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.

What is Qwilfish weak to?

In Crystal, watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Alakazam (Psychic) when using Qwilfish. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.

What role does Qwilfish play in battle?

Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Qwilfish is a mixed attacker with base 95 Attack and 55 Sp. Atk.

Should I use Qwilfish?

For Crystal, you can run Qwilfish through the first few routes without issues. 430 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Overqwil as fast as you can.

What are Qwilfish's strengths?

Qwilfish's best stat is Attack at base 95. Water/Poison typing resists 7 types, so it can switch in safely on a lot of moves.

Qwilfish - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Mixed

Balanced

CTier

85Speed · Above Avg

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 stat exp. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats

Above

HP65

Attack95

Defense75

Sp. Atk55

Sp. Def55

Speed85

Total430

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Medium Fast1M XP

Height0.5 m

Weight3.9 kg

Base XP88

Abilities

Abilities were introduced in Generation III. Shown below for reference.

Poison Point

Has a 30% chance of poisoning attacking Pokémon on contact.

Swift Swim

Doubles Speed during rain.

IntimidateHA

Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.

EV Yield

HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training source

Pokedex Entries

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

Crystal

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
Damage	Types
2x (Weak)	Electric, Ground, Psychic
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel

Type ChartGood

3Weak

7Resist

0Immune

Score+1

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

4xCritical

None

2xWeak

Electric Ground Psychic

½xResist

Fire Water Ice Fighting Poison Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

None

STAB (4)

Fire Ground Rock Grass

How to Beat Qwilfish in Crystal (Best Counters)

Donphan Ground	B
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 27-32% View Donphan builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 71-84% Mud-Slap 2x 22-26% View Quagsire builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 78-94% Mud-Slap 2x 22-26% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 46-55% Mud-Slap 2x 13-16% View Onix builds →
Magnemite ElectricSteel	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 Damage vs Qwilfish Thunder 2x 131-155%KO Thunder Shock 2x 48-58% View Magnemite builds →

Crystal 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

No Evolution

#211QwilfishDoes not evolve

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Qwilfish easily with 9 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Flail, Haze and 1 more to offspring.

Egg Groups

Water2

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)

Crystal Qwilfish Best Moveset

Best Build

Experimental

Support

Ability

Not in Gen 2

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Nature

Not in Gen 2

Support Moveset

SpikesHazard
Sludge BombSTAB
Hydro PumpSTAB
HazeUtility

Recommended Teammates

SnorlaxGood

RaikouGood

SkarmoryDecent

Moves

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

—1510035Poison

Lv 1

Spikes

S——20Ground

Lv 1

Tackle

D3510035Normal

Lv 10

Harden

———30Normal

Lv 10

Minimize

———20Normal

Lv 19

Water Gun

D4010025Water

Lv 28

Pin Missile

—149520Bug

Lv 37

Take Down

C908520Normal

Lv 46

Hydro Pump

S120805Water

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

D—10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D120705Ice

TM03

Curse

B——10Ghost

TM40

Defense Curl

D——40Normal

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM20

Endure+4

D——10Normal

TM21

Frustration

D—10020Normal

TM02

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM16

Icy Wind

D559515Ice

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

B——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM04

Rollout

D309020Rock

TM35

Sleep Talk

C——10Normal

TM36

Sludge Bomb

S9010010Poison

TM13

Snore

—4010015Normal

HM03

Surf

B9510015Water

TM34

Swagger

C—8515Normal

TM39

Swift

D60—20Normal

TM06

Toxic

B—8510Poison

HM07

Waterfall

—8010015Water

HM06

Whirlpool

D358515Water

Egg Moves

Egg

Bubble Beam

—6510020Water

Egg

Flail

D—10015Normal

Egg

Haze

A——30Ice

Egg

Supersonic

——5520Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut

Tutor

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

Crystal Qwilfish Locations

Qwilfish is available from early-game fishing spots onward at high spawn rates. 5 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations to Catch Qwilfish in Crystal

Qwilfish is a fishing-only catch in this game. 5 spots at Lv. 10-40 using Old Rod, Good Rod, and Super Rod, so bring the right rod and check the rates on each location.

