Magikarp (Pokémon)

**Magikarp** is a Water-type Pokémon.

It evolves into Gyarados starting at level 20.

## Biology

Magikarp is a piscine 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 often seen using Splash to leap out of the water, which makes it an easy target for predators such as Pidgeotto and Pidgeot. Frillish is also known to prey on Magikarp.

## Game data

### Stats

* Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

### Learnset

#### By TM

 * **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
* **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 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

## Trivia

* 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 and its evolved form's Egg Group combination (Water 2 and Dragon) is unique.
* 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, 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 tied with Caterpie, Weedle, Igglybuff, Carvanha and Attack Forme Deoxys for having the lowest Special Defense stat of all Pokémon.
* Although Magikarp is stated by multiple Pokédex entries to be "the weakest Pokémon", there are several Pokémon with lower base stat totals, such as Sunkern, or even access to fewer viable moves, like Unown being only able to use Hidden Power.

### 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.

#### Name origin

Magikarp may be a combination of *magic* and *carp*.