Magikarp
コイキング Koiking
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Artwork from FR/LG
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| EV yield
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HP
0
| Atk
0
| Def
0
| Sp.Atk
0
| Sp.Def
0
| Speed
1
| Exp.
20
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Magikarp (Japanese: コイキング Koiking) is a Water-type 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 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 which are both yellow. It also has long barbels.
Gender differences
A female has white barbels and a male has tan barbs.
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.
Habitat
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
Major Appearances
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.
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.
Another, in Ya See We Want an Evolution, was nicknamed the strongest. This 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.
Team Rocket used a Magikarp-shaped submarine during the Orange Islands.
Several Magikarp appeared in Poké Ball Peril swimming along with Team Rocket's Magikarp-shaped submarine.
In Judgement Day, a shiny Magikarp appeared in a flashback under the ownership of Jimmy and was later traded.
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.
It was also seen as part of Lila's famous "Tiger Lily Smile" background in Battling the Generation Gap!.
Another Magikarp also appeared in DP140.
Totodile juggled three Magikarp with its Water Gun in Love, Totodile Style
Pokédex entries
| Episode
| Pokémon
| Pokédex
| Entry
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| DP021
| Magikarp
| Dawn's Pokédex
| Magikarp. The Fish Pokémon. Magikarp can live in the dirtiest of water. It jumps very well and can evolve into Gyarados.
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| This concludes the entries from the Diamond & Pearl series.
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In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
Magikarp was seen at the Lake of Rage, being forcibly evolved into Gyarados.
In the TCG
- Main article: Magikarp (TCG)
Game data
Pokédex entries
| Gen
| Game
| Pokédex entry
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| I
| Red
| In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.
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| Blue
| In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.
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| Yellow
| Famous for being very unreliable. It can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers and shallow puddles.
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| Stadium
| Whoever its opponent, and however horrible the attack it receives, all it does is Splash around.
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| II
| Gold
| An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet.
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| Silver
| For no reason, it jumps and splashes about, making it easy for predators like Pidgeotto to catch it mid-jump.
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| Crystal
| This weak and pathetic Pokémon gets easily pushed along rivers when there are strong currents.
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| Stadium 2
| An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more then seven feet.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| FireRed
| It is virtually worthless in terms of both power and speed. It is the most weak and pathetic Pokémon in the world.
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| LeafGreen
| In the distant past, it was somewhat stronger than the horribly weak descendants that exist today.
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| IV
| Diamond
| It is said to be the world's weakest Pokémon. No one knows why it has managed to survive.
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| Pearl
| It is unable to swim against even slow-moving currents. It always splashes about for some reason.
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| Platinum
| A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.
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| HeartGold
| An underpowered, pathetic Pokémon. It may jump high on rare occasions, but never more than seven feet.
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| SoulSilver
| Currently unknown
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Game locations
In side games
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.
Held items
Stats
Base stats
| Stat
| Range
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| At Lv. 50
| At Lv. 100
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| 80 - 127
| 150 - 244
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| 13 - 68
| 22 - 130
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| 54 - 117
| 103 - 229
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| 18 - 73
| 31 - 141
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| 22 - 79
| 40 - 152
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| 76 - 145
| 148 - 284
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and a helpful nature.
- This Pokémon's Special base stat in Generation I was 20.
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Pokéthlon stats
Type effectiveness
| Weak to
| Resistant to
| Immune to
| Normal effectiveness
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Learnset
Magikarp is capable of learning the following moves in Generation IV.
- Moves in bold are damaging moves to which STAB applies.
None.
None.
TCG-only moves
Side game data
Evolution
Sprites
Trivia
- 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, as well as Gyarados, has been in all four regional Pokédexes.
- Even though Magikarp is said to be the weakest Pokémon in existence, there are seven Pokémon weaker than it and one equal to it in terms of base stat average.
- Magikarp is one of three Water-types that cannot learn Surf (the others being Surskit and Wingull), as well as the only Water-type that cannot learn any Ice-type or Water-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 the Fish Pokémon.
- Even though it's listed as a freshwater Pokémon, Magikarp's abundant in oceans as well.
- Magikarp takes the shortest time to hatch out of all 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 version and Platinum version contradict each other; Gold version says that Magikarp never jumps more than seven feet, whereas Platinum version states that it may jump over a mountain.
- Magikarp is the only Pokémon that can learn attacking moves but can't get STAB on any of them.
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.
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 (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, given its name an ironic slant similar to its English name.
In other languages
Related articles
External links
Notes
500
( Water )
Body size: 1
For other sprites and images, please see Magikarp images on Bulbagarden Archives.
