Stats & Training
Magikarp's spread isn't flashy. Speed leads, Attack trails, 1 stats clear the bar. Easy to catch and worth 1 Speed EV, on a slow 1.25M XP grind.
A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.
A Magikarp living for many years can leap a mountain using Splash. The move remains useless, though.
Magikarp Weakness
Electric and Grass moves hit Magikarp for super-effective damage. It resists 4 types, giving it decent defensive coverage. Magikarp's physical bulk (base 55 Def) helps cushion physical weakness hits, but special attackers are the bigger threat.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Electric, Grass |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fire, Water, Ice, Steel |
- Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
- Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)
 Pansage Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodDreamyard Gift | ||
 Snivy Grass | D | |
Obtain MethodNuvema Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Snivy builds →Leaf Tornado 2x120-143%KO Vine Whip 2x50-61% | ||
 Blitzle Electric | D | |
 Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
 Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x353-416%KO Magical Leaf 2x182-214%KO | ||
 Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x316-373%KO Mega Drain 2x108-129%KO | ||
 Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x410-484%KO Mega Drain 2x139-165%KO | ||
 Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x239-282%KO Razor Leaf 2x78-92% | ||
Lileep RockGrass | D | |
Obtain MethodNacrene City Gift | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x341-402%KO Magical Leaf 2x171-204%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x300-354%KO Mega Drain 2x104-123%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x400-471%KO Mega Drain 2x136-161%KO | ||
 Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x391-461%KO Giga Drain 2x245-289%KO Needle Arm 2x95-113%KO Mega Drain 2x136-161%KO | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x227-268%KO Razor Leaf 2x71-86% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x359-424%KO Magical Leaf 2x181-214%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x319-376%KO Mega Drain 2x108-129%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x421-495%KO Mega Drain 2x144-171%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x408-481%KO Giga Drain 2x259-305%KO Needle Arm 2x100-119%KO Mega Drain 2x141-167%KO | ||
Swadloon BugGrass | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Swadloon builds →Solar Beam 2x233-276%KO Razor Leaf 2x76-90% | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x387-457%KO Magical Leaf 2x196-230%KO | ||
 Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x317-374%KO Razor Leaf 2x110-130%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x343-404%KO Mega Drain 2x117-139%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x454-535%KO Mega Drain 2x155-183%KO | ||
Maractus Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Maractus builds →Solar Beam 2x446-526%KO Giga Drain 2x280-330%KO Needle Arm 2x106-126%KO Mega Drain 2x151-178%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x375-442%KO Giga Drain 2x238-280%KO Magical Leaf 2x191-225%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x308-363%KO Leaf Blade 2x174-205%KO Razor Leaf 2x107-126%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x336-395%KO Mega Drain 2x113-134%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x442-521%KO Mega Drain 2x150-178%KO | ||
 Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x275-324%KO Energy Ball 2x208-245%KO Horn Leech 2x143-170%KO | ||
Virizion GrassFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodPinwheel Forest Interact Encounter Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Virizion builds →Solar Beam 2x383-452%KO Giga Drain 2x242-286%KO Magical Leaf 2x193-228%KO | ||
Leavanny BugGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Leavanny builds →Solar Beam 2x316-372%KO Leaf Blade 2x175-206%KO Razor Leaf 2x110-130%KO | ||
Whimsicott Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Whimsicott builds →Solar Beam 2x341-401%KO Mega Drain 2x116-137%KO | ||
Lilligant Grass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Lilligant builds →Solar Beam 2x451-531%KO Mega Drain 2x153-181%KO | ||
Sawsbuck NormalGrass | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Sawsbuck builds →Solar Beam 2x280-329%KO Energy Ball 2x211-249%KO Horn Leech 2x143-170%KO | ||
In Black & White, Magnezone can KO Magikarp with Thunderbolt (554-651%). Breloom threatens a KO with Bullet Seed (106-125%). Raikou's Thunderbolt also KOs at 602-709%.
 Magnezone ElectricSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityMagnetpull ItemAir Balloon NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Magnezone builds →Thunderbolt 2x554-651%KO Flash Cannon123-145%KO Volt Switch 2x431-507%KO | ||
 Breloom GrassFighting | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityTechnician ItemLife Orb NatureAdamant Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Breloom builds →Mach Punch84-99% Bullet Seed 2x106-125%KO | ||
 Raikou Electric | C | |
Recommended Build AbilityPressure ItemLife Orb NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Magikarp View Raikou builds →Thunderbolt 2x602-709%KO Aura Sphere178-209%KO | ||
Black & White Evolution
Magikarp evolves into Gyarados. It's a two-stage chain with the method shown below. A decent partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are hatches fast. The evolved forms gain up to 340 total stats over Magikarp. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Magikarp easily with 39 breeding partners from the Dragon and Water2 egg groups.
Black & White Magikarp Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 5.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Magikarp's options are limited here. You've got Water STAB for STAB damage, but there isn't much beyond Water hitting power. TMs help fill gaps, though the kit stays tight.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
How to Get Magikarp in Black & White
No searching required for Magikarp. You receive it at Marvelous Bridge from an NPC. No wild encounters exist in this game, so just head to the right spot when you're ready and it's yours.
Best Locations to Catch Magikarp in Black & White
Magikarp Guide
Get Magikarp to Gyarados at level 20. At 200 BST, Magikarp is just the starting point.
Level 20 gets you Gyarados. Quick enough that Magikarp barely slows you down.
In Black & White, Magikarp does the job early-game if you need a Water type on your team. Evolve it into Gyarados before the later gyms and it holds up fine through the story.
You can find Magikarp in Black & White. The Locations section has the full breakdown of routes and encounter details. It also appears in 21 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Magikarp has been part of the series since Red & Blue, appearing in 22 titles across all 10 generations. As a Gen 1 original, it's one of the most consistently available Pokemon in the franchise.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves