Is Psyduck A Good Pokemon

Golduck

Golduck, The Duck Pok�mon. It appears by waterways at dusk. It may use telekinetic powers if its forehead glows mysteriously. The forelegs are webbed, helping to make it an adept swimmer. Information technology can be seen pond elegantly in lakes, etc. When its forehead shines mysteriously, Golduck can utilize the full extent of its power.It is seen swimming dynamically and elegantly using its well-adult limbs and flippers. A Pok�monday that lives in lakes. It swims faster than whatever human pond champion. The flippers of its well-developed limbs give it shocking speed. Information technology is the all-time swimmer among Pok�mon.

Overview

Golduck is one of those Pokemon that has been around since the grayness dawn of time merely unfortunately hasn't improved much since then. Having mediocre stats all around has hindered it from going anywhere far, but it does have some saving graces. Golduck has a rather diverse movepool, decent typing, every bit well as two usable abilities. The main problem it faces though is making a name for itself, equally in about cases there is something better than Golduck in the role information technology is filling, even in lower tiers. Golduck does accept sure niches to work with, but it struggles to stand out as usable.
Positives
+ It has a very wide movepool, both mixed and support
+ Its H2o typing gives it few weaknesses and good STAB coverage
+ Cloud Ix and Swift Swim both are usable and help Golduck to stand out, with Swift Swim remedying its subpar Speed and Cloud Nine giving it a unique niche to work with
+ Decent base 95 Special Attack can hit pretty hard in lower tiers, and its base 82 Attack is at least feasible for mixed sets

Negatives
- 80/78/80 defenses aren't awful, but they aren't too much better than that
- It'due south outclassed every bit a Swift Swimmer, fifty-fifty in lower tiers
- Without any boosts, Golduck has a difficult time KOing many Pokemon, even with super effective moves
- I still have bad memories from 3rd gen and back when this thing didn't learn a Water move until level 58

Abilities

Damp: Prevents Golduck's opponent from using Selfdestruct or Explosion while it is on the field. Don't employ this. Please. Competitively, this is going to be as useless as using a Caterpie.
Deject Nine: Golduck negates all weather effects while on the field. Golduck is the best offensive user of Cloud Nine, and it can use it to take down other Swift Swimmers, Chlorophyll users, etc.
Hidden Ability (Available):
Swift Swim: When rainy, Golduck'southward Speed doubles. Speed does not double the plow that it begins raining. Another good ability, as having Rain also powers up Golduck's Water moves.

Movesets

Fool's Golduck

-Hydro Pump / Surf
-Ice Axle
-Focus Blast
-Subconscious Power [Grass] / Psyshock
Item Attached: Choice Specs / Life Orb
Ability: Deject 9 / Swift Swim
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This is Golduck's standard set up, using its wide coverage to be able to hitting every Pokemon for neutral damage or better, making it difficult to switch in on. Hydro Pump is Golduck'due south master STAB, with Surf existence feasible if y'all desire something that's a bit more authentic for merely a bit less power. Ice Beam is mainly useful for striking Grass and Dragon types, while Focus Blast takes intendance of Normal, Nighttime and Steel types. The last slot is open to either HP Grass, which gives Golduck super effective coverage on other Water types, while Psyshock does college impairment to bulky Fighting and Poison types. Choice Specs is the preferred option for an item so that Golduck has enough power to be able to KO many Pokemon that information technology would otherwise not in lower tiers, while Life Orb isn't every bit limiting, simply withal powerful enough to be worthwhile. Either ability can be run, depending on whether or non yous want Golduck to take advantage of your own / someone else'southward Pelting, or if you want the chance of stopping other conditions users.

All That Glitters Isn't Golduck

-Hydro Pump
-Signal Beam
-Hidden Power [Grass]
-Ice Axle / Focus Blast
Particular Attached: Set on Vest / Life Orb / Selection Specs
Ability: Cloud Ix
EVs and Nature:
EVs: iv HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk)

This prepare takes advantage of one job that Golduck tin can do that many other Pokemon tin't: use Cloud Nine to finish atmospheric condition sweepers. Although weather condition may not exist as prevalent every bit information technology used to exist, Golduck tin can definitely exist used in lower tiers to stop the bulk of Pokemon that use conditions, such as Ludicolo, Shiftry, Typhlosion, and others. Hydro Pump is the main STAB move, with Betoken Beam and HP Grass being mandatory coverage if you lot want to stop most weather users. Ice Beam can terminate the Grass types that Point Axle tin can't get besides (Victreebel mainly) and gives coverage on other types, while Focus Blast handles bulky Normal types that are pretty common in NeverUsed and RarelyUsed. Assault Vest is the item of pick for this prepare as it allows Golduck to beat many of the weather sweepers that would otherwise KO it (most of the ones mentioned above), while the other 2 items are if you lot want more power for the prepare and accept the same advantages and disadvantages as they did for the beginning set.

