http://www.serebii.net/pokedex-bw/055.shtml
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[Overview]
- The only Pokemon barring Lickilicky in OU who can render weather useless with its ability, Cloud Nine.
- As a result can put a stop to a lot of common Pokemon on a Sandstorm team.
- Its stats are inferior to other bulky Water types, so it is not recommended to be used in that way.
- Speed is relatively low, although faster than most bulky waters it is competing with, allowing it to run a Choice Scarf set well.
- Outside of Cloud Nine, it is completely outclassed by other bulky water types such as Suicune.
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power Electric / Hidden Power Grass / Hidden Power Fire
move 4: Focus Blast / Psychic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Modest / Timid
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
Set Comments:
- Revenges almost all Pokemon in a Sandstorm with this set, such as Randorusu and Doryuuzu.
- Hydro Pump is for powerful STAB attacks against Ground and Rock types, as well as Fire in the Sun. Ice Beam is mainly for Dragon types, whom Golduck outspeeds with a Scarf
- Hidden Power choice is for what you want Golduck to take on. Electric is for bulky waters, Grass is as well but hits things like Swampert harder over hitting Gyarados. Hidden Power Fire is for Nattorei, a huge counter to this set, as well as Abomasnow and Scizor.
- Being a Water type, it allows it to survive almost every attack a regular Sandstorm team can throw at it.
- Focus Blast is there for Tyranitar, as you will not KO with Hydro Pump. Psychic is there if you have problems with Roobushin and Nageki. Either way slot 4 is a filler move
- Choice of Hidden Power is team dependant. If your team has a hard time with Hail in general, Hidden Power Fire is the way to go. Hidden Power Electric is almost always recommended over Grass, since in general Swampert will be beaten by Hydro Pump, and Lanturn is not all that common.
- Hydro Pump is much preferred over Surf, since it nets KO's it wouldn't normally get with Surf.
- It is generally best to use Hydro Pump as much as possible, since the other moves are fairly underpowered with a Choice Scarf.
- Modest is recommended also over Timid. This is due to the reason that it is requires as much power as possible, and it only really loses out to Choice Scarf Heatran and Arigudaa if it runs Modest.
- Stallbreaking is essential with this set, therefore Dragons are recommended. Dragonite and Salamence cover Golducks weaknesses well and break stall with ease if played correctly.
- Team-mates who can take advantage of there being no beneficiaries of Sandstorm are good team-mates too. Urugamosu can Butterfly Dance without the fear of being destroyed by Doryuuzu, and wreak havoc on the opposing team.
- You should also pick partners depending on the Hidden Power chosen. For example, if there is no Hidden Power Fire, Hihidaruma is a great team-mate for taking down a Hail team, whilst if there is no Hidden Power Electric, Borotunesu is a good partner for beating Water types.
- Blissey laughs at Golduck even with Focus Blast, as does Chansey.
- If no Hidden Power Electric / Grass, Waters love this and set up on it with ease, no Hidden Power Fire / Focus Blast and Nattorei eats this set alive and can severely damage the team with entry hazards.
- Burunkeru takes pitiful damage from everything. Even Hidden Power Electric is barely a 3HKO.
- Since it is Choiced, it is really easy to come in after a KO on a resisted Hidden Power and set up on it with almost anything depending on the Pokemon so be wary.
- Entry hazards can allow for extra KO's so it is much appreciated. Nattorei shares good synergy with Golduck too.
- Rain teams set up on Golduck all day so having something to aid it in that department is critical. Again Nattorei is good for this, and so is Birijion with its massive Special Defense and resist to Water.
- Grass types find easy switch ins to Hydro Pump so Fire types such as Hihidaruma definately have a place.
- Things that can take advantage of Golducks unique power is welcomed, such as Salamence and Urugamosu.
- Can run a bulky set but it is not recommended since there are things much bulkier and much better at setting up Calm Mind.
- Has a few support moves such as Light Screen and Toxic, but again it kind of defeats the point of using Golduck.
- A Choice Specs set can be used if you really want the extra power. It is quite a powerful bulky water but there are more powerful ones, and without a Choice Scarf it is slower than most destructive Sandstorm sweepers such as Doryuuzu and Randorusu
- Blissey doesn't care about Golduck.
- Any Water Type not hit Super Effective by its Hidden Power is a solid counter. Ludicolo and Lanturn both do the job fine.
- Tyranitar can sometimes survive Hydro Pump and KO back with Crunch.
- Burungeru takes less than 40% from Hidden Power Electric as does Vaporeon, and both can heal up or set up on Golduck.
- Choice Scarfers with more than 269 speed with a powerful attack can usually take Golduck down. Sazando comes to mind here.
- Golduck gets Swift Swim in Dream World.
- While Cloud Nine gives it a niche, Swift Swim could actually give it some use outside of that but it is pretty much outclassed by Gorebyss there as well.
