Misty's Psyduck: Difference between revisions

[[File:Misty and Psyduck.png|thumb|left|250px|Psyduck and Misty]]

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. Not wanting the continuously ailing Pokémon, Brock ended up passing it off to Misty because she is a {{type|Water}} specialist. Misty tried to avoid the little thing, but she ended up capturing 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.

Out of all of Misty's early Pokémon, Psyduck is arguably the one with the most personality. It was heavily featured, and appears in many episodes, although its appearances started to grow sparse during the [[Johto]] saga.

Psyduck does not like to stay in its Poké Ball, and will usually pop out according to its mood. This personality trait has come in handy quite a bit - when Misty or her other Pokémon are captured, it is usually Psyduck who escapes and runs to get help. However, it also tends to frustrate Misty, as it results in Psyduck sometimes 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 it 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.

 

When film producer [[Cleavon Schpielbunk]] wanted to cast a movie with only Pokémon in ''[[EP069|Lights, Camera, Quack-tion]]'', Psyduck ended up becoming the costar to Schpielbunk's Wigglytuff, since it was the only Pokémon willing to put up with Wigglytuff's attitude due to its own stupidity. Despite this, Psyduck apparently impressed Wigglytuff with its Psychic abilities after it saved the other Pokémon in the film from being captured by Team Rocket.

In ''[[EP091|Bye Bye Psyduck]]'', Misty's Psyduck seemed to have gotten separated from the group. Later on, a girl named {{OBP|Marina|EP091}} 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 [[Evolution|evolve]] soon. Misty and Marina had a {{pkmn|battle}}, during which Ash tossed Misty her bag. It landed in the water, and when Misty retrieved it, she found a {{p|Golduck}}. Thinking her Psyduck evolved, she battled with Golduck, winning the match against Marina. Even when {{TRT}} 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 {{pkmn2|wild}} one and that her Psyduck never even left the Poké Ball.

Misty cleverly used Psyduck in battle in ''[[EP110|The Stun Spore Detour]]''. As {{MTR}} was about to attack, she recalled {{TP|Misty|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.

In ''[[EP147|The Fire-ing Squad!]]'', Psyduck was entered into the [[Fire and Rescue Grand Prix]] with Ash, alongside his Pikachu and Squirtle, as well as Staryu. The group competed against a team of {{p|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 ''[[EP217|The Perfect Match!]]'', Misty was going to use {{TP|Misty|Corsola}} to battle against Ash and his {{AP|Kingler}} in the [[Whirl Cup]], but Psyduck popped out of its Poké Ball instead. Kingler used its {{m|Vise Grip}} on Psyduck, which caused it to get a headache. Misty then had Psyduck use Confusion, which sent Kingler flying and knocked it out, making Misty the winner.

In ''[[EP256|Just Add Water]]'', Misty was having a battle with [[Dorian]], the Gym Leader of the unofficial {{DL|Gym|Coastline Gym}}. Psyduck watched Misty battle him until {{TRT}} 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. {{TP|Jessie|Arbok}} used {{m|Bite}} on Psyduck which caused it to get a headache, allowing it to use its Confusion attack. Psyduck then learned Psychic and used it 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.

In ''[[HS02|Cerulean Blues]]'', Psyduck accidentally came out of its Poké Ball alongside {{TP|Misty|Politoed}}, who was sent out to calm down a rampaging {{TP|Misty|Gyarados}}. Upon coming out Psyduck falls into the pool and starts to drown. Before it drowns though Gyarados headbutts it out.

 

In ''[[HS05|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 {{p|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 [[Gym Badge thieves|thieves]] stole all of the Badges. Psyduck eventually battled and defeated the thieves' Pokémon alongside [[Sakura's Espeon]], doing so when it got a headache mid-battle and activated its Psychic powers.

In ''[[SM043|When Regions Collide!]]'', Psyduck greeted Misty upon her return to the Gym. It was later used in a battle against {{an|Lana}}'s {{TP|Lana|Popplio}} and {{an|Mallow}}'s {{TP|Mallow|Steenee}}. Steenee started the battle with {{m|Magical Leaf}} while Popplio quickly followed with {{m|Bubble Beam}}. Psyduck then showed its improved battling abilities, firing a now-mastered {{m|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 attacked with another Magical Leaf, breaking the balloon and causing Psyduck to land on its head, giving it a headache. This allowed Psyduck to successfully use Confusion, but before it could do anything more to its opponents, Misty told Psyduck to put Popplio and Steenee down, saying that they had had enough.

In ''[[SM102|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.

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 pulled such a feat off. Its motivation for jumping out of its Poké Ball remains unknown, as it clearly does not enjoy or excel at battling. Even in the episode ''[[EP256|Just Add Water]]'', it pushed Ash aside, wild with anger at Team Rocket's abduction of Misty (she had been captured saving him) and insisting on battling. However, after a few seconds, it completely forgot what it was doing and went back to looking confused.

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, it was given a lifebelt for it to enjoy the water. It also has trouble in battle. It knows several powerful {{type|Psychic}} techniques, but can only use them when its headache is severe. When Psyduck battled [[Tyra]]'s {{p|Cloyster}} in ''[[EP036|The Bridge Bike Gang]]'', Misty considered trying to boost its power by slamming a [[Bicycle|bike]] onto its head.

Psyduck seems to truly love and care for Misty. Despite its faults, it always tries to be there for her, whether she likes it or not. Misty constantly complains about Psyduck's faults and how its dopey look gives her a headache, but many suspect that she actually deeply cares for Psyduck - she has never considered releasing it (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, such as when [[Koga]] and {{an|Aya}} both offered a [[trade]] with her. Her antagonistic relationship with it is often compared to her relationship with {{Ash}}. It could also be compared with [[Jessie]]'s relationship with her {{TP|Jessie|Wobbuffet}}. [[James]] once stated that Wobbuffet made Psyduck look good in comparison. Since ''[[SM043|When Regions Collide!]]'', Misty's relationship with Psyduck has improved, as shown by her enthusiastically greeting Psyduck upon her return to the Gym.

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. Psyduck is quite unconcerned to these threats of violence, perhaps because it knows how Misty truly feels. As shown in ''[[SM102|Alola, Alola!]]'', it also has a big appetite, which was shown when it swallowed a whole watermelon, and also when it ate the food that {{an|Brock}} had cooked for himself, Misty, and Ash. This was seen again in [[SM103|the next episode]], where it 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.