Route 32

Old Rod Lv.10 Route

15%Early

Swarm active

Route 32

Good Rod Lv.20 Route

65%Mid

Swarm active

Route 32

Super Rod Lv.40 Route

10%Late

Route 12

Super Rod Lv.40 Route

10%Late

Route 13

Super Rod Lv.40 Route

10%Late

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.
In Crystal, watch for Raikou (Electric), Golem (Ground), and Alakazam (Psychic) when using Qwilfish. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB.
Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Qwilfish is a mixed attacker with base 95 Attack and 55 Sp. Atk.
For Crystal, you can run Qwilfish through the first few routes without issues. 430 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Overqwil as fast as you can.
Qwilfish's best stat is Attack at base 95. Water/Poison typing resists 7 types, so it can switch in safely on a lot of moves.

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

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Donphan Ground	B
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeLv. 49 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Earthquake 2x 120-141%KO Mud-Slap 2x 25-30% View Donphan builds →
Marowak Ground	B
Obtain MethodEvolve Cubone (Goldenrod City Gift) Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Thunder PunchTM41 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 71-84% Thunder Punch 2x 39-46% Bone Club 2x 58-69% Bonemerang 2x 45-54% View Marowak builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves EarthquakeLv. 35 DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Earthquake 2x 91-107%KO Dig 2x 73-86% Mud-Slap 2x 20-24% View Quagsire builds →
Sandslash Ground	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 84-99% Mud-Slap 2x 24-28% View Sandslash builds →
Magneton ElectricSteel	C
Available Moves Moves Zap CannonLv. 53 ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 Damage vs Qwilfish Zap Cannon 2x 182-214%KO Thunder 2x 167-197%KO Thunder Shock 2x 61-73% View Magneton builds →

Celebi PsychicGrass	A
Obtain MethodIlex Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves ConfusionLv. 1 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Confusion 2x 69-82% Mud-Slap 2x 16-20% View Celebi builds →
Quagsire WaterGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 20-24% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Geodude builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 16-19% View Onix builds →
Geodude RockGround	C
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Geodude builds →
Slowpoke WaterPsychic	D
Obtain MethodSlowpoke Well Surfing Available Moves Moves ConfusionLv. 20 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Confusion 2x 40-48% Mud-Slap 2x 13-16% View Slowpoke builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
TM Move Moves Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Mud-Slap 2x 24-29% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 77-92% Mud-Slap 2x 23-28% View Quagsire builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 51-60% Mud-Slap 2x 16-20% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Thunder PunchTM41 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 53-64% Thunder Punch 2x 36-43% Bone Club 2x 44-52% Bonemerang 2x 33-40% View Cubone builds →
Magnemite ElectricSteel	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 Damage vs Qwilfish Thunder 2x 139-164%KO Thunder Shock 2x 53-64% View Magnemite builds →
Sandshrew Ground	D
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 71-84% Mud-Slap 2x 20-24% View Sandshrew builds →

Quagsire WaterGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 73-87% Mud-Slap 2x 22-27% View Quagsire builds →
Graveler RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 79-93% Mud-Slap 2x 22-27% View Graveler builds →
Onix RockGround	C
Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Mud-SlapTM31 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 48-57% Mud-Slap 2x 13-17% View Onix builds →
Cubone Ground	C
Obtain MethodGoldenrod City Gift Available Moves Moves DigTM28 Thunder PunchTM41 Bone ClubLv. 9 BonemerangLv. 25 Damage vs Qwilfish Dig 2x 50-60% Thunder Punch 2x 36-42% Bone Club 2x 42-50% Bonemerang 2x 33-40% View Cubone builds →
Magnemite ElectricSteel	D
Available Moves Moves ThunderTM25 Thunder ShockLv. 6 Damage vs Qwilfish Thunder 2x 136-160%KO Thunder Shock 2x 53-63% View Magnemite builds →