Is Psyduck Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?
Ilex Forest surfing and various Johto waterways. Water-type with AbilityCloud Nine disabling weather effects. Golduck at level 33 has decent Speed and special Attack. Serviceable Water through mid-Johto, competing with Quagsire for the slot.
Psyduck has the type edge here and should clean up Falkner's team.
Psyduck trades roughly evenly with Bugsy's team.
Psyduck trades roughly evenly with Whitney's team.
Psyduck trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.
Chuck's typing presses Psyduck's defenses.
Golduck resists most of Jasmine's coverage and hits back hard.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.
Golduck trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Golduck resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.
Golduck trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Golduck trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Golduck resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.
Golduck has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.
Catchable
Catch Psyduck in the Safari Zone (walking, Lv 15-16, uncommon).
Recommended Moves
- After Bugsy
- TM14IceBlizzardPower 120Accuracy 70%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Goldenrod Game Corner
- TM28GroundDigPower 80Accuracy 100%PP 10National Park
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- LV 22WaterWater PulsePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20
- After Chuck
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Prize for defeating Chuck
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- LV 48WaterHydro PumpPower 180Accuracy 80%PP 5
Evolve Psyduck to Golduck
Psyduck evolves into Golduck at Level 33. Your Psyduck should hit Level 33 before you reach Jasmine, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- STARTING (Lv 33)
- LV 33WaterWater PulsePower 90Accuracy 100%PP 20
- After Bugsy
- TM15NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- TM14IceBlizzardPower 120Accuracy 70%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- TM13IceIce BeamPower 95Accuracy 100%PP 10Goldenrod Game Corner
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- After Chuck
- TM01FightingFocus PunchPower 150Accuracy 100%PP 20Prize for defeating Chuck
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- LV 56WaterHydro PumpPower 180Accuracy 80%PP 5
How to Get Psyduck in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Psyduck is a water staple, with twenty-six encounters across six locations by surf, rod, and the odd lakeside grass. Common around most freshwater, the duck spans levels 5 to 40, so when you meet it sets the catch level.
6 locations to catch Psyduck
Encountered via fishing with a Rod, Surfing, tall grass encounters
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Where To Catch Psyduck in HGSS
The line opens with Psyduck at Lv. 5-40 via surfing, walking, and more encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
- Step 1Psyduck ✓Ilex ForestLv.5-20Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 6Lv.5-10Surfing on waterRate 90%Route 35Lv.10-25Surfing on waterRate 90%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.15-16FloorRate 20%NightSeafoam Islands - B4FLv.20Good RodRate 30%Seafoam Islands - 1FLv.26-29GrassRate 30%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.16-17Surfing on waterRate 20%Seafoam Islands - B1FLv.26-28GrassRate 16%Seafoam Islands - B2FLv.27-30GrassRate 16%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.35-40Surfing on waterRate 90%Cerulean Cave - 2FLv.35-40Surfing on waterRate 90%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.35-40Surfing on waterRate 90%Seafoam Islands - B3FLv.31-32GrassRate 12%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.34GrassRate 10%
- Step 2Catch or Evolve into GolduckIlex ForestLv.10-20Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 6Lv.10Surfing on waterRate 10%Route 35Lv.15-31Surfing on waterRate 10%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.17FloorRate 20%NightSeafoam Islands - B1FLv.32-34GrassRate 14%Seafoam Islands - B2FLv.33-35GrassRate 14%Seafoam Islands - B3FLv.34-36GrassRate 14%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.37-38GrassRate 14%Seafoam Islands - 1FLv.32GrassRate 10%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.40Surfing on waterRate 10%Cerulean Cave - 2FLv.40Surfing on waterRate 10%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.40Surfing on waterRate 10%Mt. Silver - 3FLv.48CaveRate 30%Mt. Silver - Upper mountainsideLv.48CaveRate 30%Morning/dayMt. Silver - 1F Central ChamberLv.48CaveRate 20%Mt. Silver - Upper mountainsideLv.48CaveRate 20%NightMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberLv.48CaveRate 10%Mt. Silver - 2FLv.48CaveRate 10%Mt. Silver - Lower mountainsideLv.51CaveRate 5%or evolve from Psyduck (Step 1)
Want the exact numbers? Work out your catch odds in HeartGold & SoulSilver for Psyduck.
How to Get Shiny Psyduck in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Psyduck paddles around the Seafoam Islands and Cerulean Cave, though breeding it Masuda-style is the fastest way to a shiny. Compare Shiny Psyduck odds across every game
HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Psyduck Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 173-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 472-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 1,136-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 3,773-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
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.
Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your HeartGold & SoulSilver shiny odds for Psyduck.
Psyduck Weakness
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
What is Psyduck Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Psyduck
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
 Cacturne GrassDark | B | |
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
 Meganium Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chikorita (New Bark Town Gift) | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) | ||
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
 Jumpluff Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodSafari Zone Surfing | ||
 Plusle Electric | B | |
 Luxray Electric | C | |
 Electrode Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodTeam Rocket Hq Interact Encounter | ||
 Budew GrassPoison | C | |
Psyduck Evolutions
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 take an average time to hatch. Evolving adds up to 180 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Psyduck easily with 131 breeding partners from the Field and Water 1 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Confuse Ray, Cross Chop, Encore and 9 more to offspring.
HGSS Psyduck Best Moveset
Water typing at middling stats across the board with AbilityCloud Nine that shuts off all weather effects while on the field. The moveset has a niche as a weather counter, but 65 Sp. Atk and 55 Speed can't back it up offensively. Evolve to Golduck.
Best Build
Psyduck best EVs are Sp. Atk and Speed
Special Revenge Killer Moveset
- Hydro Pump
- Hidden Power Grass
- Cross Chop
- Ice Beam
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
All 26 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It has mystical powers but doesn’t recall that it has used them. That is why it always looks puzzled.
If its chronic headache peaks, it may exhibit odd powers. It seems unable to recall such an episode.
Psyduck HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide
- How do I catch Psyduck in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Safari Zone?
See the Locations section above for where to find Psyduck in HeartGold & SoulSilver.
Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:
- Throw bait to keep Psyduck from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
- Throw a rock to make Psyduck easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
- Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Psyduck does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Golduck before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
Game Availability
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.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7Let's Go
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves
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