Ground moves don't affect Gyarados at all — that's the advantage of Water/Flying typing. Intimidate lowers the opponent's Attack on switch-in. An original Gen 1 pick. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped.
Attack and Sp. Def carry most of Gyarados's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Although it obeys its instinctive drive to destroy everything within its reach, it will respond to orders from a Trainer it truly trusts.
Gyarados Weakness
ExcellentType-wise, Gyarados takes extra damage from Electric and Rock. Watch out for Electric attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 95 HP and balanced defenses, Gyarados can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
Evolved from Magikarp. Gyarados is the final form in this two-stage line. No compatible partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are hatches fast. Attack grew the most through evolution (+115 over Magikarp), and Gyarados peaks at 540 total stats.
How to Evolve
Breed with Gyarados to get Magikarp eggs easily from the Dragon and Water2 egg groups.
Find one free turn for Dragon Dance and Gyarados can run through teams. Jolly nature leans fast physical, Intimidate supports the sweep, and Ground coverage stops anything from walling it cleanly.
Best Build
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
Leveling does the heavy lifting. Gyarados picks up Thrash and Outrage along the way, building toward a complete offensive set. TMs add coverage across 8 types, but the foundation's already strong by then.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
moderate rates across 4 encounter spots for Gyarados. That's the kind of hunt where you pick one location and settle in. Sort by Best below to see where the odds are highest.
Where To Catch Gyarados in Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee
The path to Gyarados starts with Magikarp at Lv. 3-56 via surfing and gift encounters. 2 catchable stages total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch MagikarpEASYRoute 22Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.3-445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 22Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.3-445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 24Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.7-1245%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 24Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.7-1245%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 4Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.7-1245%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 4Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.7-1245%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 25Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.9-1445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 25Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.9-1445%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 6Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.11-1645%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 6Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.11-1645%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 11Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.13-1830%EarlyRouteEASYRoute 11Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.13-1830%EarlyRouteRoute 4Let's Go EeveeGift from NPCLv.5EarlyRouteRoute 4Let's Go PikachuGift from NPCLv.5EarlyRoute$500EASYRoute 10Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.18-2345%MidRouteEASYRoute 10Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.18-2345%MidRouteEASYRoute 20 - EastLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.37-4245%LateRouteEASYRoute 20 - EastLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.37-4245%LateRouteEASYRoute 20 - WestLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-4445%LateRouteEASYRoute 20 - WestLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-4445%LateRouteEASYRoute 23Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.41-4645%LateRouteEASYRoute 23Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.41-4645%LateRouteEASYRoute 12Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.31-3630%LateRouteEASYRoute 12Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.31-3630%LateRouteEASYRoute 13Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.33-3830%LateRouteEASYRoute 13Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.33-3830%LateRouteEASYRoute 18Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.33-3830%LateRouteEASYRoute 18Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.33-3830%LateRouteEASYRoute 19Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.37-4230%LateRouteEASYRoute 19Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.37-4230%LateRouteEASYRoute 21Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.37-4230%LateRouteEASYRoute 21Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.37-4230%LateRouteEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 2Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - Area 3Let's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-4430%LateWaterEASYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - 1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.51-5645%PostCave
Step 2Gyarados ✓HARDRoute 20 - EastLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.37-425%LateRouteHARDRoute 20 - EastLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.37-425%LateRouteHARDRoute 20 - WestLet's Go EeveeSurfing on waterLv.39-445%LateRouteHARDRoute 20 - WestLet's Go PikachuSurfing on waterLv.39-445%LateRouteor evolve from Magikarp (Step 1)
Intimidate changes the entire equation for Gyarados. The 540 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked A-Tier as a wallbreaker.
Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20. Gyarados is the fully evolved form. At 540 BST, it's got solid stats to work with.
Intimidate is what you want on Gyarados. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Moxie) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Gyarados worth using. Intimidate synergizes with Gyarados's base 100 Sp.Def, letting it soak special attacks as a pivot.
Base 81 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Gyarados is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.
Gyarados appears in 22 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gyarados has appeared in 22 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORASMega
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A