Magikarp (Pokémon)

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Magikarp コイキング Koiking #129
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Water ' Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Fish Pokémon
Ability Swift Swim Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #129 Johto #076 Hoenn #052 Sinnoh #023 Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 2′11″ Imperial 0.9 m Metric 2′11″/0.9 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 22.0 lbs. Imperial 10.0 kg Metric 22.0 lbs./10.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Red	Catch rate 255 (33.3%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown Gender unknown
Breeding Water 2 and Dragon groups 1 cycles (255 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 0 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 20 Battle Exp.: 201*
External links On Smogon Pokédex: Generation I Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX Artwork on Bulbagarden Archives

Magikarp (Japanese: コイキング Koiking) is a Template:Type2 Pokémon.

It evolves into Gyarados starting at level 20.

Due to its low stats (Speed, however, at 80, being the highest) and the fact that it only has the move Splash until level 15, Magikarp is often considered the weakest Pokémon in existence.

Biology

Physiology

Magikarp is a orange, medium-sized fish. Its notable characteristics include large, heavy scales. Its fins are primarily white, but it has a stiff, three-peaked fin on its back and another on its stomach which are both yellow. It also has long barbels.

Gender differences

A female has white barbels, and a male has tan barbs.

Special abilities

Magikarp is notable in the fact that it has no real special powers. Despite this however, people and scientists alike wonder how it can still survive in the wild. They are also capable of living in very polluted water.

Behavior

Although this Pokémon is capable of surviving in even the most polluted ponds, it is usually overlooked by trainers because it is pathetically weak: even in the heat of battle it will do nothing but flop around. It is not a strong swimmer, and currents in the water will sweep it downstream. They are normally seen using Splash, which is unusual, as it makes them easy targets to predators. It is believed that the ancestors of this Pokémon were much stronger than the Magikarp seen today, and this belief has led scientists to research this species.

Habitat

File:Watersedge.gif

Water's-edge Pokémon

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.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

File:Jessie magikarp.jpg

Jessie's first Magikarp

Several episodes, the first one being in Battle Aboard the St. Anne, involve a particular salesman trying to sell certain Pokémon to someone. The person he is usually trying to con is James and he usually sells Magikarp, claiming that they're very valuable.

Team Rocket used a Magikarp-shaped submarine during the Orange Islands.

In The Joy of Pokémon, a Nurse Joy from the Orange Islands befriended a giant Magikarp that saved her as a child. It evolved into an equally large Gyarados, but it remained friendly.

In The Wacky Watcher, Ash, Misty and Tracey help a Pokémon Watcher named Quincy T. Quackenpoker observe the migration and evolution of a school of Magikarp.

In Judgement Day, a Template:Shiny2 Magikarp appeared in a flashback under the ownership of Jimmy and was later traded.

Another, in Ya See We Want an Evolution, was nicknamed the strongest.

A Magikarp appeared in Arriving in Style.

In One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team, Jessie used a different Magikarp in the second leg of the Pokémon triathlon.

In the manga

Pokémon Special

Magikarp was seen at the Lake of Rage, being forcibly evolved into Gyarados.

In the TCG

Main article: Magikarp (TCG)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today. Blue Yellow Famous for being very unreliable. It can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers and shallow puddles. Stadium Whoever its opponent, and however horrible the attack it receives, all it does is Splash around.
Generation II Gold An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet. Silver For no reason, it jumps and splashes about, making it easy for predators like Pidgeotto to catch it mid-jump. Crystal This weak and pathetic Pokémon gets easily pushed along rivers when there are strong currents. Stadium 2 An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more then seven feet.
Generation III Ruby Magikarp is a pathetic excuse for a Pokémon that is only capable of flopping and splashing. This behavior prompted scientists to undertake research into it. Sapphire Magikarp is virtually useless in battle as it can only splash around. As a result, it is considered to be weak. However, it is actually a very hardy Pokémon that can survive in any body of water no matter how polluted it is. Emerald Its swimming muscles are weak, so it is easily washed away by currents. In places where water pools, you can see many Magikarp deposited there by the flow. FireRed It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world. LeafGreen In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.
Generation IV Diamond It is said to be the world's weakest Pokémon. No one knows why it has managed to survive. Pearl It is unable to swim against even slow-moving currents. It always splashes about for some reason. Platinum {{{platinumdex}}} HeartGold {{{heartgolddex}}} SoulSilver {{{soulsilverdex}}}
Generation V Black {{{blackdex}}} White {{{whitedex}}} Black 2 {{{black2dex}}} White 2 {{{white2dex}}}
Generation VI X Unknown Y Unknown

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Blue Common Fish with Old Rod Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Common Fish with Old Rod
Generation II Gold Silver Common Fish with Old or Good Rod Crystal Common Fish with Old or Good Rod
Generation III Ruby Sapphire Common Fish with Old or Good Rod Emerald Common Fish with Old or Good Rod FireRed LeafGreen Common Fish with Old Rod Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Common Fish with Old Rod Trade Finneon on Route 226 (German) Platinum Common Fish with Old or Good Rod HeartGold SoulSilver None Trade Pal Park Pond Pokéwalker None
Generation V Black White None Trade Black 2 White 2 None Trade Dream World None
Generation VI X Y None Trade

In side games

Game	Location
Pokémon Snap	Beach, Tunnel Volcano, River Cave, Valley
Pokémon Channel	Secret Cove
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Ocean (Ruby Field)
Pokémon Trozei!	SOL Laboratory 3 Secret Storage 5 Secret Storage 19 Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Red and Blue)	Waterfall Pond (7F-11F)
Pokémon Ranger	Safra Sea Sekra Mountain Range
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon (Time and Darkness)	End Lake (B1-B24)

Magikarp will not appear in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team until a rescue mission involving it has been completed, using the following Wonder Mail code:

X ? ? S ? ? X ? 4 6 8 ?

