Utility
Balanced
DTier
80Speed · Above Avg

Magikarp's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, Attack trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats
Below
HP20
F
Attack10
F
Defense55
D
Sp. Atk15
F
Sp. Def20
F
Speed80
C
Total200
Details
Catch Rate
Guaranteed255 / 255
Growth Rate
Slow1.25M XP
Height0.9 m
2'11"Small
Weight10.0 kg
22.0 lbsFeather
Base XP40
Low Yield
Abilities
Swift SwimTop Pick
Doubles Speed during rain.
RattledHANiche
Raises Speed one stage upon being hit by a dark, ghost, or bug move.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entries

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

Electric and Grass moves hit Magikarp for super-effective damage. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Magikarp's physical bulk (base 55 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.

Magikarp Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Electric, Grass
0.5x (Resist)Fire, Water, Ice, Steel
Type ChartGood
2Weak
4Resist
0Immune
Score0
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
ElectricGrass
½xResist
FireWaterIceSteel
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None
STAB (3)
FireGroundRock
How to Beat Magikarp (Best Counters)

Jolteon can KO Magikarp with Thunderbolt (498-586%). Raikou threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (343-405%). Toedscool's Giga Drain also KOs at 127-150%.

Jolteon
Jolteon
Electric
A
Recommended Build
AbilityVoltabsorb
ItemChoice Specs
NatureTimid
Moves
  • ThunderboltSTAB
  • Volt Switch
  • Alluring Voice
  • Shadow Ball
Damage vs Magikarp
Thunderbolt 2x
498-586%KO
Volt Switch 2x
388-456%KO
Shadow Ball
148-174%KO
View Jolteon builds →

Magikarp evolves into Gyarados. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are hatches fast. The evolved forms gain up to 340 total stats over Magikarp. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Magikarp
#129Magikarp
20
Level 20
Gyarados
#130Gyarados
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Magikarp
Water
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
200D-Tier
540A-Tier+340
ROLE
Balanced
Wallbreaker
TYPE
Utility
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Magikarp easily with 72 breeding partners from the Dragon and Water2 egg groups.

Egg Groups
DragonWater2
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
5 cycles·1,285 steps
Fast~1 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradoscharizardkingdrasceptileflygonmiloticnoivernaltariascraftydragalgehelioliskoctillery
12 of 72·

Magikarp leads with Focus Sash insurance. Even if it can't take a hit naturally, it'll survive long enough to deal early damage. Max HP and Speed EVs go all-in on offense since bulk doesn't matter here.

Best Build

All 22 games
Situational pick
Ability
Swift Swim
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Magikarp
HardyNEUTRAL

Magikarp best EVs are HP and Speed

EVs

Bulky Support Moveset

  • Unknown
  • SplashUtility
  • FlailCoverage
  • TackleCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Magikarp
MagikarpExcellent
Feebas
FeebasDecent

Moves

All 22 games

Magikarp's options are limited here. You've got Water STAB for STAB damage, but there isn't much beyond Water hitting power. TMs help fill gaps, though the kit stays tight.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Splash
S——40Normal
Lv 15
Tackle
S4010035Normal
Lv 25
Flail
S—10015Normal

TM Moves

Magikarp can't learn any TM moves

Egg Moves

Magikarp doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Magikarp can't learn any Tutor moves
All 22 games

Easy grab on Magikarp with high spawn rates across 94 locations in early-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.

Best Locations to Catch Magikarp in Scarlet & Violet

Which version you're playing matters for Magikarp. 94 walking spots at Lv. 2-39 spread across Scarlet and Violet, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.

Casseroya Lake - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
Casseroya Lake - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
East Paldean Sea - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
East Paldean Sea - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area One) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Three) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
East Province (Area Two) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
36%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
36%Early
North Paldean Sea - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
North Paldean Sea - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area One) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Three) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
North Province (Area Two) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
South Paldean Sea - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Five) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Four) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area One) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
South Province (Area Six) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Forest
36%Early
Tagtree Thicket - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Forest
36%Early
West Paldean Sea - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
West Paldean Sea - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area One) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Three) - Lake
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
West Province (Area Two) - Ocean
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
36%Early
Asado Desert - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Desert
12%Early
Asado Desert - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Desert
12%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
12%Early
Casseroya Lake - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
12%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
East Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
East Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
East Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
12%Early
Glaseado Mountain
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
12%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
12%Early
Glaseado Mountain
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Cave
12%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
North Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
North Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
12%Early
South Paldean Sea - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Water
12%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Five) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Four) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Six) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
South Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Forest
12%Early
Tagtree Thicket - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Forest
12%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
West Province (Area One) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
West Province (Area Three) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
VioletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early
West Province (Area Two) - River
ScarletOverworld Lv.2-39 Route
12%Early

  • Get Magikarp to Gyarados at level 20. At 200 BST, Magikarp is just the starting point.

  • Level 20 gets you Gyarados. Quick enough that Magikarp barely slows you down.

  • Magikarp does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Gyarados before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.

  • You won't have trouble finding Magikarp. It's been around since Legends: Z-A and appears in 22 games total. Latest appearances: Yellow and Red & Blue.

Magikarp has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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