Overview
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Golduck is a staple of rain in PU. In the rain, it transforms into a terrifying sweeper due to Swift Swim, unable to be outsped by even Choice Scarf Raichu. Golduck's life orb boosted hydro pump in the rain easily OHKOes most offensive pokemon and 2HKOs all special walls who don't resist it. It also has coverage in psychic and ice beam to beat the common pokemon who can take this combination, Poliwrath and grass types such as Tangela. Golduck is still able to function as a threat on non-rain teams by setting up rain dance, which it usually finds an opportunity to set up due to forcing switches. However, it faces competition from Poliwrath here on both non-rain teams and rain-teams, because Poliwrath has a more useful typing. Golduck, however, hits much harder and is faster. It is also easily worn down with Life Orb Recoil and the rain turns can be stalled out by smart switching.
Rain Dance
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name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psychic
ability: Swift Swim
item: Life Orb
evs: 4 HP / 252 SpA/ 252 Spe
nature: Modest
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
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-Rain Dance is Golduck's setup move, doubling its speed and boosting the power of its water type moves. If Golduck is already on a rain team with rain support, then it can run Surf instead of Rain Dance for an accurate STAB move that still OHKOes most offensive pokemon. Hydro Pump is Golduck's most powerful move and OHKOes almost all offensive pokemon that do not resist it, and even some that do (such as Kingler). Ice Beam is necessary to hit the grass types that resist water, such as Tangela and Gourgeist. Psychic is used to deal heavy damage to Poliwrath.
Set Details
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252 Speed EVs allow Golduck to outspeed Choice Scarf Raichu in rain and below, as well as tie with other Golduck and Articuno outside of rain. 252 SpA and Modest Nature lets Golduck hit as hard as possible. Life Orb lets Golduck hit even harder and grabs some crucial KOs with ice beam, such as against Tangela after Stealth Rock damage, although the recoil will wear down Golduck quickly. Swift Swim is the necessary ability to grab the speed boost in rain.
Usage Tips:
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If using on rain teams, Golduck can be sent in when the rain is up and when its checks or counters are weakened or removed, allowing it to cleanly sweep the opposing team. It can also be used a midgame wallbreaker that opens holes in the opponent's team for another sweeper. Hydro Pump should usually be spammed as this is Golduck's strongest move. Avoid keeping Golduck in on strong priority such as Sucker Punch from Mightyena, because this combined with life orb recoil will wear it down and prevent it from sweeping late-game. Golduck used on a non-rain team can set up on weaker pokemon such as Scarf Mr.Mime, or pokemon it forces out like Armaldo. Golduck has okay bulk but it should not set up in front of strong attackers like Ursaring because they can either KO or put it in the range of death due to Life Orb recoil. Although Golduck can tank attacks such as Machoke's Close Combat or Ninetales Energy Ball at full health, avoid setting up vs them because the life orb recoil will quickly suicide Golduck. Avoid setting up on pokemon that commonly use status moves, such as Grumpig, because thunder-wave and toxic will severely cut down Golduck's sweeping ability. Golduck shouldn't be switching in on most attacks, but it can be brought in safely through a volt switch or u-turn user. Golduck can be used as a simple attacker to revenge-kill slower pokemon like Stoutland and Aurorus if it does not get the opportunity to sweep.
Team Options
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Golduck pairs well with special wallbreakers, such as Nasty Plot Ninetales and Simisage, who lure and weaken special walls like Lickilicky and Togetic that can switch in on Golduck. Pokemon such as Piloswine, Golem, and Roselia can set up hazards to wear down grass types that can take an ice beam at full health. Toxic Spikes also works great to wear down specially bulky pokemon like Lickilicky and Grumpig. Water types such as Specially Defensive Pelipper can be lured and weakened by the likes of Ninetales. Electric and Grass types like Leafeon and Raichu can handle these water types, while flying types such as Swanna and Dodrio can handle grass types. Knock off users such as Pawniard and Leafeon can lure and weaken pokemon like Roselia and Tangela. Pokemon such as Volbeat or Electrode can set up rain dance and give Golduck a free switch with volt switch/u-turn. Other swift swim abusers pair well with Golduck on a rain team, such as Poliwrath, Beartic, and Armaldo, as well as pokemon like Swanna and Raichu who have the accuracy of Hurricane and Thunder boosted by the rain.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
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Psyshock could be used instead of Psychic because it KOs Roselia after it switches into hydro pump, but it hits Poliwrath weaker. Hidden Power Electric could be used on the rain dance set specifically to OHKO Swanna and 2HKO Specially Defensive Pelipper, but Swanna and physically defensive versions of Pelipper are already 2HKOed by Hydro Pump. Synchronoise hits Poliwrath and other water types much harder than psychic, but can give non-water type pokemon free switch-ins.
A Calm Mind set with either substitute or encore makes a workable sweeper, but Golduck lacks set-up opportunities. A Calm Mind, rest, sleep talk, scald set may be tempting because it is similar to Suicune, but Golduck lacks the bulk to pull it off. A Cloud Nine set with four attacking moves gives huge trouble to weather teams, but weather is not dominant enough for it to be reliable. A Substitute-Disable set can be useful, but Golduck lacks enough immunities like Haunter.
Checks and Counters
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** Special Walls ** Two rain boosted hydro pumps will destroy any special wall, but Lickilicky, Hypno, Grumpig, and Togetic can still play around its low accuracy and recoil damage. Hypno, Grumpig, and Togetic can check Golduck in a 1v1 situation by tanking Hydro Pump and paralysing in return. Regice also avoids the OHKO from hydro pump and can damage Golduck heavily with thunderbolt.
** Bulky Waters ** Specially Defensive Pelipper avoids the 2HKO from all Golduck's moves and can gain back HP with roost, while using toxic or air slash to wear down Golduck. Poliwrath is also a threat despite Psychic because it can switch into water attacks due to water absorb. Politoed and Lapras, while rare, are complete stops to Golduck.
** Faster Attackers ** Pokemon such as Quick Feet Ursaring or Raichu can outspeed and KO Golduck before it gets the chance to set up. Scarf Aurorus with Snow Warning outspeeds Golduck in the rain and can KO it with Freeze Dry after one round of life orb recoil.
** Grass Types ** Roselia and Gogoat can tank even multiple ice beams depending on their EV spread, and hit Golduck back hard with Giga Drain and Horn Leech respectively, recovering damage in the process. Specially Defensive Tangela and Gourgeist-Super can tank ice beam at full health and retaliate with their grass STABs but they have to be careful of switching in.
** Priority ** Golduck won't be OHKOed by any priority at full health, but due to life orb recoil it can still be picked off. It fears sucker punch from Pawniard and Mightyena, as well as Dodrio's quick attack at lower health. It also fears priority encore, thunder wave, and sunny day from Volbeat and Murkrow, as these can all stop a sweep.
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