Is Magikarp Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?
Fishing encounter everywhere from the start of the game. Water-type with AbilitySwift Swim. Useless until level 20. Gyarados is one of the best returns on investment in the entire franchise. But the Red Gyarados makes this grind unnecessary.
Falkner's Pokemon outpace and outclass Magikarp here.
Bugsy's typing presses Magikarp's defenses.
Whitney's typing presses Magikarp's defenses.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Morty's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Chuck's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Jasmine's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Clair's team.
Gyarados resists most of Brock's coverage and hits back hard.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Misty's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.
Gyarados trades roughly evenly with Erika's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Koga'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 Karen's team.
Gyarados has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.
Catchable
Catch Magikarp in New Bark Town (Old Rod fishing, Lv 10, common).
Recommended Moves
- LV 15NormalTacklePower 35Accuracy 95%PP 35
Evolve Magikarp to Gyarados
Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at Level 20. Your Magikarp should hit Level 20 before you reach Morty, at typical leveling pace.
Recommended Moves
- After Bugsy
- TM38FireFire BlastPower 120Accuracy 85%PP 5Goldenrod Department Store
- After Whitney
- HM03WaterSurfPower 143Accuracy 100%PP 15Gift from a Kimono Girl in the Ecruteak Dance Theater
- After Pryce
- HM07WaterWaterfallPower 120Accuracy 100%PP 15Item ball on Ice Path 1F
- LV 35WaterAqua TailPower 135Accuracy 90%PP 10
- LV 41WaterHydro PumpPower 180Accuracy 80%PP 5
- After Clair
- TM26GroundEarthquakePower 100Accuracy 100%PP 10Victory Road
- LV 44DragonDragon DancePower —Accuracy 100%PP 20
- LV 47NormalHyper BeamPower 150Accuracy 90%PP 5
How to Get Magikarp in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Magikarp is everywhere there is water. Almost 400 encounters across more than fifty areas, on every rod and surfing, levels from 2 to 50. You cannot avoid this one, and that is exactly the point with Gyarados waiting.
56 locations to catch Magikarp
Encountered via fishing with a Rod, Surfing
Badge 1
Badge 2
Badge 3
Badge 4
Badge 5
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8Where To Catch Magikarp in HGSS
Magikarp is the chain's first catch. You'll find fishing, surfing, and more encounters from Lv. 2-50 across 440 total spots in the chain.
- Step 1Magikarp ✓Blackthorn CityLv.2-20Surfing on waterRate 100%Dark Cave - EastLv.2-20Surfing on waterRate 100%Dark Cave - WestLv.2-20Surfing on waterRate 100%Route 45Lv.2-25Surfing on waterRate 100%Route 43Lv.5-50Surfing on waterRate 100%Cliff Edge GateLv.10Old RodRate 100%Dragon's DenLv.10Old RodRate 100%Lake of RageLv.10Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - EntranceLv.10-20Surfing on waterRate 100%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.10Old RodRate 100%Cerulean Cave - 2FLv.10Old RodRate 100%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.10Old RodRate 100%Fuchsia CityLv.10-20Surfing on waterRate 100%Fuchsia CityLv.10Old RodRate 100%Mt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.10Old RodRate 100%Safari Zone - SwampLv.12-15Old RodRate 100%Dragon's DenLv.5-20Surfing on waterRate 90%Lake of RageLv.5-20Surfing on waterRate 90%Blackthorn CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Cherrygrove CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Cianwood CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Dark Cave - EastLv.10Old RodRate 85%Dark Cave - WestLv.10Old RodRate 85%Ecruteak CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Ilex ForestLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Mortar - 1F EntranceLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Mortar - 2FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Mortar - B1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - 2FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - 3FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.10Old RodRate 85%Mt. Silver - Upper mountainsideLv.10Old RodRate 85%New Bark TownLv.10Old RodRate 85%Olivine CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 30Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 31Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 32Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 34Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 35Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 40Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 41Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 42Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 43Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 44Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 45Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 47Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.10Old RodRate 85%Slowpoke Well - B1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Slowpoke Well - B2FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Union Cave - 1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Union Cave - B1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Union Cave - B2FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Violet CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Whirl Islands - 1FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Whirl Islands - B2FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Cerulean CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Cinnabar IslandLv.10Old RodRate 85%Pallet TownLv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 10Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 12Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 13Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 19Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 20Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 21Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 22Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 24Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 25Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 26Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 27Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 28Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 4Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 6Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Route 9Lv.10Old RodRate 85%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.10Old RodRate 85%Tohjo FallsLv.10Old RodRate 85%Vermilion City - CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Viridian CityLv.10Old RodRate 85%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.12-15Old RodRate 60%Safari Zone - WetlandLv.12-15Old RodRate 60%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.12-15Old RodRate 60%Safari Zone - SwampLv.15-17Surfing on waterRate 60%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.15-17Surfing on waterRate 50%Safari Zone - Rocky BeachLv.12-14Old RodRate 40%Safari Zone - Rocky BeachLv.15-16Surfing on waterRate 30%Cliff Edge GateLv.20Good RodRate 95%NightDragon's DenLv.20Good RodRate 