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.
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 |
- 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
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Onix builds →Dig 2x49-58% Mud-Slap 2x17-21% | ||
Geodude RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Geodude builds →Dig 2x71-83% Mud-Slap 2x21-25% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Dig 2x49-58% Mud-Slap 2x17-21% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x133-158%KO Thunder Shock 2x53-63% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x67-79% Mud-Slap 2x21-25% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Dig 2x79-93% Mud-Slap 2x22-27% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Onix builds →Dig 2x48-57% Mud-Slap 2x13-17% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x59-70% Dig 2x48-57% Mud-Slap 2x13-17% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x136-160%KO Thunder Shock 2x53-63% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x68-80% Mud-Slap 2x19-23% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Dig 2x78-94% Mud-Slap 2x22-26% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Onix builds →Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x57-68% Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x131-155%KO Thunder Shock 2x48-58% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x66-77% Mud-Slap 2x18-23% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Dig 2x78-94% Mud-Slap 2x22-26% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Onix builds →Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x57-68% Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x131-155%KO Thunder Shock 2x48-58% | ||
Sandshrew Ground | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandshrew builds →Dig 2x66-77% Mud-Slap 2x18-23% | ||
Graveler RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Graveler builds →Dig 2x78-94% Mud-Slap 2x22-26% | ||
Onix RockGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Onix builds →Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodRuins Of Alph Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Wooper builds →Earthquake 2x57-68% Dig 2x46-55% Mud-Slap 2x13-16% | ||
Phanpy Ground | D | |
Magnemite ElectricSteel | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Magnemite builds →Thunder 2x131-155%KO Thunder Shock 2x48-58% | ||
In Gold & Silver, Golem can KO Qwilfish with Earthquake (118-139%). Jolteon threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (126-148%). Jynx's Psychic also KOs at 131-154%.
Golem RockGround | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Golem builds →Earthquake 2x118-139%KO Explosion98-115%KO Rapid Spin20-24% | ||
Jolteon Electric | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Jolteon builds →Thunderbolt 2x126-148%KO | ||
Jynx IcePsychic | B | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Jynx builds →Ice Beam32-38% Psychic 2x131-154%KO Thief29-34% | ||
Gold & Silver 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 9 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Bubble Beam, Flail, Haze and 1 more to offspring.
Gold & Silver Qwilfish Best Moveset
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Spikes
- Sludge Bomb
- Hydro Pump
- Haze
Recommended Teammates
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Gold & Silver Qwilfish Locations
moderate rates for Qwilfish across 6 locations in late-game fishing spots. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Qwilfish in Gold & Silver
Bring Super Rod for Qwilfish. There are 6 fishing encounters from Lv. 40+ with no walking alternatives. Pick the spot with the best rate and settle in.
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.
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 Gold & Silver, 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
- 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
