Goldeen

General Overview of Goldeen

Goldeen is a Water-type Pokémon, known in Japanese as トサキント (Tosakinto). In the Pokédex, its number varies depending on the game, but it is always presented as an elegant fish with a solid horn. Goldeen is a Pokémon frequently encountered in the games through fishing with a rod, via Surf, or in various lakes and water routes. With its highly developed pectoral and dorsal fins, it moves at great speed underwater, which explains its decent Speed stat compared to other basic Water-type Pokémon.

Goldeen is a Pokémon with a slight dimorphism between female and male, although this does not affect gameplay. Its size and weight are in the small range, generally around 0.6 m and approximately 15 kg depending on the version. Its horn can perform direct attacks that are useful in the early game, especially when looking for a straightforward Water-type Pokémon to train.

Essential Information for Players

In the main games, Goldeen is designed to accompany the player in the first aquatic areas. Thanks to its decent Speed and a few Water moves such as Water Pulse or Waterfall via HM/TM in certain generations, it can become a useful support. However, its stats remain generally low, particularly in Special Attack and Defence, which limits its strategic possibilities at high levels.

Goldeen evolves at level 33 into Seaking, an evolution better suited to battle with higher Attack and Defence values. This evolution gives it a bit more presence against certain Pokémon but remains insufficient for advanced competitive formats. For players building a team for the adventure, Goldeen and Seaking can still play a decent role thanks to their access to physical Water moves and their high Speed.

Goldeen's Base Stats

Goldeen's stats are oriented towards Speed, followed by Attack. Its HP, Defence, and Special Defence are low, making it fragile against the majority of attacks, even at low levels.

• HP: low

• Attack: decent

• Defence: low

• Speed: good for a basic Water-type Pokémon

• Special Attack: low

• Special Defence: low

Moves and Useful Abilities

Goldeen learns several Water and Normal moves suited to the early stages of the adventure. Among the notable moves, Water Pulse is often its most practical Water attack. Its Horn Attack allows it to exploit its physical orientation, even if the power remains moderate. In certain versions, Goldeen can also use Rain Dance to boost the team's Water moves.

Thanks to certain TMs and HMs depending on the generation, it can learn Waterfall, a very useful physical Water move in games such as Ruby, Pearl, or Sun and Moon. This gives it a good hitting option in the early and mid-game.

Encounters, Capture, and Locations in the Games

Goldeen is found in the majority of Pokémon games, often in lakes, Surf areas, islands, or via a rod. Capture is easy thanks to an accessible rate and its lack of dangerous attacks at low levels. Goldeen is very common on the water routes of Johto, Kanto, and Sinnoh, as well as in the Diamond, Pearl, Black, and White versions.

In Pokémon GO, Goldeen is common and appears in areas near water. Its EVs are not intended for competitive use, but it can serve to complete a collection or to obtain Seaking.

Evolutions and Breeding

Goldeen evolves into Seaking at level 33. For breeding, it belongs to the Water 2 Egg Group, which makes it easy to obtain Eggs quickly. Players can thus create a specific set for the adventure, even though Goldeen and Seaking are not intended for advanced strategies.

Goldeen and the Pokémon Trading Card Game

On the card side, Goldeen appears regularly in expansions. Its cards are generally based on low power, centred on moves with little Energy cost. They often serve as the basis for simple Water decks or to fill collections, without any major competitive objective. Recent versions place emphasis on the beauty of its fins and tail, consistent with its description in the games.