Quaquaval Movesets & Competitive Sets

Quaquaval is a decent choice for Water teams thanks to its access to Rapid Spin to remove hazards for its teammates as well as a potential setup tool in Aqua Step in tandem with Moxie. Close Combat targets Dark- and Steel-types such as Hydreigon, Bisharp, and Hisuian Goodra. Alternatively, Brick Break hits the same targets while removing screens in the Grass, Fairy, and Ice matchups. Aqua Step potentially allows Quaquaval to sweep thanks to the Speed boost, getting the jump on the likes of the Ogerpon formes, Volcarona, and Flutter Mane after it is used once. Knock Off can be used to remove crucial items such as recovery items from Corviknight and Toxapex while also targeting Ghost-types that block Rapid Spin like Gholdengo and Dragapult. 164 Speed EVs allow Quaquaval to outpace non-Choice Scarf Flutter Mane after either an Aqua Step or Rapid Spin boost and OHKO it back with Aqua Step. Quaquaval appreciates entry hazard support from the likes of Gastrodon and Swampert, and their Electric immunity makes them great against threats such as Regieleki, Raging Bolt, and Iron Hands. Toxapex aids Quaquaval in its potential sweeping by inflicting poison on threats such as Iron Valiant, Breloom, and Meowscarada. In return, Quaquaval deals with Ground-types such as Ting-Lu, Gliscor, and Mamoswine. Early-game wallbreakers such as Greninja and Ogerpon-W pair well with Quaquaval, as they handle walls that it struggles with so it can set up late-game. Greninja notably handles Poison-types such as Toxapex, Water Absorb Clodsire, and Amoonguss with Protean-boosted Extrasensory, while Ogerpon-W threatens Dark- and Water-types like Hydreigon and Swampert with Play Rough and Horn Leech. Primarina makes for another great partner, as it serves as a potential wincon by challenging Dragon-types like Garchomp, Gouging Fire, and Latias with its great bulk and access to Calm Mind. Pelipper provides an immunity to Ground with its Flying typing, which allows it to take on Great Tusk and Grass-types such as Breloom, Meowscarada, and Ogerpon-H. Barraskewda serves as a late-game cleaner when boosted under rain, taking on a multitude of speedy threats like Choice Scarf Meowscarada, Iron Valiant, and Sneasler.

This is the sample set before we work on new analyses. This will be updated as the metagame continues to develop. Stay tuned!

While Quaquaval's bulk is only serviceable, having both Roost and a great support movepool makes it a reasonable defensive option that does particularly well against Kingambit. Taunt and Bulk Up: Taunt pairs particularly well with Bulk Up, letting it set up on surprising foes such as Corviknight. Substitute: Substitute lets Quaquaval stall out OHKO moves from the likes of Dondozo, and it protects it from Garganacl's Salt Cure. Encore: Not only does Encore give Quaquaval new chances to set up, but it also punishes passive play from Unaware walls such as Skeledirge. Tera Types Tera Dependency - Medium: Setup Quaquaval will often have to use Terastallization to deal with the checks switching into it. Steel: Tera Steel gives Quauqaval a better matchup against Flutter Mane and Iron Bundle, who can be fairly problematic otherwise. Flying: While it has very little defensive synergy with Quaquaval's previous typing, Tera Flying lets Quaquaval effectively stall out Dondozo if using Taunt, or Substitute and Encore together. Grass: Tera Grass makes Quaquaval's match-up against Rotom-W much smoother. Fairy: With a Fairy Tera type, Quaquaval can set up against most defensive Garchomp thanks to the Dragon Tail immunity. Items Leftovers: The passive recovery from Leftovers works great with Substitute sets in particular. Rocky Helmet: Rocky Helmet pairs well with Taunt and Tera Flying, letting Quaquaval easily play around Dondozo and Corviknight while setting up Bulk Up. Covert Cloak: If running Substitute isn't possible, Covert Cloak is Quaquaval's best shot at defeating Garganacl. EV Spreads 252 HP / 156 SpD / 100 Spe with Jolly: This EV spread allows Quaquaval to outspeed Meowscarada after an Aqua Step while raising its special bulk. If not using Bulk Up, running Defense EVs is also viable instead. 244 HP / 4 Atk / 28 Def / 164 SpD / 68 Spe with Careful: The Special Defense investment and Careful nature let Quaquaval survive Timid Flutter Mane's unboosted Moonblast at full health, and the Speed lets it outspeed Garchomp after Aqua Step. 252 HP / 4 Def / 252 Spe with Jolly: Maximizing Speed ensures that Quaquaval outspeeds Choice Scarf Gholdengo, Iron Bundle, Flutter Mane, and Dragapult after using Aqua Step.

Aqua Step and Moxie give Quaquaval a niche as a late-game sweeper that doesn't always need a turn of setup. Aqua Jet: Aqua Jet's ability to pick off weakened threats pairs very well with Moxie, giving it new potential win conditions. Ice Spinner: This is Quaquaval's best way of dealing big damage to Dragonite and Garchomp. Encore: Encore lets Quaquaval punish slower foes such as Corviknight by getting an easy setup opportunity or by simply forcing them to switch. Other Options Wave Crash: While Wave Crash is Quaquaval's strongest Water-type attack, the recoil can be problematic for Focus Sash sets. Roost: Recovery might seem odd on such an offensive Pokemon, but it helps Quaquaval avoid getting worn down against bulkier teams. Tera Types Tera Dependency - Low: With Moxie and Aqua Step boosting its offensive output, Quaquaval doesn't always have to rely on Terastallization. Water: Boosting Aqua Step's and Aqua Jet's power opens up new sweeping chances late-game. Electric: Tera Electric lets Quaquaval deal massive damage to Azumarill and wear down Dondozo switch-ins with Tera Blast. Steel: Tera Steel can let Quaquaval get the jump on Fairy- and Dragon-types such as Flutter Mane and Garchomp by resisting their attacks. Items Focus Sash: With Focus Sash, Quaquaval trades potential wallbreaking for getting surprise sweeps against more offensive teams. Assault Vest: Even without defensive investment, Assault Vest can let Quaquaval take a super-effective hit against some naturally faster threats, such as Psychic Chi-Yu and Energy Ball Iron Moth. Mystic Water: The power increase to Aqua Step and Aqua Jet makes sweeping easier, especially when paired with Tera Water.