In Black & White, Intimidate changes the entire equation for Gyarados. The 540 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a wallbreaker. Waterfall with Leftovers is the standard set.

Does Gyarados mega evolve?

Mega Evolution isn't available in Black & White, but Gyarados does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gyarados hits 640 BST.

What is Gyarados weak to?

In Black & White, Gyarados's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Jolteon is the most dangerous since Electric moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

What is the best ability for Gyarados?

Intimidate is what you want on Gyarados. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Moxie) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Gyarados worth using. Intimidate synergizes with Gyarados's base 100 Sp.Def, letting it soak special attacks as a pivot.

What role does Gyarados play in battle?

Base 81 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Gyarados is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.

Gyarados - Weakness, Evolution, Moveset, EVs & Stats

Physical

Wallbreaker

BTier

81Speed · Above Avg

Stats & Training

Attack and Sp. Def carry most of Gyarados's stat budget. Sp. Atk's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 2 Attack EVs. Follows a slow 1.25M XP grind.

Base Stats

High

HP95

Attack125

Defense79

Sp. Atk60

Sp. Def100

Speed81

Total540

Details

Catch Rate

Challenging45 / 255

Growth Rate

Slow1.25M XP

Height6.5 m

Weight235.0 kg

Base XP189

Abilities

IntimidatePopular

Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.

MoxieHAPopular

Raises Attack one stage upon KOing a Pokémon.

EV Yield

HPAtk+2DefSpASpDSpe

Attack training target

Pokedex Entries

Once it begins to rampage, a Gyarados will burn everything down, even in a harsh storm.

Gyarados Weakness

Type-wise, Gyarados takes extra damage from Electric and Rock. Watch out for Electric attacks, those deal 4x damage. Ground moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. With 95 HP and balanced defenses, Gyarados can afford to eat a neutral hit or two.

Gyarados Weakness and Resistance Chart
Damage	Types
4x (Critical)	Electric
2x (Weak)	Rock
0.5x (Resist)	Fire, Water, Fighting, Bug, Steel
0x (Immune)	Ground

Type ChartExcellent

2Weak

5Resist

1Immune

Score+2

Gen V Type Chart

Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

4xCritical

Electric

2xWeak

Rock

½xResist

Fire Water Fighting Bug Steel

¼xResist

None

0xImmune

Ground

STAB (6)

Fire Ground Rock Grass Fighting Bug

How to Beat Gyarados in Black & White (Best Counters)

VolcaronaOutspeeds BugFire	A
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureTimid Moves Quiver Dance Bug Buzz Giga Drain Fire Blast Damage vs Gyarados Giga Drain 26-30% Fire Blast 28-33% View Volcarona builds →
HeatranResists Flying, wears down with Toxic, threatens with Stealth Rock FireSteel	A
Recommended Build AbilityFlashfire ItemLeftovers NatureCalm Moves Earth Power ProtectPriority Lava Plume Hidden Power Ice View Heatran builds →
DonphanThreatens with Stealth Rock, sturdy guarantees survival, walls physical sets Ground	B
Recommended Build AbilitySturdy ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves EarthquakeSTAB Stealth Rock Rapid Spin Ice Shard Damage vs Gyarados Rapid Spin 15-18% Ice Shard 12-15% View Donphan builds →
TentacruelResists Water, burns with Scald, wears down with Toxic WaterPoison	B
Recommended Build AbilityRaindish ItemBlack Sludge NatureTimid Moves Rapid Spin ScaldSTAB ProtectPriority ToxicUtility Damage vs Gyarados Rapid Spin 9-11% Scald 11-13% View Tentacruel builds →
NinetalesOutspeeds Fire	B
Recommended Build AbilityDrought ItemLeftovers NatureTimid Moves Will O Wisp Pain Split Fire Blast FlamethrowerSTAB Damage vs Gyarados Fire Blast 20-23% Flamethrower 16-19% View Ninetales builds →

Black & White Evolution

Evolved from Magikarp. Gyarados is the final form in this two-stage line. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are hatches fast. Attack grew the most through evolution (+115 over Magikarp), and Gyarados peaks at 540 total stats. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms

#129Magikarp

Level 20

#130Gyarados

Stat Comparison 2 Stages

Magikarp

Water

Gyarados

WaterFlying

95+75

ATK

125+115

DEF

79+24

SP.ATK

60+45

SP.DEF

100+80

SPE

81+1

BST

200D-Tier

540A-Tier+340

ROLE

Balanced

Wallbreaker

TYPE

Utility

Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed with Gyarados to get Magikarp eggs easily using 39 partners from the Dragon and Water2 egg groups.

Egg Groups

DragonWater2

Gender

♂50.0%♀50.0%

Hatch Time

5 cycles·1,285 steps

Fast~1 min with Flame Body

Breed With (best first)

Black & White Gyarados Best Moveset

Find one free turn for Dragon Dance and Gyarados can run through teams. Adamant nature leans physical, Intimidate supports the sweep, and Ground coverage stops anything from walling it cleanly.

