion
Risky
Electabuzz
Lv 46
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder PunchLight ScreenThunder
Sabrina
Gym 10
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Espeon
Lv 46
Psychic
Synchronize
Sand AttackQuick AttackSwiftPsychic
Even
Mr Mime
Lv 46
Psychic
Soundproof
BarrierReflectBaton PassPsychic
Even
Alakazam
Lv 48
Psychic
Synchronize
RecoverFuture SightPsychicReflect
Erika
Gym 11
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Erika's team.

You Win
Tangela
Lv 42
Grass
Chlorophyll
Vine WhipBindGiga DrainSleep Powder
You Win
Jumpluff
Lv 41
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Mega DrainLeech SeedCotton SporeGiga Drain
Even
Victreebel
Lv 46
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisAcidRazor Leaf
You Win
Bellossom
Lv 46
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisPetal DanceSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 12
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Janine's team.

Even
Crobat
Lv 36
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
Even
Weezing
Lv 36
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludge BombToxicExplosion
You Win
Ariados
Lv 33
BugPoison
Swarm
Scary FaceGiga DrainString ShotNight Shade
Even
Venomoth
Lv 39
BugPoison
Shield Dust
ForesightDouble TeamGustPsychic
Misty
Gym 13
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.

Even
Golduck
Lv 42
Water
Damp
SurfDisablePsych UpPsychic
Even
Quagsire
Lv 42
WaterGround
Damp
SurfAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
You Win
Lapras
Lv 44
WaterIce
Water Absorb
SurfPerish SongBlizzardRain Dance
Even
Starmie
Lv 47
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
SurfConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Brock
Gym 14
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.

You Win
Graveler
Lv 41
RockGround
Rock Head
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 41
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
Even
Omastar
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
BiteSurfProtectSpike Cannon
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 44
RockGround
Rock Head
BindRock SlideBideSandstorm
Even
Kabutops
Lv 42
RockWater
Swift Swim
SlashSurfEndureGiga Drain
Blaine
Gym 15
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

Easy KO
Magcargo
Lv 45
FireRock
Magma Armor
CurseSmogFlamethrowerRock Slide
You Win
Magmar
Lv 45
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchFire PunchSunny DayConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
Quick AttackFire SpinFury AttackFire Blast
Blue
Gym 16
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Even
Pidgeot
Lv 56
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
Quick AttackWhirlwindWing AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 54
Psychic
Synchronize
DisableRecoverPsychicReflect
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 56
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Fury AttackSandstormRock SlideEarthquake
Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterHydro PumpRain DanceHyper Beam
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 58
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayLeech SeedEgg BombSolar Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarSwiftFlamethrowerExtreme Speed
Will
Elite Four
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Will's team.

Even
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
You Win
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectLeech SeedEgg BombPsychic
Even
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
CurseAmnesiaBody SlamPsychic
Even
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
Quick AttackFuture SightConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Even

Qwilfish trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

You Win
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Swarm
Double TeamSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
Even
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Shield Dust
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
Even
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionSpikes
Even
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Stench
MinimizeAcid ArmorSludge BombToxic
Even
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackToxic
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Intimidate
PursuitQuick AttackDigDetect
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Limber
SwaggerDouble KickHigh Jump KickForesight
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Keen Eye
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchMach Punch
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Rock Head
BindEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
You Win
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
Guts
Rock SlideForesightVital ThrowCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.

You Win
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Sand AttackConfuse RayFeint AttackMean Look
Even
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
Even
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
LickSpiteCurseDestiny Bond
You Win
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Insomnia
Quick AttackWhirlwindPursuitFeint Attack
You Win
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Early Bird
RoarPursuitFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Good

Qwilfish has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 44
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailRain DanceSurfHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterThunderHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 47
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveTwisterBlizzardHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 46
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackAncient PowerRock SlideHyper Beam
Easy KO
Charizard
Lv 46
FireFlying
Blaze
FlamethrowerWing AttackSlashHyper Beam
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 13
Type
WaterPoison
Tier
A

Catch Qwilfish on Route 32 (Super Rod fishing, Lv 40, uncommon).

View Qwilfish locations

Crystal Qwilfish Locations

Qwilfish bites the rod at a few coastal spots, but its phone-announced Route 32 swarm is the real story, flooding every rod tier there. Catch it during the swarm and the scarcity vanishes.

3 locations to catch Qwilfish

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

Best Locations to Catch Qwilfish in Crystal

Qwilfish is a fishing-only catch in this game. 6 spots at Lv. 5-40 using Old Rod, Good Rod, and Super Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.

