Special
Balanced
85Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

An unusually even spread gives Golduck flexibility. Sp. Atk barely edges ahead. But Defense isn't far off. Moderately hard to find and follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve. Yields 2 Sp. Atk EVs.

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
DampRare
Prevents self destruct, explosion, and aftermath from working while the Pokémon is in battle.
Cloud NineTop Pick
Negates all effects of weather, but does not prevent the weather itself.
Swift SwimHANot in game
Doubles Speed during rain.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpA+2SpDSpe
Special Attack training target
Pokedex Entries

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 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
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
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
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
How to Beat Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire (Best Counters)
Tropius
Tropius
GrassFlying
C
Available Moves
Moves
  • Solar BeamTM22
  • Giga DrainTM19
  • Magical LeafLv. 31
  • Razor LeafLv. 11
Damage vs Golduck
Solar Beam 2x
85-100%KO
Giga Drain 2x
54-64%
Magical Leaf 2x
44-52%
Razor Leaf 2x
40-48%
View Tropius builds →

Ruby & Sapphire Evolution

Evolved from Psyduck. Golduck is the final form in this two-stage line. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. 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
320D-Tier
500C-Tier+180
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Mixed

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Golduck to get Psyduck eggs easily using 102 partners from the Ground and Water1 egg groups. Notable egg moves include Cross Chop, Foresight, Future Sight and 5 more.

Egg Groups
GroundWater1
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

Ruby & Sapphire Golduck Best Moveset

Leftovers buys the setup turn. Golduck clicks Calm Mind, then starts cleaning with Surf and the remaining moves. Timid nature with max Sp. Atk and Speed EVs makes sure nothing tanks a boosted hit comfortably.

Best Build

Situational pick
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

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
5520Normal
Lv 1
Scratch
4010035Normal
Lv 1
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 1
Water Sport
15Water
Lv 5
Tail Whip
10030Normal
Lv 10
Disable
5520Normal
Lv 16
Confusion
5010025Psychic
Lv 23
Screech
D8540Normal
Lv 31
Psych Up
D10Normal
Lv 44
Fury Swipes
188015Normal
Lv 58
Hydro Pump
B120805Water

TM Moves

TM
TM40
Aerial Ace
D6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM14
Blizzard
C120705Ice
TM31
Brick Break
C7510015Fighting
TM04
Calm Mind
S20Psychic
TM28
Dig
6010010Ground
HM08
Dive
6010010Water
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM42
Facade
D7010020Normal
HM05
Flash
7020Normal
TM01
Focus Punch-3
B15010020Fighting
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM07
Hail
10Ice
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM15
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal
TM13
Ice Beam
S9510010Ice
TM23
Iron Tail
C1007515Steel
TM17
Protect+4
C10Normal
TM18
Rain Dance
B5Water
TM44
Rest
C10Psychic
TM27
Return
D10020Normal
HM06
Rock Smash
2010015Fighting
TM43
Secret Power
7010020Normal
HM04
Strength
8010015Normal
HM03
Surf
S9510015Water
TM06
Toxic
C8510Poison
TM03
Water Pulse
6010020Water
HM07
Waterfall
C8010015Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Cross Chop
C100805Fighting
Egg
Foresight
10040Normal
Egg
Future Sight
12010010Psychic
Egg
Hypnosis
B6020Psychic
Egg
Light Screen
C30Psychic
Egg
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Egg
Psychic
C9010010Psychic
Egg
Refresh
D20Normal

Tutor Moves

Golduck can't learn any Tutor moves

How to Get Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire

moderate rates across 2 encounter spots for Golduck. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.

Where To Catch Golduck in Ruby & Sapphire

The path to Golduck starts with Psyduck at Lv. 20-40 via surfing encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.

  1. Psyduck
    Step 1Catch Psyduck
    Safari Zone - Southwest
    RubySurfing on water Lv.20-35 Facility
    100%Mid
    Safari Zone - Southwest
    SapphireSurfing on water Lv.20-35 Facility
    100%Mid
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    RubySurfing on water Lv.20-35 Facility
    95%Mid
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    SapphireSurfing on water Lv.20-35 Facility
    95%Mid
  2. Golduck
    Step 2Golduck
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    SapphireSurfing on water Lv.25-40 Facility
    5%Mid
    Safari Zone - Northwest
    RubySurfing on water Lv.25-40 Facility
    5%Mid
    or evolve from Psyduck (Step 1)

Golduck Guide

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, Swift Swim changes the entire equation for Golduck. The 500 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked C-Tier. Ice Beam with Leftovers is the standard set.

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, watch for Raikou (Electric) and Venusaur (Grass) when using Golduck. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Swift Swim is what you want on Golduck. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Damp, Cloud Nine) work on paper but Swift Swim is what makes Golduck worth using.

  • Base 85 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Golduck is a special attacker with base 95 Sp. Atk. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two.

  • In Ruby & Sapphire, Golduck's hidden ability is Swift Swim. Doubles Speed during rain. Better than the standard options for competitive play.

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.

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