The Origins of 8 Duck Pokemon & the Stories They Came From

Pokemon uses ducks for wordplay. One carries a leek because of a Japanese saying about a duck that walks in with its own spring onions, and another has a crest that may be a pun on the ducktail hairstyle. A rubber duck with a permanent headache and a swan from a fairy tale are here too.

See all 8 duck Pokemon in one list.

Here's every duck Pokemon:

All 8 Duck Pokemon

#054

Psyduck

Psyduck is the Duck Pokemon, and its yellow color, proportions and simple body may come from rubber ducks. It also shares a few traits with the platypus, such as no clear neck, clawed hands and a few strands of hair on its head. Like Golduck, it may also draw on the kappa, a Japanese creature that lives by streams and plays tricks on people.

Psyduck suffers perpetual headaches, and its latent power erupts against its will when the pain grows too great. The headaches may come from the fantasy and science fiction trope of psychic powers its owner cannot control, and we have the headache without the powers. Its Cloud Nine ability cancels the effects of weather in battle. An ability is a passive effect that works on its own in battle.

#055

Golduck

Golduck is based on a duck, with a platypus's webbed hands in place of wings. Golduck is tied to the kappa: like the kappa, it has a humanlike body, a beak and webbed hands and feet, and it is said to drag people into the water. The gem on its forehead is likely a nod to the shirikodama, a small ball holding a person's soul that kappa were said to steal, though its spot on the forehead also suggests a third eye.

Golduck's body is strong, with webbing on its hands and feet, and it can swim through rough seas, clawing its way through high waves, and we will stay on the beach. It stands 1.7 m tall. For all its psychic looks, it is a pure Water type.

#083

Farfetch'd

Farfetch'd, the Wild Duck Pokemon, may come from the Japanese saying "a duck comes bearing spring onions", which means an easy target or a golden opportunity. The short form of the saying, 鴨葱, is read the same as its Japanese name, Kamonegi. Galarian Farfetch'd, the form found in the Galar region, was inspired by leeks in the United Kingdom growing larger than leeks in Japan, and its leek resembles the Giant Musselburgh, first bred in Scotland.

Farfetch'd uses a plant stalk as a weapon, but not always in the same way, since several distinct styles of stalk fighting have been observed, and we do not know a single one. Its Keen Eye ability stops its accuracy from being lowered.

#580

Ducklett

Ducklett, the Water Bird Pokemon, is based on a duckling or a cygnet, a young swan. The plumage around its bottom looks like a swim ring. Its whole line may be based on The Ugly Duckling, the fairy tale in which the ugly duckling grows into a beautiful swan.

Ducklett are better at swimming than flying, and they happily eat their favorite food, peat moss, as they dive underwater, a diet we would last a day on. It weighs 5.5 kg and stands 0.5 m tall.

#581

Swanna

Swanna, the White Bird Pokemon, is based on a mute swan, and it is the swan at the end of The Ugly Duckling. Its design also seems to borrow the outfit of Odette, the main character of the ballet Swan Lake, and its plumage resembles a bikini where Ducklett's resembles a swim ring.

Swanna start to dance at dusk, and the one dancing in the middle is the leader of the flock. (The leader is whoever learned the steps, and we are at the back.)

#865

Sirfetch'd

Sirfetch'd, the Wild Duck Pokemon, may be based on a knight and a Pekin duck, since its leek looks like a medieval weapon. Its look may come from Sir Lancelot du Lac of the Knights of the Round Table, who was known as the "White Knight" for his white armor, and the Lancelot leek, a wild onion named after him, may be referenced too. The leek is also one of the national symbols of Wales.

Sirfetch'd deflects attacks with its hard leaf shield, then strikes back with its sharp leek stalk, which is both weapon and food, and we see no downside to eating your sword after the fight. It stands 0.8 m tall and weighs 117 kg. Its hidden ability, Scrappy, lets its Normal and Fighting moves hit Ghost types (a hidden ability is a rarer ability that only some of a species have).

#912

Quaxly

Quaxly, the Duckling Pokemon, is based on a duckling of the Crested domestic duck breed or the South American crested duck. Its crest resembles a beret, a turban or a pompadour, and it may be a pun on the hairstyle called the ducktail. The teal on its feet and crest may come from the blue-footed booby, or be another pun on the teal, a type of duck.

Its strong legs let it swim around even in fast-flowing rivers, and it likes to keep things tidy and is prone to overthinking things. (We have no idea who a tidy overthinker could be about.) Its Torrent ability makes its Water moves deal 1.5× damage once it is low on HP.

#913

Quaxwell

Quaxwell, the Practicing Pokemon, may be based on a crested duck or goose and a ballet dancer. It also has elements of carnival performers, from the Rio Carnival or the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The link between ducks and carnivals could go back to ancient Rome, where the crested goose was sacred to the goddess Juno. Its feathers and crest look like a swimsuit and a swim cap, which points to synchronized swimming, once known as "water ballet".

The hardworking Quaxwell watches people and Pokemon from various regions and works their movements into its own dance routines, which we call a wedding. Its hidden ability, Moxie, raises its Attack one stage when it knocks out a Pokemon.

The Only Ducks That Are Not Water Types Are the Two That Carry a Leek

Six of the 8 duck Pokemon are Water types. The two that are not, Farfetch'd and Sirfetch'd, are the two that carry a leek. Farfetch'd is a Normal and Flying type, and Sirfetch'd is a pure Fighting type, the only duck on the list with neither Water nor Flying in its typing.

Duck Pokemon FAQ

How many duck Pokemon are there?

There are 8 duck Pokemon. Five have a duck word in their category, and Ducklett, Swanna and Quaxwell were designed from a cygnet, a swan and a crested duck.

What is the strongest duck Pokemon?

Sirfetch'd, with a base stat total of 507 and an Attack of 135. Golduck comes next at 500.

Is Psyduck a Psychic type?

No. Psyduck is a pure Water type, even though its headaches set off psychic powers.

Is Swanna a duck?

No. Swanna is based on a mute swan. It is on this list because it evolves from Ducklett, the duckling of The Ugly Duckling.

Why does Farfetch'd carry a leek?

Its name comes from a Japanese saying, "a duck comes bearing spring onions", which means an easy target.