What is the phase of the moon when the tides are the lowest?

The phase of the moon when tides are the lowest is during the first and third quarters, known as neap tides. During these phases, the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun is at a right angle relative to the Earth, leading to lower high tides and higher low tides. This results in a smaller difference between high and low tide levels compared to spring tides, which occur during the new and full moon phases.