[OVERVIEW]
Psyduck is a Pokémon with a good ability that allows it to negate weather whenever it switches in, allowing it to do some revenge killing. It's also quick enough to utilize a Choice Scarf and revenge kill with its decent movepool, as well as its fair defensive typing. However, the head-aching duck does have its fair share of drawbacks, one being that while its stats are rounded, it doesn't have anything to write home about, and it can be outsped by a few Scarf users, and doesn't have enough bulk to withstand much.
[SET]
name: Scarfed Weatherman
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: HP Fire / HP Grass
move 4: Psychic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Modest
evs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald: Psyduck can use any of these and get STAB, hitting Pokémon like Houndour, Drilbur, Larvesta, Diglett, and Abra pretty hard, provided it can outspeed. Hydro Pump's inaccuracy can cause problems, but its high damage is helpful seeing as Psyduck is not the strongest anyway. Surf is an accurate option with a decent 90 Base Power, and Scald can be used due to its ability to burn non-Fire types, although Psyduck's Water attacks are useful most against Fire-types.
Ice Beam: A staple, Ice Beam can hit Grass-types for good damage as well as Dragon-types, which resist a lot of Psyduck's moves.
HP Fire / Grass: HP Fire can hit Ferroseed and most Steel-types pretty well, but HP Grass is the only way for Psyduck to hit Chinchou for anything. It also hits other Water-types.
Psychic / Signal Beam: Two nice coverage moves with decent power. Psyduck can hit Fighting and Psychic Pokémon (respectively) super-effectively.
Set Details
========
Psyduck needs to hit fast and hard. Investing in its defenses isn't recommended, as it probably isn't going to take any high-powered attacks it doesn't resist. The Scarf allows it to reach 22 Speed, good enough to get a hit in on almost anything without a scarf of their own.
Usage Tips
========
Psyduck is outclassed by most other hard-hitting Water-types, but its ability allows it to fill a helpful niche. Psyduck can remove weather, negating Sand Rush, Swift Swim, Chlorophyll, and any other stat-raising weather abilities, and then hit the opponent quickly with a move of its own. Its coverage in this set means that it will be able to revenge kill effectively.
Team Options
========
Chinchou: Psyduck and Chinchou can hit nearly anything well. Their typings both leave them weak to Grass, but someone's gotta carry HP Fire, anyway.
Ferroseed: Psyduck's ability to hit Fire-types hard makes it hard for any to come in on Ferroseed, but be wary of HP Fire and coverage.
Diglett: Preferred over Ponyta because it can hit Electric-types, critical to Psyduck's success, and do so fast.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
With Calm Mind , Psyduck can boost its Special stats only if it has a free turn; anything else and it will likely be knocked out. In this case, it could hold a Life Orb. It's not meant to take hits anyway. Confuse Ray and Toxic may fit Psyduck to cripple bulkier Pokémon, and Hypnosis can send an opponent into sleep, although it is inaccurate.
Checks and Counters
===================
Chinchou: This thing completely walls Psyduck without HP Grass. It can unleash an Electric-type attack onto Psyduck, usually knocking it out or forcing Psyduck to switch out if it wants to continue battling. Ferroseed can do the same thing with its Grass moves.
Magnemite/Pawniard: They can take Psyduck's attacks unless it has HP Fire, in which case they might have a bit trouble with it. Otherwise, Magnemite dispatches it easily and Pawniard can force it to switch.
Dragons: Ice Beam is a necessity in order for Psyduck to hit them.
Psyduck is a Pokémon with a good ability that allows it to negate weather whenever it switches in, allowing it to do some revenge killing. It's also quick enough to utilize a Choice Scarf and revenge kill with its decent movepool, as well as its fair defensive typing. However, the head-aching duck does have its fair share of drawbacks, one being that while its stats are rounded, it doesn't have anything to write home about, and it can be outsped by a few Scarf users, and doesn't have enough bulk to withstand much.
[SET]
name: Scarfed Weatherman
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: HP Fire / HP Grass
move 4: Psychic
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Modest
evs: 240 SpA / 240 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
========
Hydro Pump / Surf / Scald: Psyduck can use any of these and get STAB, hitting Pokémon like Houndour, Drilbur, Larvesta, Diglett, and Abra pretty hard, provided it can outspeed. Hydro Pump's inaccuracy can cause problems, but its high damage is helpful seeing as Psyduck is not the strongest anyway. Surf is an accurate option with a decent 90 Base Power, and Scald can be used due to its ability to burn non-Fire types, although Psyduck's Water attacks are useful most against Fire-types.
Ice Beam: A staple, Ice Beam can hit Grass-types for good damage as well as Dragon-types, which resist a lot of Psyduck's moves.
HP Fire / Grass: HP Fire can hit Ferroseed and most Steel-types pretty well, but HP Grass is the only way for Psyduck to hit Chinchou for anything. It also hits other Water-types.
Psychic / Signal Beam: Two nice coverage moves with decent power. Psyduck can hit Fighting and Psychic Pokémon (respectively) super-effectively.
Set Details
========
Psyduck needs to hit fast and hard. Investing in its defenses isn't recommended, as it probably isn't going to take any high-powered attacks it doesn't resist. The Scarf allows it to reach 22 Speed, good enough to get a hit in on almost anything without a scarf of their own.
Usage Tips
========
Psyduck is outclassed by most other hard-hitting Water-types, but its ability allows it to fill a helpful niche. Psyduck can remove weather, negating Sand Rush, Swift Swim, Chlorophyll, and any other stat-raising weather abilities, and then hit the opponent quickly with a move of its own. Its coverage in this set means that it will be able to revenge kill effectively.
Team Options
========
Chinchou: Psyduck and Chinchou can hit nearly anything well. Their typings both leave them weak to Grass, but someone's gotta carry HP Fire, anyway.
Ferroseed: Psyduck's ability to hit Fire-types hard makes it hard for any to come in on Ferroseed, but be wary of HP Fire and coverage.
Diglett: Preferred over Ponyta because it can hit Electric-types, critical to Psyduck's success, and do so fast.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
With Calm Mind , Psyduck can boost its Special stats only if it has a free turn; anything else and it will likely be knocked out. In this case, it could hold a Life Orb. It's not meant to take hits anyway. Confuse Ray and Toxic may fit Psyduck to cripple bulkier Pokémon, and Hypnosis can send an opponent into sleep, although it is inaccurate.
Checks and Counters
===================
Chinchou: This thing completely walls Psyduck without HP Grass. It can unleash an Electric-type attack onto Psyduck, usually knocking it out or forcing Psyduck to switch out if it wants to continue battling. Ferroseed can do the same thing with its Grass moves.
Magnemite/Pawniard: They can take Psyduck's attacks unless it has HP Fire, in which case they might have a bit trouble with it. Otherwise, Magnemite dispatches it easily and Pawniard can force it to switch.
Dragons: Ice Beam is a necessity in order for Psyduck to hit them.
