POTW Pokémon of the Week #49: Magikarp and Gyarados

SirOni · Jun 17, 2017

In the World of Pokémon, there lives a vast number and variety of amazing creatures to befriend and collect. Every week, we will be focusing on a single one of these Pokémon or evolutionary line and talking about what makes it special. This week's Pokémon of choice is the Magikarp line!

The perpetual joke with one doozy of a punchline Magikarp and Gyarados are Water-type fish Pokémon that are familiar to youngster and veteran alike. Found absolutely everywhere, other than Unova, Magikarp embody the spirit of humble origins and of never giving up. With any ol’ Old Rod even starting trainers can reel in a potential powerhouse just waiting to show what it can do. Which is splashing and flailing about. Maybe sometimes even bouncing! But with patience, perseverance, and persistent training these burgeoning trainers can finally have themselves a mighty Gyarados. The trial of raising a Magikarp into a Gyarados when one's first steps as a Pokémon trainer are still fresh is reflected within Magikarp’s own design and the legend of the Dragon Gate from which this line draws inspiration. Stories tell of a mythical waterfall in China known as the Dragon Gate. Carp that naturally swim against the current attempt to jump over the waterfall to reach further upstream whereupon they are rewarded for their efforts by transforming into dragons. Exactly as portrayed in that tale lowly Magikarp become intimidating Gyarados, though not of the Dragon type to the chagrin of some. But just as how this tale is an analogy for moving up in the world through hard work and determination so has the trainer also evolved alongside their partner. Through this challenge young trainers learns important life lessons and valuable skills that they will utilize not only with their Gyarados but also with the rest of their team on the journey to becoming a Pokémon master. It’s a wonder why that salesman would ever think someone would ask for a refund!

Taking a closer look at Gyarados it is not difficult to see how it became one of the most enduring and most powerful Pokémon of all time. Gyarados bears a high base stat total with solid numbers in all the right places. Its movepool and type combo complement each other giving Gyarados what it needs to possibly handle threats on its own and its abilities further augment its staying power defensively or offensively. In Gen VI Gyarados was one of the few to receive a Mega Evolution which was first shown under the command of Team Flare Boss Lysandre. Mega Gyarados further enhances its power and bulk as well as giving Gyarados a new tactic in playing mind games with Mega Evolving. Gyarados is also notable for being the first ever showcased shiny Pokémon revealing the concept to players and giving them a chance to obtain at least one of these incredibly rare encounters. Ever since then the Red Gyarados has also been featured throughout the series in side games, the TCG, the anime, and in manga.

Despite its reputation as the weakest Pokémon Magikarp has had a great deal of love showered upon it. Its dopey disposition and dedication to do what it does best has endeared it to many many people around the world. Magikarp is one of the few species that has been repeatedly featured in the anime with notable appearances through the Magikarp Salesman gag where James is duped into buying a Pokemon only to later discover he was cheated. In recent events Magikarp has had a whole song written about it and has had the mobile game Magikarp Jump released which all about raising Magikarp for jumping competitions. Both have proved to be rather popular. The love for this flopping fish is as finite as the number of Magikarp in all the seas of the world!

Here are some questions to consider to get conversation rolling. You don't have to answer all of them or any of them in your post as long as you're staying on topic and within global forum rules.
-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
-Have you ever trained up a Magikarp early on in any of the games?
-Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
-How do you think Gyarados fares in battle as a team member and as a foe?
-What do you think of Gyarados’ dubious status as a Dragon?
-Do you like Magikarp more or do you like Gyarados more?
If you have any suggestions for Pokémon you'd like to discuss in the future just leave your ideas at the bottom of your post. Make sure you give your thoughts about the current Pokémon first!

Thanks to @Nicolas721 for suggesting this Pokémon of the Week!

Previous Pokémon of the Week:

Nicolas721 · Jun 17, 2017

They have a very cool concept, of having to overcome your problems. It's very sad that their evolution method hasn't been retconed to show this better, it should be evolving after learning waterfall or at least until a level higher than 30.

As for the design...Out of the three water dopey Pokemon from Kanto (four with Seel?) Psyduck is my favorite, with Slowpoke coming close. Magikarp doesn't deserve that much attention, because in my opinion something that is dumb but that can be powerful on certain circunstances is better than someone who is dumb all the time. I like his crown and king influences, but he doesn't rank very high not even counting only fish Pokemon. Gyarados is awesome, he manages to look very menacing and intimidating using very basic colors. It's a bit unconfortable how his mouth is always open, through.