The Human With the Golduck Gun

-Pelting Trip the light fantastic
-Hydro Pump / Surf
-Ice Axle
-Hidden Power [Grass] / Focus Boom
Particular Attached: Damp Rock / Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SAtk / 252 Spe
Timid Nature (+Spe, -Atk) or Small Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)

While the other sets are either taking advantage of Rain or stopping others from using it, this 1 just throws that out and dances some Rain for itself. And fortunately, it tin can use the Rain itself if it wants to anyhow. Rain Trip the light fantastic is, plain, in that location to gear up Pelting for its team. Hydro Pump or Surf are for STAB, doing fifty-fifty more under Rain. Water ice Axle and HP Grass circular out the fix with perfect coverage, though Focus Blast tin be used to striking other Pokemon for higher neutral damage. Damp Stone is the ameliorate detail if you lot want Golduck to exist a chief Pelting setter, or Life Orb if you just want it to set upward and and so sweep on its ain. The option in nature is up to whether you want more Speed (although not too much volition exist outspeeding you after the Swift Swim boost), while Pocket-size gives you more than power.

Other Options

Aqua Jet, Aqua Tail, Blizzard, Calm Listen, Cross Chop, Encore, Hone Claws, Ice Dial, Mega Kicking, Psychic, Scald, Yawn
Aqua Jet is a STAB priority motion that Golduck could apply in either a mixed or pure physical set, assuasive for revenge KOs on weaker opponents.
Aqua Tail, Cross Chop, Ice Punch, and Mega Boot are all options for mixed or pure physical sets, Aqua Tail beingness STAB, and the balance being coverage (neutral or otherwise).
Blizzard and Psychic are both options over moves already in the sets (Ice Axle and Psyshock respectively), both filling dissimilar roles than the move they replace, Blizzard beingness more powerful and Psychic hitting on the special side.
Encore allows Golduck to either force the opponent to switch past locking it into a move that information technology doesn't like, or allow it to take weaker impairment from a non-effective move.
Strop Claws is the become-to boosting move in a physical ready, boosting both Assault and accuracy, which is very useful seeing as most of the good concrete moves that Golduck gets have shakier accuracy.
Scald is an option for sets if you don't mind sacrificing a niggling ability in order to have that burn down hazard, which is particularly handy against physical attackers or beefy Pokemon.
Yawn is a good status movement for forcing switches, requiring the opponent to switch out if they don't desire to exist put to sleep. Alternatively, they'll just autumn asleep and let you lot practice whatever you lot desire.

Double & Triple Battle Options

t is all to easy to glance over all pure Water Blazon pokemon and only see Blastoise, Vaporeon, Politoed, Suicune and Kyogre. Then we have Golduck, who's proper name I suspect might accept been flip flopped with it'southward preevolution, Psyduck. Pleasantries aside, there was a signal in time in the 5th Generation where players were desperate to observe a mode to work effectually the rampant weather teams and so they decided to use Deject Nine Golduck. Needless to say, their endeavors were in vain. Golduck is comparable to Phione when it comes to base of operations stats and general offensive presence. Only in that location is ane area Golduck volition exceed with the correct support, and that is making the opponent struggle.

Inkappacitate

-Encore
-Disable
-Scald
-Protect
Item Fastened: Sitrus Berry
Ability: Cloud Nine/Swift Swim
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP, iv SAtk, 252 Speed
Jollye Nature

his set is confusing in every sense of the give-and-take. Did your opponent Protect on the start turn? Do yous outspeed them turn 2? Encore volition lock them into Protect giving you set up opportunities, or permit you to put on more than offensive pressure level. Lets take it a pace further, permit's now Disable their Encored motility on Turn 3. At present they've no choice only to struggle until their Encore is upward, which mostly, will injure them more than they hurt y'all. Of course, this strategy can only reasonably go into consequence if your opponent can't switch, so that only ways....

The best partners for this Golduck would be Shadow Tag users or Mean Look users if that's your style, but Mega Gengar or Gothitelle fit the role perfectly. Mega Gengar more so because of its "Perish Trapping" abilities. If running Swift Swim, it isn't unheard of for Rain to be present on Perish Trap teams, so theoretically Golduck should be able to fit right in.

