Is Gyarados Good in X & Y Playthrough?
Magikarp evolves at level 20. Water/Flying with AbilityIntimidate. Mega Gyarados changes to Water/Dark with AbilityMold Breaker, ignoring abilities like AbilitySturdy. Handles Grant, Malva, and Olympia. AbilityIntimidate before Mega Evolving supports the whole team. One of the best Pokemon in X/Y.
Viola's Pokemon outpace and outclass Magikarp here.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Grant's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Korrina's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Ramos's team.
Clemont's team hits Gyarados's weaknesses hard.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Valerie's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Olympia's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Wulfric's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Malva's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Wikstrom's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Drasna's team.
Siebold's team hits Gyarados's weaknesses hard.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Diantha's team.
Magikarp can be received through an in-game trade on Camphrier Town. Wednesday, trade Gyarados with Hiker after meeting thrice previously. In-game trade: Wednesday, trade Gyarados with Hiker after meeting thrice previously
Your Magikarp should hit Level 20 before you reach Grant, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Gyarados in X & Y
A handful of locations for Gyarados with high spawn rates across late-game fishing spots. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Where To Catch Gyarados in XY
To get Gyarados, start by catching Magikarp through trade and fishing encounters at Lv. 5-35. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.
Step 1Catch MagikarpParfum PalaceLv.15Old RodRate 100%Route 22Lv.15Old RodRate 100%Route 3Lv.15Old RodRate 100%Ambrette Town - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedTuesday trade with HikerCamphrier Town - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedWednesday trade with HikerCoumarine City - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedFriday trade with HikerCouriway Town - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedThursday trade with HikerCyllage City - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedMonday trade with HikerGeosenge Town - HotelLv.5In-game tradeLimitedSunday trade with Hiker
Step 2Gyarados ✓Parfum PalaceLv.35Super RodRate 60%Route 22Lv.35Super RodRate 60%Route 3Lv.35Super RodRate 60%or evolve from Magikarp (Step 1)
Gyarados Weakness
Type-wise, Gyarados takes extra damage from Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, and Fairy. Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. With 6 resistances, the defensive profile is strong. Gyarados's overall bulk (95/109/130) lets it take a hit or two from most weaknesses before going down.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass, Fighting, Bug, Fairy |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Ghost, Dark, Steel |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
What is Gyarados Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Gyarados
 Gallade PsychicFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Gallade builds →Leaf Blade 2x50-59% Rock Smash 2x38-45% Thunderbolt 2x27-32% Fury Cutter 2x24-30% | ||
 Plusle Electric | C | |
 Minun Electric | C | |
 Simisage Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Simisage builds →Seed Bomb 2x54-65% Rock Smash 2x20-24% | ||
 Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
 Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x63-75% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
 Hariyama Fighting | B | |
 Pangoro FightingDark | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Pangoro builds →Vital Throw 2x52-62% Infestation 2x7-9% | ||
 Bellossom Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Bellossom builds →Leaf Blade 2x47-56% Infestation 2x9-11% | ||
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x61-72% Thunderbolt 2x39-46% Magical Leaf 2x27-32% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x63-75% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
 Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 2x61-72% Brick Break 2x38-45% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Brick Break 2x56-67% Pin Missile 2x20-24% Bullet Seed 2x13-16% | ||
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Ampharos builds →Thunderbolt 2x54-64% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x63-75% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 2x61-72% Brick Break 2x38-45% | ||
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Brick Break 2x56-67% Pin Missile 2x20-24% Bullet Seed 2x13-16% | ||
Ampharos Electric | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Ampharos builds →Thunderbolt 2x54-64% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x91-108%KO Pin Missile 2x21-25% Bullet Seed 2x14-17% | ||
 Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Chesnaught builds →Seed Bomb 2x54-64% Low Sweep 2x44-53% Pin Missile 2x13-15% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x66-78% Rock Smash 2x15-18% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x64-76% Thunderbolt 2x40-47% Magical Leaf 2x27-32% | ||
