Quagsire PvP IV Deep-Dive

When it comes to Shadow vs non-Shadow Quagsire, and Mud Bomb vs Aqua Tail, the choice mostly comes down to what role you want Quagsire to fill and what meta you’re expecting. If you want a Charjabug, Carbink, and Sableye counter-swap that can also press more of an advantage when up shields/energy, Shadow Quagsire is where it’s at. If you want to trap Sableye in the 2-2, have a comfier Deoxys matchup, and stronger 1-2 in general, the non-Shadow Quagsire is good on that.

As for the Charge Moves, Aqua Tail offers improved speed and baiting, aiding some key Flying-type and mud boi mirror matchups. The Water-type coverage also offers a more consistent Gligar and Charizard matchup. Mud Bomb, on the other hand, has stronger neutral damage, notably helping the Medicham, Azumarill, and Sableye matchups. The Ground-type coverage is also essential for taking on Steel-types and Lanturn. 

Overall, your “best” Quagsire will want Mud Bomb, with your runner up having Aqua Tail. For Atk weighted Shadow Quagsire, nearly all the tech is Mud Bomb based too. 

The tables hyperlinked below feature the IV spreads that meet some of the more important stat checks highlighted in the article. It’s important to review the guide itself to make sure you’re getting what you want out of your Quagsire. For example, you may want a slightly higher Atk or Def weight for higher Breakpoint potential.

Non-Shadow, High Bulk: 112 Def, 163 HP

• 113.66 Def > 112.68 Def w/164+ HP > 164+ HP
• 112 Def covers Rank 1/119.5 Atk Sableye
• 113.66 Def covers 121.4 Atk Sableye (Swamp/Venu CMP)
• 113.66 Def covers 108.9/AXN Medicham
• 112.68 Def covers 86-86.6 Atk Carbink

Shadow, High Bulk: 112.68 Def, 163 HP

• 113.66 Def covers 121.4 Atk Sableye & possibly Froslass
• 164 HP enables Vigoroth 1-1
• Higher Atk gives Shadow Venusaur 0-1, Medicham 2-1, & Noctowl 1-1 potential with Mud Bomb
  • 110 Atk vs Rank 1 Medicham, also Cofagrigus CMP potential
• Honorable mention to the 0/14/8 and 0/15/6 for their higher Def stats mostly making up for the HP drop

Shadow, Slight Atk Weight: 110 Atk, 110.26 Def, 163 HP

• The next best bulk option if you don’t have “high bulk”
• High Def is generally better

Carbink Slayer: 111.89 Atk, 108 Def, 162 HP

• 112.22 Atk covers Best Buddy Carbink
• 17748+ Bulk Product is safer vs high Atk Carbink
• Going over 109 Def may maintain the Shadow Venusaur 1-0
• Going over 110.26 Def may enable the Emolga 1-2 (w/ Mud Bomb)

For the most part, all Quagsire cares about in Great League PvP is its bulk. 112 Def is a decent minimum, enabling the Sableye 0-0 & 2-2, while fortifying the Carbink 0-1 & 1-2, Charjabug 1-1, and avoiding Medicham’s Counter Breakpoint. This level of Def also makes 163 HP consistent for the Water Gun Lanturn 1-2 (Mud Bomb), Froslass 1-2, Powder Snow Shadow Alolan Ninetales 0-1, and potentially the Shadow Swampert & Medicham 1-0.

Even higher Def further cements these matchups. 112.68 Def covers 86-86.6 Atk weighted Carbink (Raid IV Carbink). 113.66 Def covers CMP minded Sableye up to 121.4 Atk and Mirror Slayer Medicham up to 108.9 Atk. These higher Def weights may also enable 162 HP, but 163 HP is much more consistent.

As for Atk, chasing CMP and minor Charge Move Breakpoints isn’t worth the cost in bulk. If you are interested, 113.28+ Atk Quagsire has some interesting tech vs Lanturn, Gligar, Shadow Gligar, and Medicham. At this point though, you’d probably be better off with a Shadow Quagsire. 

Ironically, Shadow Quagsire’s bulk goals parallel the non-Shadow’s in Great League PvP. 112.68 Def with 163 HP is the recommended minimum, enabling the Sableye 0-0 (Mud Bomb) & 1-1 (Aqua Tail), while potentiating the Gligar 2-1, Umbreon 1-0, and Powder Snow Shadow Alolan Ninetales 2-2. Even higher Def helps vs higher Atk weighted Sableye, and may also enable the Froslass 0-1. The divinely high Def of the 0/14/8 and 0/15/6 could catch Pelipper (0-0), mirror focused Froslass (114.15-114.46 Def), and possibly even Lickitung off guard, but the drop in HP could cause problems in the Sableye matchup.

Given how difficult it is to get a high bulk Shadow Quagsire, you may have to settle for a lower bulk one. 110.26 Def is a soft minimum in this regard, holding on to the Shadow Alolan Sandslash 1-2 (Mud Bomb) and Emolga 1-2 (Mud Bomb), while avoiding Carbink’s Rock Throw Breakpoint (fortifying the 0-1, 1-2, & 2-2). Coupling this lower bulk with 110 Atk could enable the Medicham 2-1 (Mud Bomb), Shadow Venusaur 1-0, Noctowl 1-1, Cofagrigus CMP, and possibly the Carbink 1-2 (both) & 0-2 (Mud Bomb).

If you really want to terrorize a Carbink, 111.89 Atk enables Shadow Quagsire to take down the Rank 1 Carbink in the 1-2 with either Aqua Tail or Mud Bomb, and in the 0-2 with Mud Bomb (112.22 Atk vs Best Buddy). With this Breakpoint, the Mud Bomb Shadow Quagsire would be 1 of ~4 (IVs depending) non-Steel-type Pokemon to subdue a Carbink that’s up 2 shields without having to spend a shield or bait shields. Neither Steel-types nor Clodsire will want to fight Shadow Quagsire either. Having high bulk is still recommended, as an Atk weighted Carbink could flip the script on you. Additionally, having >109 Def could maintain the Shadow Venusaur 1-0. 

If you want to build a bulky Shadow Quagsire and none of yours fit the mold covered in this article, Def/HP that can potentially 1-1 Vigoroth is a decent guide to follow. 163 HP w/114.27+ Def. 164 HP w/112.48+ Def. 165 HP w/110.75+ Def. 166 HP w/109.7+ Def. 167 HP w/107.45+ Def. 168 HP w/105.87+ Def. Def is based on a 0/15/10 Vigoroth. The lower Def will struggle with the aforementioned Def Breakpoint based matchups, but often retain most general ones.

While Quagsire and Shadow Quagsire didn’t need Aqua Tail, it is a nice addition to their movepool. It’s also nice that Shadow Quagsire has solid options beyond just the highest level of bulk. With Carbink and Clodsire taking over the meta, Atk weighted Shadow Quagsire could be a brutal solution. If you’re curious about Clodsire’s PvP IVs, that should be our next project too!