Qwilfish Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Qwilfish in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Qwilfish
Qwilfish is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Water/Poison typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 53.500 DPS.
Qwilfish can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Qwilfish is weak to Electric, Ground, Psychic -type attacks. Avoid using Bug, Fairy, Fighting-type moves as Qwilfish resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Qwilfish is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (53.500 DPS), Shadow Mewtwo (50.706 DPS), and Mega Alakazam (48.778 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Qwilfish: After defeating Qwilfish, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1135 and 1201 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1412-1494 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Qwilfish from raids will have exactly 1201 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Qwilfish?
The best counter for Qwilfish is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 53.500 DPS. Other top options include Shadow Mewtwo (50.706 DPS) and Mega Alakazam (48.778 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Qwilfish?
Qwilfish can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Qwilfish weak to?
Qwilfish is weak to Electric, Ground, Psychic-type attacks. It resists Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ice, Poison, Steel, Water-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Qwilfish be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Qwilfish's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Qwilfish from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Qwilfish from raids will have 1201 CP at level 20, or 1494 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1135. If you see 1201 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Qwilfish worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Qwilfish is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Qwilfish?
For the best moveset for Qwilfish itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Qwilfish stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Qwilfish without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Qwilfish can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (47.412 DPS) and Deoxys (Attack) (46.516 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Qwilfish in raids?
Weather boost information for Qwilfish is not currently available. Water-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.