[OVERVIEW]
Golduck stands out in ADV UU as a fast offensive Water-type that has access to Calm Mind. Its strong STAB Hydro Pump rips through even specially bulky foes like Kangaskhan and Ampharos. Golduck is also gifted with a unique ability in Cloud Nine, making it able to put a stop to weather-based hyper offense teams. Cloud Nine disables the Speed boost from Swift Swim and Chlorophyll, allowing Golduck to revenge kill Rain Dance Omastar and Gorebyss and Sunny Day Vileplume, as well as ignoring Sunny Day Arcanine attempting to weaken Hydro Pump by setting up sun. Golduck is a more aggressive alternative to another offensive Water-type in Slowking because of its good Speed, Cloud Nine, and no Rest turns to exploit, making it a better pick on hyper offensive teams that need a backup weather answer.
However, Golduck faces competition from the plethora of other offensive Water-types in the tier, such as Rain Dance Omastar, Swords Dance Tentacruel, Gorebyss, and Feraligatr. It lacks the defensive profile that enables Pokemon like Slowking to play the long game, which leaves it easily worn down by stray attacks and status as it tries to set up, and Golduck only makes up for it with its moderately fast base Speed stat. Additionally, Golduck's ability to revenge kill weather sweepers is replicated by Pokemon like Electrode and Ninjask, which can also revenge kill other fast Pokemon like Scyther and Tentacruel.
[SET]
Name: Calm Mind
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Hydro Pump
Move 3: Psychic
Move 4: Hidden Power Grass / Surf
Item: Leftovers
Ability: Cloud Nine
Nature: Timid / Modest
EVs: 4 HP / 252 SpA / 252 Spe
[SET COMMENTS]
Set Description
=========
Golduck can find opportunities to set up Calm Mind on Pokemon such as Omastar, Gligar, or Kangaskhan after it uses Rest. The threat of Calm Mind can prevent Kangaskhan from using Rest to stall Golduck, as +1 Hydro Pump 2HKOes specially defensive variants. It can also set up by forcing out a Rock- or Ground-type such as Solrock or Gligar, on which Golduck can enter with a double switch, after they KO Golduck's teammate, or after a teammate has used Explosion. Psychic is used to hit Poison-types that resist Water like Tentacruel, Vileplume, and Qwilfish. Hidden Power Grass is used for other Water-types, notably OHKOing Omastar and 2HKOing Gorebyss, which Golduck can revenge kill by ignoring Swift Swim. While Hydro Pump is Golduck's preferred STAB option, Golduck can also feasibly run Surf over Hidden Power Grass to have guaranteed accuracy against super effective targets while also preserving Hydro Pump's minimal 8 PP.
A Timid nature allows Golduck to, at worst, speed tie with other base 85 Speed Pokemon like Gligar, Qwilfish, and Nidoking. A Modest Golduck hits harder with its coverage, allowing for reliable 2HKOs on Vileplume and Tentacruel and a 3HKO on Lanturn without boosts while still outspeeding Omastar, Gorebyss, and Vileplume.
Team Options
=========
Golduck fits well on hyper offensive teams as a Water-type setup sweeper that helps its frail teammates avoid being bowled over by weather sweepers. Golduck appreciates Spikes support from offensive spikers such as Qwilfish and Glalie, which lay as many layers of Spikes down as possible before they use Explosion to bring in an offensive teammate. Yawn Kangaskhan can create entry points for Golduck by threatening the opponent with sleep, which can force out or disable Electric-types and bulky Water-types that would give Golduck trouble when it sets up. Due to Golduck's difficult matchups against Electric-types, it appreciates Ground-types that reliably check them and keep up offensive pressure like Nidoqueen, Nidoking, and Sandslash; Nidoqueen and Nidoking are fast wallbreakers with great coverage, whereas Sandslash is a Swords Dance sweeper with great physical bulk. In return, Golduck can adequately handle any Water-types that give these Pokemon trouble. If Golduck ever faints before it can complete a sweep, it appreciates a cleaner that can take advantage of the damage Golduck has done and revenge kill foes, such as Scyther, Arcanine, Haunter, or a fast Electric-type like Electrode.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
=============
Ice Beam can be used over Psychic to maintain a strong hit on Vileplume while having coverage for Cradily and Altaria, but Golduck would lack coverage for Tentacruel unless it uses Hidden Power Electric, which can't OHKO Omastar. Hypnosis lets Golduck shut down slower Pokemon that threaten it like Ampharos and Lanturn, giving it reliable setup turns. However, dropping any coverage Golduck has severely limits its ability to threaten its checks, and it can be risky to rely on Hypnosis's meager 60% accuracy. Lum Berry prevents Golduck from being worn down by status, letting it attack or set up against an incoming Toxic or paralysis move. Mystic Water allows Golduck to have the damage of a Modest nature on its STAB moves while maintaining the speed tie with Jolly Gligar that Timid provides. However, it's worth noting that while Golduck is not as reliant on the passive recovery of Leftovers as an offensive sweeper, any amount of passive damage, from Spikes to Toxic, permanently sticking makes Golduck much more fragile.
Checks and Counters
===================
**Electric-types**: Golduck is threatened by every common Electric-type in the tier. Ampharos has good special bulk and a Thunderbolt that can OHKO an unboosted Golduck, Lanturn has ample opportunity to gain entry with its Water resistance, and all other Electric-types, such as Electrode, Electabuzz, and Manectric, outspeed Golduck. However, Ampharos can't switch in too many times throughout a battle and has to stay out of range of a boosted Hydro Pump, while the faster Electric-types can't switch in well at all.
**Cradily**: Cradily is a bulky special wall that can put Golduck on a timer with Toxic, and it can also use Recover to take advantage of Hydro Pump's low PP as well as rack up Toxic damage. However, Golduck can take advantage of Cradily's general passivity to boost, and it doesn't take much damage from Cradily's attacks.
**Paralysis**: Because Golduck is reliant on its Speed to make successful sweeps, paralysis from Kangaskhan's Body Slam, Vileplume's Stun Spore, or Misdreavus's Thunder Wave stops Golduck dead in its tracks and allows more Pokemon to take advantage of its low bulk.
**Phazers**: Pokemon with phazing moves like Walrein, Altaria, and Blastoise stand in the way of Golduck's sweep with their good bulk and force it to start again from square one. However, most of these Pokemon don't like taking initial damage from Hidden Power Grass, and they can't threaten Golduck back aside from phazing it.
[CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/ellingtonreborn.619555/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bouff.121672/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/bigfatmantis.507497/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/stupidflandrs48.633500/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/tbolt.555379/
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