Terrifying to look at but partly wasted, Gyarados sits at A-Tier in Red & Blue since its massive Attack loses value when Water moves use Special.
580HP95Attack125Defense79Speed81Sp.Def100Sp.Atk100
Magikarp
Gyarados
Weak to
Mixed
Wallbreaker
81Speed · Above Avg

Is Gyarados Good in Red & Blue Playthrough?

The payoff for dragging Magikarp through 19 levels of nothing. Gyarados hits hard, takes hits well, and stays relevant from mid-game through the Champion fight. One of the most satisfying evolutions in the game and one of the best team members you can get.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadBTEEGESSESEEGBrockGym 1MagikarpPurchaseMistyGym 2GyaradosEvolveSurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6BlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Bad

Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Magikarp here.

Avoid
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense Curl
Avoid
Onix
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Magikarp's defenses.

Risky
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Avoid
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Voltorb
Lv 21
Electric
Soundproof
TackleScreechSonic Boom
You Win
Pikachu
Lv 18
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunder WaveQuick Attack
Risky
Raichu
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Thunder ShockGrowlThunderbolt
Erika
Gym 4
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.

Even
Victreebel
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafWrapPoison PowderSleep Powder
You Win
Tangela
Lv 24
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBind
Even
Vileplume
Lv 29
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DancePoison PowderMega DrainSleep Powder
Koga
Gym 5
Good

Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
You Win
Muk
Lv 39
Poison
Stench
DisablePoison GasMinimizeSludge
You Win
Koffing
Lv 37
Poison
Levitate
TackleSmogSludgeSmokescreen
Even
Weezing
Lv 43
Poison
Levitate
SmogSludgeToxicSelf Destruct
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

Even
Kadabra
Lv 38
Psychic
Synchronize
DisablePsybeamRecoverPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 37
Psychic
Soundproof
ConfusionBarrierLight ScreenDouble Slap
Even
Venomoth
Lv 38
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Poison PowderLeech LifeStun SporePsybeam
Even
Alakazam
Lv 43
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsywaveReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Strong

Gyarados resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Growlithe
Lv 42
Fire
Intimidate
EmberLeerTake DownAgility
Easy KO
Ponyta
Lv 40
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
Easy KO
Rapidash
Lv 42
Fire
Run Away
Tail WhipStompGrowlFire Spin
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 47
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberFire BlastTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Strong

Gyarados resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 45
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFury AttackHorn Drill
Easy KO
Dugtrio
Lv 42
Ground
Sand Veil
GrowlDigSand AttackSlash
Easy KO
Nidoqueen
Lv 44
PoisonGround
Poison Point
ScratchTail WhipBody SlamPoison Sting
Easy KO
Nidoking
Lv 45
PoisonGround
Poison Point
TackleHorn AttackPoison StingThrash
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 50
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
StompTail WhipFissureHorn Drill
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
GrowlAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampAurora BeamSpike Cannon
You Win
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
GrowlWater GunWithdrawAmnesia
You Win
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchBody SlamThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Strong

Gyarados resists most of Bruno's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchMega PunchCounter
You Win
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Jump KickFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickMega Kick
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock ThrowRageSlamHarden
You Win
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerFocus EnergyFissureSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Agatha's team.

Even
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
You Win
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicConfuse RayWing AttackHaze
Even
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayNight ShadeHypnosisDream Eater
Even
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
BiteGlareScreechAcid
Risky
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayNight ShadeToxicDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

Even
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
AgilitySlamDragon RageHyper Beam
You Win
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
SupersonicBiteTake DownHyper Beam
Even
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
AgilitySlamBarrierHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Good

Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 61
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
WhirlwindWing AttackSky AttackMirror Move
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicReflect
Easy KO
Rhydon
Lv 61
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Tail WhipFury AttackHorn DrillLeer
Even
Gyarados
Lv 61
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
You Win
Arcanine
Lv 63
Fire
Intimidate
RoarEmberLeerTake Down
Risky
Venusaur
Lv 65
GrassPoison
Overgrow
Razor LeafGrowthMega DrainSolar Beam

Buy Magikarp

Available after Badge 1
Type
Water
Tier
F

Magikarp can be purchased on Route 4 at Lv 5. Buy for 500. Sold by a salesman inside the Route 4 Pokemon Center for 500. Evolves into Gyarados at Level 20.