♀ + ? ? 9 7 5 6 S Y ? ?

Objective: Rescue Magikarp on floor 12 of Stormy Sea.

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 20		80 - 127	150 - 244
Attack: 10		13 - 68	22 - 130
Defense: 55		54 - 117	103 - 229
Sp. Atk: 15		18 - 73	31 - 141
Sp. Def: 20		22 - 79	40 - 152
Speed: 80		76 - 145	148 - 284
Total: 200	Other Pokémon with this total
Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature. 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.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation V, this Pokémon is:

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting 1× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 1× Rock 1× Bug 1× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 2× Electric 2× Psychic 1× Ice ½× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | water | style="background:#2980EF" |  water 

| style=" background:#FFF" | 4 | style=" background:#FFF" | 1 | style=" background:#FFF" | Magikarp | style="display:none; background:#FFF" | {{{6}}} Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Mlentry4 Template:Movelist/note

By TM/HM

None.

By breeding

None.

By tutoring

|- style="background:#74ACF5" | colspan="13" | Bold indicates a move that gets STAB
Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only from an Evolution of this Pokémon
A colored initial indicates that the move is not available to be tutored in this game,
while a colored background indicates that the move is available. |} |}

TCG-only Moves

• Dragon Rage
• Rage

Sprites

Gen	Game
I	Red	Blue	Yellow		Red (Ja)	Green	Back
II	Gold	Silver	Crystal				Back
III	Ruby	Sapphire	Emerald		FireRed	LeafGreen	Back
IV	Diamond	Pearl	Platinum		HeartGold	SoulSilver	Back
V	Black	White	Black 2	White 2			Back

For other sprites and images, please see Magikarp images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• As of Pokémon Platinum, Magikarp is the lowest, and ironically, also the highest level non-glitch Pokémon available for capture at level 1 and 100, beating out even the level 80 Arceus for highest. It is only available in a pond in the Resort Area with a Super Rod in Platinum, where only Magikarp can be caught and range in level anywhere from level 1 to 100.
• The Magikarp salesman from the anime is probably based on the shady man from the Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen games. He can be found in the Route 4 Pokémon Center offering the player a Magikarp for $500, which he refuses to refund. A man in the Pewter City Poké Mart complains about already being conned by him. The offer grants the player a potential Gyarados at an otherwise early point in the games.
• Magikarp is generally considered to be the weakest Pokémon in any of the games. Because of this, the nickname "Magikrap" is common among fans.
• Magikarp, as well as Gyarados, has been in all four regional Pokédexes.
• A glitch in the early Japanese games, Red, Green, and Blue, allowed players to transform their Magikarp into a Mew. However, this Mew was not registered in the Pokédex, did not have the same stats nor moves, and caused some major glitches to the player's items pack.
• Even though Magikarp is said to be the weakest Pokémon in existence, there are seven Pokémon weaker than it in terms of base stat average. Sunkern is the weakest, with only 180 total base stats compared to Magikarp's 200.
• Magikarp, along with Surskit and Wingull, is the only Template:Type2 that cannot learn Surf, as well as the only Water-type that cannot learn any Ice-type moves.
• Magikarp is one of fourteen Pokémon that one could collect foreign Pokédex entries in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl.
• Magikarp shares the same species name with Feebas. They are both known as Fish Pokémon.
• Magikarp's Platinum sprite is the only sprite which shows it with its mouth closed.
• Even though it's listed as a freshwater Pokémon, it's also abundant in oceans as well. How it can survive in both saltwater and freshwater is unknown. This may, however, be the reason why the Magikarp species has survived for so long, despite the fact that it is weak.
• Magikarp takes the shortest time to hatch out of all Pokémon.

Origin

Magikarp is based on a legend about how carp that leapt 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's name is a combination of magic and carp (this may be mocking the Magikarp as a species, as someone with 'magic' powers is generally thought to be quite powerful - which Magikarp is not). It may also the combination of Magi, the three kings from the story of the Nativity, and carp. Its Japanese name is a combination of 鯉 koi, carp, and the English word king. (the "king" part may serve the same purpose as "magic" in the English name)

In other languages

• German: Karpador
• French: Magicarpe
• Korean: 잉어킹 Ingeoking
• Brazilian Portuguese (animé only): Magicarpa

Related articles

• Jessie's Magikarp
• James's Magikarp
• Magikarp Salesman

Notes

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Pokémon

#{{{nextnum}}}: Gyarados →

This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.