Best Build

Solid pick

Physical Setup Sweeper

Ability

Intimidate

Item

LeftoversSUSTAIN

Best Nature for Gyarados

Adamant+ATK

Gyarados best EVs are Attack and Speed

EVs

Atk

SpD

Spe

Physical Setup Sweeper Moveset

WaterfallSTAB
Dragon Dance
EarthquakeCoverage
Ice Fang

Recommended Teammates

FerrothornDecent

Moves

TMs carry this one. Gyarados learns Hydro Pump and Aqua Tail naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Dark and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1

Thrash

B12010010Normal

Lv 20

Bite

C6010025Dark

Lv 23

Dragon Rage

——10010Dragon

Lv 26

Leer

——10030Normal

Lv 29

Twister

—4010020Dragon

Lv 32

Ice Fang

A659515Ice

Lv 35

Aqua Tail

B909010Water

Lv 38

Rain Dance

C——5Water

Lv 41

Hydro Pump

C120805Water

Lv 44

Dragon Dance

S——20Dragon

Lv 47

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM Moves

TM45

Attract

C—10015Normal

TM14

Blizzard

D120705Ice

TM78

Bulldoze

C6010020Ground

HM06

Dive

B8010010Water

TM32

Double Team

———15Normal

TM82

Dragon Tail-6

C609010Dragon

TM26

Earthquake

S10010010Ground

TM42

Facade

C7010020Normal

TM38

Fire Blast

D120855Fire

TM35

Flamethrower

D9510015Fire

TM21

Frustration

——10020Normal

TM68

Giga Impact

B150905Normal

TM07

Hail

———10Ice

TM10

Hidden Power

—6010015Normal

TM15

Hyper Beam

C150905Normal

TM13

Ice Beam

D9510010Ice

TM59

Incinerate

—3010015Fire

TM66

Payback

C5010010Dark

TM17

Protect+4

C——10Normal

TM18

Rain Dance

C——5Water

TM44

Rest

C——10Psychic

TM27

Return

D—10020Normal

TM05

Roar-6

C—10020Normal

TM94

Rock Smash

D4010015Fighting

TM48

Round

—6010015Normal

TM37

Sandstorm

D——10Rock

TM55

Scald

C8010015Water

TM71

Stone Edge

C100805Rock

HM04

Strength

C8010015Normal

TM90

Substitute

B——10Normal

HM03

Surf

C9510015Water

TM87

Swagger

——9015Normal

TM12

Taunt

C—10020Dark

TM25

Thunder

D1207010Electric

TM73

Thunder Wave

C—10020Electric

TM24

Thunderbolt

D9510015Electric

TM41

Torment

——10015Dark

TM06

Toxic

C—9010Poison

HM05

Waterfall

S8010015Water

Egg Moves

Gyarados doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Gyarados can't learn any Tutor moves

Reminder Moves

Rem

Flail

——10015Normal

Rem

Splash

———40Normal

Rem

Tackle

D5010035Normal

Transfer Moves

Gen

Gen 4

Avalanche-4

C6010010Ice

Gen 3

Body Slam

C8510015Normal

Gen 4

Brine

D6510010Water

Gen 4

Captivate

——10020Normal

Gen 3

Double-Edge

B12010015Normal

Gen 4

Endure+4

D——10Normal

Gen 4

Headbutt

C7010015Normal

Gen 3

Mimic

———10Normal

Gen 4

Natural Gift

——10015Normal

Gen 4

Secret Power

—7010020Normal

Gen 4

Water Pulse

D6010020Water

Gen 4

Whirlpool

D358515Water

How to Get Gyarados in Black & White

Can't catch Gyarados directly. Start with Magikarp but it's a rare spawn from the locations below, then evolve at level 20. The 2-stage line from Magikarp to Gyarados is where the leveling time goes.

How to Obtain Gyarados in Black & White

Step 1Catch Magikarp
Marvelous Bridge
WhiteGift from NPC Lv.5
LimitedEarly
AnyPurchase for $500
Marvelous Bridge
BlackGift from NPC Lv.5
LimitedEarly
AnyPurchase for $500
Train until Level 20
Step 2Gyarados ✓

Gyarados Guide

In Black & White, Intimidate changes the entire equation for Gyarados. The 540 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier as a wallbreaker. Waterfall with Leftovers is the standard set.
Mega Evolution isn't available in Black & White, but Gyarados does have a Mega form in Gen 6-7 games (X/Y, ORAS, Sun/Moon). Mega Gyarados hits 640 BST.
In Black & White, Gyarados's biggest threats include Jolteon (Electric) and Golem (Rock), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Jolteon is the most dangerous since Electric moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Intimidate is what you want on Gyarados. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Moxie) work on paper but Intimidate is what makes Gyarados worth using. Intimidate synergizes with Gyarados's base 100 Sp.Def, letting it soak special attacks as a pivot.
Base 81 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Gyarados is a physical attacker with base 125 Attack. Defensively? Enough bulk to take a hit or two. Best used as a wallbreaker.

Game Availability

Since debuting in Red & Blue, Gyarados has appeared in 22 titles over 10 generations. Along the way, it received a Mega form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.

Click a game to view version-specific details

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