Description

what level does magikarp evolve ?

### What level does Magikarp evolve?

As a Pokémon trainer, you know that one of the most common yet seemingly frustrating Pokémon is the ever-so-ubiquitous Magikarp. This pathetic excuse for a fighter is one of the first Pokémon you come across in the game, which initially seems underwhelming. However, many long for the day their Magikarp undergoes a transformation, because once it evolves, it becomes the menacing Gyarados, a fearsome Water/Flying-type creature. So, the most frequently asked question amongst new trainers is: **At what level does Magikarp evolve?**

Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20. This is a straightforward process and does not require any additional steps, items, time of day, or specific locations—just enough experience points to level up your Magikarp to 20.

### Getting To Know Magikarp

Magikarp, known as Magikarp in English and Koiking in its Japanese form, is a Water-type Pokémon, introduced in Generation I. In its basic form, it doesn’t learn a lot of moves—only two at this point: **Splash** (which just raises its joy instead of doing anything useful) at level 1, and **Tackle** at level 15. Starting from Generation 2 (Gold, Silver, Crystal), it can additionally learn **Flail** at level 25, which becomes a more viable move since it increases in power based on its user’s HP.

### The Evolution Process

Once you manage to get your Magikarp to level 20, it will start to evolve into a Gyarados. However, there’s a slight catch: you can interrupt the evolution process if you wish to delay it. Simply press **B** during the evolution sequence to halt the transformation. A quick guide to achieving this level can be summarized in a couple of tips:

– **Combat Experience**: Simple battle after battle will gradually get your Magikarp to that crucial level 20.
– **EXP Share**: If you want your whole team to gain experience without fighting, Magikarp doesn’t really contribute to the team’s strength but can level along with them.
– **Quickening Evolutions**: Using items like Rare Candies can speed up the process considerably.

### Why Evolve?

Why go through the seemingly long process of evolving Magikarp when it’s such a weak Pokémon? The answer lies in its evolved form, Gyarados. Gyarados is a formidable Pokémon, gaining capabilities as a Water/Flying-type, which gives it immunity to Ground-type moves and a high Special Attack stat, making it a viable water-type attacker in your party. Its unique move pool with moves like **Dragon Breath** and **Hydro Pump** can be a game-changer in certain situations.

### Myths and Oddities

Interestingly, early on in the franchise, evolving Magikarp into Gyarados used to be a significant challenge. The act of getting a Magikarp to level 20 could be perceived as tedious, given its low stats and the fact that it does not help you in fighting battles before the evolution. The Pokémon mods or changes didn’t really improve this aspect, although the introduction of experience-sharing items could make it less of a drag.

### Conclusion

In summary, Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20. It’s a simple process without a need for special items or locations. Evolving one might seem like a bit of a chore, considering Magikarp’s lukewarm initial performance in battle, but the result is well worth it. A fully-evolved Gyarados is a powerful addition to your team, especially once you get past the initial stages of the game. With that, you can appreciate the growth path of a seemingly underwhelming Pokémon turning into a top-tier battle participant!