Gyarados (Pokémon)

← #129: Magikarp

Pokémon

#131: Lapras →

Gyarados ギャラドス Gyarados #130
Artwork from FR/LG
Type Water Flying Unknown Unknown Blue-Striped Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown	Category Atrocious Pokémon
Ability Intimidate Blue-Striped -----	Exp. at Lv. 100 1,250,000
Regional Pokédex numbers Kanto #130 Johto #077 Hoenn #053 Sinnoh #024 Unova Not in any regional Pokédex
Regional Browser numbers Fiore R— Almia R— Oblivia
Height 21'04" Imperial 6.5 m Metric 21'04"/6.5 m Red-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m Blue-Striped 0'0"/0.0 m
Weight 518.1 lbs. Imperial 235.0 kg Metric 518.1 lbs./235.0 kg Red-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg Blue-Striped 0.0 lbs./0.0 kg
Dex color Blue	Catch rate 45 (5.9%)
Body style Blue-Striped	Footprint      Blue-Striped
Gender ratio Gender unknown Unknown 50% male, 50% female
Breeding Water 2 and Dragon groups 6 cycles (1530 minimum steps)
EV yield HP 0 Atk 2 Def 0 Sp.Atk 0 Sp.Def 0 Speed 0 Base Exp.: 214 Battle Exp.: 2141*
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

Gyarados (Japanese: ギャラドス Gyarados) is a dual-type Water/Flying Pokémon.

It evolves from Magikarp starting at level 20.

Biology

Physiology

Gyarados is a large dragon Pokémon most similar in appearance to those seen in Chinese mythology. Its serpentine body is largely blue, but its underbelly and the spots along its body are yellow. It has a three-pointed, dark blue crest on its head and four white fins down its back. Its mouth is very large and gaping, but bears some resemblance to that of its pre-evolution Magikarp. Like Magikarp, it has barbels on its face. Its pectoral and dorsal fins also resemble Magikarp's. Gyarados is only rarely shown with its mouth closed.

Gender differences

A female has white barbels.

Special abilities

Gyarados, like most dragon-like Pokémon, has a high Attack stat, causing it to rely more on physical attacks than special ones. It is one of the few Template:Type2s able to wield both Template:Type2 and Template:Type2 attacks. Its fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel.

Behavior

This Pokémon bears little resemblance to its docile pre-evolution. Gyarados is infamously known for its fierce temper and wanton destructive tendencies. Once it has worked itself into a frenzy, it will not calm until everything around it is destroyed—this tendency is attributed to the dramatic structural changes its brain undergoes during evolution. It seems attracted to violence, although this Pokémon is very rarely seen in the wild. During times of human conflict Gyarados are said to appear, burning entire cities down to the ground.

Habitat

File:Watersedge.gif

Water's-edge Pokémon

Gyarados usually live in large bodies of water, such as lakes and ponds or even seas and oceans. The Lake of Rage is the best known nesting area for Gyarados, and most famously, the red Gyarados.

Diet

Main article: Pokémon food

In the anime

File:Gyarados 2.jpg

Misty's Gyarados in A Togepi Mirage!

File:Gyarados Hyper Beam.png

Red Gyarados using Hyper Beam

Major appearances

Misty's Gyarados

Misty obtained a Gyarados after passing the PIA test in Cerulean Blues. Prior to the test, Misty was terrified of Gyarados, but in order to pass the test, she had to overcome her fear of it. In the end, she calmed and kept the Gyarados.

Red Gyarados

Talkin' 'Bout an Evolution and Rage Of Innocence focused on a red Gyarados. It was on a destructive rampage until Lance captured it. This Gyarados appeared again in Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends to stop the feuding of Groudon and Kyogre.

Other

Gyarados had a cameo appearance in Pokémon - I Choose You! It was then seen in Pokémon Shipwreck. James was frustrated with his Magikarp and kicked it into the water. That Magikarp evolved into a Gyarados.

Groups of Gyarados were seen from within a submarine disguised as or styled after a Gyarados by Jessie, James, and Meowth in The Pi-Kahuna 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.

A Gyarados was used in A Crasher Course in Power!, under the ownership of Crasher Wake.

Minor appearances

In Mewtwo Strikes Back, a Gyarados owned by Fergus was one of the Pokémon that were captured and cloned by Mewtwo. Fergus attacked Mewtwo with Gyarados' Hyper Beam but Mewtwo turned the attack back on itself, knocking the Gyarados out. The Gyarados clone is seen again in Mewtwo Returns.

A Gyarados appeared in Poké Ball Peril.

Nurse Joy had befriended a giant Magikarp that later evolved into Gyarados in The Joy of Pokémon. Despite Magikarp being giant, it was regular-sized as a Gyarados.

The Magikarp that Dr. Quackenpoker had been observing evolved into Gyarados in The Wacky Watcher!.

Trinity used a Gyarados in her battle against Misty in the Whirl Cup in The Perfect Match!.

