taken over from ManOfMany
QC: galbia / WhiteDMist / Raiza
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Golduck is well-known as one of the more prominent and threatening rain sweepers in PU, outspeeding even Choice Scarf Raichu in the rain by virtue of Swift Swim. Golduck's Life Orb-boosted Hydro Pump in the rain easily OHKOes most offensive Pokemon and 2HKOes almost any special wall that doesn't resist it. It also has useful coverage moves in Psychic and Ice Beam, allowing it to beat common Pokemon that can take its STAB attack, such as Poliwrath and Tangela. Golduck also functions well as a threat on non-rain teams by setting up Rain Dance on a forced switch or on a foe that can't deal much damage to it, such as Torkoal. However, it faces competition from Poliwrath, which has a more useful typing that gives it an additional STAB type and more opportunities to set up. Golduck, however, hits much harder and is faster. On the downside, it is easily worn down by Life Orb recoil, and rain turns can be stalled out.
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psychic
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Rain Dance activates Golduck's Swift Swim, doubling its Speed, and boosts its Water-type moves greatly. Hydro Pump, especially when boosted by rain, is able to KO most neutral targets. Ice Beam is necessary to hit Grass-types such as Tangela and Gourgeist-XL, which resist Golduck's STAB attacks. Psychic is mainly used to deal heavy damage to Poliwrath, which can take both Hydro Pump and Ice Beam with ease. If Golduck is already on a rain team with rain support, it can run Surf instead of Rain Dance for an accurate alternative to Hydro Pump.
Set Details
=========
Maximum Speed investment allows Golduck to outspeed Choice Scarf Raichu with Swift Swim in place and to Speed tie with other Golduck and Articuno outside of rain. Maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature along with a Life Orb allow Golduck to hit as hard as possible, KOing Tangela with Ice Beam after damage from Stealth Rock. Swift Swim is necessary in order to gain a Speed boost in rain.
Usage Tips
==========
Golduck should primarily be used as a late game cleaner, to KO the opponent's remaining Pokemon after they have been weakened. On a rain team, Golduck can also be used as a wallbreaker as those teams have many other options to sweep with. Hydro Pump should be the main move to spam, as this is Golduck's strongest move and it gains a boost from rain and STAB. Avoid keeping Golduck in on strong priority moves such as Sucker Punch from Mightyena, as it can be easily KOed after Life Orb recoil. Golduck has decent bulk, but it should not set up on strong attackers that can KO it such as Ursaring. Golduck shouldn't be switching in on most attacks, but it can be brought in safely through a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from a Pokemon such as Probopass or Pelipper. Golduck can also be used as a simple attacker to revenge kill slower Pokemon such as Stoutland and Aurorus if it does not get the opportunity to sweep.
Team Options
==========
Golduck pairs well with special wallbreakers, such as Nasty Plot Ninetales and Simisear, which can lure in and weaken special walls such as Lickilicky and Clefairy, which check Golduck. Pokemon such as Piloswine, Golem, and Roselia can set up entry hazards to wear down Pokemon that can otherwise take a hit. Toxic Spikes also works great to wear down specially bulky pokemon such as Lickilicky and Grumpig, which can take on Golduck. Water-types such as specially defensive Pelipper can be lured in and weakened by the likes of Ninetales. Electric- and Grass-types such as Raichu and Leafeon can handle said Water-types, while Flying-types such as Swanna and Dodrio can handle Grass-types. Knock Off users such as Pawniard and Leafeon can lure in and weaken Pokemon such as Roselia and Clefairy. Healing Wish support from Mr. Mime is also helpful because Golduck gets worn down fairly easy. Slower Pokemon with Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Probopass and Vullaby, can be helpful to get Golduck in safely without it having to take unnecessary damage. Although only needed on dedicated rain teams, Pokemon such as Volbeat and Electrode can set up Rain Dance and give Golduck a free switch with U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively. Other Swift Swim Pokemon pair well with Golduck on a rain team, such as Poliwrath, Beartic, and Armaldo, as well as Pokemon such as Swanna and Raichu, which can use a perfectly accurate Hurricane and Thunder, respectively, in the rain.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock could be used instead of Psychic to KO Roselia after it switches into Hydro Pump, but it deals less damage to Poliwrath. Hidden Power Electric can be used on Golduck's 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 it can give non-Water-type Pokemon free switches in. A Calm Mind set with either Substitute or Encore makes Golduck a viable sweeper, but Golduck has trouble finding setup opportunities.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Two rain-boosted Hydro Pumps can KO any special wall, but Lickilicky, Hypno, Grumpig, and Clefairy can still play around its low accuracy and Life Orb recoil. Hypno and Grumpig can check Golduck in a one-on-one situation by surviving Hydro Pump and inflicting paralysis in return. Regice also avoids the OHKO from Hydro Pump and can damage Golduck heavily with Thunderbolt.
