Cloud Nine shuts down weather teams, and Golduck's Sp.Atk plus Speed make it a real A-Tier threat in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1DampAbility 1Prevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.Ability 2Cloud NineAbility 2Negates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself.
500HP80Attack82Defense78Speed85Sp.Def80Sp.Atk95
Psyduck
Golduck
Weak to
Special
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Is Golduck Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

AbilityCloud Nine shuts down weather conditions, countering Groudon's AbilityDrought and Kyogre's AbilityDrizzle. Golduck is fast with balanced offense. In RS, the weather-negating ability is genuinely useful against the box legendaries. Handles Flannery and contributes through the E4.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadGSEGEEGEGGGGGRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6PsyduckCatchGolduckCatchableTate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8SidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Roxanne's team.

You Win
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
You Win
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Strong

Golduck resists most of Brawly's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
Easy KO
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Wattson's team.

You Win
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Even
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Even
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Flannery's team.

You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
You Win
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Norman's team.

Even
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
Even
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Even
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
You Win
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Even
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Tate & Liza's team.

You Win
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
You Win
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

Even
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Risky
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Sidney's team.

You Win
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Even
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Even
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
You Win
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Phoebe's team.

You Win
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
You Win
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
You Win
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Even
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Glacia's team.

You Win
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
You Win
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
You Win
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Even
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Drake's team.

You Win
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
Even
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Easy KO
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Even
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Good

Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Steven's team.

Even
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
You Win
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
You Win
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
You Win
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Easy KO
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Even
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Catchable

Available after Badge 6
Type
Water
Tier
A

Catch Golduck in the Safari Zone (Surf, Lv 25-40, rare).

View Golduck locations

Catch Psyduck

Available after Badge 6
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Psyduck in the Safari Zone (Surf, Lv 20-35, common).

View Psyduck locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire

Golduck shows up rarely on the same Safari Zone water as Psyduck, in the high 20s to 40. You can also just evolve a caught Psyduck at level 33 if the rare surf hit takes too long.

1 location to catch Golduck

Encountered via Surfing

Badge 6
Surf

Where To Catch Golduck in RS

The path to Golduck starts with Psyduck at Lv. 20-35 via surfing encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Golduck
    Step 2Golduck ✓
    or evolve from Psyduck (Step 1)

Not landing the catch? Calculate Golduck catch rates for Ruby & Sapphire by ball, status, and HP.

How to Get Shiny Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire

Golduck surfaces only rarely while Surfing the Safari Zone waters, so keep gliding across them until a shiny one appears. Compare Shiny Golduck odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Golduck in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftBlue
Shiny TierC Tier Shiny

Shiny Golduck Evolution

2 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Ruby & Sapphire Shiny Golduck Calculator

2 Methods
Shiny Odds

Both methods here share the same odds, about 1 in 8,192 on each try. Pick whichever fits how you play.

Step 1 · Encounter Method2 in Ruby & Sapphire

Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.

Breeding: Hatch eggs of this line; each egg rolls at the base shiny rate (no Masuda before Gen IV).

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 8,192Full Odds
Chance By Now50.0%at 5,678 encountersAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few864----
25%one in four2,357----
50%coin flip5,678----
90%very likely18,862----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Want exact numbers for your session? Calculate your shiny odds in Ruby & Sapphire with Golduck preloaded.

Golduck Weakness

Golduck's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 80 HP and balanced defenses, Golduck can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Golduck Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
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

What is Golduck Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Golduck Strong Against

3Strong
3Resisted
0Immune
Score0
½xResisted
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Golduck

B
Vileplume
Vileplume
GrassPoison
C
Cacturne
Cacturne
GrassDark
B
Tropius
Tropius
GrassFlying
C
Shiftry
Shiftry
GrassDark
C

Golduck Evolutions

Evolved from Psyduck. Golduck is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs take an average time to hatch. HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Psyduck), and Golduck peaks at 500 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
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
320E-Tier
500A-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Golduck to get Psyduck eggs easily using 102 partners from the Field and Water 1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Cross Chop, Foresight, Future Sight and 5 more.

Egg Groups
FieldWater 1
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)
raichuazumarillpikachunidokingampharosblastoiseferaligatrkingdraswampertrhydonslowbroslowking

RS Golduck Best Moveset

Weather shutdown is the niche: AbilityCloud Nine negates all weather-based strategies entirely. 95 Sp. Atk fires MoveSurf and MoveIce Beam solidly. MoveHypnosis adds sleep utility. Held ItemLeftovers sustains. Anti-weather Water plus coverage from a frame fast enough to act before weather attackers.

Best Build

Experimental
Special Setup Sweeper
Ability
Cloud Nine
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Golduck
Timid+SPE

Golduck best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed

EVs

Special Setup Sweeper Moveset

  • Ice Beam
  • SurfSTAB
  • Calm Mind
  • Rain DanceSTAB

Moves List

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
D—5520Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
D4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 1
Water Sport
———15Water
Lv 5
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 10
Disable
D—5520Normal
Lv 16
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Lv 23
Screech
D—8540Normal
Lv 31
Psych Up
D——10Normal
Lv 44
Fury Swipes
D188015Normal
Lv 58
Hydro Pump
A180805Water

TM Moves

All 28 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM40D60—20Flying
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM14C120705Ice
TM31
Brick BreakSootopolis Citynot until badge 7
C7510015Fighting
TM04
Calm MindPrize for defeating Tate & Lizanot until badge 7
B——20Psychic
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
C6010010Ground
HM08
DiveMossdeep Citybadge 6
C9010010Water
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D7010020Normal
HM05
FlashGranite Cavebadge 1
——7020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3Route 115badge 5
B15010020Fighting
TM07
HailShoal Cavebadge 6
———10Ice
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamLilycove Department Storebadge 5
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice BeamAbandoned Shipbadge 2
B9510010Ice
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
C1007515Steel
TM17C——10Normal
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
A——5Water
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
HM06
Rock SmashMauville Citybadge 2
D2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—7010020Normal
HM04
StrengthRusturf Tunnelbadge 3
—8010015Normal
HM03
SurfPetalburg Citybadge 5
B14210015Water
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
C—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Wallacenot until badge 8
C9010020Water
HM07
WaterfallCave of Originnot until badge 7
C12010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Cross Chop
C100805Fighting
Egg
Foresight
——10040Normal
Egg
Future Sight
—12010010Psychic
Egg
Hypnosis
A—6020Psychic
Egg
Light Screen
C——30Psychic
Egg
Psybeam
—6510020Psychic
Egg
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
Egg
Refresh
D——20Normal

Tutor Moves

Golduck can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
High
HP80
C
Attack82
C
Defense78
C
Sp. Atk95
B
Sp. Def80
C
Speed85
C
Total500
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.7 m
Weight76.6 kg
Base XP175
Abilities
Damp
Prevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
Cloud Nine
Negates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

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.

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.

Golduck Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Where in the Ruby & Sapphire Safari Zone can I find Golduck?

    See the Locations section above for where to find Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire.

    Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:

    • Throw bait to keep Golduck from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
    • Throw a rock to make Golduck easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
    • Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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