Stats & Training
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.
An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but usually not more than seven feet.
For no reason, it jumps and splashes about, making it easy for predators like PIDGEOTTO to catch it mid-jump.
Magikarp Weakness
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Plusle Electric | D | |
Minun Electric | D | |
Shinx Electric | D | |
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Vine Whip 2x81-97% Bullet Seed 2x54-65% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Bullet Seed 2x32-41% Absorb 2x54-65% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Razor Leaf 2x68-81% Bullet Seed 2x32-41% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Vine Whip 2x68-81% Bullet Seed 2x41-49% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x352-416%KO Energy Ball 2x266-314%KO Vine Whip 2x86-102%KO Bullet Seed 2x50-61% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x307-361%KO Energy Ball 2x232-273%KO Bullet Seed 2x34-41% Absorb 2x57-68% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x225-266%KO Energy Ball 2x173-205%KO Magical Leaf 2x116-136%KO Razor Leaf 2x68-82% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 2x295-348%KO Energy Ball 2x218-259%KO Vine Whip 2x75-89% Bullet Seed 2x45-55% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Paras builds →Solar Beam 2x218-259%KO Energy Ball 2x166-198%KO Bullet Seed 2x39-48% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x371-438%KO Energy Ball 2x279-329%KO Vine Whip 2x87-104%KO Bullet Seed 2x54-63% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x327-387%KO Energy Ball 2x250-294%KO Mega Drain 2x112-133%KO Bullet Seed 2x33-40% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x244-288%KO Energy Ball 2x185-219%KO Magical Leaf 2x127-150%KO Razor Leaf 2x67-81% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 2x308-363%KO Energy Ball 2x235-277%KO Vine Whip 2x73-87% Bullet Seed 2x42-52% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Paras builds →Solar Beam 2x229-271%KO Energy Ball 2x175-208%KO Bullet Seed 2x42-52% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x359-424%KO Energy Ball 2x270-319%KO Vine Whip 2x84-100%KO Bullet Seed 2x52-62% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x311-367%KO Energy Ball 2x233-276%KO Mega Drain 2x108-129%KO Bullet Seed 2x32-38% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x225-267%KO Energy Ball 2x173-205%KO Magical Leaf 2x116-138%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-76% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 2x298-352%KO Energy Ball 2x225-267%KO Vine Whip 2x71-86% Bullet Seed 2x40-48% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Paras builds →Solar Beam 2x217-257%KO Energy Ball 2x165-195%KO Bullet Seed 2x40-48% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x387-457%KO Energy Ball 2x291-343%KO Vine Whip 2x88-104%KO Bullet Seed 2x51-61% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x339-400%KO Energy Ball 2x254-300%KO Mega Drain 2x117-139%KO Bullet Seed 2x32-39% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x251-296%KO Energy Ball 2x188-222%KO Magical Leaf 2x129-152%KO Razor Leaf 2x65-78% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 2x317-374%KO Energy Ball 2x239-283%KO Vine Whip 2x74-87% Bullet Seed 2x43-52% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Paras builds →Solar Beam 2x236-278%KO Energy Ball 2x177-209%KO Giga Drain 2x148-174%KO Bullet Seed 2x41-48% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x359-424%KO Energy Ball 2x269-318%KO Vine Whip 2x85-101%KO Bullet Seed 2x49-57% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x310-366%KO Energy Ball 2x235-278%KO Mega Drain 2x107-128%KO Bullet Seed 2x32-40% | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x228-269%KO Energy Ball 2x172-203%KO Magical Leaf 2x116-137%KO Razor Leaf 2x63-75% | ||
Bellsprout GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Bellsprout builds →Solar Beam 2x300-353%KO Energy Ball 2x225-265%KO Vine Whip 2x71-84% Bullet Seed 2x41-49% | ||
Paras BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Paras builds →Solar Beam 2x221-260%KO Energy Ball 2x165-194%KO Giga Drain 2x138-163%KO Bullet Seed 2x41-49% | ||
Carnivine Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Carnivine builds →Solar Beam 2x385-454%KO Energy Ball 2x290-342%KO Vine Whip 2x87-104%KO Bullet Seed 2x51-62% | ||
Tangela Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Tangela builds →Solar Beam 2x418-492%KO Energy Ball 2x317-373%KO Vine Whip 2x58-69% Mega Drain 2x144-169%KO | ||
Weepinbell GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Weepinbell builds →Solar Beam 2x369-435%KO Energy Ball 2x277-327%KO Razor Leaf 2x97-115%KO Vine Whip 2x81-96% | ||
Oddish GrassPoison | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Oddish builds →Solar Beam 2x333-392%KO Energy Ball 2x251-296%KO Giga Drain 2x212-250%KO Mega Drain 2x114-135%KO | ||
Chikorita Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNew Bark Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Chikorita builds →Solar Beam 2x245-288%KO Energy Ball 2x182-215%KO Magical Leaf 2x123-146%KO Razor Leaf 2x65-77% | ||
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, Magnezone threatens a KO with Thunderbolt (506-595%).
Breloom GrassFighting | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityPoisonheal ItemToxic Orb NatureAdamant Moves View Breloom builds →
| ||
Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x506-595%KO Explosion107-127%KO | ||
Roserade GrassPoison | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves View Roserade builds →
| ||
Raikou Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureRash Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x508-598%KO Aura Sphere150-177%KO | ||
HeartGold & SoulSilver Evolution
Magikarp evolves into Gyarados. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool 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
HeartGold & SoulSilver Magikarp Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 4.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
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
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
HeartGold & SoulSilver Magikarp Locations
Magikarp's scattered across 320 spots in early-game fishing spots with high spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Magikarp in HeartGold & SoulSilver
fishing and surfing encounters for Magikarp across 320 spots at Lv. 2-50. The catch is that SoulSilver and HeartGold don't share every location, so compare what's available in your version.
Magikarp Guide
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.
In HeartGold & SoulSilver, 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 can find Magikarp in HeartGold & SoulSilver. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 21 other games across the series.
Game Availability
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
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 2GS

Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV

Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW

Winds & Waves
