What separates Golduck from the pack is Swift Swim — it doubles its Speed in rain. Combine that with Water typing and it sits at a decent but contested Speed tier. Can go either physical or special depending on the set.
An unusually even spread gives Golduck flexibility. Sp. Atk barely edges ahead. But Defense isn't far off. Moderately hard to find and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve. Yields 2 Sp. Atk EVs.
The forelegs are webbed, helping to make it an adept swimmer. It can be seen swimming elegantly in lakes, etc.
Often seen swimming elegantly by lakeshores. It is often mistaken for the Japanese monster Kappa.
Golduck Weakness
GoodGolduck's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass moves. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 80 HP and balanced defenses, Golduck can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
Evolved from Psyduck. Golduck is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Psyduck), and Golduck peaks at 500 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Golduck to get Psyduck eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Cross Chop, Foresight, Future Sight and 5 more.
Leftovers buys the setup turn. Golduck clicks Calm Mind, then starts cleaning with Surf and the remaining moves. Timid nature with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs makes sure nothing tanks a boosted hit comfortably.
Best Build
Best Golduck Moveset
- Ice Beam
- Surf
- Calm Mind
- Rain Dance
Recommended Teammates
The natural movepool does the job, but Cross Chop and Foresight from the egg pool give Golduck something extra. Pair those with Hydro Pump and Surf for STAB and coverage across 7 types for reach, and the kit fills out nicely.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
11 encounter spots for Golduck at high spawn rates starting from late-game water routes. Two different catch methods are in play here. Best and Earliest sort options below help narrow down your approach based on odds vs. Accessibility.
Where To Catch Golduck in FireRed & LeafGreen
To get Golduck, start by catching Psyduck through fishing, surfing, and more encounters at Lv. 5-55. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch PsyduckEASYBerry ForestSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyForestEASYCape BrinkSurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyEASYCeladon CitySurfing on waterLv.5-40CommonEarlyCityEASYFour IslandSurfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyWaterEASYIcefall Cave - 1F Room 1Surfing on waterLv.5-35CommonEarlyCaveEXTREMEBerry ForestSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyForestEXTREMECape BrinkSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyEXTREMECerulean Cave - 1FSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyCaveEXTREMECerulean Cave - B1FSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyCaveEXTREMEFour IslandSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyWaterEXTREMEFuchsia CitySuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyCityEXTREMEIcefall Cave - 1F Room 1Super RodLv.15-35RareEarlyCaveEXTREMERoute 22Super RodLv.15-35RareEarlyRouteEXTREMERoute 23Super RodLv.15-35RareEarlyRouteEXTREMERoute 25Super RodLv.15-35RareEarlyRouteEXTREMERoute 6Super RodLv.15-35RareEarlyRouteEXTREMERuin ValleySuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyEXTREMESafari Zone - CenterSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyFacilityEXTREMESafari Zone - EastSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyFacilityEXTREMESafari Zone - NorthSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyFacilityEXTREMESafari Zone - WestSuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyFacilityEXTREMESeafoam Islands - B4FSuper RodLv.15-25RareEarlyWaterEXTREMESeafoam Islands - B3FSuper RodLv.15-25RareEarlyWaterEXTREMEViridian CitySuper RodLv.15-35RareEarlyCityEASYFuchsia CitySurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCityEASYRoute 22Surfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRouteEASYRoute 23Surfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRouteEASYRoute 25Surfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRouteEASYRoute 6Surfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRouteEASYSafari Zone - CenterSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidFacilityEASYSafari Zone - EastSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidFacilityEASYSafari Zone - NorthSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidFacilityEASYSafari Zone - WestSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidFacilityEASYViridian CitySurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCityEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - 1FGrassLv.26-33CommonMidWaterEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B1FGrassLv.29-31CommonMidWaterEASYCerulean Cave - 1FSurfing on waterLv.30-50CommonMidCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FSurfing on waterLv.30-50CommonMidCaveEFFORTLESSSeafoam Islands - B2FGrassLv.30-32CommonMidWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FGrassLv.30-32UncommonMidWaterEXTREMEBond BridgeSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMECerulean CitySuper RodLv.25-35RareMidCityEXTREMECinnabar IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEFive IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEFive Isle MeadowSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMEGreen PathSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMEIcefall Cave - 1F Room 3Super RodLv.25-35RareMidCaveEXTREMEKindle RoadSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMEMemorial PillarSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidEXTREMEOne IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEOutcast IslandSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEPallet TownSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidCityEXTREMEResort GorgeousSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidFacilityEXTREMERoute 10Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 11Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 12Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 13Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 19Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 20Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 21Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 24Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMERoute 4Super RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteEXTREMETanoby RuinsSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRuinsEXTREMETrainer TowerSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidBuildingEXTREMETreasure BeachSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidWaterEXTREMEVermilion City - CitySuper RodLv.25-35RareMidCityEXTREMEVermilion City - HarborSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidCityEXTREMEWater LabyrinthSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidBuildingEXTREMEWater PathSuper RodLv.25-35RareMidRouteHARDSeafoam Islands - B4FSurfing on waterLv.30-40RareMidWaterHARDSeafoam Islands - B3FSurfing on waterLv.30-40RareMidWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FGrassLv.32UncommonLateWaterCHALLENGINGBerry ForestGrassLv.31RareLateForestCHALLENGINGBond BridgeGrassLv.31RareLateCHALLENGINGCape BrinkGrassLv.31RareLateCHALLENGINGTreasure BeachGrassLv.31RareLateWaterCHALLENGINGKindle RoadGrassLv.34RareLateRouteCHALLENGINGCanyon EntranceGrassLv.41RareLateCHALLENGINGFive Isle MeadowGrassLv.41RareLateCHALLENGINGIcefall Cave - 1F Room 1GrassLv.41RareLateCaveCHALLENGINGIcefall Cave - 1F Room 3GrassLv.41RareLateCaveCHALLENGINGRuin ValleyGrassLv.41RareLateCHALLENGINGWater PathGrassLv.41RareLateRoute- Step 2Golduck ✓EASYCerulean Cave - 1FSurfing on waterLv.40-55CommonLateCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FSurfing on waterLv.40-55CommonLateCaveEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FGrassLv.32-34UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B2FGrassLv.32-34UncommonLateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FGrassLv.32-34UncommonLateWaterCHALLENGINGSeafoam Islands - B1FGrassLv.33-35RareLateWaterHARDBerry ForestSurfing on waterLv.35-40RareLateForestHARDCape BrinkSurfing on waterLv.35-40RareLateHARDSeafoam Islands - B4FSurfing on waterLv.35-40RareLateWaterHARDSeafoam Islands - B3FSurfing on waterLv.35-40RareLateWaterCHALLENGINGCape BrinkGrassLv.37-40RareLateor evolve from Psyduck (Step 1)
Swift Swim changes the entire equation for Golduck. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier.
Psyduck evolves into Golduck at level 33. Golduck is the fully evolved form. At 500 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Swift Swim is what you want on Golduck. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Damp, Cloud Nine) work on paper but Swift Swim is what makes Golduck worth using.
Base 85 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Golduck is a special attacker with base 95 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.
Golduck appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
One of the original 151, Golduck has appeared in 21 games — nearly every mainline game. From Red & Blue through the latest titles, it's rarely been left out of a regional Pokedex.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A