90%Lake of RageLv.20Good RodRate 90%Fuchsia CityLv.20Good RodRate 90%Cliff Edge GateLv.20Good RodRate 85%Morning/dayMt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.20Good RodRate 70%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 50%Morning/dayBlackthorn CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Cherrygrove CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Cianwood CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Dark Cave - EastLv.20Good RodRate 40%Dark Cave - WestLv.20Good RodRate 40%Ecruteak CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Ilex ForestLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Mortar - 1F EntranceLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Mortar - 2FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Mortar - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%NightMt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Silver - 2FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Silver - 3FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.20Good RodRate 40%Mt. Silver - Upper mountainsideLv.20Good RodRate 40%New Bark TownLv.20Good RodRate 40%Olivine CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 30Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 31Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 32Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 34Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 35Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 40Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 41Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 42Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 43Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 44Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 45Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 47Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.20Good RodRate 40%Slowpoke Well - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Slowpoke Well - B2FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Union Cave - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Union Cave - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Union Cave - B2FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Violet CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Whirl Islands - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Whirl Islands - B2FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Cerulean CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Cinnabar IslandLv.20Good RodRate 40%Pallet TownLv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 10Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 12Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 13Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 19Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 20Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 21Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 22Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 24Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 25Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 26Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 27Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 28Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 4Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 6Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Route 9Lv.20Good RodRate 40%Seafoam Islands - B4FLv.20Good RodRate 40%Tohjo FallsLv.20Good RodRate 40%Vermilion City - CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Viridian CityLv.20Good RodRate 40%Safari Zone - MeadowLv.22-24Good RodRate 40%Safari Zone - SwampLv.22-24Good RodRate 40%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.22-24Good RodRate 40%Mt. Moon - Mt. Moon SquareLv.30-35Surfing on waterRate 40%Safari Zone - Rocky BeachLv.22-23Good RodRate 30%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 15%Cerulean Cave - 2FLv.20Good RodRate 15%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.20Good RodRate 15%Cliff Edge GateLv.40Super RodRate 70%Lake of RageLv.40Super RodRate 70%Fuchsia CityLv.40Super RodRate 70%Dragon's DenLv.40Super RodRate 60%Blackthorn CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%Dark Cave - EastLv.40Super RodRate 20%Dark Cave - WestLv.40Super RodRate 20%Ecruteak CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%Ilex ForestLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Mortar - 1F EntranceLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Mortar - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Mortar - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Silver - 1F Upper ChamberLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Silver - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Silver - 3FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Silver - BaseLv.40Super RodRate 20%Mt. Silver - Upper mountainsideLv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 30Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 31Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 32Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 35Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 42Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 43Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 44Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 45Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Ruins of Alph - OutsideLv.40Super RodRate 20%Slowpoke Well - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Slowpoke Well - B2FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Union Cave - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Union Cave - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 20%Violet CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%Cerulean CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 10Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 12Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 13Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 22Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 24Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 25Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 28Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 4Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 6Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Route 9Lv.40Super RodRate 20%Tohjo FallsLv.40Super RodRate 20%Viridian CityLv.40Super RodRate 20%
- Step 2Catch or Evolve into GyaradosLake of RageLv.10-20Surfing on waterRate 10%Lake of RageLv.20Good RodRate 10%Mt. Silver - 1FLv.20Good RodRate 10%NightFuchsia CityLv.20Good RodRate 10%Lake of RageLv.30Interact with PokemonLimitedMt. Silver - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 80%NightMt. Silver - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 50%Morning/daySeafoam Islands - B4FLv.40Super RodRate 40%Lake of RageLv.40Super RodRate 30%Cerulean Cave - 1FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Cerulean Cave - 2FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Cerulean Cave - B1FLv.40Super RodRate 30%Fuchsia CityLv.40Super RodRate 30%Safari Zone - MarshlandLv.36-37Super RodRate 20%or evolve from Magikarp (Step 1)
Not landing the catch? Calculate Magikarp catch rates for HeartGold & SoulSilver by ball, status, and HP.
