[OVERVIEW]
Golduck makes a home for itself in PU by either being a threatening Calm Mind sweeper or a potent Choice Scarf revenge killer. Golduck's ability Cloud Nine also lets it be a notable check to the rare weather team by shutting down the entire strategy. However, Golduck's stats are middle-of-the-road even in PU and faces stiff competition from Pokemon like Swanna and Duosion for similar roles.
[SET]
name: SubCM
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Scald
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Spatk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute blocks status and damage, giving Golduck opportunities to safely set up Calm Mind. Golduck after one Calm Mind is also decently bulky, so Substitutes on this set have the potential to be very useful. Leftovers is also the recommended item to hopefully give Golduck more opportunities to set up Substitute, but Life Orb is also excellent for making the most use out off the Calm Mind boosts. Scald is the preferred STAB option for the added utility of a potential burn, making set-up potentially easier and making this set useful beyond going for sweeps or wallbreaking. Ice Beam is for coverage for hitting Dragon- and Grass-types like Zweilous and Vileplume. Cloud Nine is useful for turning Rain and Sun off for the occasional hyper-offensive weather teams and potentially outspeeding and KOing threats like Victreebel.
Golduck appreciates being brought in safely via Volt Switch or U-Turn, so partners like Zebstrika or Jumpluff are excellent choices that also patch up Golduck's Speed. Paralysis support also goes a long way towards helping Golduck, so teammates like Stunfisk or Clefairy make for excellent picks as well. Golduck is also weak to common Electric- and Grass-type attacks from threats like Zebstrika or Simisage, so counters such as Stunfisk or Zweilous can also help Golduck. Lastly, Golduck is also great for luring in and weakening Grass-types and other kinds of walls such as Vileplume and Tentacool, so Pokemon that appreciate those walls being gone such as Torterra or Simisear are also good choices for rounding out a team.
SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power [Electric]
move 4: Focus Blast / Encore
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Spatk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydro Pump is the stronger of the two STAB options, but has a lower accuracy than Surf does. Ice Beam is for hitting Grass- and Dragon-types such as Maractus or Zweilous who can wall Golduck otherwise. Hidden Power [Electric] is for hitting Water-types like Swanna or Tentacool and rounds out Golduck's coverage. Focus Blast has an accuracy problem but is a strong hit for would-be walls like Scraggy or Audino and a heavier hit on Zweilous than Ice Beam. Encore is also a strong option for the last moveslot, as with the Choice Scarf Golduck is able to lock common setup sweepers like Huntail, Torterra, or Duosion into an unfavorable move, but it comes at the cost of Golduck having to switch out as well. Cloud Nine is also critical for this set, as with the Choice Scarf Golduck is able to outspeed and revenge kill common weather abusers such as Victreebel and even other Golduck.
Golduck tends to get stopped by specially-defensive walls such as Klang, Audino, and Zweilous, so wallbreakers like Monferno and Stoutland make for good partners. Golduck also tends to bring in Grass- and Electric-types, so defensive teammates like Bronzor or Stunfisk can allow Golduck to pivot out safely. This set also heavily appreciates entry hazards to make revenge killing easier, so Pokemon that can reliably set up Stealth Rock or Spikes such as Marowak or Maractus pair together with Golduck well. Choice Scarf Golduck also fits well on to offensive teams that require a revenge killer that can cover weather teams, so slower offensive Pokemon like Beheeyem or Life Orb Mawile love having Golduck around.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
Golduck makes a home for itself in PU by either being a threatening Calm Mind sweeper or a potent Choice Scarf revenge killer. Golduck's ability Cloud Nine also lets it be a notable check to the rare weather team by shutting down the entire strategy. However, Golduck's stats are middle-of-the-road even in PU and faces stiff competition from Pokemon like Swanna and Duosion for similar roles.
[SET]
name: SubCM
move 1: Substitute
move 2: Calm Mind
move 3: Scald
move 4: Ice Beam
item: Leftovers / Life Orb
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Spatk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Substitute blocks status and damage, giving Golduck opportunities to safely set up Calm Mind. Golduck after one Calm Mind is also decently bulky, so Substitutes on this set have the potential to be very useful. Leftovers is also the recommended item to hopefully give Golduck more opportunities to set up Substitute, but Life Orb is also excellent for making the most use out off the Calm Mind boosts. Scald is the preferred STAB option for the added utility of a potential burn, making set-up potentially easier and making this set useful beyond going for sweeps or wallbreaking. Ice Beam is for coverage for hitting Dragon- and Grass-types like Zweilous and Vileplume. Cloud Nine is useful for turning Rain and Sun off for the occasional hyper-offensive weather teams and potentially outspeeding and KOing threats like Victreebel.
Golduck appreciates being brought in safely via Volt Switch or U-Turn, so partners like Zebstrika or Jumpluff are excellent choices that also patch up Golduck's Speed. Paralysis support also goes a long way towards helping Golduck, so teammates like Stunfisk or Clefairy make for excellent picks as well. Golduck is also weak to common Electric- and Grass-type attacks from threats like Zebstrika or Simisage, so counters such as Stunfisk or Zweilous can also help Golduck. Lastly, Golduck is also great for luring in and weakening Grass-types and other kinds of walls such as Vileplume and Tentacool, so Pokemon that appreciate those walls being gone such as Torterra or Simisear are also good choices for rounding out a team.
SET]
name: Choice Scarf
move 1: Hydro Pump / Surf
move 2: Ice Beam
move 3: Hidden Power [Electric]
move 4: Focus Blast / Encore
item: Choice Scarf
ability: Cloud Nine
nature: Timid
evs: 252 Spatk / 4 SpD / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Hydro Pump is the stronger of the two STAB options, but has a lower accuracy than Surf does. Ice Beam is for hitting Grass- and Dragon-types such as Maractus or Zweilous who can wall Golduck otherwise. Hidden Power [Electric] is for hitting Water-types like Swanna or Tentacool and rounds out Golduck's coverage. Focus Blast has an accuracy problem but is a strong hit for would-be walls like Scraggy or Audino and a heavier hit on Zweilous than Ice Beam. Encore is also a strong option for the last moveslot, as with the Choice Scarf Golduck is able to lock common setup sweepers like Huntail, Torterra, or Duosion into an unfavorable move, but it comes at the cost of Golduck having to switch out as well. Cloud Nine is also critical for this set, as with the Choice Scarf Golduck is able to outspeed and revenge kill common weather abusers such as Victreebel and even other Golduck.
Golduck tends to get stopped by specially-defensive walls such as Klang, Audino, and Zweilous, so wallbreakers like Monferno and Stoutland make for good partners. Golduck also tends to bring in Grass- and Electric-types, so defensive teammates like Bronzor or Stunfisk can allow Golduck to pivot out safely. This set also heavily appreciates entry hazards to make revenge killing easier, so Pokemon that can reliably set up Stealth Rock or Spikes such as Marowak or Maractus pair together with Golduck well. Choice Scarf Golduck also fits well on to offensive teams that require a revenge killer that can cover weather teams, so slower offensive Pokemon like Beheeyem or Life Orb Mawile love having Golduck around.
[CREDITS]
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/akir.231726/
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