How to Get Shiny Qwilfish in Crystal

Qwilfish takes a Super Rod at level 40 on Route 32 and Kanto's Route 12 and Route 13, and an active fishing swarm on Route 32 makes the bites come much faster. Compare Shiny Qwilfish odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Qwilfish in CrystalNormal
Shiny Qwilfish in Crystal Shiny
Color ShiftGraytoPink
Shiny TierB Tier Shiny

Shiny Qwilfish Evolution

Does Not Evolve
Qwilfish does not evolve
Single-stage PokemonView Full Evolution Chart

Crystal Shiny Qwilfish Calculator

2 Methods
Fastest Path

The best route is Breed w/ Shiny Parent, about 1 in 64 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Crystal

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breed w/ Shiny Parent: Eggs inherit stats from a shiny parent, so about 1 in 64 hatch shiny. A shiny Ditto helps every egg, and any other shiny parent (the red Gyarados works) helps only eggs of the opposite gender.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 64Breed w/ Shiny Parent
Chance By Now50.8%at 45 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few7----
25%one in four19----
50%coin flip45----
90%very likely147----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your Crystal shiny odds for Qwilfish.

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.

Qwilfish Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel
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

What is Qwilfish Weak Against

Good
3Weak
7Resist
0Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Qwilfish Strong Against

4Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+4
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Qwilfish

Quagsire
Quagsire
WaterGround
B
Kadabra
Kadabra
Psychic
C
Magneton
Magneton
ElectricSteel
C
Celebi
Celebi
PsychicGrass
C
Raikou
Raikou
Electric
S

Qwilfish Evolutions

No evolution chain to worry about here. Qwilfish is a standalone Pokemon with a small partner pool for breeding through one egg group. Its eggs take an average time to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Qwilfish
#211Qwilfish
Does not evolve

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Qwilfish easily with 9 breeding partners from the Water 2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Flail, Haze and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water 2
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
4moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosoctillerymagikarpremoraidlanturnseakinggoldeenchinchou

C Qwilfish Best Moveset

Water/Poison with access to MoveSpikes, making it one of the format's few hazard setters. MoveSludge Bomb for Poison TermStab and MoveSurf for Water coverage. Held ItemLeftovers sustains. The Spikes access alone creates value the stats wouldn't otherwise justify.

Best Build

Experimental
Support
Ability
Unknown
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Qwilfish
HardyNEUTRAL

Support Moveset

  • SpikesHazard
  • Sludge BombSTAB
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • HazeUtility

Moves List

You'll want to breed for Bubble Beam and Flail on Qwilfish. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Sludge Bomb, they expand what Qwilfish can actually threaten in practice.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Poison Sting
D2210035Poison
Lv 1
Spikes
B——20Ground
Lv 1
Tackle
D3510035Normal
Lv 10
Harden
D——30Normal
Lv 10
Minimize
———20Normal
Lv 19
Water Gun
D6010025Water
Lv 28
Pin Missile
—149520Bug
Lv 37
Take Down
C908520Normal
Lv 46
Hydro Pump
B180805Water

TM Moves

20 of 24 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45D—10015Normal
TM14D120705Ice
TM40
Defense CurlMt. Mortarnot until badge 8
D——40Normal
TM32———15Normal
TM20
Endure+4Burned Towerbadge 4
D——10Normal
TM02C7010015Normal
TM10D6010015Normal
TM16
Icy WindPrize for defeating Prycenot until badge 7
D559515Ice
TM17C——10Normal
TM18A——5Water
TM44
RestIce Pathnot until badge 7
C——10Psychic
TM04
RolloutRoute 35badge 2
D309020Rock
TM36B13510010Poison
TM13
SnoreMoomoo Farmbadge 3
—4010015Normal
HM03
SurfEcruteak Citybadge 3
A14210015Water
TM34
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
C—8515Normal
TM39
SwiftUnion Cavebadge 1
D60—20Normal
TM06A—8510Poison
HM07
WaterfallIce Pathnot until badge 7
C12010015Water
HM06D528515Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Bubble Beam
D9710020Water
Egg
Flail
D—10015Normal
Egg
Haze
A——30Ice
Egg
Supersonic
——5520Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Ice Beam
D9510010Ice

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP65
C
Attack95
B
Defense75
C
Sp. Atk55
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed85
C
Total430
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.5 m
Weight3.9 kg
Base XP88
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

When faced with a larger opponent, it swallows as much water as it can to match the opponent’s size.

Pokemon Crystal

Qwilfish Crystal Guide

  • For Crystal, go for it. Qwilfish rates A-Tier, and its Water/Poison typing handles most of what the story throws at you.

  • Qwilfish has a Hisuian form that swaps the typing and reshuffles the stats. Introduced in Gen 8. Worth checking if the original version doesn't fit your team.

  • In Crystal, use Qwilfish as a balanced. Splits damage between physical and special. Speed is middling,

Game Availability

Since debuting in Gold & Silver, Qwilfish has appeared in 19 titles over 8 generations. Along the way, it received a Hisuian form in Generation 8, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Explore

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