Physical
Balanced
320Low
63Moderate
DTier

Goldeen is technically a pre-evolution of Seaking, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, adding extra value. Only weak to Electric and Grass. Known as the Goldfish Pokemon.

Attack and Speed carry most of Goldeen's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Easy to catch and yields 1 Attack EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
320Avg
HP45
D
Attack67
C
Defense60
C
Sp. Atk35
F
Sp. Def50
D
Speed63
C
Total320
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Goldeen yields +1 Atk
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch225EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.6m / 2'00"15kg / 33.1 lbs64Base XP
Pokedex Entries

GOLDEEN is a very beautiful POKéMON with fins that billow elegantly in water. However, don’t let your guard down around this POKéMON - it could ram you powerfully with its horn.

Ruby

GOLDEEN loves swimming wild and free in rivers and ponds. If one of these POKéMON is placed in an aquarium, it will shatter even the thickest glass with one ram of its horn and make its escape.

Sapphire

Goldeen Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Goldeen takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Lightning Rod grants an additional Electric immunity, reshaping the matchup chart.

Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Scorei0
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
Abilities
Swift SwimDoubles Speed during rain.
Water VeilPrevents burns.
Lightning RodHARedirects single-target electric moves to this Pokémon where possible. Absorbs Electric moves, raising Special Attack one stage.
Lightning Rod grants Electric immunity

One evolution ahead. Goldeen grows into Seaking through a straightforward two-stage chain. A decent partner pool for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 130 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Goldeen
Water
Seaking
Water
HP
45
80+35
ATK
67
92+25
DEF
60
65+5
SP.ATK
35
65+30
SP.DEF
50
80+30
SPE
63
68+5
BST
320D-Tier
450C-Tier+130
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Goldeen easily with 17 breeding partners from the Water2 egg group. Pass egg moves like Haze, Hydro Pump, Mud Sport and 2 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water2
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
5moves
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosoctillerymagikarpremoraidwailordrelicanthwailmerlanturnsharpedowhiscashseakingqwilfish

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 3.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Breeding's the move. Haze and Hydro Pump give Goldeen options it can't learn any other way, and Flying and Normal coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Hydro Pump and Surf. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 1
Water Sport
15Water
Lv 10
Supersonic
5520Normal
Lv 15
Horn Attack
6510025Normal
Lv 24
Flail
10015Normal
Lv 29
Fury Attack
158520Normal
Lv 38
Waterfall
8010015Water
Lv 43
Horn Drill
305Normal
Lv 52
Agility
30Psychic

TM Moves

Src
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
HM08
Dive
6010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Haze
30Ice
Egg
Hydro Pump
120805Water
Egg
Mud Sport
15Ground
Egg
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Egg
Sleep Talk
10Normal

Tutor Moves

Goldeen can't learn any Tutor moves

Goldeen is available from early-game fishing spots onward at high spawn rates. 60 encounter spots give you plenty of options. Grab one early and it'll be ready to evolve or train by mid-game.

Best Locations

Bring Old Rod, Good Rod, and Super Rod for Goldeen. There are 60 fishing encounters from Lv. 5-35 with no walking alternatives. Pick the spot with the best rate and settle in.

Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 2
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 2
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 1
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 1
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 2
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 2
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyWater
EASY
Petalburg City
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCity
EASY
Petalburg City
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCity
EASY
Route 102
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 102
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 111 - South
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 111 - South
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 114
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 114
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 117
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 117
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 118
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 118
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 119
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 119
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 120
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 120
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Safari Zone - Northwest
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Northwest
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Victory Road - B2F
RubyOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCave
EASY
Victory Road - B2F
SapphireOld RodLv.5-10CommonEarlyCave
EASY
Safari Zone - Northwest
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Northwest
RubyGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
RubyGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30CommonEarlyFacility
EASY
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 1
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 2
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - 1F Room 2
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 1
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 1
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 2
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Meteor Falls - B1F Room 2
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyWater
MODERATE
Petalburg City
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Petalburg City
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCity
MODERATE
Route 102
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 102
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 111 - South
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 111 - South
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 114
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 114
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 117
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 117
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 120
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Route 120
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyRoute
MODERATE
Victory Road - B2F
RubyGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCave
MODERATE
Victory Road - B2F
SapphireGood RodLv.10-30UncommonEarlyCave
MODERATE
Safari Zone - Northwest
RubySuper RodLv.25-35CommonMidFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Northwest
SapphireSuper RodLv.25-35CommonMidFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
RubySuper RodLv.25-35CommonMidFacility
EASY
Safari Zone - Southwest
SapphireSuper RodLv.25-35CommonMidFacility
EASY
  • Goldeen is meant to evolve into Seaking. At 320 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.

  • Goldeen'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.

  • Goldeen evolves into Seaking at level 33. Goldeen is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Swift Swim is what you want on Goldeen. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Water Veil, Lightning Rod) work on paper but Swift Swim is what makes Goldeen worth using.

  • At base 63 Speed, it won't be moving first often. On offense, Goldeen is a physical attacker with base 67 Attack. Defensively? Fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Goldeen appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

One of the original 151, Goldeen has appeared in 19 games — most mainline games. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.