Stats & Training
Attack and Defense 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.
When faced with a larger opponent, it swallows as much water as it can to match the opponent’s size.
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 8 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Qwilfish's physical bulk (base 85 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Ground, Psychic |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Poison, Bug, Steel, Fairy |
 Stunfisk GroundElectric | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Stunfisk builds →Mud Shot 2x65-77% Thunder Shock 2x48-58% Mud-Slap 2x27-34% | ||
 Diggersby NormalGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Diggersby builds →Mud Shot 2x48-58% Mud-Slap 2x19-24% | ||
 Wooper WaterGround | C | |
 Mudbray Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Mudbray builds →Bulldoze 2x61-73% Mud-Slap 2x19-24% | ||
 Palpitoad WaterGround | D | |
Stunfisk GroundElectric | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Stunfisk builds →Mud Shot 2x63-75% Electroweb 2x63-75% Thunder Shock 2x46-54% Mud-Slap 2x24-29% | ||
Diggersby NormalGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Diggersby builds →Bulldoze 2x39-46% Mud Shot 2x46-54% Sand Tomb 2x24-29% Mud-Slap 2x21-25% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | C | |
 Onix RockGround | C | |
Palpitoad WaterGround | D | |
Stunfisk GroundElectric | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Stunfisk builds →Mud Shot 2x60-71% Electroweb 2x60-71% Thunder Shock 2x44-53% Mud-Slap 2x25-30% | ||
Diggersby NormalGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Diggersby builds →Bulldoze 2x38-45% Mud Shot 2x44-53% Sand Tomb 2x25-30% Mud-Slap 2x19-23% | ||
Wooper WaterGround | C | |
Onix RockGround | C | |
Palpitoad WaterGround | D | |
 Hippowdon Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x82-96% Thunder Fang 2x44-52% Mud Shot 2x54-64% Sand Tomb 2x37-44% | ||
 Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x96-114%KO Mud Shot 2x44-52% Sand Tomb 2x44-52% Mud-Slap 2x19-23% | ||
 Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x66-79% Mud Shot 2x51-61% | ||
Palpitoad WaterGround | D | |
 Barboach WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodNorth Lake Miloch Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Barboach builds →Earthquake 2x54-64% Mud Shot 2x42-50% Mud-Slap 2x17-20% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x82-96% Thunder Fang 2x45-53% Mud Shot 2x53-63% Sand Tomb 2x37-44% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x95-113%KO Mud Shot 2x44-52% Sand Tomb 2x44-52% Mud-Slap 2x18-22% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x67-80% Mud Shot 2x53-63% | ||
Palpitoad WaterGround | D | |
Barboach WaterGround | D | |
Obtain MethodNorth Lake Miloch Surfing Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Barboach builds →Earthquake 2x56-66% Mud Shot 2x41-50% Mud-Slap 2x16-19% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Hippowdon builds →Dig 2x81-96% Thunder Fang 2x44-52% Bulldoze 2x61-73% Mud Shot 2x53-63% | ||
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Excadrill builds →Dig 2x94-111%KO Bulldoze 2x71-83% Mud Shot 2x43-50% Sand Tomb 2x43-50% | ||
 Seismitoad WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Seismitoad builds →Dig 2x71-83% Bulldoze 2x53-63% Mud Shot 2x61-73% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x64-76% Bulldoze 2x49-58% Mud Shot 2x51-61% | ||
 Sandaconda Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandaconda builds →Dig 2x76-91% Bulldoze 2x57-68% Mud Shot 2x51-61% Sand Tomb 2x36-43% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x100-119%KO Dig 2x82-97% Thunder Fang 2x45-53% Bulldoze 2x61-73% | ||
 Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Gastrodon builds →Earth Power 2x106-126%KO Dig 2x64-75% Bulldoze 2x49-58% Mud Shot 2x65-77% | ||
Seismitoad WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Seismitoad builds →Dig 2x72-85% Bulldoze 2x55-65% Mud Shot 2x64-75% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x65-77% Bulldoze 2x49-58% Mud Shot 2x51-60% | ||
Sandaconda Ground | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Sandaconda builds →Dig 2x77-92% Bulldoze 2x59-70% Mud Shot 2x51-60% Sand Tomb 2x36-44% | ||
Hippowdon Ground | A | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Hippowdon builds →Earthquake 2x101-120%KO Dig 2x83-98% Stomping Tantrum 2x77-91% Thunder Fang 2x45-53% | ||
Gastrodon WaterGround | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Gastrodon builds →Earth Power 2x109-129%KO Dig 2x64-76% Stomping Tantrum 2x60-71% Bulldoze 2x49-58% | ||
 Flygon GroundDragon | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Flygon builds →Earthquake 2x92-109%KO Earth Power 2x98-116%KO Dig 2x76-89% Bulldoze 2x56-67% | ||
Seismitoad WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Seismitoad builds →Dig 2x71-84% Stomping Tantrum 2x67-80% Bulldoze 2x54-64% Mud Shot 2x64-76% | ||
Quagsire WaterGround | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Quagsire builds →Dig 2x66-78% Stomping Tantrum 2x62-73% Bulldoze 2x50-60% Mud Shot 2x53-62% | ||
In Sword & Shield, Excadrill's Earthquake hits Qwilfish for 81-96%.
Excadrill GroundSteel | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Excadrill builds →Earthquake 2x81-96% Rapid Spin13-16% | ||
 Zeraora Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityVoltabsorb ItemAir Balloon NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Zeraora builds →Drain Punch9-10% | ||
 Slowking WaterPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemColbur Berry NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Slowking builds →Scald21-25% | ||
 Regieleki Electric | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityTransistor ItemMagnet NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Qwilfish View Regieleki builds →Volt Switch 2x93-110%KO Electroweb 2x73-86% Thunderbolt 2x119-140%KO | ||
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilitySynchronize ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Gardevoir builds →
| ||
Sword & Shield 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 70 total stats over Qwilfish. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Qwilfish easily with 22 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Acid Spray, Aqua Jet, Astonish and 5 more to offspring.
Sword & Shield Qwilfish Best Moveset
Toxic Spikes is the priority every time Qwilfish comes in. Impish nature and max HP and Defense EVs keep it alive long enough to get layers down, while Leftovers provides passive recovery each turn. Intimidate rounds it out.
Best Build
Qwilfish best EVs are HP and Defense
Doubles Hazard Setter Moveset
- Aqua Tail
- Protect
- Toxic Spikes
- Curse
Recommended Teammates
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Waterfall
- Spikes
- Toxic Spikes
- Toxic
Recommended Teammates
Moves
You'll want to breed for Acid Spray and Aqua Jet on Qwilfish. These egg moves aren't just nice to have. Combined with STAB from Hydro Pump and Sludge Wave, they expand what Qwilfish can actually threaten in practice.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Sword & Shield Qwilfish Locations
high spawn rates across 26 locations for Qwilfish in mid-game water routes. Scroll the sorted list below and pick whichever spot sits closest to your current route. The rate differences between locations are worth comparing.
Best Locations to Catch Qwilfish in Sword & Shield
Qwilfish's encounter pool splits between Sword and Shield. You've got 26 surfing and fishing spots at Lv. 26-52 total, but your version determines which ones actually show up.
Qwilfish Guide
Qwilfish is meant to evolve into Overqwil. At 440 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 Sword & Shield, 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. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
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