Also, Magikarp is overused in games, I understand that's the point but in a region as diverse as Alola they should appear less. Gyarados is a fun challenge if you don't have electric moves.

The salesman gag needs to come back, along with TR's costumes, Cassidy and Batch....

I haven't downloaded the app, not only because I don't have space in my mobile, but rather because I don't like pet games much.

Zexy · Jun 17, 2017

-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
I like it, awesome concept and the biggest transformation in a single evolution, imo.
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
Gyarados is very good, I've tried either getting a high-level Magikarp which I can quickly evolve or getting a Gyarados immediately.
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
Mega Gyarados has its uses, but I don't remember much.
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
Yes. There was that one Tracey-focused Orange Islands episode that was quite memorable, even though it was filler plot-wise it had a good showcase of the species and character development.
-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
People would consider Magikarp weak and Gyarados terrifying. Some would like to raise them.
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
Better stats, Water/Dragon typing (Flying never fit it in my opinion) and since the Water/Dark Mega Evolution is cool and I wouldn't like to ruin it, I'd add a second Mega Evolution that's Water/Dragon.
-Have you ever trained up a Magikarp early on in any of the games?
Not extremely early until Gen VI where the Exp. Share is awesome for this kind of thing and available early.
-Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
Yes, for one you should buy it in all the Unova games.
-How do you think Gyarados fares in battle as a team member and as a foe?
Pretty nice to battle with. Easy to battle against thanks to its huge Electric weakness.
-What do you think of Gyarados’ dubious status as a Dragon?
It should've been Dragon-type, Flying-type doesn't fit it. I have a feeling it, Charizard and Aerodactyl were originally supposed to be Dragon-types (as Lance used them in Gen I too) but it was changed probably because having Gyarados (which is easily obtainable), a gift fossil and a starter as such as a powerful type could be unbalanced.
-Do you like Magikarp more or do you like Gyarados more?
Gyarados more, but Magikarp's really nice too.

CrystaI · Jun 18, 2017

In the game, it is the most overused glassy powerhouse that is strong in offense but contrary to its look it is so fragile, as long as you have an electric type of considerable attacking power you can OHKO it with the weakest Thundershock. Used by so many water-type trainers like fishermans, swimmers, even the young tubers, and of course many elite trainers.
But, so what? I appreciate its overpowered attacks regardless of its fragileness, because what I'll do then is OHKO the opponent before it attacks me. The regular blue Gyaradas was one of my main-6-team helped me in my playthrough of RGB and FRLG, and the Red Gyarados was member of my main-6-team in GSC and HGSS. Yeah, it is also quite overused in my personal playing record. You messed with me? Ready for the Surf ride from my Gyarados!!! Haha!!

It is really really so overused in the game, to the point of...... feeling a little bit realistically unbalanced. The evolution of this pokemon line was based off on the Chinese folklore of carp become dragon by leaping through the Dragon Gate, where this is a fable allegory trying to express the remuneration of the carp after their intensive effort of struggling to overcome the obstacles. But, the level Margikarp need to reach for evolution is...... merely lv.20!? So you called reaching lv.20 "intensive efforts"? I know during that time they can only use Tackle, but still, lv.20 is really not a lot. No wonder why in the game Margikarp is so popular despite their uselessness at the first stage.

This may sound like an unpopular opinion unwelcome by many, but...... if possible, I hope to increase the evolution level of Margikarp, somewhere up to lv.40 or even lv.50. This thing evolved too easily, to the point of feeling unrealistic, it doesn't feel like I had worked a lot for it, it doesn't feel rewarding enough whenever I obtain it.

BTW, if game is the only canon, then I would imagine Pokemon World will have no other pokemons but only Gyarados. Why? Because Margikarp is everywhere! Additionally they evolve to such a devastating powerhouse so easily. No other pokemons (may be human also) can survive when thousands of such ill-tempered monster live in everywhere and anywhere.

Sakuraa · Jun 19, 2017

Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
Honestly, not really. Gyarados has always looked weird and ugly to me, and Magikarp, in addition to being weak as hell, doesn't even have an interesting design that could make it any better. Luckily it's not ugly, it's just boring.

How is this Pokémon in-game?
Never used either, but I assume Gyarados is decent.

Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
Again, not really. Magikarp just acts like a fish, and Gyarados is usually just some powerhouse Pokemon for a trainer or a water hazard to overcome. They always have the exact same roles and it's so boring. That super strong Magikarp in DP is literally the most (read: only) interesting Magikarp we've seen in the entire series, which is really sad.

How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
Magikarp would just be swimming around like any old fish. Gyarados is a freaking sea monster so it would probably be like a shark; just living it's life waiting to kill any prey that gets near it.

If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
Honestly, I don't know how Magikarp could even be improved. It's a weak fish and that's what it looks like. Gyarados on the other hand is supposed to be this amazing badass beast of the sea, but it's really just a big ugly water snake. Just replacing the ugly face with something that actually looks fearsome and powerful would help it a lot. Oh, and I'd replace all of the dragon-type moves it learns with flying-type moves.

Have you ever trained up a Magikarp early on in any of the games?
No.

Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
No.

What do you think of Gyarados’ dubious status as a Dragon?
I don't like it because it's not a dragon-type. If they wanted it to be a dragon-type they should have just made it one from the start, but they didn't. So stop putting it on all of these dragon trainer teams and trying to act like it's a pseudo dragon and just treat it like the water/flying-type it is and give it more flying-type moves!

Do you like Magikarp more or do you like Gyarados more?
Magikarp because it's less ugly. Plus the Magikarp song has made me more partial to it.

BorgyDudeMan · Jun 19, 2017

Well, I thought Magikarp was dumb at first. It's base stats are pitiful, it's move pool is pitiful, it's ability (even hidden) are useless, and it is the only Water-type that cannot (?) learn surf!

Then, enter Gyarados. It turns out that Gyarados is one of my favorite water type Pokémon (along with Lapras). But why in the world isn't it a dragon-type?!?!

And BTW, a Zoroark POTW would be like heaven

Guzma · Jun 25, 2017

-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
I like them. Magikarp's one of those Pokemon that's inherently funny, and Gyarados is a badass. They're classics from Gen One. Despite my constant criticism of Gen One, it actually was my favorite Gen up until Gen V solely due to nostalgia... Now the Gen One games are my least favorites, but I still hold a lot of nostalgic love for them. I can't bring myself to dislike them, given they were the beginning of something great.

-How is this Pokémon in-game?
Magikarp is infamously and hilariously awful. Gyarados is really damn good.

-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
Gyarados managed to climb back from UU into BL this gen when a lot of other Gen VI powerhouses dropped ( Scizor ;_; ). You can't keep the sea serpent down.

-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
I liked how James' Magikarp evolved after he kicked it and proceeded to wreck shit.

-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
Magikarp would probably be seen as vermin, given that they're not good eatin' according to the anime, and them evolving into Gyarados would be an ever-present threat. Gyarados would be friggin' terrifying in reality, since they destroy entire cities when they're pissed off.

-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
I would have given Gyarados it's beta dub name, Skulkraken. Because hot damn is that name awesome.

-Have you ever trained up a Magikarp early on in any of the games?
Nope.

-Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
Yep.

-How do you think Gyarados fares in battle as a team member and as a foe?
It's good. It's a joke if you have/are up against a decent Electric-type, though... Unless it Mega Evolves, in which case you're still at an advantage, but not as big an advantage unless you're using, like, Xurkitree.

-What do you think of Gyarados’ dubious status as a Dragon?
I'm glad it's not a Dragon; up until Gen VI, it would only have one weakness, and one of my few problems with Gen V is that the metagame became so Dragon dominant.

-Do you like Magikarp more or do you like Gyarados more?
I don't know. Gyarados is badass, but Magikarp is one of those Pokemon that cracks me up. That said, I'm kind of tired of constantly fishing Magikarp up in Gen VII, so maybe Gyarados?

ocelotlrama jaguar · Jun 25, 2017

Magikarp is meh and don't care for it too much, but Gyarados is badass. Despite this, I try my hardest not to use Gyarados in-game because of how useful it is. I did use him in Gen I when I got the Magikarp from the salesman on Route 4. It's a pain to get it to level 20 to evolve, but when he does, holy... completely broken in Gens I and II because his Special and Special Attack/Defense are phenomenal. Having only Special Attack moves on him? Complete powerhouse. Nowadays he is reduced to only physical attacks but even then he's pretty damn good.

