How to Evolve Magikarp in Any Pokémon Game

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Easy ways to train Magikarp into a fearsome Gyarados

Co-authored by Madeleine Flamiano and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: April 22, 2023 Fact Checked

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Main Pokémon Games

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Training Magikarp

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Pokémon Go

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Mega-Evolving Gyarados (Gen VI-VII)

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Video

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Q&A

Do you have a Magikarp taking up space in your party hoping it evolves into a Gyarados? Magikarp is an iconic Pokémon since it has a useless attack, but it turns into one of the toughest Water-type Pokémon to beat. Luckily, Magikarp doesn’t need any special tricks to evolve and we’ll help you out no matter whether you’re playing recent Pokémon games like Scarlet & Violet or the classics. Keep reading to find out Magikarp’s evolution level and how to train it quickly!

Things You Should Know

Raise your Magikarp to at least level 20 to evolve it into Gyarados.
Send Magikarp out in battle, give it Exp. Candies or Rare Candies, or use Exp. Share to level up your Magikarp quickly.
In Pokémon Go, spend 400 Magikarp Candies to evolve your Magikarp into Gyarados.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Evolving Magikarp in Main Pokémon Games

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Get your Magikarp to level 20 to evolve it into Gyarados. As soon as Magikarp gets enough experience and reaches Level 20, it will try to evolve. Magikarp turns into the powerful Water/Flying-type Gyarados with a strong Attack stat.^{[1]
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- At level 20, Gyarados learns the Dark-type move Bite, which has a chance to make your opponent flinch during battle.^{[2]
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- If you don’t already have a Magikarp, they’re one of the most common Water types in the game. Search for them by fishing in bodies of water or searching near lakes and rivers for them on the map.
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Press B to cancel the evolution and keep training your Magikarp. Magikarp eventually learns Flail if you keep leveling it up. This move does a lot of damage when your Pokémon is injured, and Gyarados isn’t able to learn it after it evolves.^{[3]
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Research source} If you want learn the attack, press B during the evolution animation to stop it from happening. Each time your Magikarp levels up, it will try to evolve again, so keep canceling it until you’ve trained your Pokémon to the level you want.^{[4]
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- In Pokémon Sword, Shield, Scarlet, and Violet, Magikarp needs to reach level 25 to learn Flail. In Generation VII and earlier games, Magikarp learns Flail at level 30.
- If you found a shiny Magikarp, consider keeping it as a trophy for its unique gold color. Of course, you could evolve it into a shiny red Gyarados if you’d rather have that.
- Alternatively, try raising a Magikarp to Level 100 for a fun challenge.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Training Magikarp

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Send Magikarp into a battle and then immediately switch it out. Set Magikarp as the first Pokémon in your party so it’s sent out first in a battle. On your first turn, switch to more powerful Pokémon. As long as your Magikarp is in for the first round of battle, they will get a share of the experience points and start leveling up.^{[5]
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- This is a great idea when you have a Magikarp that only knows Splash. Since Splash doesn’t do any damage, switching out your Pokémon is the best option. Once Magikarp learns Tackle at level 15, start using it in battle against some weak Pokémon.
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Equip Magikarp with an Exp Share. In Generation II–V, look for the Exp. Share in your bag and set it as your Magikarp’s held item. In Generations I, VI, and onward, turn on the Exp. Share item in your bag. While the Exp. Share is held or turned on, your Magikarp receives a portion of the experience gained from battles, even if you don’t use them to attack. As long as you keep Magikarp in your party, it’ll be ready to evolve in no time.^{[6]
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- In Generation I, get the Exp. Share from Oak’s aide on Route 15.
- In Generation II, give Mr. Pokémon on Route 30 a Red Scale in exchange for an Exp. Share.
- In Gen III, deliver the Letter to Mr. Stone at the Devon Corporation to get the item.
- For Gen IV games, visit Dawn or Lucas’ father on Route 206 after seeing 35 Pokémon.
- In Gen V, get the Exp. Share from the Battle Company in Castelia City or from the Pokémon Fan Club Chairman in Icirrus City.
- For Gen VI, go to Alexa in Santalune City after defeating Viola.
- In Gen VII, get the Exp. Share on Route 1 from Professor Kukui.
- In Gen VIII & IX, you automatically get the Exp. Share.
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Send Magikarp to the Day Care Center. Find the Day Care Center in your game and drop Magikarp off so it automatically gains experience without taking up space in your party. Your Magikarp gains 1 experience per step you take in the game, so keep running around and occasionally checking in on your Magikarp to see when it reaches level 20. Even though your Magikarp won’t evolve in the Day Care Center, it will immediately try to after the first time you use it in battle.^{[7]
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- Generation I: Route 5
- Generation II: Route 34
- Generation III: Route 117 or Battle Resort
- Generation IV: Solaceon Town
- Generation V: Route 3
- Generation VI: Route 7
- Generations VII onward do not have a Day Care Center.
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Feed your Magikarp Exp. Candies or Rare Candies. Check your bag for any Exp. Candy or Rare Candy, which instantly boosts your Pokémon’s experience points and level. Keep giving your Magikarp enough candies until it reaches level 20. Feeding Magikarp a candy that turns it from Level 19 to Level 20 will immediately trigger the evolution.^{[8]
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- Look around the map for items to pick up Exp. Candy and Rare Candy. Items might be lit up on screen, or you may find them by searching around rocks, looking in trash cans, or talking to NPCs in the game.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Pokémon Go

