Misty's Psyduck
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Misty's Psyduck (Japanese: カスミのコダック Kasumi's Koduck) was the fifth Pokémon acquired by Misty in the Kanto region, and the second she caught within the series, after Horsea.
In the anime
History
Original series
Kanto
In Hypno's Naptime, the Pokémon of HopHopHop Town had been turned listless by the Psychic waves produced by a Hypno. When a Drowzee nullified the waves, the Pokémon were cured, with the exception of a wild Psyduck that Nurse Joy had been looking after due to a chronic headache. Brock wanted to impress her, so he promised to take care of the Duck Pokémon. Later, it was discovered that Psyduck had a permanent headache, so Brock ended up passing it off to Misty because she is a Water-type specialist. Misty tried to avoid Psyduck, but she ended up catching it by accident when she dropped a Poké Ball that subsequently rolled towards Psyduck. Psyduck tapped the Ball's control with its bill twice and essentially caught itself by accident.
Out of all of Misty's early Pokémon, Psyduck is arguably the one with the most personality. Psyduck does not like to stay in its Poké Ball, and will usually pop out according to its mood. This personality trait came in handy quite a bit - when Misty or her other Pokémon were captured, it was usually Psyduck who escaped and ran to get help. However, Psyduck also tends to frustrate Misty, often emerging for a battle when Misty would prefer to use another Pokémon. Although in these cases Psyduck generally manages to win thanks to its Psychic attacks.
In Princess vs. Princess, Misty mistakenly used Psyduck during the Queen of the Princess Festival, the main event in the annual Princess Festival. It managed to defeat Jessie's newly-acquired Lickitung, who had easily defeated the rest of Misty's temporary team of Pikachu, Bulbasaur, and Vulpix. This made Misty the winner of the competition and earned her a Pokémon doll collection as a prize.
Misty left Psyduck at a breeding center in The Breeding Center Secret, unaware that it was a scheme by Team Rocket's Butch and Cassidy to steal Pokémon. The group visited a nearby restaurant, learning that they could get an all-you-can-eat meal for free if they could bring the chef his favorite Pokémon; a Psyduck. Shocked, Misty and the group heads back to the breeding center to retrieve Psyduck, only to find it closed and soon uncover that it a Team Rocket scheme. After facing police custody and a battle against Team Rocket, Misty and Psyduck are reunited, and return to the restaurant to enjoy the all-you-can-eat offer.
When film producer Cleavon Schpielbunk wanted to cast a movie with only Pokémon in Lights, Camera, Quack-tion, Psyduck ended up becoming the co-star of Schpielbunk's Wigglytuff, since it was the only Pokémon willing to put up with Wigglytuff's diva attitude due to its own stupidity. Despite this, Psyduck apparently impressed Wigglytuff with its Psychic abilities after the Duck Pokémon saved the other Pokémon in the film from being captured by Team Rocket.
Orange Islands
In Bye Bye Psyduck, Misty's Psyduck seemed to have gotten separated from the group. Later on, a girl named Marina arrived with a lost Psyduck. Misty assumed it was hers and noticed that its tail was glowing bright pink, which Marina pointed out that Psyduck would evolve soon. Misty and Marina had a battle, during which Ash tossed Misty her bag. It landed in the water, and when Misty retrieved it, she found a Golduck. Thinking her Psyduck evolved, she battled with Golduck, winning the match against Marina. Even when Team Rocket barged in to steal Marina's Pokémon, Golduck easily rescued them. However, when Misty attempted to recall Golduck, her Psyduck popped out instead, revealing that the Golduck was a wild one and that her Psyduck never even left his Poké Ball.
Misty cleverly used Psyduck in battle in The Stun Spore Detour. As Meowth was about to attack, she recalled Staryu and sent out Psyduck. Meowth angrily bit Psyduck's head, which caused Psyduck to have a severe headache, allowing it to use its psychic powers and defeat him.
Johto
In The Fire-ing Squad!, Psyduck was entered into the Fire and Rescue Grand Prix with Ash, alongside his Pikachu and Squirtle, as well as Misty's Staryu. The group competed against a team of Muk to see who can put out a fire the fastest. Squirtle and Staryu used dual Water Guns on the fire while Pikachu kicked dirt at it. Things were going well until Psyduck got in the way and ended up getting thrown into the fire. Squirtle rescued it, but the loss in time cost them the match.