Roselia GrassPoison | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Roselia builds →Petal Dance 2x66-78% Dazzling Gleam 2x30-35% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x92-109%KO Pin Missile 2x22-26% Bullet Seed 2x14-17% | ||
Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Chesnaught builds →Seed Bomb 2x55-65% Low Sweep 2x46-54% Pin Missile 2x12-14% | ||
Venusaur GrassPoison | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Bulbasaur (Lumiose City Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Venusaur builds →Petal Dance 2x66-78% Rock Smash 2x16-19% | ||
Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Gardevoir builds →Moonblast 2x64-76% Thunderbolt 2x41-48% Magical Leaf 2x27-32% | ||
 Abomasnow GrassIce | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Abomasnow builds →Wood Hammer 2x72-85% Rock Smash 2x17-20% | ||
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x91-108%KO Megahorn 2x91-108%KO Bullet Seed 2x14-16% | ||
 Sawk Fighting | C | |
Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Chesnaught builds →Seed Bomb 2x54-64% Low Sweep 2x45-53% Pin Missile 2x12-14% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Exeggutor builds →Leaf Storm 2x85-101%KO Infestation 2x10-12% | ||
 Throh Fighting | C | |
Chesnaught GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chespin (Aquacorde Town Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Chesnaught builds →Wood Hammer 2x78-92% Hammer Arm 2x65-77% Pin Missile 2x12-14% | ||
 Gurdurr Fighting | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Heracross builds →Close Combat 2x89-105%KO Megahorn 2x89-105%KO Bullet Seed 2x13-15% | ||
Sawk Fighting | C | |
Hariyama Fighting | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Hariyama builds →Close Combat 2x87-103%KO | ||
S | ||
Recommended Build AbilityMold Breaker ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Excadrill builds →Earthquake32-37% Rapid Spin16-19% | ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves View Heatran builds →
| ||
A | ||
Recommended Build AbilityWaterabsorb ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Volcanion builds →Flamethrower12-14% Sludge Bomb24-28% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureCareful Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Gliscor builds →Earthquake19-23% Knock Off6-8% | ||
B | ||
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Gyarados View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain 2x44-53% Flamethrower13-16% | ||
Gyarados Evolutions
Evolved from Magikarp. Gyarados is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are hatches fast. Attack grew the most through evolution (+145 over Magikarp), and Gyarados peaks at 640 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
XY Gyarados Best Moveset
The Mega form gains Dark typing and AbilityMold Breaker ignoring defensive abilities like AbilitySturdy and AbilityLevitate. MoveDragon Dance boosts Attack and Speed, and the moveset transformed from a Moxie attacker to a Mega that ignores ability-based defenses. Base AbilityIntimidate still drops Attack for non-Mega sets.
Best Build
Gyarados best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset
- Waterfall
- Dragon Dance
- Substitute
- Earthquake
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
TMs carry this one. Gyarados learns Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Dragon and beyond give it real matchup play.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
Base Stats
In ancient literature, there is a record of a Gyarados that razed a village when violence flared.
Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage.
Gyarados X & Y Guide
In X & Y, Mold Breaker changes the entire equation for Gyarados. The 640 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a wallbreaker. Waterfall with Leftovers is the standard set.
In X & Y, Gyarados can Mega Evolve into Mega Gyarados. That's 740 BST, up from 640. The stat redistribution often changes its best role. Mega Stone required, one per battle.
In X & Y, Gyarados's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric), Exeggutor (Grass), and Machamp (Fighting), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Bug and Fairy-type attackers are also a problem. With 5 weakness types, most competitive teams carry at least one counter. Gyarados has enough bulk to absorb a hit, but don't push the matchup. Pivot to a teammate that resists.
Mold Breaker is what you want on Gyarados. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. On wall sets, Mold Breaker pairs with Gyarados's base 109 Defense to absorb physical hits on the switch.
Base 81 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Gyarados is a physical attacker with base 155 Attack. Defensively? Tanky enough to absorb a few hits. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Game Availability
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gyarados has appeared in 22 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves