Quaquaval Movesets and Best Builds

This is a guide to movesets and best builds for using Quaquaval in competitive play for the games Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV). Read on for tips on the best Nature, EV spreads, Movesets, Tera Type, and Held Items to use with Quaquaval, as well as its strengths and weakness.

Quaquaval - Related Guides
Evolution and Learnset	Moveset for Ranked Battle	Tera Raid Build

Quaquaval Base Stats, Type, Abilities and Weaknesses

Paldea #9		Type
Quaquaval
		Abilities
		Torrent Moxie (Hidden)
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

What is Type Effectiveness?

Base Stats

Best Nature for Quaquaval

What are Natures?

Singles Movesets for Quaquaval

Choice Scarf Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Adamant (+Atk, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	Atk 252 / Sp.Def 4 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 160 / Atk 189 / Def 100 / Sp.Def 96 / Spe 137
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Choice Scarf
Moveset	・ Close Combat ・ Wave Crash ・ Aqua Step ・ Ice Spinner

Summary

Quaquaval's great dual typing and access to Moxie makes it a great revenge killer, with access to high BP moves such as Close Combat and Wave Crash allowing it to net a surprise KO with at least a +1 Attack.

Has access to high base power physical moves. Has great neutral coverage with its STAB moves alone. Moxie and Choice Scarf make it difficult to switch into once it gets a boost.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Moxie	Choice Scarf

Moxie is the best Ability for this Quaquaval, giving it a +1 Attack boost when it knocks out a Pokemon. This can have a snowball effect that makes it very difficult to switch into once it gets 2 or more Attack boosts.

Choice Scarf doubles Quaquaval's Speed stat at the cost of getting locked to the first move it used on that turn. With the given EV Spread and an Adamant Nature, Quaquaval has an effective Speed stat of 205 with Choice Scarf equipped.

Moves Breakdown

Close Combat and Wave Crash are Quaquaval's strongest STAB moves, both boasting 120 Base Power and has great neutral coverage. Keep in mind that Close Combat lowers Quaquaval's Defense and Special Defense every time it's used, while Wave Crash deals recoil damage equal to 33% of the damage it deals.

Aqua Step is a weaker but safer Water-type STAB but also increases Quaquaval's Speed by one stage, allowing it to outspeed opposing Choice Scarf Pokemon once it gets a boost.

Ice Spinner is its last coverage move, hitting Grass, Flying, and Dragon-types for super effective damage while also removing terrain from the field.

Best Tera Type: Fighting

Fighting Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)

Fighting Tera Type further boosts the damage of Quaquaval's Close Combat, while also removing its weakness to Grass and Electric-type moves.

Best Fighting Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

We're using a standard offensive EV Spread with full Attack and Speed investment and the remaining 4 EVs placed in Sp.Def to round off its bulk.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Quaquaval's EV Spread with an Adamant Nature and +1 Attack from Moxie.

Damage Dealt by Quaquaval
207 HP｜141 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 4 (Adamant) Item: Heavy-Duty Boots	Close Combat 540-640 (260.8 - 309.1%) Guaranteed OHKO
207 HP｜200 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 252 | Def 252 (Impish) Item: Leftovers	Wave Crash 192-228 (92.7 - 110.1%) 50% Chance to OHKO
130 HP｜100 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Modest) Item: Choice Scarf	Aqua Step 254-302 (195.3 - 232.3%) Guaranteed OHKO
183 HP｜115 Def No Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Def 0 (Jolly) Item: Leftovers	Ice Spinner 296-352 (161.7 - 192.3%) Guaranteed OHKO

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Defensive Flying Tera Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Impish (+Def, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 252 / Def 156 / Spe 100
Final Stat Values	HP 192 / Atk 140 / Def 132 / Sp.Def 95 / Spe 118
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Rocky Helmet
Moveset	・ Aqua Step ・ Taunt ・ Bulk Up ・ Roost

Summary

Access to Bulk Up and Roost allows Quaquaval to function as a pseudo-physical wall thanks to its great dual typing.

Access to reliable recovery in Roost. Bulk Up allows it to threaten opposing defensive Pokemon with its STAB moves. Using Roost while it's terastallized into a Flying-type doesn't cause it to lose its Flying-type.

Ability and Held Item

Ability	Held Item
Moxie	Rocky Helmet

Moxie is the best Ability for this Quaquaval, giving it a +1 Attack boost when it knocks out a Pokemon. This can have a snowball effect that makes it very difficult to switch into once it gets 2 or more Attack boosts.

Rocky Helmet causes opposing Pokemon to get recoil damage when attacking Quaquaval with a contact moves.

Moves Breakdown

Aqua Step deals damage while also raising Quaquaval's Speed stat by one stage while Taunt allows it to prevent setup sweepers and defensive Pokemon from using their support moves.

Bulk Up raises Quaquaval's Attack and Defense stat by one stage, while Roost recovers lost health. When terastallized into a Flying-type, Quaquaval won't lose its Flying-type even after it uses Roost.

Best Tera Type: Flying

Flying Tera Type Matchup
Weak to:
	(2x)
Damaged Normally By:	(1x)
Resists:	(0.5x)
Immune to:	(0x)

Flying Tera Type gives Quaquaval newfound resistances to Grass and Fighting-type moves, while also giving it immunity to Ground-type.

Best Flying Type Pokemon for Ranked Battle

EV Spread and Nature

We're using a modified defensive EV spread with full HP investment and 156 Defense, with the remaining 100 EVs placed in Speed.

