Magikarp

Magikarp
Current
Information
Type	Water
Gender	50% ♂ / 50% ♀
Abilities	Regular Swift Swim Hidden Rattled
Species	Fish Pokémon
Height and Weight	Height 0.9 m / 2'11" Weight 10.0 kg / 22.0 lbs.
Introduced in	Generation I
Evolution	Evolves into Gyarados
Body, Footprint, Color, Egg group, and Cry	Body Footprint Color Red Egg group(s) Water 2,  Dragon Cry
Pokédex
National Pokédex	0129
Kanto	129 / N/A (PE)
Johto	076 / N/A (HGSS)
Hoenn	052 / 053 (ORAS)
Sinnoh and Hisui	Sinnoh N/A / N/A (Pt) Hisui 080
Unova	N/A / N/A (B2W2)
Kalos	Central Kalos 049 Coastal Kalos N/A Mountain Kalos N/A
Alola	091 / 111 (USUM)
Galar	144 / 042 (TIoA) / 062 (TCT)
Paldea, Kitakami and Blueberry	Paldea 134 Kitakami 043 Blueberry N/A
In other languages
Japanese	Name コイキング Koiking
Japanese	Name コイキング Koiking
English	Name Magikarp
English	Name Magikarp

Magikarp (Japanese: コイキング, Hepburn: Koikingu) (MADGE-eh-karp) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

Physiology

Magikarp is a Fish Pokémon. Its body is made up of/covered in red scales. Its fins are either yellow or white. They also have "whiskers" or Maxilliary Barbells. Female Magikarp have white barbells while male Magikarp have yellow barbells. Magikarp refers to them as his magnificent barbs in PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure.

Gender differences

The way to tell a male and female Magikarp apart is that a male Magikarp has gold whiskers while a female has white whiskers. In Pokémon GO and its Water Event, the whiskers of the female Magikarp appears to be white silver or platinum. This also applies when it evolves into a female Gyarados as its whiskers remain white silver than its original blue.

Behavior

Magikarp are often regarded as the “most useless Pokémon.” The most they normally can do is use Splash, which does absolutely nothing. Although they can reach heights of 7 feet using this move, they are unable to change direction in the air, so they land in the exact same place. Legend has it that older Magikarp can splash over mountains, though this has never been seen. In fact, splashing Magikarp actually make easy prey for Flying-type Pokémon like Pidgeotto, who can snatch them up as they bounce. They are also weak swimmers, unable to swim through even weak currents. As a result, many of them congregate in small ponds or lakes, unable swim through river currents. Magikarp are very hardy, however, with strong survival instincts and immune systems. They are able to tolerate waters of nearly any salinity, depth, and pollution level.

Natural abilities

A shiny Magikarp.

Despite being strong in the past, its present-day descendants are considerably weaker. It struggles to swim against even the weakest of currents.

Magikarp are often seen as prey to Pokémon such as Pidgeot, which swoop them from the water's surface, and Meowth.

Evolution

Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20.

Game info

Magikarp is the most common Pokémon in the waters of all the Pokémon regions. It can be found in every body of water in Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh. It is considered to be the weakest Pokémon because it can only use three moves. It is a hardy Pokémon that can thrive in any body of water, no matter if the water is freshwater or saltwater. It can even thrive in polluted waters. However, if it is taken care of properly, it evolves into a magnificent Gyarados, at level 20. Until it reaches level 20, it is utterly useless.

Game locations

Locations
Version(s)	Area(s)	Rarity
Red and Blue	Fish with Old Rod, Magikarp Salesman	Common
Yellow	Fish with Old Rod, Magikarp Salesman	Common
Gold and Silver	Fish with Old Rod or Good Rod, Surf on the Lake of Rage	Common
Crystal	Fish with Old Rod or Good Rod, Surf on the Lake of Rage	Common
Ruby and Sapphire	Fish with Old Rod or Good Rod	Common
FireRed and LeafGreen	Fish with Old Rod, Magikarp Salesman	Common
Emerald	Fish with Old Rod or Good Rod	Common
Diamond and Pearl	Fish with Old Rod, Trade a Finneon on Route 226	Common
Platinum	Fish with Old Rod, Trade a Finneon on Route 226	Common
HeartGold and SoulSilver	Fish with an Old Rod or a Good Rod	Common
Black and White	Buy from a Magikarp Salesman	One
X and Y	Route 3, Route 22, Parfum Palace (Old Rod)	Common
Sun and Moon	Fish with Old Rod	Common

Side game locations

Locations
Game(s)	Area(s)
Pokémon Channel	Secret Cove
Pokémon Trozei!	SOL Laboratory 3, Secret Storage 5, Secret Storage 19, Mr. Who's Den
Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team	Waterfall Pond (7F-11F)
Explorers of Time & Explorers of Darkness	Lake Afar (B1F-B12F)
Pokémon Ranger	Safra Sea, Sekra Mountain Range

Pokédex entries

• Red and Blue

  In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.