In The Perfect Match!, Misty was going to use Corsola to battle against Ash and his Kingler in the Whirl Cup, but Psyduck popped out of his Poké Ball instead. Kingler used its Vise Grip on Psyduck, which caused it to get a headache. Misty then had Psyduck use Confusion, which sent Kingler flying into Ash and knocked it out, giving Misty the victory.
In Just Add Water, Misty was having a battle with Dorian, the Gym Leader of the unofficial Coastline Gym. Psyduck watched Misty battle him until Team Rocket showed up and captured Misty and Dorian. Psyduck then became angry and determined, unlike the usual attitude it displayed, and wanted to battle Team Rocket. Arbok used Bite on Psyduck-which caused it to get a headache-allowing it to use its Confusion attack. Psyduck then used Psychic to blast Team Rocket off. Afterwards, Dorian was amazed by Psyduck's power and complimented on it, saying Misty easily would have won the battle if she had used Psyduck. Psyduck, however, only seemed confused by the compliment.
Pokémon the Series: Ruby and Sapphire
In Cerulean Blues, Psyduck accidentally came out of his Poké Ball alongside Politoed, who was sent out to calm down a rampaging Gyarados. Upon emerging, Psyduck fell into the pool and started to panic, though Gyarados headbutted him out before he drowned.
In The Blue Badge of Courage, Misty and Tracey tried to teach Psyduck how to swim. Their efforts proved to be unsuccessful as Psyduck freaks out whenever it touches the water, and they stopped when Sakura appeared. It later attempted to battle Kinso's Feraligatr, but was scared off immediately. Soon after, Misty and Tracey resumed their attempts at teaching Psyduck to swim, but the two were interrupted when Kinso informed Misty that thieves stole all of the Badges. Psyduck eventually battled and defeated the thieves' Pokémon alongside Sakura's Espeon, doing so when he got a headache mid-battle and activated his Psychic powers.
Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon
In When Regions Collide!, Psyduck greeted Misty upon her return to the Cerulean Gym. It was later used in a battle against Lana's Popplio and Mallow's Steenee. Steenee started the battle with Magical Leaf while Popplio quickly followed with Bubble Beam. Psyduck then showed its improved battling abilities, firing a now-mastered Water Gun. Popplio, however, created a balloon to absorb the attack, then launched the water-filled balloon at Psyduck, trapping it inside. Misty commanded Psyduck to use Confusion but it didn't respond. Steenee then launched another Magical Leaf, breaking the balloon and causing Psyduck to land on its head, giving it a headache. This triggered Psyduck to successfully use Confusion, but before it could do anything more to his opponents, Misty ordered Psyduck to put Popplio and Steenee down, ending the battle prematurely.
In Alola, Alola!, Psyduck accompanied Misty to Alola. It let itself out of its Poké Ball while at Anela's stand and ended up swallowing a whole watermelon.
Pokémon Journeys: The Series
In JN132, Psyduck watched Ash's Masters Eight Tournament match against Leon alongside Misty and Gyarados.
Personality and characteristics
Misty's Psyduck can easily be described as dimwitted and absent-minded. When it pops out of its Poké Ball, it often doesn't know how it got there. It is perpetually confused, and even when it summons powerful moves, it appears confused about how it managed to pull off such a feat. Psyduck's motivation for jumping out of his Poké Ball remains unknown, as he clearly does not enjoy or excel at battling.
Psyduck cannot swim, which is unusual for its species. In deep water, it will panic and flail about, like a non-swimmer afraid of drowning. On one occasion, Psyduck was given a lifebelt for it to enjoy the water. It also has trouble in battle. It knows several powerful Psychic-type techniques, but can only use them when its headaches become severe.
Psyduck truly loves and cares for Misty; however, the pair's relationship is tumultuous. For comic purposes, Misty seems to go to the limit of violence with Psyduck, such as when she suggested she smash a bike on Psyduck's head in order to activate its psychic powers in The Bridge Bike Gang. Psyduck is quite unconcerned to these threats of violence, perhaps because it knows how Misty truly feels. Despite its faults, Psyduck always tries to be there for her, whether she likes it or not. In Just Add Water, Psyduck pushed Ash aside, wild with anger at Team Rocket's abduction of Misty and insisting on battling. However, after a few seconds, it completely forgot what it was doing and went back to looking confused. Misty constantly complains about Psyduck's faults and how its dopey look gives her a headache, but she actually deeply cares for Psyduck. She has never considered releasing Psyduck, though she tried trading it for Brock's Vulpix in The Ninja Poké-Showdown. Though it has been suggested several times; she instantly shoots down such ideas, like when Koga and Aya both offered a trade with her. She also boasts about Psyduck's strengths when he comes through for her, such as during the Queen of the Princess Festival. Since When Regions Collide!, Misty's relationship with Psyduck has greatly improved, as has its battle techniques, as shown by her enthusiastically greeting Psyduck upon her return to the Gym.