A Gyarados appeared in Sandshrew's Locker!.

A Gyarados is used by one of the students of Pokémon Summer Academy in the second leg of the Pokémon Triathlon in One Team, Two Team, Red Team, Blue Team!.

A Gyarados blasted Team Rocket away in Strategy Begins at Home!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry EP016 Gyarados Ash's Pokédex Gyarados. This Pokémon has a vicious temperament, so use extreme caution. Its fangs can crush stones and its scales are harder than steel.

In the manga

Pokémon Adventures

Gyarados debuts in the Red, Green & Blue arc in its own round, Gyarados Splashes In!. Here, an enraged one attacks its own trainer, Misty, but is recaught by Red, who supposedly returns it to her. The drastic change in attitude of the Pokémon was the result of a Team Rocket experiment as is shown in Raging Rhydon.

Later on, Misty traded this Gyarados to Red in exchange for Red's Krabby.

Gyarados is later seen with Lance, using its BubbleBeam to shield him from the lava of Mt. Cerise.

A Red Gyarados was seen in the Lake of Rage three years later, but it was caught by Silver. It had the ability to control the other Gyarados in the lake.

When Red borrows Blue's Charizard to travel to Mt. Silver, he temporarily trades his Gyarados to Blue. It later appears as one of Blue's Pokémon in Volume 13, used against Entei, and later part of his revealed team during the Gym Leader faceoff. Prior to the FireRed and LeafGreen saga, Blue returns Gyarados to Red.

Both Gyarados have remained on their Trainer's teams to this day.

Pokédex entries

Manga Chapter Entry Pokémon Adventures PS006 The evolved form of Magikarp. Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage. Can fire a Hyper Beam from its mouth.

In the TCG

Main article: Gyarados (TCG)

Red Gyarados have appeared three times in the TCG, once in Neo Revelation as Shining Gyarados, once in EX Holon Phantoms as Gyarados δ, and in HeartGold & SoulSilver as Gyarados. The most recent appearance in HeartGold & SoulSilver most likely commemorates Red Gyarados's initial appearance as a significant part of the storyline in Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Game data

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, a red Gyarados is featured on the TV on a program called "Search for the Red Gyarados." It is this that inspires Lucas or Dawn and their rival to go to Lake Verity, to see if there is a rare Pokémon dwelling in it.

NPC appearances

• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness: A Gyarados appears in the Miracle Sea. He attempts to take control of the Phione, but is stopped by the player's team.
• Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky: The same Gyarados takes on the same role as it did in Time and Darkness.

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Generation I Red Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage. Blue Yellow Brutally vicious and enormously destructive. Known for totally destroying cities in ancient times. Stadium Extremely vicious and horribly brutal. Has enough destructive power to totally annihilate even a major city.
Generation II Gold They say that during past wars, Gyarados would appear and leave blazing ruins in its wake. Silver Once it appears, it goes on a rampage. It remains enraged until it demolishes everything around it. Crystal It appears whenever there is world conflict, burning down any place it travels through. Stadium 2 They say that during the past wars, Gyarados would appear and leave blazing ruins in its wake.
Generation III Ruby When Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, its brain cells undergo a structural transformation. It is said that this transformation is to blame for this Pokémon's wildly violent nature. Sapphire Once Gyarados goes on a rampage, its ferociously violent blood doesn't calm until it has burned everything down. There are records of this Pokémon's rampages lasting a whole month. Emerald It is an extremely vicious and violent Pokémon. When humans begin to fight, it will appear and burn everything to the ground with intensely hot flames. FireRed It has an extremely aggressive nature. The Hyper Beam it shoots from its mouth totally incinerates all targets. LeafGreen Rarely seen in the wild. Huge and vicious, it is capable of destroying entire cities in a rage.
Generation IV Diamond Once it appears, its rage never settles until it has razed the fields and mountains around it. Pearl In ancient literature, there is a record of a Gyarados that razed a village when violence flared. Platinum Once it begins to rampage, a Gyarados will burn everything down, even in a harsh storm. HeartGold They say that during past wars, Gyarados would appear and leave blazing ruins in its wake. SoulSilver Once it appears, it goes on a rampage. It remains enraged until it demolishes everything around it.
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 None Evolve Magikarp Blue (Japan) None Trade Yellow Uncommon Fishing in Fuchsia City (Super Rod)
Generation II Gold Silver Uncommon One Fishing at the Lake of Rage, Fuchsia City (Super Rod) Red Gyarados Crystal Uncommon One Fishing at the Lake of Rage, Fuchsia City (Super Rod) Red Gyarados
Generation III Ruby Sapphire Common Fishing in Sootopolis City (Super Rod) Emerald Rare Fishing in Sootopolis City (Super Rod) FireRed LeafGreen Rare Fishing (Super Rod) Colosseum None Trade XD None Trade
Generation IV Diamond Pearl Common Fishing (Super Rod) Platinum Common Fishing (Super Rod) HeartGold SoulSilver Uncommon One Fishing at the Lake of Rage, Fuchsia City, Mt. Silver, Seafoam Islands (Super Rod) Red Gyarados 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	Valley
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire	Evolve from Magikarp
Pokémon Trozei!	Phobos Submarine Trozei Battle Mr. Who's Den
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red/Blue Rescue Team	Evolve from Magikarp
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers of Time/Darkness	Bottomless Sea (B1F-B49F) Miracle Sea (Deep B5F)
Pokémon Ranger	Olive Jungle (during mission)
Pokémon Rumble	Bright Beach