In competitive play, he's pretty good. Just have something with Lightning Rod next to him and wreak as much havoc as possible. In Singles, have something with Motor Drive or Volt Absorb as a bait and switch. A predictable strategy, but it can be effective in certain instances.

The anime's representation is nice. I especially love it when they have Gyarados acting friendly instead of the usual grump we usually see him as. They also make me feel sorry for Magikarp. I love Magikarp in the anime.

Oof. In our world? I wouldn't like to have Gyarados in our world. Magikarp would be good for food, but Gyarados would scare the living daylights out of me.

If I can change anything? Easy. I want Gyarados to have a good Special Attack. What a waste of a Pokemon that learns good Special Attacking moves and he can't do anything with them because his Special Attack is awful.

On both training a Magikarp early in the game and buying it from a salesman, as mentioned before, yes, I have. On Route 4 in Red.

It makes an excellent team member. Again, bait and switch. If you Mega Evolve, oof... even more-so.

Meh, I don't care if he is not part Dragon. I just wish they actually showed him flying. Where did the Flying-type come from? I don't get that since he doesn't even learn Fly.

I like Gyarados heaps more.

Anime Psyclone · Jun 26, 2017

-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
Love both of em
-How is this Pokémon in-game?
Magikarp is as useless as I am, but Gyarados...
-How is this Pokémon in competitive play? Are there any interesting strategies you like to use for them?
Never really used them but I mean you can get sweeps with them so I guess they’re useful?
-Do you like this Pokémon's representation in the anime? Are there any moments or qualities in particular you enjoy/dislike?
James’s Magikarp and it’s evolution into Gyarados is a perfect description of what Magikarp is. All the cute little Karps and their evolutions are good too.
-How do you think this Pokémon would interact with our world?
Since Magikarp would be everywhere they’d be on the menu for a lot of places, but people who keep them as pets will be in for a massive surprise!
-If given the power to, would you change anything about this Pokémon and if so, what would you change?
I’d make Gyarados a Dragon type and give it better moves. It’s a Physical Pokemon so give it better Physical moves! Drill Peck, Crunch, and Dragon Tail should all be in it’s level-up moveset!
-Have you ever trained up a Magikarp early on in any of the games?
No.
-Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
I don’t think there is a salesman in the games.
-How do you think Gyarados fares in battle as a team member and as a foe?
Good at both.
-What do you think of Gyarados’ dubious status as a Dragon?
I don’t really know what to think.
-Do you like Magikarp more or do you like Gyarados more?
I love them both!

Rainami · Jul 1, 2017

magikarp. An ex-friend of mine who hurt me a lot loved the thing, and due to that association, I dislike it. The concept of its evolution into gyarados is fun, but not enough to redeem it in my eyes. That said, I do kind of like my shiny magikarp plushie. I can't stay mad at my plushies.

gyarados doesn't have the same level of negative association attached to it, so I like it more than magikarp, though not by a lot. Years ago, I considered it one of my favorite pokemon. I don't miss it. Wishiwashi, sharpedo, and bruxish fill the position of spooky fish better than it ever could.

Deleted member 85628 · Jul 2, 2017

AnimePsyclone said:
-Do you like or dislike this Pokémon? Why?
-Have you ever bought a Magikarp from the salesman?
I don’t think there is a salesman in the games.

Magikarp salesman - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia

Camille · Jul 8, 2021

Magikarp is a huge pain to raise until it evolves, but it is worth it. I remember catching a Magikarp with an Old Rod in Platinum and Diamond and giving it the Exp. Share once you obtain it in Eterna. I also remember using the Red Gyarados in a SoulSilver playthrough. I only bought Magikarp from the salesman in the Unova games, since it isn't native to the region.
Misty's and Lance's Gyarados were pretty cool in the anime, but the rest weren't that interesting.
I think Flying is a good type for Gyarados, since it is partially based on a wind sock, and it'd have been overpowered in Generation I had it been part Dragon.

POTW Pokémon of the Week #49: Magikarp and Gyarados

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SirOni

Driving You Batty

Nicolas721

Well-Known Member

Zexy

Quaxly Boy

CrystaI

The Pokemon Observer

Sakuraa

Supercharged Streamer

BorgyDudeMan

Magical Pokémon

Guzma

Actually Your Boy Guzma

ocelotlrama jaguar

Fluffy with 80% more spots!

Anime Psyclone

Moved to PokeCommunity

Rainami

beseech the stars

Deleted member 85628

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Camille

Call of Fate

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