Aside from Encore/Disable, Golduck seems to have some other Pokemon out at that place that can do its job more efficiently. Golduck is more niche than not, so despite being the Water type, it isn't splashable on every team. Though when it does bear witness up on Squad Preview, go on your center on it and remember it has Base 85 speed and yous ~should~ exist fine, exist wary of its partners too though as they will only become bigger threats when/if you're locked into using Protect or worse, already struggling.

Countering Golduck

Golduck is kind of difficult to switch in on due to its variable coverage, but it actually can't have besides many hits before going downwardly. Lanturn tin can take quite a few hits and KO Golduck in return. Freeze Dry out Cryogonal can cause problems equally well. Bulkier special walls like the aforementioned Cryogonal, Dusknoir, and others can tank any Golduck throws at it and do some hefty damage in return. Basically, hit it with plenty super constructive moves (even if they're non STAB) and Golduck will exist KO'd pretty rapidly. Poison impairment, hazard harm, neutral hits tin all do the job likewise.

Pre-Evolution Corner - Psyduck

A Psy-t for Sore Eyes

-Hydro Pump
-Ice Axle
-Hidden Power Fire
-Signal Axle / Encore / Hypnosis
Particular Attached: Choice Scarf
Power: Cloud Nine
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 36 HP / 236 SAtk / 236 Spe
Modest Nature (+SAtk, -Atk)

So Psyduck; it�s a mono-H2o type with decent Special Attack and Speed. That definitely has not been done before in the history of Pokemon. It has a decent movepool and could be a lot worse. At worst, it�s simply some other mediocre Water type with some interesting moves to be nice. Psyduck belongings a Pick Scarf is actually pretty decent. It�s speed goes to 22, which is important every bit other Choice Scarfers with 14 speed merely become up to 21 that outspeeds all unscarfed Pokemon in Lilliputian Loving cup. Hydro Pump is a good STAB move. Water ice Beam is skillful for coverage, hitting Grass-Types and Dragons. Subconscious Power Fire is good for dealing with bulky Steel-Types like Ferroseed. The last slot can actually be anything. Experiment! Some more than notable choices being Signal Axle for Dark-Types and such, Encore which makes Psyduck a notably worse version of Cottonee, but all the same doesn't take away from the fact that a fast Encore is a good thing, even for just the one time, and Hypnosis is fun for slumber-and-run tactics. Cloud Ix is more often than not better than Damp and Swift Swim on Psyduck. EVs maximize Speed and Special Set on and with a Modest Nature, its may really do some damage. Psyduck also has some good physical moves like Cross Chop, Aqua Tail, and Ice Punch which may exist used in the consideration of a physical scarf or Eviolite set, but Psyduck's Attack is probably as well low to make any more notable use than the Special prepare. If you desire to apply Psyduck for its design or just for fun, practice it! Simply realize that there are much better things that await yous in that pond.

Locations in Games

Scarlet/Sapphire/Emerald:
Safari Zone

FireRed/LeafGreen:
Cerulean Cave Flooring 1 & Basement 1, Berry Forest (Surf), Seafoam Island Basements 1, two, 3 & 4, Cape Brink (FireRed)
Trade from Scarlet, Sapphire, Emerald or FireRed (LeafGreen)

Colosseum/XD:
Snagged from Navigator Abson in Citadark Isle (XD)
Trade from Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald or FireRed (Colosseum)

Diamond/Pearl/Platinum:
Twinleaf Town, Road 203, Route 204, Road 205 North, Eterna City, Route 208, Road 209, Route 210 North, Celestic Town, Road 212 Northward, Road 214, Deserted Escape Path, Oreburgh Gate, Lake Verity, Lake Acuity, Lake Valor, Spring Path, Route 225, Route 226, Route 230, Resort Expanse, Safari Game (Diamond/Pearl)
Road 203, Route 204, Route 205 N, Route 208, Route 209, Route 210 North, Route 212, Road 214, Route 225, Twinleaf Town, Eterna City, Celestic Town, Ravaged Path, Oreburgh Gate, Lake Verity, Lake Vigil, Lake Valor, Sendoff Jump, Resort Expanse (Platinum)

HeartGold/SoulSilver:
Route 6, Route 35, Ilex Wood, Mt. Argent, Cerulean Cave, Seafoam Islands, Safari Zone

Black/White:
Route eleven, fourteen, Village Span

Blackness ii/White 2:
Road 11, 14, 22, 23, Arable Shrine, Seaside Cave, Hamlet Bridge, Nature Preserve, Hidden Grotto - Route 23

X/Y:
Evolve Psyduck