Held items

Game		Held Item(s)
Red*	Blue*	Bitter Berry (100%)
Yellow*

Stats

Base stats

Stat		Range
		At Lv. 50	At Lv. 100
HP: 95		155 - 202	300 - 394
Attack: 125		117 - 194	229 - 383
Defense: 79		75 - 144	146 - 282
Sp. Atk: 60		58 - 123	112 - 240
Sp. Def: 100		94 - 167	184 - 328
Speed: 81		77 - 146	150 - 287
Total: 540	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 100.

Pokéathlon stats

Speed 2/3 ★★☆	Power 5/5 ★★★★★
Skill 1/2 ★☆	Stamina 3/4 ★★★☆
Jump 4/5 ★★★★☆	Total 15/19 ★★★

Type effectiveness

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

Damaged normally by: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 0× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 1× Electric 4× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Weak to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 0× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 1× Electric 4× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Immune to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 0× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 1× Electric 4× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Resistant to: Normal 1× Fighting ½× Flying 1× Poison 1× Ground 0× Rock 2× Bug ½× Ghost 1× Steel ½× Fire ½× Water ½× Grass 1× Electric 4× Psychic 1× Ice 1× Dragon 1× Dark 1× None

Notes: If Gravity is in effect, this Pokémon is given an Iron Ball or a Ring Target, or it is affected by Smack Down or Ingrain, the effectiveness of  Ground-type  moves is 1×.

Learnset

By leveling up

|- style="text-align:center" | style="text-align:left" | water | style="background:#81B9EF" |  flying 

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

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

• Wrap

Evolution

Unevolved Magikarp  Water

Level 20 →

First Evolution Gyarados  Water  Flying

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 Gyarados images on Bulbagarden Archives.

Trivia

• According to some Nintendo of America artwork, Gyarados was originally slated to have the English name Skullkraken, a combination of the words "skull" and "kraken" (a mythological sea monster). This name would be impossible because of the games' a 10-character limit on English Pokémon names.
• Despite being part Template:Type2, it does not have wings and the only Flying-type move it can learn is Bounce, which is only possible via move tutor in Pokémon Platinum. However, it has been seen flying in the anime.
  • It is shown hovering in its 3D models, but does not have the Levitate ability.
• In Generation II and Generation IV, Gyarados is the only 100%-certain Template:Shiny2 encounter and the first of only two shiny Pokémon to be integrated into a game's plot (the second was Celebi in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness).
• In the Pokémon anime, Gyarados's eyes are violet instead of the red that appears in its sprites and official artwork.
• Gyarados is one of ten non-Bug, Template:Type2 Pokémon that cannot learn Fly.
• In Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness, Gyarados is the only non-legendary boss Pokémon to speak entirely in capital letters.
• In the anime episode Sandshrew's Locker!, Gyarados has the same cry as Dialga.
• In many ways, Gyarados is the Kanto counterpart of Hoenn's Milotic. Both are the evolved forms of incredibly weak fish Pokémon, and both appear in times of conflict, Gyarados to destroy, Milotic to becalm. Both have base stat totals of 540 with numbers matching down to the digits, but a different distribution in their stats: Gyarados is more Physical-Attack/Special Defense based while Milotic is more of an Special-Defense/Special Attack based. They both have the same HP, Defense, and Speed.
• Along with Charizard and Aerodactyl, Gyarados is commonly used by Dragon-type based gym leaders and Elite 4 members despite not actually being a true Dragon type.

Origin

It appears to be based on a sea dragon or sea serpent. Gyarados is partially 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 (which can be tied to the fact that Gyarados' pre-evolution, Magikarp, could possibly take a lot of drive and effort to legitimately evolve into Gyarados).

Name origin

Gyarados's name may be derived from a combination of 虐殺 gyakusatsu massacre/slaughter, and 逆境 gyakkyō, hardship/adversity. Both words relate to the creature's violent nature and the hardship it experienced before evolving. The end of Gyarados' name, ドス dosu, is a Japanese onomatopeic word representing the piercing of flesh, once again owing to Gyarados' violent nature. Alternatively, the dos may just indicate that it's the second in its evolutionary line.

In other languages

• German: Garados
• French: Leviator - A corruption of Leviathan.
• Korean: 갸라도스 Gyaradoseu

Related articles

• Misty's Gyarados
• Red Gyarados
• Gyara

Notes

← #129: Magikarp

Pokémon

#131: Lapras →

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.