Other Viable Moves

Key Damage Calculations

The following calculations take into account Quaquaval's EV Spread with an Impish Nature and +1 Attack and Defense from Bulk Up.

Damage Dealt by Quaquaval
130 HP｜100 Def Defensive EV Investment: HP 0 | Sp.Def 4 (Modest) Item: Choice Scarf	Aqua Step 188-224 (144.6 - 172.3%) Guaranteed OHKO
Damage Received by Quaquaval
182 Atk Offensive EV Investment: Atk 252 (Jolly) Item: Leftovers	Earthquake +1 78-93 (40.6 - 48.4%) Guaranteed 2HKO
200 Atk Offensive EV Investment: Atk 252 (Adamant) Item: Life Orb	Bullet Seed (3 Hits) 63-75 (32.8 - 39%) Guaranteed 2HKO after terastallizing into a Flying-type

Game8's Competitive Damage Calculator

Swords Dance Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 161 / Atk 172 / Def 100 / Sp.Def 95 / Spe 150
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Focus Sash
Moveset	・ Aqua Step ・ Close Combat ・ Aqua Jet ・ Swords Dance

Quaquaval is a formidable setup sweeper that is very hard to counter once it's gained enough Attack boosts from its Moxie Ability. It's also one of the few Swords Dance sweepers that can also boost its speed thanks to its signature move Aqua Step.

Close Combat is its strongest STAB move and has a wide coverage that lets it hit common Rock, Steel, Ice, and Dark-type Pokemon.

Aqua Jet, on the other hand, is a good priority move to have that allows Quaquaval to hit faster Pokemon and gets a nice damage boost when using Water Tera type.

Other Viable Moves

Life Orb Attacker Moveset & Best Build

Nature	Jolly (+Spe, -Sp.Atk)
EV Spread	HP 4 / Atk 252 / Spe 252
Final Stat Values	HP 161 / Atk 172 / Def 100 / Sp.Def 95 / Spe 150
Ability	Moxie
Tera Type
Held Item	Life Orb
Moveset	・ Wave Crash ・ Close Combat ・ Aqua Step ・ Ice Spinner

This Quaquaval build trades survivability for pure power, dealing as much damage with Life Orb and Water Tera type boosted Wave Crash. Although this move has recoil damage, it also increases Quaquaval's Speed by one stage.

Close Combat is its secondary STAB and has a wide coverage, while Aqua Step lets you safely get Speed boosts without recoil damage.

Ice Spinner rounds of Quaquaval's coverage, letting it hit bulky Ground-types and threaten common Dragon-types such as Garchomp and Roaring Moon.

Other Viable Moves

How to Use Quaquaval Effectively

A Powerful Setup Sweeper with Moxie

Quaquaval joins the enviable group of setup sweepers that can further boost their Attack with the Moxie Ability, which makes it very difficult to switch into after gaining several attack boosts.

Similar to Gyarados, Quaquaval can also boost its Speed through its signature Aqua Step. This means it's also difficult to outspeed once it's gained enough boosts!

Water and Fighting Have Great Coverage

Quaquaval's dual Water/Fighting STAB gives it great neutral coverage, allowing it to hit freely fire off Aqua Steps and Close Combats. It also learns key coverage moves, most notably Ice Spinner which also removes terrains from the field.

How to Build a Team with Quaquaval

Quaquaval is easy to fit into most teams, particularly offensive teams that require a powerful setup sweeper.

Sample Hyper Offensive Team

Setup Sweeper	Pivot	Special Attacker
Quaquaval	Amoonguss	Iron Moth

Thanks to Moxie, Quaquaval is a great choice for offensive lead in hyper offensive teams as it can steamroll through an unprepared team if it manages boost with Swords Dance.

Amoonguss serves as this team's pivot, using Spore or Toxic to dissuade opposing defensive Pokemon and can also help make battle conditions more favorable for both Quaquaval and Iron Moth to switch in later on.

Sample Balanced Build

Lead Hazard	Offensive Pivot	Special Attacker
Iron Treads	Quaquaval	Armarouge

Quaquaval is also a great choice for more balanced teams as its ability to gain several Attack boosts thanks to its Ability is highly appreciated in less offensive-oriented teams.

Iron Treads serves as this team's lead hazard support, setting up Stealth Rock and can also Rapid Spin the enemy's hazards off the field. Armarouge rounds off the team's' coverage, providing strong Fire and Psychic-type STAB

Counters for Quaquaval

Use a Bulky Water-type Pokemon

Although Quaquaval has a great offensive presence, it struggles against opposing Water-type Pokemon as it lacks coverage to threaten them.

Bulky Waters, in particular, can freely switch into all of Quaquaval's attacks and wall and force it to switch.

Best Pokemon to Use

Pokemon	Description
Toxapex	Ranking: ★★★★★ ・Resists both of Quaquaval's STAB and all its coverage moves. ・Can shrug off any damage with Recover spread status with Toxic.
Slowbro	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists both of Quaquaval's STAB and all its coverage moves. ・Easily shrugs off damage with Slack Off and can spread status with Thunder Wave, or lower Quaquaval's Attack with Chilling Water.
Gyarados	Ranking: ★★★★ ・Resists both of Quaquaval's STAB and can easily switch thanks to Intimidate. ・Offensive variants can use it as setup fodder, boosting with Dragon Dance and threatening with Flying Tera Blast.

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