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

The webbed flippers on its forelegs and hind legs and the streamlined body of GOLDUCK give it frightening speed. This POKéMON is definitely much faster than even the most athletic swimmer.

Ruby

GOLDUCK is the fastest swimmer among all POKéMON. It swims effortlessly, even in a rough, stormy sea. It sometimes rescues people from wrecked ships floundering in high seas.

Sapphire

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.

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
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. 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

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 102 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Cross Chop, Foresight, Future Sight and 5 more.

Egg Groups
GroundWater1
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
8moves
Breed With (best first)
raichuazumarillpikachunidokinggolduckampharosblastoiseferaligatrkingdraswampertrhydonslowbro
12 of 102·

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

Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Cloudnine
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Nature
Timid+SPE
EVs

Best Golduck Moveset

  • Ice Beam
  • SurfSTAB
  • Calm Mind
  • Rain DanceSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Claydol
ClaydolDecent
Jolteon
JolteonDecent
Dugtrio
DugtrioDecent

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

Lv 1
Disable
—5520Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 1
Water Sport
——15Water
Lv 5
Tail Whip
—10030Normal
Lv 10
Disable
—5520Normal
Lv 16
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 23
Screech
—8540Normal
Lv 31
Psych Up
——10Normal
Lv 44
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 58
Hydro Pump
120805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
60—20Flying
TM45
Attract
—10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM04
Calm Mind
——20Psychic
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
HM08
Dive
6010010Water
TM32
Double Team
——15Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
HM05
Flash
—7020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
—10020Normal
TM07
Hail
——10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
——10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
——5Water
TM44
Rest
——10Psychic
TM27
Return
—10020Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM06
Toxic
—8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Cross Chop
100805Fighting
Egg
Foresight
—10040Normal
Egg
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Egg
Hypnosis
—6020Psychic
Egg
Light Screen
——30Psychic
Egg
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Egg
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Egg
Refresh
——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Golduck can't learn any Tutor moves

moderate rates across 2 encounter spots for Golduck. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.

Where To Catch Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire

The path to Golduck starts with Psyduck at Lv. 20-40 via surfing encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Psyduck
    Step 1Catch Psyduck
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    RubySurfing on waterLv.20-35CommonMidFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    SapphireSurfing on waterLv.20-35CommonMidFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - Southwest
    RubySurfing on waterLv.20-35CommonMidFacility
    EASY
    Safari Zone - Southwest
    SapphireSurfing on waterLv.20-35CommonMidFacility
    EASY
  2. Golduck
    Step 2Golduck ✓
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    SapphireSurfing on waterLv.25-40RareMidFacility
    HARD
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    RubySurfing on waterLv.25-40RareMidFacility
    HARD
    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.