Ground moves don't affect Gyarados at all — that's the advantage of Water/Flying typing. It needs some investment to avoid getting outsped. Flexible enough to run physical or special sets. An original Gen 1 pick.
Attack and Special carry most of Gyarados's stat budget. Defense's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack stat exp. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.
Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage.
Gyarados Weakness
GoodType-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. 4 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 95 HP and balanced defenses, Gyarados can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.
- Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
- Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
- Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split
Magikarp's chain leads to Gyarados (at level 20). A Water/Flying type at 580 stats, sitting in the Undiscovered group. Attack grew the most through evolution (+115 over Magikarp), and Gyarados peaks at 580 total stats.
How to Evolve
Best Build
Best Gyarados Moveset
- Hyper Beam
- Hydro Pump
- Blizzard
- Body Slam
Recommended Teammates
TMs carry this one. Gyarados learns Hydro Pump and Surf naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Dark and Dragon and beyond give it real matchup play.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Reminder Moves
You're catching Magikarp first, not Gyarados. Magikarp appears at solid rates in the encounters below. The step cards map the full 2-stage line with evolution methods between each stage.
How to Obtain Gyarados in Red & Blue
The path to Gyarados starts with Magikarp at Lv. 5-15 via fishing and gift encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Catch MagikarpEASYCeladon CityBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYCeladon CityRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYCerulean Cave - 1FBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCaveEASYCerulean Cave - 1FRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCaveEASYCerulean Cave - B1FBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCaveEASYFuchsia CityRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYFuchsia CityBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYPallet TownRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYPallet TownBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYRoute 10RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 10BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 11RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 11BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 12RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 12BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 17RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 17BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 18RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 18BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 19BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 20RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 20BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 21BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 22RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 22BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 23RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 23BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 24BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 24RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 25BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 25RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 4RedGift from NPCLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEFFORTLESSRoute 4BlueGift from NPCLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 6RedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 6BlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyRouteEASYSafari Zone - CenterRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - CenterBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - EastRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - EastBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - NorthRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - NorthBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - WestRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSafari Zone - WestBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyFacilityEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B4FBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyWaterEASYSeafoam Islands - B3FBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyWaterEASYVermilion City - CityRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYVermilion City - CityBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYVermilion City - HarborBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYVermilion City - HarborRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYViridian CityBlueOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYViridian CityRedOld RodLv.5CommonEarlyCityEASYFuchsia CityRedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYFuchsia CityBlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyCityEASYRoute 12RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 12BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 13RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 17RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 17BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 18RedSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRouteEASYRoute 18BlueSuper RodLv.15CommonEarlyRoute
Step 2Gyarados ✓
We rate Gyarados B-Tier — a solid choice for the right team. At 580 BST, it fits the wallbreaker role. Base 125 Attack stands out.
Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20. Gyarados is the fully evolved form. With 580 BST, it's a powerhouse in its final form.
Base 81 Speed is workable — faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Gyarados is a mixed attacker — base 125 Attack and 100 Special. 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