What is a good moveset for Quaquaval?

Question

If you have a good competitive moveset for Quaquaval, post an answer below and upvote the best ones. Movesets for any of its pre-evolutions can also be shared on this thread.

Be sure to include full set details in your post, e.g. items, abilities, natures and EVs. Some explanation, including the intended game mode for your set, is also appreciated. Access the full list of guidelines here.

Quaquaval Pokedex & learnset for reference.

Answer 1

Quaquaval @ Choice Band
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Electric / Psychic
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 Def / 252 Spe
Adamant / Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Tera Blast
- Close Combat
- Ice Spinner / U-turn / Aqua Jet / Wave Crash / Brave Bird

The dolphin is banned now, so Quaquaval will likely be a relevant Pokemon now. Aqua Step is really spammable STAB due to it being 80 base power and boosting speed too, which can net you some 2hkoes. Tera Blast Electric is great coverage for Pokemon such as Toxapex and Slowbro, while Tera Psychic lets you beat Toxapex and Amoonguss, but Slowbro can pose a problem for non U-turn sets. Close Combat is your fighting STAB move and can nuke stuff. Ice Spinner is to prevent Quaquaval from being fodder for Dragon types like Dragapult and Dragonite, U-turn is for pivoting out and dealing strong damage at the same time, Aqua Jet is nice priority in such an offensively inclined meta, Wave Crash is a Water type nuke, and Brave Bird destroys Amoonguss which is helpful for Tera Electric and U-turnless sets but sacrifices defensive utility and is not very useful otherwise.

Best teammates for Quaquaval

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The most meta defining and infamous core this gen, with Glimmora setting up hazards while the funny french fries man blocks Defog, Rapid Spin, and Mortal Spin, making traditional hazard removal near impossible. Hazard spam is helpful for all Pokemon, but Quaquaval especially as it can make Banded Aqua Step terrifying to switch into, and things can spiral out of control very quickly.

They share similar checks and can wear them down pretty quickly. Spore putting things to sleep is nice.

Meowscarada is a great partner for Quaquaval, as it is fast, strong, and has great offensive support in STAB Knock Off and STAB U-turn, making it much easier to snowball by spamming Aqua Step. Pretty neat.

Overall thoughts
The added coverage and sweep potential make Quaquaval on par with, or even better than Urshifu-R from last gen. I think as long as Gholdengo is in the tier, this guy will be a staple Pokemon, but if it gets banned or when other hazard removers get back in the HOME update (Defog Hydreigon, Lando-T) it will be not as good, still threatening though. What matters most is the current metagame, and in this meta, he is a great tool for the most popular playstyle in the metagame. At least a A tier Pokemon right now, and B or B+ if Gholdengo gets banned.

Comments

Meowscarada doesn't get stab on U-turn

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@OibOcd Meowscarada can get STAB on U-turn due to Protean should you select U-turn first.

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Yep my bad

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+1 vote, I like this.

Answer 2

Tired of Sableye pressuring Water teams in Gen 9 Monotype? Well, the following set will look wierd at first, but it actually works.

Gen 9 Monotype Rapid Spin + Sableye Lure (Water)

Quaquaval @ Heavy-Duty Boots
Ability: Torrent
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 248 HP / 8 Atk / 252 SpA
Quiet Nature
- Surf
- Close Combat / Low Kick
- Rapid Spin
- Roost

Credit goes to Smogon/Showdown user mushamu for this set.

This set might seem wierd at first glance, but it works in the current Monotype meta. Usually, Rapid Spin Quaquaval uses Aqua Step for its Water STAB. However, Aqua Step 3HKOes Sableye, meaning Sableye can easily come in for free, as shown by this calc:

32 Atk Quaquaval Aqua Step vs. 252 HP / 252+ Def Sableye: 90-106 (29.6 - 34.8%) -- guaranteed 3HKO

However, with max Special Attack EVs and a Quiet Nature, Quaquaval can 2HKO Sableye, as Sableye is what Dark teams use to pressure water teams. Making Sableye not be able to come in vs Sableye for free helps Water teams not lose to Dark teams. Here is the calc for Surf vs Sableye:

252+ SpA Quaquaval Surf vs. 252 HP / 4 SpD Sableye: 171-202 (56.2 - 66.4%) -- guaranteed 2HKO

Close Combat is used for a powerful Fighting STAB. Low Kick can be used over Close Combat to be able to nail Dark-types such as Hydreigon, Chien-Pao, and Kingambit without having to worry about the defense drops from Close Combat. The last two moves are standard on Rapid Spin Quaquaval. Rapid Spin allows Quaquaval to clear away hazards on its side of the battlefield, which its teammates appreciate. Roost provides Quaquaval with HP recovery so it can last longer. Heavy-Duty Boots is used so Quaquaval doesn't get chipped by hazards when trying to remove them. Torrent is the Ability for this set since Moxie isn't as useful on this set. Also, this set can even 2HKO Quagsire with Surf, allowing Quaquaval to Rapid Spin away Spikes:

252+ SpA Quaquaval Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Quagsire: 172-204 (43.6 - 51.7%) -- 60.5% chance to 2HKO after Leftovers recovery

252+ SpA Quaquaval Surf vs. 252 HP / 0 SpD Quagsire: 172-204 (43.6 - 51.7%) -- 98.8% chance to 2HKO after Stealth Rock and Leftovers recovery

So, yeah. A Rapid Spin Quaquaval that prevents Sableye from coming in for free as well as 2HKOing Quagsire. Enjoy!

Comments

Wow this is interesting, Quaquaval's not terrible Special Attack coming into use! +1

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what even is this
+1

Answer 3

Quaquaval @ White Herb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Aqua Jet / Ice Spinner
- Close Combat
- Acrobatics

Aqua Step is your main Water STAB that also raises your Speed - a deadly combo with Moxie. Close Combat is your Fighting STAB, which will also trigger your White Herb. White Herb being use will double the power of Acrobatics as your coverage. Last slot can be used for Aqua Jet as Priority or Ice Spinner for additional coverage.

Comments

I love this set! I would also add its tera type as Flying to give Acrobatics (Stab) and also resist grass types.

Answer 4

Gen 9 Monotype Choice Scarf (Water/Fighting)

Quaquaval @ Choice Scarf
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Close Combat
- Rapid Spin / Ice Spinner
- U-turn

A Choice Scarf set for Water and Fighting teams in Gen 9 Monotype. Aqua Step is used as a Water STAB that boosts your speed each time you use it. While it may seem weird on a Scarf set, the speed boosts from Aqua Step can allow Quaquaval to outspeed Pokemon who outspeed you with or without a Choice Scarf. Aqua Step really works well with Moxie, as knocking out a Pokemon will give you an attack boost. Close Combat is used for a strong Fighting STAB. The third move you use depends on if you use this on a Water team or Fighting team. If you use this set on a Water team, use Rapid Spin, as Rapid Spin Quauqaval is Mono Water's form of hazard removal. If you use this set on Fighting teams, use Ice Spinner since you have Great Tusk for a Rapid Spinner on Fighting teams. Ice Spinner allows you to deal super effective damage to Pokemon such as Clodsire, Amoonguss, Dragapult, Roaring Moon, Dragalge, and Dragonite. U-turn is used to let Quaquaval escape from Pokemon it cannot beat.

Answer 5

Gen 9 Monotype Swords Dance (Fighting)

Quaquaval @ Life Orb
Ability: Moxie
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Close Combat
- Ice Spinner
- Swords Dance

A Swords Dance set for Fighting teams in Gen 9 Monotype. Swords Dance is used to boost your attack, allowing you to have more breaking power. Aqua Step is used as your Water STAB since it boosts your speed stat each time you use it. You'll need to use Aqua Step 2-3 times for Moxie Quaquaval to really get going. Close Combat is used for a powerful fighting STAB. Ice Spinner is used for coverage against Grass- and Dragon-types such as Dragapult, Amoonguss, Dragalge, Brambleghast, and Dragonite.