How to Get Shiny Magikarp in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Magikarp flops through Cerulean City's waters, so breed it Masuda-style with a foreign-language parent at 1 in 1,638. Compare Shiny Magikarp odds across every game
HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Magikarp Calculator
2 MethodsThe best route is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.
Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.
Full Odds: Walk through grass, surf, or fish. Every encounter is its own independent shiny roll.
How many you have done, or plan to do.
| Chance | Encounters | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 10%lucky few | 173-- | -- |
| 25%one in four | 472-- | -- |
| 50%coin flip | 1,136-- | -- |
| 90%very likely | 3,773-- | -- |
Time assumes -- at your pace and does not change your shiny odds.
How is this calculated?
Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.
chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N, where p = 1 / odds per try
Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.
The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.
These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.
Want exact numbers for your session? Calculate your shiny odds in HeartGold & SoulSilver with Magikarp preloaded.
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)
What is Magikarp Weak Against
GoodBest Pokemon Against Magikarp
 Parasect BugGrass | C | |
 Cacturne GrassDark | B | |
 Tangrowth Grass | C | |
 Victreebel GrassPoison | C | |
 Vileplume GrassPoison | C | |
 Ludicolo WaterGrass | C | |
 Shiftry GrassDark | C | |
 Carnivine Grass | C | |
 Meganium Grass | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Chikorita (New Bark Town Gift) | ||
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | A | |
 Raikou Electric | B | |
 Jolteon Electric | B | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Eevee (Goldenrod City Gift) | ||
 Manectric Electric | C | |
 Ampharos Electric | C | |
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 hatch fast. The evolved forms gain up to 340 total stats over Magikarp. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Magikarp easily with 30 breeding partners from the Dragon and Water 2 egg groups.
HGSS Magikarp Best Moveset
10 Attack and 15 Sp. Atk with Splash and Tackle. No competitive value exists at any level. AbilitySwift Swim doubles 80 Speed in rain, which accomplishes nothing. Evolve to Gyarados at level 20.
Best Build
Magikarp best EVs are Attack and Speed
Physical Sweeper Moveset
- Flail
- Splash
- Tackle
- Bounce
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
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 HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide
- Where in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Safari Zone can I find Magikarp?
See the Locations section above for where to find Magikarp in HeartGold & SoulSilver.
Safari rules: You can only use Safari Balls. No battling. Two tactical items shift the catch/flee trade-off:
- Throw bait to keep Magikarp from fleeing (flee rate cut to 1/4) but it becomes harder to catch (catch factor halved).
- Throw a rock to make Magikarp easier to catch (catch factor doubled) but it flees twice as often.
- Each effect lasts 2-6 random turns; throwing one cancels the other.
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.
Game Availability
Magikarp has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 9 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 7Let's Go
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
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