**Water-types**: Specially defensive Pelipper avoids the 2HKO from all Golduck's moves and can gain back HP with Roost and use Toxic or Air Slash to wear down Golduck. Poliwrath is also a threat despite Psychic because it can switch into Water-type attacks due to Water Absorb. Politoed and Lapras, while rare, are complete stops to Golduck.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon such as Quick Feet Ursaring and Raichu can outspeed and KO Golduck before it gets the chance to set up. Choice Scarf Aurorus with Snow Warning outspeeds Golduck after removing the rain and can KO it with Freeze-Dry after one round of Life Orb recoil.
**Grass-types**: Roselia and Gogoat can survive multiple Ice Beams depending on their EVs and hit Golduck back hard with Giga Drain and Horn Leech, respectively, recovering health in the process. Pokemon such as Simisage and Jumpluff can also revenge kill Golduck outside of rain, but they are outsped if rain is still up.
**Priority**: Golduck won't be OHKOed by any priority move 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 when at lower health. It also fears priority Encore and Thunder Wave from Volbeat and Murkrow, as these can all stop a sweep.
QC: galbia / WhiteDMist / Raiza
GP: The Dutch Plumberjack / P Squared
[OVERVIEW]
Golduck is well-known as one of the more prominent and threatening rain sweepers in PU, outspeeding even Choice Scarf Raichu in the rain by virtue of Swift Swim. Golduck's Life Orb-boosted Hydro Pump in the rain easily OHKOes most offensive Pokemon and 2HKOes almost any special wall that doesn't resist it. It also has useful coverage moves in Psychic and Ice Beam, allowing it to beat common Pokemon that can take its STAB attack, such as Poliwrath and Tangela. Golduck also functions well as a threat on non-rain teams by setting up Rain Dance on a forced switch or on a foe that can't deal much damage to it, such as Torkoal. However, it faces competition from Poliwrath, which has a more useful typing that gives it an additional STAB type and more opportunities to set up. Golduck, however, hits much harder and is faster. On the downside, it is easily worn down by Life Orb recoil, and rain turns can be stalled out.
[SET]
name: Rain Dance
move 1: Rain Dance
move 2: Hydro Pump
move 3: Ice Beam
move 4: Psychic
item: Life Orb
ability: Swift Swim
nature: Modest
evs: 4 Def / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Moves
=========
Rain Dance activates Golduck's Swift Swim, doubling its Speed, and boosts its Water-type moves greatly. Hydro Pump, especially when boosted by rain, is able to KO most neutral targets. Ice Beam is necessary to hit Grass-types such as Tangela and Gourgeist-XL, which resist Golduck's STAB attacks. Psychic is mainly used to deal heavy damage to Poliwrath, which can take both Hydro Pump and Ice Beam with ease. If Golduck is already on a rain team with rain support, it can run Surf instead of Rain Dance for an accurate alternative to Hydro Pump.
Set Details
=========
Maximum Speed investment allows Golduck to outspeed Choice Scarf Raichu with Swift Swim in place and to Speed tie with other Golduck and Articuno outside of rain. Maximum Special Attack investment and a Modest nature along with a Life Orb allow Golduck to hit as hard as possible, KOing Tangela with Ice Beam after damage from Stealth Rock. Swift Swim is necessary in order to gain a Speed boost in rain.
