Special
Balanced
500High
85Moderate
CTier

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.

Base Stats
500High
HP80
C
Attack82
C
Defense78
C
Sp. Atk95
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed85
C
Total500
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Golduck yields +2 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Details
Catch75Challenging•Medium Fast1M XP•1.7m / 5'07"•76.6kg / 168.9 lbs•175Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Its body is strong, and it has webbing on its hands and feet. Golduck can swim easily through rough seas, clawing its way through the high waves.

Legends Arceus

Golduck Weakness

Good

Golduck'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.

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.

Evolved from Psyduck. Golduck is the final form in this two-stage line. Plenty of partners 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

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 with Golduck to get Psyduck eggs easily using 69 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)
manaphyraichupachirisupikachugolduckwalreininfernapeempoleonrhydonfloatzellopunnyoctillery
12 of 69·

One guaranteed turn is all Golduck needs. Focus Sash buys it, max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs make it count, and Swiftswim adds something extra. The goal: deal early damage and deal damage with Surf. The remaining moves gives it play beyond just the lead turn.

Best Build

Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.

Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.

A solid spread overall. Golduck gets Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail for same-type damage alongside coverage across 7 types. It won't blow anyone away, but it doesn't leave you stuck either.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Bubble
4010030Water
Lv 6
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 11
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 18
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Lv 25
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 34
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Lv 43
Hydro Pump
110805Water

TM Moves

Golduck can't learn any TM moves

Egg Moves

Golduck doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
Tutor
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Tutor
Calm Mind
——20Psychic
Tutor
Giga Impact
150905Normal
Tutor
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
Tutor
Ice Beam
9010010Ice
Tutor
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
Tutor
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Tutor
Rest
——10Psychic
Tutor
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
Tutor
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
Tutor
Swift
60—20Normal
Tutor
Tri Attack
8010010Normal
Tutor
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

Golduck appears at decent spawn rates across 7 spots in mid-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.

Where To Catch Golduck in Legends: Arceus

Psyduck is your first catch on the way to Golduck. You'll find walking encounters from walking across 14 total spots in the chain.

  1. Psyduck
    Step 1Catch Psyduck
    Bathers' Lagoon
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Gapejaw Bog
    GrassUncommonSwamp
    EASY
    Golden Lowlands
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Holm of Trials
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Lonely Spring
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    The Heartwood
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Wayward Wood
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
  2. Golduck
    Step 2Golduck ✓
    Bathers' Lagoon
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Gapejaw Bog
    GrassUncommonSwamp
    EASY
    Golden Lowlands
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Holm of Trials
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Lonely Spring
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    Spring Path
    GrassUncommonRoute
    EASY
    Wayward Wood
    GrassUncommon
    EASY
    or 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.

  • Watch for Raikou (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Golduck. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • 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.