Ever looked at a regular Qwilfish and thought, "This is fine, but I wish it looked like it survived a heavy metal concert in feudal Japan?" Enter Hisuian Qwilfish. This regional variant from the ancient Hisui region isn’t just a cosmetic swap. It fundamentally changes how you play the game, especially if you’re trying to climb the ranks in the GO Battle League.
In Pokémon GO, Hisuian Qwilfish swaps the classic Water/Poison typing for a much more oppressive Dark/Poison combination. This is a massive deal. Why? Because Dark/Poison types only have one single weakness: Ground. That’s it. In a meta where Psychic and Fairy types are constantly trying to ruin your day, having a spiky balloon that resists them both is basically a superpower.
How to find Hisuian Qwilfish in 2026
You won't just stumble upon this guy everywhere. Unlike its Johto cousin, Hisuian Qwilfish is usually tied to specific map biomes or rotation events.
Most trainers get their first one from 7km Eggs. These are the yellow-and-pink eggs you get from opening gifts sent by friends. It’s a bit of a gamble since the egg pool usually includes other Hisuian forms like Sneasel or Voltorb, but it’s the most consistent way to farm them.
Sometimes, Niantic throws us a bone and features them in wild spawns during "Hisuian Discovery" or "Ultra Unlock" events. If you see one on your nearby radar, drop everything and run. You’ll want the candy. Trust me.
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The Overqwil Evolution: The Raid Grind
Evolving Hisuian Qwilfish into Overqwil is a pain. There, I said it.
You can't just throw 50 candies at it and call it a day. To unlock the evolution button, you have to follow a specific "Buddy Challenge."
- Set the Hisuian Qwilfish you want to evolve as your Buddy.
- Win 10 Raids.
Note that I said win. You don't actually have to use the Qwilfish in the battle. It can sit in your pocket while your Mega Rayquaza does the heavy lifting. But it must be your active buddy when the raid boss goes down.
Pro tip: If you’re a free-to-play player, wait for a Raid Hour on Wednesday nights. You can usually knock out several 1-star raids quickly to tick this requirement off your list without burning through a week's worth of passes.
PvP Breakdown: Great League Menace
Is it actually good? Short answer: Yes. Long answer: It’s a budget Drapion that sometimes performs even better depending on your team's needs.
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Hisuian Qwilfish thrives in the Great League (1500 CP limit). Its stats are leaning towards the glassy side, but that unique typing carries it. It resists Grass, Poison, Ghost, and Dark while being completely immune to Psychic-type damage (mathematically, it's a double resistance).
The Best Moveset
If you’re taking this thing into battle, don’t mess around with the default moves. You need speed.
- Fast Attack: Poison Jab. It’s one of the best moves in the game. High damage, decent energy generation.
- Charged Attack 1: Aqua Tail. This is your "bait" move. It’s incredibly cheap and forces your opponent to decide if they want to waste a shield.
- Charged Attack 2: Dark Pulse or Shadow Ball. Shadow Ball is usually the play for better neutral coverage against the field.
Most people expect the Aqua Tail. They don't expect a Shadow Ball to the face when they’re sitting on a half-health Ghost type. That’s where the "clutch" factor comes in.
Is the Shiny available?
Yes, Shiny Hisuian Qwilfish is in the game. It’s hard to miss. While the standard version has those dark, moody grays and purples, the shiny version flips the script with a vibrant pink and yellow palette.
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The odds are usually the standard 1 in 512 for wild encounters, but during specific Hisui-themed events, Niantic often boosts these rates to around 1 in 64 for 7km eggs or raids. If you see a pink spike, use a Golden Razz Berry. You don't want that fleeing.
Why you should care about Overqwil
So, you finished the 10 raids. You spent the 50 candy. Is Overqwil actually better?
In the Great League, sometimes the unevolved Hisuian Qwilfish is actually preferred because it has slightly better stat distribution for that specific CP cap. However, Overqwil shines in the Ultra League (2500 CP). It has more "oomph" and can stand up to the heavy hitters like Giratina or Cresselia.
Overqwil acts as a hard wall to many of the top-tier threats. If your opponent leads with a Fairy type like Clefable or Sylveon, they are going to have a very bad time against your Poison Jabs.
Strategy for Success
If you're looking to build a team around this family, pair them with a solid Ground-type counter. Since Ground is your only weakness, having a Swampert or a Trevenant on your team to soak up those Earthquakes is mandatory.
Don't be afraid to use Hisuian Qwilfish as a "Safe Swap." If you lose the lead, switching into this fish often forces the opponent to bring in their Ground type early. This lets you farm them down with your second Pokémon and keeps your win condition alive.
Keep an eye on your buddy progress. It's easy to forget you've only done 9 raids and then swap buddies, losing the chance to evolve right when you have the candy. Stay focused on the 10-raid goal, and you'll have a competitive Overqwil ready for the next GBL rotation.
Next Steps for Trainers:
- Check your inventory for any 7km eggs and get walking to hatch a high-IV candidate.
- Tag your best Hisuian Qwilfish as "To Evolve" so you don't accidentally transfer it.
- Wait for the next Raid Hour to complete the 10-raid buddy requirement in a single evening.
- Stock up on TMs to ensure you have Poison Jab and Aqua Tail before heading into the Great League.