• Yellow

  Famous for being very unreliable. It can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers and shallow puddles.

• Gold

  An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet.

• Silver

  For no reason, it jumps and splashes about, making it easy for predators like Pidgeotto to catch it mid-jump.

• Crystal

  This weak and pathetic Pokémon gets easily pushed along rivers when there are strong currents.

• Ruby

  Magikarp is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is only capable of flopping and splashing. This behavior prompted scientists to undertake research on it.

• Sapphire

  Magikarp is virtually useless in battle as it can only splash around. As a result, it is considered to be weak. However, it is actually a very hardy Pokémon that can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted it is.

• FireRed

  It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world.

• LeafGreen

  In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.

• Emerald

  Its swimming muscles are weak, so it is easily washed away by currents. In places where water pools, you can see many Magikarp deposited there by the flow.

• Diamond

  It is said to be the world's weakest Pokémon. No one knows why it has managed to survive.

• Pearl

  It is unable to swim against even slow-moving currents. It always splashes about for some reason.

• Platinum

  A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.

• HeartGold

  An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet.

• SoulSilver

  For no reason, it jumps and splashes about, making it easy for predators like Pidgeotto to catch it mid-jump.

• Black

  A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.

• White

  A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.

• Black 2

  A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.

• White 2

  A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.

• X

  It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world.

• Y

  In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.

• Omega Ruby

  Magikarp is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is only capable of flopping and splashing. This behavior prompted scientists to undertake research into it.

• Alpha Sapphire

  Magikarp is virtually useless in battle as it can only splash around. As a result, it is considered to be weak. However, it is actually a very hardy Pokémon that can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted it is.

• Sun

  Although weak and helpless, this Pokémon is incredibly fertile. They exist in such multitudes, you'll soon grow tired of seeing them.

• Moon

  Its reckless leaps make it easy pickings for predators. On the bright side, many Pokémon enjoy longer life spans, thanks to Magikarp.

• Ultra Sun

  In the distant past, they were fairly strong, but they have become gradually weaker over time.

• Ultra Moon

  Thanks to their strong hold on life, dirty water doesn’t bother them at all. They live in waters all over the world.

• Let's Go, Pikachu!

  Famous for being very unreliable. It can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers and shallow puddles.

• Let's Go, Eevee!

  Famous for being very unreliable. It can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers and shallow puddles.

• Sword

  It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world.

• Shield

  This weak and pathetic Pokémon gets easily pushed along rivers when there are strong currents.

• Brilliant Diamond

  It is said to be the world's weakest Pokémon. No one knows why it has managed to survive.

• Shining Pearl

  It is unable to swim against even slow-moving currents. It always splashes about for some reason.

• Legends: Arceus

  A feeble, pitiful imbecile of a Pokémon that is nonetheless very hardy. Unperturbed by turbid water, it can be found living in all sorts of places.

• Scarlet

  An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions but never more than seven feet.

• Violet

  In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.

Stats

Stats
HP	20
Attack	10
Defense	55
Sp. Atk	15
Sp. Def	20
Speed	80
Total	200

Learnset

By leveling

• Generation VIII
• Generation VII
• Generation VI
• Generation V
• Generation IV
• Generation III
• Generation II
• Generation I

LevelingGeneration VIII
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal	Status
15	Tackle	40	100%	35	Normal	Physical
25	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration VII
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal	Status
15	Tackle	40	100%	35	Normal	Physical
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration VI
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal	Status		4 ♥	0 ♥
15	Tackle	50	100%	35	Normal	Physical		4 ♥	0 ♥
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal	Physical		1 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration V
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal	Status
15	Tackle	50	100%	35	Normal	Physical
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration IV
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal	Status		0 ♥
15	Tackle	35	95%	35	Normal	Physical		3 ♥
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal	Physical		2 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration III
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal		2 ♥	0 ♥
15	Tackle	35	95%	35	Normal		4 ♥	0 ♥
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal		1 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration II
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal
15	Tackle	35	95%	35	Normal
30	Flail	—	100%	15	Normal
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

LevelingGeneration I
Level	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type
1	Splash	—	—%	40	Normal
15	Tackle	35	95%	35	Normal
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

By TM/HM

• Generation VIII
• Generation VII - I

TMs, TRs, and HMs Generation VIII
TM/HM/TR	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
TM52	Bounce	85	85%	5	Flying	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Magikarp learns no moves via TM/HM.