View Magikarp locations

Evolve Magikarp to Gyarados

Level 20
Type
WaterFlying
Tier
A

Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at Level 20. Your Magikarp should hit Level 20 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Gyarados in Red & Blue

Gyarados is the payoff for sticking with the worthless fish. A Magikarp evolves at level 20 into one of the strongest things in the game, and since Magikarp bites on any rod everywhere, the only cost is patience.

Catch Magikarp at any of these 26 spots to eventually evolve into Gyarados.

Encountered via fishing with a Rod

  1. 1
    Catch Magikarp
  2. 2
    Evolve Gyaradosat Lv.20
Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

How to Obtain Gyarados in RB

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.

  1. Gyarados
    Step 2Gyarados ✓

Gyarados Weakness

Type-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.

Gyarados Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Electric
2x (Weak)Rock
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug
0x (Immune)Ground
Gen I Type Chart
  • 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

What is Gyarados Weak Against

Good
2Weak
4Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
2xWeak
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Gyarados Strong Against

6Strong
0Resisted
0Immune
Score+6
½xResisted
None
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Gyarados

Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Raichu
Raichu
Electric
C
Voltorb
Voltorb
Electric
C
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C
Onix
Onix
RockGround
C

Gyarados Evolutions

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. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Gyarados
WaterFlying
HP
20
95+75
ATK
10
125+115
DEF
55
79+24
SP.ATK
15
60+45
SP.DEF
20
100+80
SPE
80
81+1
BST
200F-Tier
540A-Tier+340
ROLE
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

RB Gyarados Best Moveset

125 Attack is massive, but all Water moves use the Special stat (100) instead. MoveSurf can't tap that Attack power at all. MoveHyper Beam and MoveBody Slam use Attack and hit hard, so the move slots work around the type split with Normal moves that leverage the real strength.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Gyarados
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • Hyper Beam
  • Hydro PumpSTAB
  • BlizzardCoverage
  • Body Slam

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Bite
C6010025Normal
Lv 1
Dragon Rage
D—10010Dragon
Lv 1
Hydro Pump
B180805Water
Lv 1
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 20
Bite
C6010025Normal
Lv 25
Dragon Rage
D—10010Dragon
Lv 32
Leer
——10030Normal
Lv 41
Hydro Pump
B180805Water
Lv 52
Hyper Beam
B150905Normal

TM Moves

All 23 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM14
BlizzardPokémon Mansionbadge 6
B110905Ice
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
B8510015Normal
TM11C9710020Water
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM10
Double-EdgeRocket Hideoutbadge 3
B12010015Normal
TM23
Dragon RageRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
D—10010Dragon
TM38A120855Fire
TM15
Hyper BeamRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
B150905Normal
TM13C9510010Ice
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
D——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM33
ReflectKanto Power Plantbadge 3
C——20Psychic
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM40
Skull BashSafari Zonebadge 4
B10010010Normal
HM04
StrengthFuchsia Citybadge 4
—8010015Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
HM03
SurfSafari Zonebadge 4
B14210015Water
TM09
Take DownSilph Co.badge 3
C908520Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
C1107010Electric
TM24B9510015Electric
TM06C—9010Poison
TM12
Water GunMt. Moonbadge 1
C6010025Water

Tutor Moves

Gyarados can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Pseudo
HP95
B
Attack125
A
Defense79
C
Sp. Atk100
B
Sp. Def100
B
Speed81
C
Total580
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height6.5 m
Weight235.0 kg
Base XP189
EV Yield
HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training target
Pokedex Entry

Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage.

Pokemon Red / Pokemon Blue

Gyarados Red & Blue Guide

  • Mega Evolution isn't available in Red & Blue, but Gyarados does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gyarados hits 680 BST.

  • In Red & Blue, Gyarados plays as a wallbreaker. Speed is middling, so pick your spots carefully.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gyarados has appeared in 22 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 6, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Explore

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