Quaquavel rounds out Pokémon Scarlet and Violet‘s selection of final starter evolutions as the resident Water-type, and there’s plenty of reason to use it on a team. While Quaquvel is undeniably stylish, looking more like a peacock than the duck-like Quaxly it evolved from, its abilities are what truly decide its place in the game’s meta. As a starter evolution, Quaquavel in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet is a solid choice for players.
Water is the most common type of Pokémon, so Water-type starters like Quaxly really need something special to make them stand out. For example, Feraligatr’s Bite made it a great option against Ghosts in Gold and Silver, and Primarina’s unique typing and graceful design gave it an edge in Sun and Moon. When Pokémon‘s unnecessary HM gimmick was a part of the series, a Water-type on the team was essentially required for Surf, and that was another role a Water-type starter could take. Even with HMs no longer a factor, there is still plenty of potential for Quaquavel to play an important role in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
Is Quaquavel Good In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet?
Despite Quaquavel’s lithe frame, it has an impressive base attack of 120, making it one of the strongest starter evolution Pokémon in terms of physical strength. That strength is used with various physical moves like Close Combat and the all-new Aqua Slash. Like the other Paldean starters, Quaquavel has a signature move that it learns upon evolution, Aqua Step. In addition to having decent power, Aqua Step raises Quaquavel’s speed on use, helping it get the advantage of striking first in a fight. Hopefully Scarlet and Violet also make Pokémon‘s hidden abilities easier to unlock again, because Quaquavel’s hidden ability of Moxie raises its already-high Attack every time it faints an opponent.
If Quaquavel has one glaring weakness, it would be its stats outside its Attack. While its Attack is outstanding, the rest of its stats are roughly average. It’s not hardy, fast, or resilient, so its Attack and Aqua Step are its main selling points. Unfortunately, while Aqua Step has its uses, it’s probably the worst of the starter signature moves in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. Increased speed is nice, but Flower Trick and Torch Song are more useful tools in most situations. Although Aqua Step is well-designed for Quaquavel, and much better than Pokémon Gen 1’s signature moves, the other starters’ signature moves are just a step above.
Overall, Quaquavel does have some flaws that need to be looked out for, primarily the fact that it only has one good stat. However, Quaquavel does a good job of maximizing that sole advantage with a lot of strong attacks. If one can unlock its hidden ability in-game, it will achieve incredible potential, raising Speed via Aqua Step and Attack via knockouts to rapidly grow stronger. While Quaquavel may need a bit more setup than most starters to reach its full potential, it can be incredibly dangerous once it gets rolling. Not to mention, Quaquavel possibly has the most striking design of all three starters. Even with Scarlet and Violet‘s Tera types changing the meta, that’s one advantage it can’t lose.
Of al three starters in Scarlet and Violet, Quaquavel is likely the one with the most balanced skillset. It’s fine in most situations, but a player who can set the stage just right can make Quaquavel spiral into a destructive force. For fans who love a solid fighter with flair, Quaquavel may be the final evolution of choice in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.