Misty's Psyduck: Difference between revisions

|current=[[Party|With Misty]]

'''Misty's Psyduck''' (Japanese: '''カスミのコダック''' ''Kasumi's Koduck'') was the fifth {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} acquired by {{an|Misty}} in the [[Kanto]] [[region]], and the second she {{pkmn2|caught}} within the series, after {{TP|Misty|Horsea}}.

In ''[[EP027|Hypno's Naptime]]'', the Pokémon of [[HopHopHop Town]] had been turned listless by the {{t|Psychic}} waves produced by a {{p|Hypno}}. When a {{p|Drowzee}} nullified the waves, the Pokémon were cured, with the exception of a {{pkmn2|wild}} {{p|Psyduck}} that [[Nurse Joy]] had been looking after due to a chronic {{wp|headache}}. {{an|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 {{type|Water}} specialist. Misty tried to avoid Psyduck, but she ended up catching it by accident when she dropped a {{i|Poké Ball}} that subsequently rolled towards Psyduck. Psyduck tapped the Ball's control with its bill twice and essentially {{pkmn2|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 {{pkmn|battle}} when Misty would prefer to use another Pokémon. Although in these cases Psyduck generally manages to win thanks to its Psychic [[Move|attacks]].

In ''[[EP052|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 {{TP|Jessie|Lickitung}}, who had easily defeated the rest of Misty's temporary team of {{AP|Pikachu}}, {{AP|Bulbasaur}}, and {{TP|Brock|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 ''[[EP057|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 ''[[EP069|Lights, Camera, Quack-tion]]'', Psyduck ended up becoming the co-star of Schpielbunk's {{p|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 {{pkmn|category|Duck Pokémon}} saved the other Pokémon in the film from being captured by Team Rocket.

In [[JN132]], Psyduck watched Ash's [[Masters Eight Tournament]] match against {{an|Leon}} alongside Misty and {{TP|Misty|Gyarados}}.

Psyduck reappeared in [[JN138]]. During the episode, it reunited with Ash and watched as he and its Trainer battled over a wild {{TP|Misty|Clauncher}}. In [[JN139]], in popped out of its Poké Ball to be evaluated by {{an|Cilan}}. The [[Pokémon Connoisseur]] found it and Misty's clashing personalities to be a perfect match.

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 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 ''[[EP036|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 ''[[EP256|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 ''[[EP032|The Ninja Poké-Showdown]]''. Though it has been suggested several times; she instantly shoots down such ideas, like when [[Koga]] and {{an|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 ''[[SM043|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.

[[Category:Electric Tale of Pikachu characters]]