Psyduck (/ˈsaɪdʌk/), known as Koduck (コダック, Kodakku) in Japan, is a Pokémon species in Nintendo and Game Freak‘s Pokémon franchise. Created by Ken Sugimori, Psyduck first appeared in the video games Pokémon Red and Blue and later in subsequent sequels. They have later appeared in various merchandise, spinoff titles and animated and printed adaptations of the franchise. Psyduck is voiced by Rikako Aikawa in Japan and Michael Haigney in English. A Psyduck also appears as part of the main cast in the live-action animated film Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
Known as the duck Pokémon, Psyduck is constantly stunned by its headache, and usually just stands vacantly, trying to calm itself. In the anime series, Psyduck’s appearances became a running gag; Misty would often release Psyduck by accident instead of the Pokémon she wanted to use.
Psyduck was one of 151 different designs conceived by Game Freak’s character development team and finalized by Ken Sugimori for the first generation of Pocket Monsters games Red and Green, which were localized outside Japan as Pokémon Red and Blue.[1][2] Originally called “Koduck” in Japanese, Nintendo decided to give the various Pokémon species “clever and descriptive names” related to their appearance or features when translating the game for western audiences as a means to make the characters more relatable to American children.[3] As a result, they were renamed “Psyduck”, a combination of the words “psychic” and “duck”.[4]
Psyduck resembles a yellow platypus with a vacant stare. It has a small tuft of black hair at the top of its head. It walks on its hind legs, and has arms rather than wings. Its arms are useful in using its powerful psychic abilities. Its appearance is meant to trick enemies into thinking it is weak. It has arms with three claws on each to deliver scratches if threatened. Psyduck live in freshwater lakes, small ponds, or rivers in tropical areas.[5][6] When a Psyduck receives enough experience from battles, it evolves into Golduck.
Psyduck is constantly stunned by its headache,[7] and usually just stands there vacantly, trying to calm its headache.[8] When the headache gets too bad, its brain cells awaken, allowing it to use strong psychic powers.[9][10] Some use their vacant look to their advantage, lulling the enemy and then using its psychokinetic powers.[8] Psyduck do not remember using their powers, so they tilt their head in confusion.[11] Psyducks do not remember using their powers which they use while in a state of deep sleep which they do not remember.[12][13]
