|
-
Damp
- Prevents the use of Selfdestruct or Explosion. Prevents Aftermath from doing damage.
-
Cloud Nine
- Blocks the effects of weather.
-
Swift Swim
- Speed doubles in rain.
|
Level 100 Statistics (see level 5, 50, 100)
|
Min- |
Min |
Max |
Max+ |
| HP |
80
|
- |
301 |
364 |
- |
| Atk |
82
|
180 |
200 |
263 |
289 |
| Def |
78
|
172 |
192 |
255 |
280 |
| SpA |
95
|
203 |
226 |
289 |
317 |
| SpD |
80
|
176 |
196 |
259 |
284 |
| Spe |
85
|
185 |
206 |
269 |
295 |
Overview
BW has given Golduck very little to play with, and so it once again falls to the bottom of the barrel. Its typing is good and its movepool great; however, it is let down by mediocre offensive stats. Nonetheless, it can hold its own down in NU, with its versatility and superb coverage granting it a variety of offensive options. While its primary ability, Cloud Nine, is significantly less useful in the largely weather-free lower tiers, Golduck did receive a more valuable ability from the Dream World, Swift Swim. Access to many excellent special attacks, as well as the boosting moves Calm Mind and Hone Claws, can enable it to pose a potent threat provided it is given adequate team support in the form of entry hazards and weather.
With a relatively large special movepool, Golduck makes a good all-out sweeper. Hydro Pump is its obvious STAB attack, and has excellent neutral coverage. Coming off a respectable base 95 Special Attack stat, and thanks to the STAB and Life Orb boosts, it is an attack powerful enough to dent most NU tier Pokemon, deterring them from switching in. Ice Beam has great synergy with Golduck's Water-type STAB, as it deals super effective damage to Dragon- and Grass-types, such as Altaria, Vileplume, and Dragonair, who resist Hydro Pump. Hidden Power Grass gives Golduck perfect neutral coverage, hitting Water-types such as Alomomola and Wartortle super effectively. Psychic nails the omnipresent Fighting-types, such as Sawk and Gurdurr. As an alternative, Focus Blast lets Golduck hit the likes of Miltank, Lickilicky, and Regice super effectively, and can be used if these Pokemon give your team trouble.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The EVs are tailored to allow Golduck to carry out its duties—all-out offense—as well as possible. A Timid nature enables Golduck to outrun the many threats sitting around the base 80 Speed benchmark, such as Altaria and Braviary, and lets it Speed tie with Pinsir and non-Choice Scarf Sawk. Life Orb gives Golduck much-needed extra power, as its Special Attack stat isn't the best around. These elements are generally non-negotiable; the only exception should be if your team can provide Golduck with rain support, in which case a Modest nature should be used.
First and foremost, Golduck greatly appreciates entry hazard support to obtain more KOs: for example, Stealth Rock lets it 2HKO Alomomola and Dragonair with the respective super effective moves. With regard to Spikes users, Cacturne is notable for its synergy with Golduck; it resists Grass- and Electric-type attacks, while Golduck can switch into the Fire- and Ice-type attacks Cacturne attracts. Of the common Stealth Rock users, Torterra is perhaps the one with the best synergy with Golduck, but in addition to Stealth Rock support, Miltank, Probopass, and Regirock can also spread Thunder Wave around the opponent's team, making Golduck's sweep much easier. Due to its good type coverage, Golduck is difficult to wall, but it can easily be revenge killed by faster Choice Scarf users. As such, Pokemon that resist its weaknesses make for excellent teammates: Altaria and Wish passing Shelgon are good defensive options, while Zweilous is more offensive. Lastly, you can opt to provide Golduck with rain support, which not only activates Swift Swim, but also greatly boosts the power of Hydro Pump: Volbeat and Electrode are good choices for supporters.
Golduck has decent Special Attack and Speed, but neither stat is particularly outstanding. A Choice set attempts to remedy that by letting Golduck fill the role of either a speedy revenge killer or a powerful wallbreaker. Hydro Pump, Golduck's STAB attack, deals massive damage and demolishes just about anything that isn't immune or resistant to it. Ice Beam is super effective against the two main types that resist Water-type moves, Dragon and Grass, and annihilates Altaria, Vileplume, and Dragonair. In the third moveslot, Hidden Power Grass puts the hurt on bulky Water-types, especially ones with Water Absorb, namely Lapras and Frillish. However, do note that it is an extremely weak attack with subpar coverage, and might leave Golduck as setup bait. Rounding out the coverage is Focus Blast, which grants Golduck a harder hit on Normal-, Ice-, and Steel-types, such as Miltank and Bastiodon. Psychic demolishes the ever-so-common Fighting-types, such as Sawk and Gurdurr. It can be used over any of Golduck's coverage moves; the choice should depend on which groups of Pokemon Golduck's teammates are better equipped to handle.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
The EV spread is typical of any other all-out sweeper: Golduck's Special Attack and its Speed are maximized, and the leftover EVs are put into HP for a tiny bit of extra bulk. Choice Scarf lets Golduck serve as a revenge killer to speedy threats, such as Swellow, Haunter, and Kadabra, while Choice Specs makes it a frighteningly hard hitter. The choice of item and nature go hand-in-hand: a Modest nature is recommended when using Choice Scarf, and a Timid one with Choice Specs. Choice Scarf can be used with a Timid nature, though, if you're concerned about losing the ability to revenge kill maximum Speed Dragon Dance Altaria. Finally, a Modest nature should be used if your team can provide Rain Dance support, as Swift Swim will double Golduck's Speed.
