Lost in a crowd of better Water types, Golduck works fine for Yellow's story at D-Tier but Starmie and Lapras leave it no competitive niche.
485HP80Attack82Defense78Speed85Sp.Def80Sp.Atk80
Psyduck
Golduck
Weak to
Special
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Is Golduck Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Golduck is fast enough and hits hard enough to handle Blaine and contribute against Giovanni. Not the best Water-type available, but if you skipped the Squirtle gift or need a second Water option, it does the job.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTTGEGGESGEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2PsyduckCatchableSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4GolduckEvolveKogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Psyduck's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Psyduck's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's team hits Psyduck's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's team hits Psyduck's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Good

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

Easy KO
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
You Win
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Risky
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Good

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

You Win
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
You Win
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Good

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

You Win
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
You Win
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
You Win
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
You Win
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Risky
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Strong

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

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Good

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

You Win
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
You Win
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Even
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Risky
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Golduck trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Easy KO
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
Even
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
You Win
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Risky
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catch Psyduck

Available after Badge 2
Type
Water
Tier
E

Catch Psyduck on Route 6 (Surf, Lv 15, common).

View Psyduck locations

Evolve Psyduck to Golduck

Level 33
Type
Water
Tier
E

Psyduck evolves into Golduck at Level 33. Your Psyduck should hit Level 33 before you reach Koga, at typical leveling pace.

View Golduck locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Golduck in Yellow

Golduck surfaces rarely on the same water as Psyduck, or arrives reliably when a Psyduck hits level 33.

1 location to catch Golduck

Encountered via Surfing

Badge 2

Where To Catch Golduck in Y

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

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

Golduck Weakness

Golduck's Water typing leaves it vulnerable to Electric and Grass. Few weaknesses and 3 resistances make the typing clean. 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
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Golduck Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-1
4xCritical
None
½xResist
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Golduck Strong Against

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

Best Pokemon Against Golduck

Pikachu
Pikachu
Electric
C
Ivysaur
Ivysaur
GrassPoison
C
Bellsprout
Bellsprout
GrassPoison
D
Oddish
Oddish
GrassPoison
C

Golduck Evolutions

Evolve Psyduck at level 33 to get Golduck. At 485 stats, this Water type caps the chain without any egg option. HP grew the most through evolution (+30 over Psyduck), and Golduck peaks at 485 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
500E-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Golduck Best Moveset

Passable 95 Special for MoveSurf and MoveBlizzard with 85 Speed that outspeeds part of the mid-tier. Water/Ice coverage that works but never excels. Starmie and Lapras exist, and Golduck sits firmly in their shadow.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Golduck
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • AmnesiaUtility
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • SurfSTAB

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

Level-up moves are just the starting point for Golduck. TMs unlock Normal and Psychic coverage and more and turn a straightforward STAB kit around Hydro Pump and Surf into something with actual range.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Disable
D—5520Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
—4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 28
Tail Whip
——10030Normal
Lv 31
Disable
D—5520Normal
Lv 39
Confusion
—5010025Psychic
Lv 48
Fury Swipes
—188015Normal
Lv 59
Hydro Pump
B180805Water

TM Moves

All 26 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
B110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
C8510015Normal
TM11C9710020Water
TM18
Counter-5Celadon Department Storebadge 3
D—10020Fighting
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
C12010015Normal
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C150905Normal
TM13A9510010Ice
TM05
Mega KickCeladon Department Storebadge 3
C120755Normal
TM01
Mega PunchMt. Moonbadge 1
D808520Normal
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM16
Pay DayRoute 12badge 5
D4010020Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
A——10Psychic
TM19
Seismic TossRoute 25badge 1
D—10020Fighting
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
C10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM17
SubmissionCeladon Department Storebadge 3
D808025Fighting
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
B14210015Water
TM39
SwiftRoute 12 Gate 2Fbadge 2
D60—20Normal
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
D6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Golduck can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Above
HP80
C
Attack82
C
Defense78
C
Sp. Atk80
C
Sp. Def80
C
Speed85
C
Total485
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging75 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height1.7 m
Weight76.6 kg
Base XP175
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

Its slim and long limbs end in broad flippers. They are used for swimming gracefully in lakes.

Pokemon Yellow

Golduck Yellow Guide

  • In Yellow, use Golduck as a balanced. Special attacks are the main output. Speed is middling, Surf is the primary attack.

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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