Special
Balanced
320Low
55Slow
DTier

Psyduck is technically a pre-evolution of Golduck, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, adding extra value. Known as the Duck Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.

Psyduck's stats barely vary. 0 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Sp. Atk EV, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
320Avg
HP50
D
Attack52
D
Defense48
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def50
D
Speed55
D
Total320
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Psyduck yields +1 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Details
Catch190Easy•Medium Fast1M XP•0.8m / 2'07"•19.6kg / 43.2 lbs•64Base XP
Pokedex Entries

It is constantly wracked by a headache. When the headache turns intense, it begins using mysterious powers.

Scarlet

If its chronic headache peaks, it may exhibit odd powers. It seems unable to recall such an episode.

Violet

Psyduck Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Psyduck takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

4xCriticali
None
2xWeaki
ElectricGrass
½xResisti
FireWaterIceSteel
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
STAB (3)i
FireGroundRock
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
DampPrevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
Cloud NineNegates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself.
Swift SwimHADoubles Speed during rain.

Psyduck evolves into Golduck. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Psyduck
#054Psyduck
33
Level 33
Golduck
#055Golduck
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Psyduck
Water
Golduck
Water
HP
50
80+30
ATK
52
82+30
DEF
48
78+30
SP.ATK
65
95+30
SP.DEF
50
80+30
SPE
55
85+30
BST
320D-Tier
500C-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Psyduck easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups.

Egg Groups
GroundWater1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
raichuazumarillpikachunidokinggolduckampharosblastoiseferaligatrkingdraswampertrhydonslowbro
12 of 278·

Psychic coverage is what separates a good sweep from a wasted boost. After Nasty Plot, Psyduck threatens a wide range with a spread EV build EVs and Eviolite backing every hit.

Best Build

Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Swiftswim
Item
EvioliteBULK
Nature
Modest+SPA
EVs

Best Psyduck Moveset

  • SurfSTAB
  • Nasty Plot
  • Ice Beam
  • PsychicCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Shroodle
ShroodleDecent
Tinkatink
TinkatinkDecent
Wingull
WingullDecent
All 21 games

TMs define Psyduck's movepool. The natural moves cover basics with Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail, but the real versatility comes from technical machines giving it coverage across 8 types. That's where the options open up.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 3
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 6
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 9
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 12
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 15
Disable
—10020Normal
Lv 18
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 21
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 24
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Lv 27
Soak
—10020Water
Lv 30
Psych Up
——10Normal
Lv 34
Amnesia
——20Psychic
Lv 39
Wonder Room
——10Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM128
Amnesia
——20Psychic
TM143
Blizzard
110705Ice
TM66
Body Slam
8510015Normal
TM58
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM129
Calm Mind
——20Psychic
TM22
Chilling Water
5010020Water
TM17
Confuse Ray
—10010Ghost
TM55
Dig
8010010Ground
TM204
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
TM122
Encore
—1005Normal
TM205
Endeavor
—1005Normal
TM47
Endure+4
——10Normal
TM25
Facade
7010020Normal
TM43
Fling
—10010Dark
TM196
Flip Turn
6010020Water
TM192
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM174
Haze
——30Ice
TM130
Helping Hand+5
——20Normal
TM142
Hydro Pump
110805Water
TM135
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
TM69
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
TM34
Icy Wind
559515Ice
TM181
Knock Off
6510020Dark
TM75
Light Screen
——30Psychic
TM110
Liquidation
8510010Water
TM12
Low Kick
—10020Fighting
TM39
Low Sweep
6510020Fighting
TM80
Metronome
——10Normal
TM35
Mud Shot
559515Ground
TM209
Muddy Water
908510Water
TM140
Nasty Plot
——20Dark
TM07
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM16
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
TM203
Psych Up
——10Normal
TM120
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM228
Psychic Noise
7510010Psychic
TM54
Psyshock
8010010Psychic
TM50
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM85
Rest
——5Psychic
TM61
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM98
Skill Swap
——10Psychic
TM70
Sleep Talk
——10Normal
TM103
Substitute
——10Normal
TM123
Surf
9010015Water
TM32
Swift
60—20Normal
TM01
Take Down
908520Normal
TM87
Taunt
—10020Dark
TM171
Tera Blast
8010010Normal
TM18
Thief
6010025Dark
TM20
Trailblaze
5010020Grass
TM184
Vacuum Wave+1
4010030Fighting
TM11
Water Pulse
6010020Water
TM77
Waterfall
8010015Water
TM208
Whirlpool
358515Water
TM59
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Egg Moves

Psyduck doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Psyduck can't learn any Tutor moves
All 21 games

decent spawn rates for Psyduck across 62 locations in early-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.

Best Locations

You can catch Psyduck through 62 walking encounters from Lv. 5-37, but availability differs between Scarlet and Violet. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

Asado Desert - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyDesert
EASY
Asado Desert - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyDesert
EASY
Casseroya Lake - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
Casseroya Lake - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
Casseroya Lake - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
Casseroya Lake - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
East Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
East Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyCave
EASY
North Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Paldean Sea - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
South Paldean Sea - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyWater
EASY
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Five) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Five) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Four) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Four) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Six) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Six) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyForest
EASY
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyForest
EASY
Tagtree Thicket - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyForest
EASY
Tagtree Thicket - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyForest
EASY
West Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
West Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworldLv.5-3718%EarlyRoute
EASY
South Province (Area Five) - Swamp
ScarletOverworldLv.5-379%EarlyRoute
MODERATE
South Province (Area Five) - Swamp
VioletOverworldLv.5-379%EarlyRoute
MODERATE

  • Psyduck isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Golduck to unlock its full potential. At 320 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Psyduck's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Exeggutor (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Psyduck evolves into Golduck at level 33. Psyduck is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Run Swift Swim on Psyduck. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Psyduck also gets Damp and Cloud Nine, but they don't compare.

  • Psyduck fills the balanced role. It's a special attacker with base 65 Sp. Atk. At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Psyduck appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Psyduck has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.