This Golduck will tend to be doing a lot of switching, as several of its moves have either poor coverage or low Base Power. As such, a Rapid Spinner such as Armaldo might be beneficial. Pokemon that can switch into common attacks directed at Golduck, such as Vileplume, Torterra, and Altaria, might also be helpful. Finally, Volbeat is an excellent Rain Dance users.
Calm Mind, the better of the two set-up moves Golduck receives, allows it to function relatively well as a bulky sweeper, and even sweep a team with a well-timed set-up. Hydro Pump is, as always, Golduck's STAB attack of choice, and deals great damage to all NU Pokemon that don't resist it. However, on this bulkier set meant to stick around for longer, Surf is a viable alternative if you don't like the low PP and dodgy accuracy of Hydro Pump. Ice Beam destroys Altaria, Dragonair, Vileplume, and Tangela, the key Grass- and Dragon-types that resist Golduck's Water-type STAB attacks. Hidden Power Grass picks off Alomomola and other bulky Water-types, especially those with Water Absorb, but Psyshock can also be used to demolish the Fighting-types that roam the tier—Sawk and Gurdurr in particular.
Team Options & Additional Comments >>>
Maximum Special Attack and Speed investment enables Golduck to hit as hard and as fast as possible, and a Timid nature is necessary to outrun the many threats that populate the base 80 to 85 Speed tier, such as Altaria, Braviary, and Skuntank, as well as Speed tie with Sawk and Misdreavus. While Leftovers can be used for additional survivability, Golduck's bulk isn't exactly stellar, and Life Orb is needed to give its attacks some real punch.
As with just about every other sweeper out there, Golduck appreciates entry hazard support: Torterra makes for a good Stealth Rock supporter, while Garbodor and Whirlipede can set up both Spikes and Toxic Spikes. Depending on the moves Golduck chooses, it might need help from its teammates to take down certain threats. Golduck that forgo Hidden Power Grass will appreciate partners that can break through bulky Water-types, such as Leafeon and Rotom-S, while those that forgo Psyshock might pair well with bulky Psychic-types, namely Duosion and Musharna.
Other Options
First of all, Golduck has access to Scald, but it functions best as an attacker, as it is largely outclassed in a defensive role by the likes of Alomomola. It receives Signal Beam and Synchronoise, but these have useless coverage. Golduck also receives the boosting move Hone Claws, making a mixed or fully physical set a possibility: its physical movepool, consisting of Aqua Tail, Aqua Jet, Ice Punch, Zen Headbutt, and a variety of Fighting-type moves, is just large enough to be usable, and Hydro Pump, Focus Blast, and Blizzard gain an Accuracy buff as well. Furthermore, Golduck gets a surprisingly large number of disruptive moves, including Encore, Hypnosis, Confuse Ray, Yawn, Screech, and Charm, but these are largely gimmicky. It receives both Substitute and Disable, but lacks either the bulk or the immunities to make such a set worthwhile. Golduck can also set up rain on its own, but it would prefer additional coverage, and there are generally better Pokemon for such a job. Finally, Golduck also receives the Cloud Nine ability, which would allow it to better counter the occasional Rain Dance or Sunny Day team. However, its weaknesses to Electric- and Grass-type moves, common attacks on such teams, might let it down in this aspect.
Checks and Counters
Perhaps the best counter to Golduck is Mantine, who laughs off Hydro Pump with Water Absorb, and is not weak to either Ice Beam or Hidden Power Grass. However, do note that a predicted Psyshock can 2HKO after Stealth Rock. With their high Special Defense, Regice and Articuno make good counters: the former can dispatch Golduck with a super effective Thunderbolt, while the latter two can Toxic and stall Golduck out with their instant recovery move. Though much less common, Lapras and Frillish take little from Hidden Power Grass, and Togetic from Ice Beam. Gorebyss can set up on Golduck Choice-locked into an ineffective move; finally, just about all Golduck cannot damage Shedinja.