In Alola, Alola!, Psyduck was shown to also have a big appetite, which was shown when it swallowed a whole watermelon, and also when it ate the food that Brock had cooked for himself, Misty, and Ash. This was seen again in the next episode, where Psyduck wanted some of Misty's ice cream. Misty offered it some of the ice cream, only for Psyduck to eat the whole ice cream cone.
Moves used
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Artwork
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| Artwork from "After the story" [1] |
In the games
Misty's Psyduck appears in Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! and during the Pokémon Stadium Round 1 battle against her. In her rematch in Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, it has evolved into Golduck.
In the core series
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In the Stadium series
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In the spin-off games
Pokémon: Catch the Numbers!
Psyduck appears in Pokémon: Catch the Numbers! as one of the Pokémon the player needs to get back from Team Rocket.
Pokémon Puzzle League
Psyduck was one of Misty's three Pokémon in Pokémon Puzzle League.
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Misty (Masters) → Psyduck
Misty forms a sync pair with Psyduck in Pokémon Masters EX.
Artwork
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| Artwork from the Game Freak website |
In the manga
Ash & Pikachu
Psyduck appeared in The Beginning Of Good Luck?! Pokémon Fortune Telling, where Ash borrowed it for his Gym battle against Whitney after her grandmother told him that it was the key to victory for the Gym battle.
Moves used
- In The Beginning Of Good Luck?! Pokémon Fortune Telling, Ash commanded Psyduck to use Blizzard, but it just loafed around.
The Electric Tale of Pikachu
In Pikachu's Excellent Adventure, Psyduck was caught in a flood of tears created by Ash when his Pikachu got lost.
In the TCG
Psyduck was featured in the TCG as one of Misty's Pokémon. The following is a list of cards named Misty's Psyduck.
| Misty's Psyduck Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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| Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
| Misty's Psyduck | 
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Gym Heroes | 
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54/132 | Hanada City Gym | ||
| Misty's Psyduck |
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Gym Challenge | 
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90/132 | Leaders' Stadium |
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- Psyduck also appears in the card Misty's Wrath (Gym Heroes 114) and Sabrina's Psychic Control (Gym Challenge 121).
Artwork
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| Psyduck and Misty | Sabrina controls Misty and Psyduck |
Merchandise
Hanada City Gym Deck
The second of two decks released on April 26, 1998 was the Hanada City Gym (Japanese: ハナダシティジム カスミ) Deck, which focuses on Gym Leader Misty and her Pokémon, which consist of entirely Water-types. In addition to the 60 main cards, the deck includes four expansion cards, a coin, rulebook, and Pokémon Gym Guide.
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CP6 accessories
Pokémon Centers across Japan also released a number of exclusive card sleeves in conjunction with the Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary subset. Each pack contains 32 sleeves:
- The Misty Sleeves (Japanese: デッキシールド カスミ Deck Shield: Kasumi) feature a Naoki Saito illustration of Misty and her Psyduck. Misty's attire takes reference from her eponymous Trainer card and depiction on the box art of the Hanada City Gym deck.
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Misty of Cerulean City Gym Trainer Battle Deck
- Main article: Trainer Battle Decks (TCG)
The second Trainer Battle Deck available from January 25, 2019 was the Misty of Cerulean City Gym Trainer Battle Deck (Japanese: トレーナーバトルデッキ：ハナダシティジムのカスミ Trainer Battle Deck: Kasumi of Hanada City Gym), which focuses on Gym Leader Misty. Her signature Pokémon Starmie is among the selection of Water-types included in the deck, appearing as a Pokémon-GX. An assortment of Trainer cards also form the deck, a number of which directly benefit Water-type Pokémon. Each deck comes with a set of damage counters and status markers, a GX marker, a coin, a deck box, a playmat, and a set of card sleeves.
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Trivia
- In the dub of So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd, it was implied by Brock that Psyduck is male, by calling it a "he".
- Psyduck is referred to as a male in the Brazilian Portuguese dub of several episodes.
- It took Psyduck 942 episodes to use Water Gun properly, the longest that any Pokémon owned by a main character has taken to master a move.
Related articles
- For more information on this Pokémon's species, see Psyduck.
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This article is part of Project Anime, a Bulbapedia project that covers all aspects of Pokémon animation. |
