Gyarados

Gyarados is a serpentine Pokémon with a long body covered in slightly overlapping scales. It is mostly blue with a yellow underbelly, and it has a row of yellow spots down each side. Its mouth is very large and gaping, bearing four pointed teeth and yellow lips. It has one barbel and a small white fin on each side of its face. The barbels are white on a female and tan on a male. It has small, red eyes, a three-pointed, dark blue crest on its head, and four white, spiky dorsal fins. Gyarados's tail fin is similar in structure to the crest on its head, except with a thin, white fin spread between the points.

The process of evolution causes a change in its brain structure that is believed to cause its violent nature. Gyarados's fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel. Gyarados is feared for its fierce temper and wanton destructive tendencies. It appears in times of conflict and destroys the surrounding area. Its rampages have been known to last a month at a time. Gyarados lives in both fresh and salty waters. Both Gyarados and its Mega form have demonstrated in the anime that it can leap huge distances both from the water and from the ground, usually several times its own body length. However, Gyarados is rarely seen in the wild.

When it Mega Evolves, Gyarados becomes bulkier. The fins on its cheeks become longer and gain a yellow tint. Its crest is larger and black, and its barbels also gain considerable length. A large spike extends downward underneath its chin, and it now has a black underside with a red stripe around the edges. The yellow spots along its body are replaced by raised red scales, which propel Mega Gyarados through the water. Two large yellow fins with blue spines appear on its back. Most of the other fins along its back disappear, replaced by two rows of blue spikes. There are now four yellowish, spiky fins near its tail: two on its back and two on its underside. While its brain has a powerful destructive instinct, it will obey a Trainer it truly trusts. Mega Gyarados is tied with Hoopa Unbound as the tallest Dark-type.

n *The Pi-Kahuna*, multiple Gyarados seen from within the Team Rocket Gyarados submarine, shortly before the onset of a massive, annual tidal wave celebrated by local surfers who were apparently not aware of the annual migration. According to James, the Gyarados gathered each year in this location to lay their eggs.

In *Mewtwo Strikes Back* and its remake *Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution*, Fergus's Gyarados was captured and cloned by Mewtwo. He had it attack Mewtwo with Hyper Beam, but Mewtwo deflected the attack back towards it, knocking Gyarados out. The Gyarados clone reappeared in *Mewtwo Returns*.

In *The Joy of Pokémon*, a Gyarados evolved from a giant Magikarp the Nurse Joy of an unnamed island had befriended as a child. Afterwards, it defeated Team Rocket.

In *The Joy of Water Pokémon*, a Gyarados was an inhabitant of Lake Lucid, while another Gyarados was being treated by Nurse Joy for neck problems. The health of the Gyarados treated by Nurse Joy was later jeopardized after an attack by Team Rocket, but she calmed it down despite her fear of Water-type Pokémon.

In *The Perfect Match!*, Trinity used a Gyarados in a Whirl Cup battle against Misty. Gyarados managed to defeat Poliwhirl before being defeated by Corsola. It reappeared in a flashback in *Espeon, Not Included*.

In *Beauty is Skin Deep*, Clair owns a Gyarados. In *Better Eight Than Never*, it was used in her Gym battle against Ash, where it was defeated by Pikachu's Thunderbolt. It reappeared in a flashback in the next episode.

In *Sandshrew's Locker!*, a Gyarados was the major obstacle in retrieving Sandshrew's Poké Ball.

In *A Crasher Course in Power!*, Crasher Wake used a Gyarados in his Gym battle against Ash. It went up against Pikachu and was defeated. It reappeared in Mamie's flashback in *For The Love Of Meowth*.

In BWS01, Cilan accidentally hooked a Gyarados while fishing for Qwilfish. He resolved to catch it, but its immense power was too much for him, and Cilan abandoned the plan.

In *Coming Apart at the Dreams!*, Lysandre has a Shiny Gyarados that can Mega Evolve into Mega Gyarados. It battled Ash, Alain, and their Pokémon, eventually being defeated in the next episode.

In *This Magik Moment!*, a Magikarp actor nicknamed Karpy evolved into a Gyarados after several efforts to suppress its evolution so as to preserve its career. It subsequently went on a rampage, but it was eventually calmed down by George Charino, allowing it to be cast in an improvisational guest role in Lillie, Lana, and Mallow's episode of *The Refreshing Trio: Alola Idols*.

In *Ivysaur's Mysterious Tower!*, Team Rocket received a Gyarados from the Rocket Prize Master. It was used in an attempt to steal a horde of Bulbasaur and Ivysaur in Vermilion City.

Gyarados debuted in *Pokémon - I Choose You!*, where it was seen swimming by in a river that Ash had jumped into to avoid being chased by a flock of Spearow.

A Gyarados appeared in the banned episode EP035.

In *Lights, Camera, Quack-tion*, a Gyarados was cast for the movie *Pokémon in Love*.

A Gyarados appeared in *Poké Ball Peril*.

A Gyarados appeared in a fantasy in *The Joy of Pokémon*.

In *The Power of One*, multiple Gyarados sensed the disturbance caused by Lawrence III.

A wild Gyarados appeared in *Pikachu's Rescue Adventure*.

In *The Wacky Watcher!*, a Magikarp that Dr. Quackenpoker had been observing evolved into a Gyarados.

A Gyarados appeared in a fantasy in *The Rivalry Revival*.

In *Pikachu & Pichu*, a Gyarados was living in Big Town.

A Gyarados appeared in a fantasy in the Fortune Teller book in *The Fortune Hunters*.

A Gyarados appeared in Brock's fantasy in *A Better Pill to Swallow*.

A Gyarados appeared in *Snorlax Snowman*.

In *Houndoom's Special Delivery*, a Gyarados splashed away a Houndoom and Misty's Togepi.

Two Gyarados appeared in *Celebi: The Voice of the Forest*. One appeared in a lake, while the other appeared in the opening intro, which was reused for *Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias*. The former Gyarados's appearance reappeared in a montage in *The Rise of Darkrai*, which chronicled the preceding nine movies.

In *Dueling Heroes*, a Trainer's Gyarados competed in the Whirl Cup.

In *The Legend of Thunder!*, Marina's fantasy featuring Lance had a standard-colored Gyarados in addition to the Shiny one.

In *Enlighten Up!*, a Gyarados was living in Lake Slowpoke.

In Gary's explanation in *Johto Photo Finish*, a Gyarados evolved from a Magikarp.

A Gyarados appeared in *A Family That Battles Together Stays Together!*, under the ownership of Lola. It reappeared in a fantasy in *Grating Spaces!*.

A Gyarados appeared in *A Six Pack Attack!*.

In *The Search for the Legend*, four Gyarados were driven away by Silver's Salamence at One Island.

A Gyarados appeared as a thief in *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time & Darkness* and *Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness*.