Usage Tips
==========
Golduck should primarily be used as a late game cleaner, to KO the opponent's remaining Pokemon after they have been weakened. On a rain team, Golduck can also be used as a wallbreaker as those teams have many other options to sweep with. Hydro Pump should be the main move to spam, as this is Golduck's strongest move and it gains a boost from rain and STAB. Avoid keeping Golduck in on strong priority moves such as Sucker Punch from Mightyena, as it can be easily KOed after Life Orb recoil. Golduck has decent bulk, but it should not set up on strong attackers that can KO it such as Ursaring. Golduck shouldn't be switching in on most attacks, but it can be brought in safely through a slow Volt Switch or U-turn from a Pokemon such as Probopass or Pelipper. Golduck can also be used as a simple attacker to revenge kill slower Pokemon such as Stoutland and Aurorus if it does not get the opportunity to sweep.
Team Options
==========
Golduck pairs well with special wallbreakers, such as Nasty Plot Ninetales and Simisear, which can lure in and weaken special walls such as Lickilicky and Clefairy, which check Golduck. Pokemon such as Piloswine, Golem, and Roselia can set up entry hazards to wear down Pokemon that can otherwise take a hit. Toxic Spikes also works great to wear down specially bulky pokemon such as Lickilicky and Grumpig, which can take on Golduck. Water-types such as specially defensive Pelipper can be lured in and weakened by the likes of Ninetales. Electric- and Grass-types such as Raichu and Leafeon can handle said Water-types, while Flying-types such as Swanna and Dodrio can handle Grass-types. Knock Off users such as Pawniard and Leafeon can lure in and weaken Pokemon such as Roselia and Clefairy. Healing Wish support from Mr. Mime is also helpful because Golduck gets worn down fairly easy. Slower Pokemon with Volt Switch and U-turn, such as Probopass and Vullaby, can be helpful to get Golduck in safely without it having to take unnecessary damage. Although only needed on dedicated rain teams, Pokemon such as Volbeat and Electrode can set up Rain Dance and give Golduck a free switch with U-turn and Volt Switch, respectively. Other Swift Swim Pokemon pair well with Golduck on a rain team, such as Poliwrath, Beartic, and Armaldo, as well as Pokemon such as Swanna and Raichu, which can use a perfectly accurate Hurricane and Thunder, respectively, in the rain.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Psyshock could be used instead of Psychic to KO Roselia after it switches into Hydro Pump, but it deals less damage to Poliwrath. Hidden Power Electric can be used on Golduck's 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 it can give non-Water-type Pokemon free switches in. A Calm Mind set with either Substitute or Encore makes Golduck a viable sweeper, but Golduck has trouble finding setup opportunities.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Special Walls**: Two rain-boosted Hydro Pumps can KO any special wall, but Lickilicky, Hypno, Grumpig, and Clefairy can still play around its low accuracy and Life Orb recoil. Hypno and Grumpig can check Golduck in a one-on-one situation by surviving Hydro Pump and inflicting paralysis in return. Regice also avoids the OHKO from Hydro Pump and can damage Golduck heavily with Thunderbolt.
**Water-types**: Specially defensive Pelipper avoids the 2HKO from all Golduck's moves and can gain back HP with Roost and use Toxic or Air Slash to wear down Golduck. Poliwrath is also a threat despite Psychic because it can switch into Water-type attacks due to Water Absorb. Politoed and Lapras, while rare, are complete stops to Golduck.
**Faster Attackers**: Pokemon such as Quick Feet Ursaring and Raichu can outspeed and KO Golduck before it gets the chance to set up. Choice Scarf Aurorus with Snow Warning outspeeds Golduck after removing the rain and can KO it with Freeze-Dry after one round of Life Orb recoil.
**Grass-types**: Roselia and Gogoat can survive multiple Ice Beams depending on their EVs and hit Golduck back hard with Giga Drain and Horn Leech, respectively, recovering health in the process. Pokemon such as Simisage and Jumpluff can also revenge kill Golduck outside of rain, but they are outsped if rain is still up.
**Priority**: Golduck won't be OHKOed by any priority move 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 when at lower health. It also fears priority Encore and Thunder Wave from Volbeat and Murkrow, as these can all stop a sweep.
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