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Spend 400 Magikarp Candies to evolve into Gyarados. If you already have a Magikarp and enough candies to evolve it, tap on the Pokémon and click the “Evolve” button. You’ll immediately spend the 400 Magikarp Candies you accumulated, but you’ll have a new Gyarados to show for it.^{[9]
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- If you have multiple Magikarp, choose the one with the highest CP rating since it will be more powerful once it evolves.
Tap on the Magikarp you want to evolve and select it as your Buddy Pokémon. Whenever you walk 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) with your Magikarp, you’ll gain 1 Magikarp Candy to put towards evolving your Pokémon.^{[10]
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Check near bodies of water to catch more Magikarp. Since Magikarp are Water-type, you’re more likely to find them near a stream, river, lake, or ocean. If you live nearby, go for a walk and try to catch extra Magikarp since each one earns 3 candies.^{[11]
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- Keep your eyes out for Magikarp Raid Battles in the game since you may be able to earn extra candies.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Mega-Evolving Gyarados (Gen VI-VII)

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Obtain and upgrade your Mega Ring if you’re playing X and Y. In order to evolve Gyarados into Mega Gyarados, you will first need to get your Key Stone, which is embedded in a Mega Ring. Defeat your rival and then earn the Rumble Badge at Shalour Gym to earn the Key Stone needed to mega evolve your Pokémon. Then, take the badge to the top of the Tower of Mastery to receive the Mega Ring.^{[12]
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- After obtaining the Mega Ring, get it upgraded by defeating your rival again in Kiloude City. Professor Sycamore will upgrade your ring right after the battle.
Once you surf across the water to the east side of Route 118, Steven will approach you and take you to the Southern Island. Once you defeat an enemy there, he’ll give you the Mega Bracelet that you can use for Mega Evolutions later in the game.^{[13]
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Once you beat the Elite 4 and become the Champion, travel along the Ancient Poni Path to run into Dexio and challenge him to a battle. After you defeat him, he’ll give you the Key Stone item that allows Pokémon to mega evolve.^{[14]
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Obtain the Gyaradosite in the game. This is the Mega Stone required to evolve Gyarados into its Mega form during a battle. The location of the Gyaradosite will depend on the version of the game you are playing. ^{[15]
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- X and Y: Look near the east side of Couriway Town near three waterfalls.
- Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby: Find Chomper the Poochyena on Route 123. Give Chomper a scratch to receive the Gyaradosite.
- Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon: Buy Gyaradosite from the Battle Tree for 64 Battle Points (BP).
Find the Gyaradosite in your bag and choose to give it to the Gyarados in your party. If your Gyarados is already holding onto an item, remove the old one first.^{[16]
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Select "Mega Evolve" during battle to turn into Mega Gyarados. Whenever you use Gyarados in a battle, tap the Mega Evolution option on screen before you choose an attack. Once you mega-evolve Gyarados, it will keep its form until the battle is over or until it faints.^{[17]
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- It’s okay to switch out your Mega Gyarados during battle. It will still be mega-evolved when you switch it back in.

Community Q&A

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Question

I couldn't find the Gyradosite near the waterfalls. Do I have to try at a certain time?

Community Answer

Yes, you have to go to the waterfalls at night time to obtain Gyradosite.

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Question

Will a level 100 Magikarp evolve into Gyarados using poke blocks in the poke oras?

Lugia2453

Top Answerer

A level 100 Magikarp will be unable to evolve in the first place, due to it evolving by level. You're also thinking of Feebas, who evolves by that method, not Magikarp.

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Question

Can Magikarp learn any moves other than splash?

Bun bun

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Yes. It learns moves such as Flail, Tackle and Celebrate.

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