By TR

TMs, TRs, and HMs Generation VIII
TM/HM/TR	Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
TR09	Hydro Pump	110	80%	5	Water	Special
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

By breeding

Magikarp learns no moves via breeding.

By tutoring

• Generation VII
• Generation VI
• Generation V
• Generation IV
• Generation III
• Generation II

Tutoring Generation VII
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
Bounce USUM	85	85%	5	Flying	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation VI
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal	Jam
Bounce ORAS	85	85%	5	Flying	Physical		1 ♥	0 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation V
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.
Bounce	85	85%	5	Flying	Physical
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Tutoring Generation IV
Move	Power	Accuracy	PP	Type	Cat.	Contest Cat.	Appeal
Bounce	85	85%	5	Flying	Physical		1 ♥
Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move.

Magikarp learns no moves via tutoring.

Magikarp learns no moves via tutoring.

Sprites

• Generation I
• Generation II

Magikarp's Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version sprite

Magikarp's Pocket Monsters Green sprite

Magikarp's Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition sprite

Magikarp's back sprite

Magikarp's Pokémon Gold Version sprite

Magikarp's Pokémon Silver Version sprite

Magikarp's Pokémon Crystal Version sprite

Magikarp's Pokémon Crystal Version Shiny sprite

Magikarp's back sprite

Appearances

Anime

• Goh's Magikarp.
• A Shiny Magikarp.

1/2

Magikarp appeared in the anime from the very beginning, debuting in Pokémon - I Choose You!". When Ash and Pikachu are fleeing from a flock of Spearow, they jump into a lake to escape, and a Magikarp is seen swimming away followed by a Gyarados, which chases Ash and Pikachu out of the lake.

Magikarp's first major appearance was with Team Rocket in "Battle Aboard the St. Anne". James gets a Magikarp from a dealer, who cheated his money or bottle caps three times in the whole series of Pokémon Anime, in a golden Poké Ball, of which the gold color disguised the red part of the Poké Ball. It then evolves into a Gyarados, when James kicks it away after the ship sank. The newly evolved Gyarados then uses Dragon Rage to send Ash, Misty, Brock, Pikachu, and Team Rocket blasting away to an island.

Trivia

• Magikarp is generally regarded as the weakest Pokémon in the Pokémon games. Stat-wise, however, Solo Form Wishiwashi is.
  • Cosmog can actually be considered weaker than Magikarp, as it can't learn any damage dealing moves.
• In Pokémon Platinum Version and Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, Magikarp is both the lowest- and highest-level non-glitch Pokémon available for capture. By using the Super Rod at a pond in the Resort Area or in the Nature Preserve, this Pokémon can be encountered and caught at levels ranging from 1 to 100.
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness are the only games in which Magikarp can learn moves via TMs. This holds true in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky.
• According to Misty in Pokémon Shipwreck, Magikarp are just scales and bones, making them unsuitable for eating.
• It is similar to Feebas in that it is a weak fish Pokémon that evolves into a powerful serpentine one.
• In Generation VI onwards, its in-game sprite just helplessly flops around. Curiously, other fish Pokémon, such as Goldeen, do not exhibit such animations and seem to "swim" in the air. This is probably to signify its weakness.
• Magikarp and its evolution Gyarados have a unique egg group combo (Water 2 & Dragon).

Origin

Magikarp is based on a carp. Its evolution into Gyarados is based on a Chinese myth about how carp that leapt over large and tall waterfalls would transform into dragons. It also strongly resembles a yellow-eyed rockfish.

Etymology

Magikarp is a combination of magic and carp. The "magic" part may be said ironically, as it seems to convey something wondrous about a mundane and useless Pokémon.

Koiking is a combination of 鯉 koi (carp) and king, giving its name an ironic slant similar to its English name.

Gallery

See also

• Pokémon.com Pokédex
• Legendary Pokémon data
• The Pokémon Database
• Pokémon Dream Pokédex data
• Psypokes Psydex data