From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Revision as of 12:31, 14 June 2012 by LordSchmee(talk | contribs)(→Trivia: Someone mentioned the use of splash making it uncontradictory - however, the Pokemon being able to leap high is part of its natural growth (hence "many years") and splash is merely the by-product of the pokemon jumping: doesn't affect.)
Magikarp is a reddish-orange, medium-sized fish. Its notable characteristics include large, heavy scales. Its fins are primarily white, but it has two stiff, three-peaked fins on its back and stomach that are both yellow. It also has long barbels.
Gender differences
A female has white barbels and a male has tan ones. In Platinum (but no other games to date), the male also has a slightly bigger light band on its forehead compared to the female.
Special abilities
Long-lived Magikarp are able to utilize their immense splashing power to leap high enough to jump mountains. Magikarp also have a strong enough immune system to survive in the most polluted of waters.
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. Before the species multiplied, it is believed that the ancestors of Magikarp were actually much stronger than the Magikarp seen today, and this belief has 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. Magikarp are extremely plentiful, living in almost any region. No one really knows how this Pokémon survived, however, Magikarp is rare in the Unova region, unlike the other regions.
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.
Other
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.
Another, in Ya See We Want An Evolution, was nicknamed the strongest. This male Magikarp was unique in that it was in fact able to battle surprisingly well, even giving Pikachu a hard time.
Minor appearances
Magikarp are very often seen in any underwater scene. This is most likely a reference to their extreme abundance in the games.
Magikarp debuted in Pokémon - I Choose You! when one was seen swimming in the river that Ash had jumped into to try to escape a flock of Spearow that were chasing after him.
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.
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.
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.
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.
As of Pokémon Platinum, Magikarp is tied at the lowest (with Regigigas), and ironically, 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 levels anywhere from level 1 to 100.
Magikarp takes the shortest time to hatch out of all Pokémon that can be legitimately hatched, with 6 Egg cycles.
Magikarp is one of four Water-types that cannot learn Surf (the others being Surskit, Wingull and Wash Rotom*), as well as the only Water-type that cannot learn any Ice-type or Water-type moves.
Magikarp shares the same species name with Feebas. They are both known as Fish Pokémon.
Every one of Magikarp's Pokédex entries talks about either its lack of strength, its tendency to Splash, or both.
Magikarp's FireRed Pokédex entry remarks on its lack of power and speed. While the power part is true, Magikarp in fact sports a base 80 speed stat, making it quite fast.
The Pokédex entries for Magikarp in Gold and HeartGold and Platinum contradict each other; Gold and HeartGold say that Magikarp never jumps more than seven feet, whereas Platinum version states that it may jump over a mountain after living many years.
Magikarp is the only Pokémon that can learn attacking moves but cannot get STAB on any of them. This does not include Bubble, which was available via an event in Generation II only.
Together with Pichu, Rattata, and Seedot, Magikarp is the easiest Pokémon to catch in Pokémon Ranger, with only one loop necessary.
Magikarp is one of the most common Pokémon in the game, found everywhere it is possible to fish (except in Unova, where it is not found in the wild at all, though is obtainable through the Magikarp Salesman).
Magikarp is one of the only Pokémon that is obtainable in-game every main-series game, including expansion games and remakes.
Both of Magikarp's Abilities raise its Speed stat.
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. 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. Magikarp may also be based on Asian carps, which are easily frightened by disturbances in water and can jump 8-10 feet in the air.
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). It may also the combination of Magi (the three kings from the story of the Nativity) and carp.
Koiking is a combination of 鯉 koi (carp) and king, giving its name an ironic slant similar to its English name.
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.
Wacan Berry (100%)
Air Mail (100%)
Bloom Mail (100%)
Heart Mail (100%)
Tunnel Mail (100%)
For other sprites and images, please see Magikarp images on Bulbagarden Archives.
