Magikarp (Pokémon)

This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Magikarp.

**Magikarp** (Japanese: **コイキング** *Koiking*) is a Water-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I.

It evolves into Gyarados starting at level 20.

## Biology

 File:Magikarp Jump Pattern 30.png
Magikarp is a fishlike Pokémon with large, heavy reddish-orange scales. It has large, vacant eyes and pink lips. Its pectoral and tail fins are white. On its back is a stiff, three-peaked yellow fin, resembling a crown; there is an identical fin on its underside. It also has long barbels. The barbels are white on a female and pale-yellow on a male. A long-lived Magikarp is able to utilize its immense splashing power to leap high enough to scale mountains. It also has a strong enough immune system to survive in the most polluted of waters. However, it is usually overlooked by Trainers because of its perceived weakness: even in the heat of battle, it will do nothing but flop around. It is believed that the ancestors of Magikarp were actually much stronger than modern Magikarp, and this led scientists to research this species.

Magikarp is found in many bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, and ponds. However, due to its weak swimming ability, it usually lives downstream of the water's flow. It is normally seen using its former signature move, Splash, to leap out of the water, which makes it an easy target for predators such as Pidgeotto and Pidgeot.

In Hoppy Town, there are at least 31 unique pattern varieties of Magikarp, with their scales coming in colors such as gray, black, white, purple, pink, violet, apricot, and brown. These patterns can be classified by groups, depending on how the Magikarp looks while it is still small; a specific pattern arises when it becomes bigger. Which patterns can be caught depend on the type of Old Rod; the better the rod, the more groups of patterns can be fished. The people in Hoppy Town train their Magikarp to jump the highest in order to compete in a series of Leagues to win prizes.

## Game data

### NPC appearances

* Magikarp is the focus of the mobile game Pokémon: Magikarp Jump. The player can fish for many patterns of Magikarp, then train their Magikarp and compete with others to see whose Magikarp can jump the highest.

### Held items

 Events\* | Heart Mail Heart Mail (100%)
  Stardust (100%)

### Stats

#### Base stats

* Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
* This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was **20**.

### Learnset

#### By TM/TR

 * **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Magikarp
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Magikarp

#### By breeding

 * Moves marked with an asterisk (\*) must be chain bred onto Magikarp in Generation VIII
* Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
* Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Magikarp in that game.
* **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Magikarp
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Magikarp
* Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

#### By tutoring

 * **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Magikarp
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Magikarp
* Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations

#### By transfer from another generation

 * A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move
* **Bold** indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Magikarp
* *Italic* indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Magikarp
* **×** indicates a move that cannot be used in Generation VIII
* Click on the generation numbers at the top to see transfer-only moves for other generations

## Trivia

* Magikarp is tied with Gyarados and Regigigas for being the lowest level Pokémon encountered in the wild, as well as also tied with Gyarados for the highest level Pokémon encountered in the wild. In Platinum, Magikarp can be found at levels ranging from level 1 to 100 in the Resort Area, and in

## Magikarp (Pokémon)

, it can be found at the same levels in the Nature Preserve; both require a Super Rod.
* Magikarp and its evolved form require the fewest Egg cycles to hatch, with five.
	+ Magikarp and its evolved form are also the only Pokémon with a unique base Egg cycle.
* Magikarp was the first Pokémon featured in Professor Oak's Pokémon Lecture in EP061.
* Magikarp and its evolved form's Egg Group combination (Water 2 and Dragon) is unique.
* Magikarp is one of fourteen Pokémon that one could collect foreign Pokédex entries for in

## Magikarp (Pokémon)

.
* Magikarp shares several notable similarities to Feebas:
	+ Its level-up moves are exactly the same as those of Feebas.
		- However, Feebas can learn multiple moves from TMs and HMs, hatch from an Egg with Egg Moves, and learn new moves via Move Tutors, making it slightly more useful in battle.
	+ Magikarp shares its category name with Feebas. They are both known as the Fish Pokémon.
	+ Magikarp and Feebas have almost identical stats. However, Magikarp has a higher Special Attack and Defense, while Feebas has a higher Attack and Special Defense. Both Attack and Defense stats for Magikarp and Feebas are reversed.
	+ They share the largest base stat total increase of all Pokémon when they evolve: 340 (from 200 to 540).
	+ They both change appearances drastically after evolution, evolving into serpentine, dragon-like Pokémon.
* Magikarp is the only Pokémon which can be found in every course in the game Pokémon Snap except Rainbow Cloud (which features only Mew).
* Together with Pichu, Rattata, Ninjask, Goldeen, and Seedot, Magikarp is the easiest Pokémon to catch in Pokémon Ranger, with only one loop necessary.
* Magikarp is tied with Caterpie, Weedle, Igglybuff, Carvanha, Attack Forme Deoxys, and Stonjourner for having the lowest Special Defense stat of all Pokémon.
* Magikarp is the only Pokémon in Pokémon Conquest that uses a move that would not give it same-type attack bonus in the main series games, as it uses Splash.
* On July 28, 2016 and May 12, 2017, The Pokémon Company and The Pokémon Company International respectively posted a Magikarp-themed music video onto their YouTube channels, titled the Magikarp Song.

### Origin

Magikarp is based on the Asian carp, which are easily frightened by disturbances in water and can jump 8–10 feet (2.5–3 m.) in the air.

Magikarp's evolution into Gyarados is based on a legend about how carp that leaped over the Dragon Gate would become dragons. Several waterfalls and cataracts in China are believed to be the location of the Dragon Gate. This legend is an allegory of the drive and efforts needed to overcome obstacles. This may have inspired an element in Pokémon Snap where, after certain steps are taken, a Magikarp will splash its way into a waterfall where it evolves.

#### Name origin

Magikarp's name is a combination of *magic* and *carp*, possibly mocking the Magikarp as a species, as someone with "magic" powers is generally thought to be quite powerful, which Magikarp is not (though carp are said to be able to transform into dragons, which is magical in its own way).

Koiking is a combination of 鯉 *koi* (carp) and *king*, giving its name an ironic slant similar to its English name.

## Related articles

* Misty's Gyarados
* James's Magikarp
* Goh's giant Magikarp
* Magikarp salesman
* Magikarp salesman's Magikarp
* Silver's Gyarados
* Red Gyarados
* Lance's Gyarados