Utility
Balanced
320Low
55Slow
DTier

Psyduck is technically a pre-evolution of Golduck, but it can still hold its own in battle. Swift Swim doubles its Speed in rain, adding extra value. Known as the Duck Pokemon. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets.

Psyduck's stats barely vary. 0 sit in respectable range with no real gaps. It's a blank slate for EV investment. Worth 1 Sp. Atk EV, medium-fast 1M XP curve to max.

Base Stats
320Avg
HP50
D
Attack52
D
Defense48
D
Sp. Atk65
C
Sp. Def50
D
Speed55
D
Total320
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Psyduck yields +1 SpA
HPAtkDefSpA+1SpDSpe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.8m / 2'07"19.6kg / 43.2 lbs64Base XP
Pokedex Entries

If its usual headache worsens, it starts exhibiting odd powers. It can’t remember doing so, however.

Diamond

It never remembers using its odd powers, so it always tilts its head in puzzlement.

Pearl

Psyduck Weakness

Good

Type-wise, Psyduck takes extra damage from Electric and Grass. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Only 2 weaknesses makes it relatively easy to build around defensively.

Gen IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
4xCriticali
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
None
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.

Psyduck evolves into Golduck. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total.

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
320D-Tier
500C-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Psyduck easily with 131 breeding partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Confuse Ray, Cross Chop, Foresight and 8 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
GroundWater1
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
11moves
Breed With (best first)
raichuazumarillpikachunidokinggolduckampharosblastoiseferaligatrkingdraswampertrhydonslowbro

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Breeding's the move. Confuse Ray and Cross Chop give Psyduck options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 9 types already covers a decent range on top of Hydro Pump and Surf. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Water Sport
15Water
Lv 5
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 9
Water Gun
4010025Water
Lv 14
Disable
8020Normal
Lv 18
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 22
Water Pulse
6010020Water
Lv 27
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 31
Screech
8540Normal
Lv 35
Psych Up
10Normal
Lv 40
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic
Lv 44
Amnesia
20Psychic
Lv 48
Hydro Pump
120805Water

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
7510015Fighting
TM55
Brine
6510010Water
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM78
Captivate
10020Normal
TM28
Dig
8010010Ground
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM58
Endure+4
10Normal
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM01
Focus Punch-3
15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
1007515Steel
TM83
Natural Gift
10015Normal
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM27
Return
10020Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
4010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM65
Shadow Claw
7010015Ghost
TM82
Sleep Talk
10Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
HM03
Surf
9510015Water
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM06
Toxic
8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
8010015Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Egg
Cross Chop
100805Fighting
Egg
Foresight
40Normal
Egg
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Egg
Hypnosis
7020Psychic
Egg
Light Screen
30Psychic
Egg
Mud Bomb
658510Ground
Egg
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Egg
Psychic
9010010Psychic
Egg
Refresh
20Normal
Egg
Yawn
10Normal

Tutor Moves

Psyduck can't learn any Tutor moves

Transfer Moves

Src
Gen 3
Body Slam
8510015Normal
Gen 3
Counter-5
10020Fighting
Gen 3
Double-Edge
12010015Normal
Gen 3
Dynamic Punch
100505Fighting
Gen 3
Mega Kick
120755Normal
Gen 3
Mega Punch
808520Normal
Gen 3
Mimic
10Normal
Gen 3
Seismic Toss
10020Fighting

high spawn rates in early-game water routes across 66 locations. Psyduck's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

You can catch Psyduck through 66 surfing and walking encounters from Lv. 5-40, but availability differs between Pearl and Diamond. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

Oreburgh Gate - B1F
PearlGrassLv.8-10CommonEarly
EFFORTLESS
Oreburgh Gate - B1F
DiamondGrassLv.8-10CommonEarly
EFFORTLESS
Ravaged Path
PearlGrassLv.5RareEarlyRoute
CHALLENGING
Ravaged Path
DiamondGrassLv.5RareEarlyRoute
CHALLENGING
Route 208
PearlGrassLv.16-18CommonMidRoute
EFFORTLESS
Route 208
DiamondGrassLv.16-18CommonMidRoute
EFFORTLESS
Celestic Town
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Celestic Town
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Eterna City
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Eterna City
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Lake Acuity
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Lake Acuity
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Lake Valor
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Lake Valor
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Lake Verity
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Lake Verity
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidWater
EASY
Oreburgh Gate - B1F
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-30CommonMid
EASY
Oreburgh Gate - B1F
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-30CommonMid
EASY
Ravaged Path
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Ravaged Path
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 203
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 203
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 204 - North
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 204 - North
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 204 - South
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 204 - South
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 205 - North
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 205 - North
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 208
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 208
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 209
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 209
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 210 - North
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 210 - North
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 214
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 214
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidRoute
EASY
Twinleaf Town
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Twinleaf Town
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40CommonMidCity
EASY
Route 210 - North
PearlGrassLv.25UncommonMidRoute
EASY
Route 210 - North
DiamondGrassLv.25UncommonMidRoute
EASY
Great Marsh - Area 1
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 1
PearlGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 1
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 1
DiamondGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 2
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 2
PearlGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 2
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 2
DiamondGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 3
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 3
PearlGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 3
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 3
DiamondGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 4
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 4
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 4
PearlGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 4
DiamondGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 6
PearlGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 6
DiamondSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Great Marsh - Area 6
DiamondGrassLv.20-22RareMidFacility
CHALLENGING
Great Marsh - Area 6
PearlSurfing on waterLv.20-40RareMidFacility
HARD
Lake Acuity
PearlGrassLv.34-36CommonLateWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Lake Acuity
DiamondGrassLv.34-36CommonLateWaterMorning/day
EFFORTLESS
Lake Acuity
PearlGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateWaterNight
EASY
Lake Acuity
DiamondGrassLv.34-36UncommonLateWaterNight
EASY
Lake Valor
PearlGrassLv.35-36UncommonLateWater
EASY
Lake Valor
DiamondGrassLv.35-36UncommonLateWater
EASY
  • Psyduck isn't fully evolved, so it's not built for competitive play. You'll want to evolve it into Golduck to unlock its full potential. At 320 BST, it's a stepping stone rather than a team anchor.

  • Psyduck's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Exeggutor (Grass), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Psyduck evolves into Golduck at level 33. Psyduck is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Run Swift Swim on Psyduck. It's the ability that defines how you build around it and the main reason it holds a competitive niche. Psyduck also gets Damp and Cloud Nine, but they don't compare.

  • Psyduck fills the balanced role. It's leaning toward the special side (base 65 Sp. Atk). At base 55 Speed, it won't be moving first often. And it's fragile — can't afford to take many hits.

  • Psyduck appears in 21 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.

Psyduck has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 21 titles across all 9 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.