Competitive Information for Psyduck [Sword/Shield]
Water
Abilities:
Movesets for Singles
What is a good competitive moveset for Psyduck? These builds have been optimized for Pokemon competing in Sword/Shield Single Battles. The movesets and EVs have been specifically calibrated to deal the most amount of damage to the largest group of potentially common opponents and typing threats for the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Psyduck is a stupendous Water-typed Pokemon. Psyduck is not a Pokemon anyone usually expects sees on the battlefield. Psyduck can be quite a contender in the LC tier (Little Cup). Psyduck's only type-related weaknesses are Electric and Grass.
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 Atk / 40 Def / 24 SpD / 4 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Shadow Claw
- Ice Punch
Physical Sweeper Psyduck (Swift Swim)
Psyduck is an extraordinary Physical Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Psyduck's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. The Shell Bell item option is to help Psyduck recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Swift Swim, Psyduck's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is10a36
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 188 Hp / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 24 SpD / 4 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Ice Beam / Icy Wind
- Round / Snore
Special Sweeper Psyduck (Swift Swim)
Psyduck is a phenomenal Special Sweeper for single battles. It's purpose is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Snore) and boosts Psyduck's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Psyduck's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Swift Swim, Psyduck's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Psyshock is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Psyduck must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/is11a36
Movesets for Doubles
What is a good doubles moveset for Psyduck? These builds have been optimized for Sword/Shield Double Battles. They have movesets and EVs specifically calibrated to generally work best versus multiple Pokemon at once as well as helping to support other team members and allys in the Sword/Shield generation metagame.
Item: Shell Bell / Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Adamant (+Atk, -SpA)
EVs: 188 Hp / 252 Atk / 40 Def / 24 SpD / 4 Spe
Moveset:
- Aqua Tail / Waterfall
- Double-Edge / Body Slam
- Shadow Claw
- Ice Punch
Doubles Physical Sweeper Psyduck (Swift Swim)
Psyduck is a fabulous Physical Sweeper for double battles. It attempts to take down the opponent's team with brute physical power. Life Orb boosts the power of Psyduck's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. The Shell Bell item option is to help Psyduck recover from the recoil damage it may take from Double-Edge. With Swift Swim, Psyduck's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Waterfall is a physical STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (20% chance to make the target flinch).
◆ Double-Edge is a physical 120-base power Normal-type move (has 33% recoil).
◆ Body Slam is a physical 85-base power Normal-type move (30% chance to paralyze the target).
◆ Shadow Claw is a physical 70-base power Ghost-type move (high critical hit ratio).
◆ Ice Punch is a physical 75-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id10a36
Item: Throat Spray / Life Orb
Ability: Swift Swim
Nature: Modest (+SpA, -Atk)
EVs: 188 Hp / 40 Def / 252 SpA / 24 SpD / 4 Spe
IVs: 0 Atk
Moveset:
- Surf / Scald
- Icy Wind / Ice Beam
- Psychic / Psyshock
- Round / Snore
Doubles Special Sweeper Psyduck (Swift Swim)
Psyduck is a notable Special Sweeper for double battles. It's primary goal is to take down the opponent's team with high-damaging special attacks. Throat Spray activates when a Pokemon uses a sound-based move (in this case Round or Snore) and raises Psyduck's special attack stat by 2 stages. Life Orb boosts the power of Psyduck's damaging moves by 1.3x but it then loses 1/10 its max HP immediately after the attack. With Swift Swim, Psyduck's speed is doubled during rainy weather.
◆ Scald is a special STAB-boosted 80-base power Water-type move (30% chance to burn the target. Thaws target).
◆ Icy Wind is a special 55-base power Ice-type move (100% chance to lower the foes speed by 1 stage).
◆ Ice Beam is a special 90-base power Ice-type move (10% chance to freeze the target).
◆ Psychic is a special 90-base power Psychic-type move (10% chance to lower the target's special defense by 1 stage).
◆ Psyshock is a special 80-base power Psychic-type move (damages target based on defense, not special defense).
◆ Round is a special 60-base power Normal-type move (power doubles if others used round this turn).
◆ Snore is a special 50-base power Normal-type move (Psyduck must be asleep. 30% chance to flinch target).
Link (click to copy):
https://hohoushome.com/b/id11a36
Movepool
Wondering what moves can Psyduck learn? Here is the list of moves this Pokemon can learn in this selected generation.
Sort and organize the learnset by move type, category, accuracy, and power. Bolded moves will gain the same-type attack bonus (STAB) if this Pokemon uses them.
Damage Modifiers:
Combo List
These are a list of several common move combinations Psyduck can perform in Sword/Shield. Not every combo going to be game-changing, but some can be pretty fun to play with. Sometimes these can be easily overlooked or forgotten, hence why we find and list them here. Discover what items, abilities, and moves this Pokemon can use in combination with each other to gain a strategic advantage in competitive battles.
Competitive SS Move and Ability Combos for Psyduck
- Moves: Swagger + Psych up
- Moves: Swagger + Screech
- Moves: Rest + Sleep talk
- Moves: Rest + Snore
- Moves: Yawn + Protect
- Move: Swagger + Item: Mirror Herb
- Move: Fling + Item: King's Rock
- Move: Facade + Item: Flame Orb
- Move: Facade + Item: Toxic Orb
- Item: Blunder Policy + Move: Dynamic Punch
- Moves with Priority: Endure, Protect
- Moves that Break Screens: Brick Break
- Moves that inflict status: Yawn, Scald, Hypnosis, Toxic
Moves that boost Psyduck's stats
- Amnesia
- Calm Mind
- Curse
- Hone Claws
- Power-Up Punch
- Skull Bash
Most notable and possible best moves for Psyduck
- Hydro Pump
- Ice Beam
- Light Screen
- Protect
- Rest
- Scald
- Toxic
Common Effort Values for Psyduck in Sword and Shield
- Adamant Nature ( 0/252/0/0/0/252 )
- Modest Nature ( 0/0/0/252/0/252 )
- Optimize Psyduck's EV spread for Pokemon Sword and Shield
Related Videos
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