Special
Balanced
320Low
55Slow
DTier

Psyduck is technically a pre-evolution of Golduck, but it holds its own in formats where Eviolite is allowed. 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

It has mystical powers but doesn’t recall that it has used them. That is why it always looks puzzled.

Heart Gold

If its chronic headache peaks, it may exhibit odd powers. It seems unable to recall such an episode.

Soul Silver

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, Encore and 9 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
12moves
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.

Stall teams hate this. Psyduck can spread damage across 10 types, with Normal and Psychic punishing common defensive pivots. STAB from Hydro Pump and Surf keeps the pressure honest on everything else.

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
HM05
Whirlpool
358515Water

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Confuse Ray
10010Ghost
Egg
Cross Chop
100805Fighting
Egg
Encore
1005Normal
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

Src
Tutor
Aqua Tail
909010Water
Tutor
Dive
8010010Water
Tutor
Headbutt
7010015Normal
Tutor
Ice Punch
7510015Ice
Tutor
Icy Wind
559515Ice
Tutor
Mud-Slap
2010010Ground
Tutor
Role Play
10Psychic
Tutor
Signal Beam
7510015Bug
Tutor
Snore
4010015Normal
Tutor
Swift
6020Normal
Tutor
Worry Seed
10010Grass
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
809015Psychic

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 22 locations. Psyduck's one of the easier catches on the list. Multiple catch methods are available, so check which ones match your setup. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.

Best Locations

You can catch Psyduck through 22 surfing, walking, and more encounters from Lv. 5-40, but availability differs between SoulSilver and HeartGold. Some spots are exclusive to one version.

Ilex Forest
SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.5-20CommonEarlyForest
EASY
Ilex Forest
HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.5-20CommonEarlyForest
EASY
Route 35
SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.5-20CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 35
HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.5-20CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 6
SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Route 6
HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.5-10CommonEarlyRoute
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B4F
SoulSilverGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B4F
HeartGoldGood RodLv.20CommonMidWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - 1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.28-29CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Seafoam Islands - 1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.28-29CommonMidWater
EFFORTLESS
Seafoam Islands - B1F
SoulSilverGrassLv.26-28UncommonMidWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B1F
HeartGoldGrassLv.26-28UncommonMidWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B2F
SoulSilverGrassLv.27-30UncommonMidWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B2F
HeartGoldGrassLv.27-30UncommonMidWater
EASY
Cerulean Cave - 1F
SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.35-40CommonLateCave
EASY
Cerulean Cave - 1F
HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.35-40CommonLateCave
EASY
Cerulean Cave - B1F
HeartGoldSurfing on waterLv.35-40CommonLateCave
EASY
Cerulean Cave - B1F
SoulSilverSurfing on waterLv.35-40CommonLateCave
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B3F
SoulSilverGrassLv.31-32UncommonLateWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B3F
HeartGoldGrassLv.31-32UncommonLateWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B4F
SoulSilverGrassLv.34UncommonLateWater
EASY
Seafoam Islands - B4F
HeartGoldGrassLv.34UncommonLateWater
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 a special attacker with 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.