Answer 6

Quaquaval @ Expert Belt
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Water / Fighting
EVs: 252 Atk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Close Combat
- U-turn
- Ice Spinner / Brave Bird / Wave Crash

This set uses Expert Belt to get activate moxie and have quaquaval snowball out of control. Aqua step is to boost Speed and is STAB, Close combat provide a even stronger STAB when Aqua Step won’t cut it, ice spinner is coverage and removes any terrain shenanigans, but isn’t really necessary, so feel free to use brave bird or Wave crash if you want more power behind your moves, U-turn is if you have an unfavorable match-up and want to do some damage, assuming you’re boosted, which isn’t hard with Quaquaval. This set works pretty well as a lead since most people will lead the glimmora’s and other water-weak Pokémon.

Answer 7

Quaquaval (M) @ Weakness Policy
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 232 Atk / 72 Def / 204 Spe
Lax Nature
- Brave Bird
- Aqua Step
- Swords Dance
- Close Combat

(Edited per replies, sorry again, seems like I'm not the best at building usable Pokémon)
If played right this can be one bulky Pokémon, Weakness Policy with Aqua Step and Moxie can result in a fast, strong Pokémon. It can take out alot of Pokémon in the OU tier. This build definitely isn't the best, but I use it alot and it works amazingly

Comments

What are these EVs? I feel like Air Slash could be replaced by physical coverage, and Low Kick possibly replaced by Close Combat.

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Brave Bird > Air Slash.
If you don't like the recoil, then Acrobatics can be used when Weakness Policy has been activated.
Swords Dance > Protect.

Answer 8

Gen 9 OU singles physical sweeper set
Item: None
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Ice (chose it because it handles Quaquavals Grass and Flying weaknesses)
EVs: 252 Atk, 252 Spe, 6 HP
Nature: Jolly (lowers SpA, boosts Spe)
- Aqua Step
- Close Combat
- Acrobatics
- Ice Spinner

Aqua Step and Close Combat are STAB. Acrobatics handles Ices weakness to Fighting, and is a really strong move if you don’t hold an item. Ice Spinner is for Quaquavals Ice Tera Type.

Answer 9

S/V UU Doubles/OU Singles

Quaquaval @ Choice Band
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 4 HP / 252 Atk / 252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Wave Crash
- Close Combat
- U-turn

Explanation:

The goal is to OHKO Pokemon with STAB Aqua Step that don't resist it so you get a Speed and Attack Boost (Moxie) and sweep from there. Wave Crash is there as a secondary Water STAB Incase Aqua Step won't do enough. Close Combat is Fighting STAB, and U-Turn is a classic move on choice sets so you can switch out incase of a bad matchup while also doing damage.

I use this in doubles although it should work fine in singles, although I recommend having a Tailwind user, such as Dizzle Pelipper or Prankster Murkrow, so you're more likely to outspeed.

Answer 10

Quaquaval @ Muscle Band/Clear Amulet
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Water
EVs: 252 Atk/252 Spd/4 Hp
Adamant Nature
-Aqua Step
-Close Combat
-Ice Spinner
-Baton Pass

The general idea of this set is to be an absolute powerhouse. If you get a ohko on the first turn with Aqua Step then you can just sweep from there. Close Combat is fighting STAB. Ice Spinner is for grass/flying types and water absorb-clodsires. Baton Pass is to pass on buffs to teammates (Ceruledge, Gallade, Meowscarada, etc.) Muscle Band is so that you can be a stronger physical attacker and Clear Amulet is so that you cannot get Intimidated or get defuffs.

Answer 11

I’m a little late to the party but here goes.

Quaquaval @Heavy-Duty-Boots
Ability: Moxie
Tera Type: Ice
252 Atk/4 Def/252 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Aqua Step
- Rapid Spin
- Close Combat
- Ice Spinner

Aqua Step is a decently powerful STAB water type attack (80 BP) and also raises its speed by one stage. It can also help with Garganacl.

Rapid Spin gets rid of hazards which is very important with Glimmora being pretty common.

Close Combat is a very powerful STAB Fighting attack. It lowers Def and Sp. Def which won’t really matter as long as you have 2-3 Aqua Step KOs.

The last attack is Ice Spinner. It is a 80 BP Ice type move. It makes quick work of Meowscarada and Dragapult after 2 Aqua Steps.

Finally the EVs. 252 maxes out attack. 4 raises Def by one point. 252 maxes out Speed with an extra 10% boost from Jolly.