
Is Magikarp Good in FireRed & LeafGreen Playthrough?
Splash. AbilitySwift Swim doubles Speed in rain, but Magikarp has nothing to use that Speed for. Gyarados at 20 is the entire point. Fish early, grind to 20, and get one of FRLG's best Pokemon. The investment pays back everything.
Brock's Pokemon outpace and outclass Magikarp here.
Misty's typing presses Magikarp's defenses.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lt. Surge's team.
Erika's typing presses Gyarados's defenses.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.
Gyarados resists most of Blaine's coverage and hits back hard.
Gyarados resists most of Giovanni's coverage and hits back hard.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Agatha's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Terry's team.
Magikarp is given to you as a gift on Route 4 at Lv 5. 500 PokeDollars. Buy from the man in the Route 4 Pokemon Center for 500 PokeDollars
- LV 15NormalTackle40100%35
Your Magikarp should hit Level 20 before you reach Lt. Surge, at typical leveling pace.
- STARTING (Lv 20)
- LV 20NormalThrash120100%10
- LV 40WaterHydro Pump16580%5
- After Koga
- HM03WaterSurf135100%15
- LV 50DragonDragon Dance—100%20
- After Giovanni
- TUTORNormalDouble-Edge120100%15
- TM26GroundEarthquake100100%10
- LV 55NormalHyper Beam15090%5
- Post-Game
- HM07WaterWaterfall120100%15
- TUTORNormalBody Slam85100%15
- TM42NormalFacade70100%20
How to Get Magikarp in FireRed & LeafGreen
You can buy a Magikarp for 500 PokeDollars from the salesman in the Route 4 Pokemon Center. But with 200 fishing encounters across both versions, you'll hook one with any rod at almost any water spot on the map.
41 locations to catch Magikarp
Encountered via fishing with a Rod
Where To Catch Magikarp in FRLG
Magikarp is your first catch on the way to Magikarp. You'll find fishing and gift encounters from Lv. 5-35 across 288 total spots in the chain.
Step 1Magikarp ✓Celadon CityLv.5Old RodRate 100%Celadon CityLv.5-15Good RodRate 100%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.5Old RodRate 100%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.5Old RodRate 100%Cerulean CityLv.5Old RodRate 100%Cinnabar IslandLv.5Old RodRate 100%Fuchsia CityLv.5Old RodRate 100%Pallet TownLv.5-10Old RodRate 100%Route 10Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 11Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 12Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 13Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 19Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 20Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 21Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 22Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 23Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 24Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 25Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 4Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Route 6Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - CenterLv.5Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - EastLv.5Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - NorthLv.5Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - WestLv.5Old RodRate 100%Seafoam Islands - B3FLv.5Old RodRate 100%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.5Old RodRate 100%Vermilion City - CityLv.5Old RodRate 100%Vermilion City - HarborLv.5Old RodRate 100%Viridian CityLv.5Old RodRate 100%Berry ForestLv.5Old RodRate 100%Bond BridgeLv.5Old RodRate 100%Cape BrinkLv.5Old RodRate 100%Five IslandLv.5Old RodRate 100%Five Isle MeadowLv.5Old RodRate 100%Four IslandLv.5Old RodRate 100%Green PathLv.5Old RodRate 100%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 1Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 3Lv.5Old RodRate 100%Kindle RoadLv.5Old RodRate 100%Memorial PillarLv.5Old RodRate 100%One IslandLv.5Old RodRate 100%Outcast IslandLv.5Old RodRate 100%Resort GorgeousLv.5Old RodRate 100%Ruin ValleyLv.5Old RodRate 100%Tanoby RuinsLv.5Old RodRate 100%Trainer TowerLv.5Old RodRate 100%Treasure BeachLv.5Old RodRate 100%Water LabyrinthLv.5Old RodRate 100%Water PathLv.5Old RodRate 100%Celadon CityLv.15-35Super RodRate 99%Route 4Lv.5Gift from NPC500 PokeDollarsCerulean Cave - 1FLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Cerulean CityLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Cinnabar IslandLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Fuchsia CityLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Pallet TownLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 10Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 11Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 12Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 13Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 19Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 20Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 21Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 22Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 23Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 24Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 25Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 4Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Route 6Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Safari Zone - CenterLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Safari Zone - EastLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Safari Zone - NorthLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Safari Zone - WestLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Seafoam Islands - B3FLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Vermilion City - CityLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Vermilion City - HarborLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Viridian CityLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Berry ForestLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Bond BridgeLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Cape BrinkLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Five IslandLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Five Isle MeadowLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Four IslandLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Green PathLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 1Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 3Lv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Kindle RoadLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Memorial PillarLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%One IslandLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Outcast IslandLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Resort GorgeousLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Ruin ValleyLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Tanoby RuinsLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Trainer TowerLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Treasure BeachLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Water LabyrinthLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%Water PathLv.5-15Good RodRate 20%
Step 2Catch or Evolve into GyaradosCerulean Cave - B1FLv.15-35Super RodRate 16%Seafoam Islands - B3FLv.15-35Super RodRate 16%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.15-35Super RodRate 16%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Cerulean CityLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Cinnabar IslandLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Fuchsia CityLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Pallet TownLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 10Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 11Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 12Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 13Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 19Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 20Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 21Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 22Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 23Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 24Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 25Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 4Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Route 6Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Vermilion City - CityLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Vermilion City - HarborLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Viridian CityLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Berry ForestLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Bond BridgeLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Cape BrinkLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Five IslandLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Five Isle MeadowLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Four IslandLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Green PathLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 1Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Icefall Cave - 1F Room 3Lv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Kindle RoadLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Memorial PillarLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%One IslandLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Outcast IslandLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Resort GorgeousLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Ruin ValleyLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Tanoby RuinsLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Trainer TowerLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Treasure BeachLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Water LabyrinthLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%Water PathLv.15-25Super RodRate 15%or evolve from Magikarp (Step 1)
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 |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
What is Magikarp Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Magikarp
In FireRed & LeafGreen, Raikou can KO Magikarp with Thunderbolt (460-542%). Breloom's Mach Punch hits Magikarp for 41-48%.
Raikou Electric | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x460-542%KO | ||
Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityEffect Spore ItemLeftovers NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Breloom builds →Mach Punch41-48% | ||
Magikarp Evolutions
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
FRLG Magikarp Best Moveset
AbilitySwift Swim doubles Speed in rain on stats too low to use. 10 Attack and Splash. Gyarados after evolution is the destination. No moveset. Evolve immediately.
Best Build
Magikarp best EVs are Defense and Speed
Bulky Support Moveset
- Splash
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
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.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic POKéMON in the world.
In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.
Magikarp FireRed & LeafGreen Guide
- Where in the FireRed & LeafGreen Safari Zone can I find Magikarp?
See the Locations section above for where to find Magikarp in FireRed & LeafGreen.
Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:
Action Catch chance per ball Flee rate per turn Default 50% 10% Bait 25% 5% Rock 50% (ceiling) 20% Effects last 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other. Catch chance assumes full HP and a Safari Ball (the only ball allowed). (ceiling) = doubling was clamped at the catch-factor ceiling of 20, so catch chance does not change.
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 1RBDebut

Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS

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

Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG

FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP

Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS

HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW

Black & White - Gen 5B2W2

Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY

X & Y - Gen 6ORAS

Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM

Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM

Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE

Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh

Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP

Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV

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

Winds & Waves