Magikarp might be one of the weakest Pokémon in the franchise, but in Pokémon Go it holds a special place in history—it was the first Shiny Pokémon ever released. Its golden form and iconic evolution into the red Shiny Gyarados make it a favorite target for collectors. But since Shiny Magikarp spawns are rare, knowing how to maximize your chances is essential.
What Makes Shiny Magikarp Special
- Shiny Debut: Shiny Magikarp was released during the Water Festival in March 2017, marking the introduction of shinies in Pokémon Go.
- Appearance: Unlike the standard orange Magikarp, the shiny version has a striking golden-yellow body.
- Evolution: Evolving a Shiny Magikarp with 400 Candy results in the famous red Gyarados, a throwback to the Lake of Rage encounter in Pokémon Gold and Silver.
See also: Pokémon Go Dynamax Pokémon Guide: How to Dynamax and Catch Max Pokémon
Where You Can Find Shiny Magikarp
Catching a Shiny Magikarp comes down to encountering as many as possible. It can appear in multiple ways:
- Wild Encounters: Magikarp spawns more frequently near water, and its encounters are boosted during Rainy weather.
- Events and Spotlight Hours: Magikarp often features in Water Festival events, Lunar New Year celebrations, and occasional Spotlight Hours, all of which dramatically increase shiny odds.
- Raid Battles: Tier 1 raids sometimes feature Magikarp, offering another shiny-eligible encounter.
- Eggs and Research: Magikarp has appeared in 2 km Eggs during past events and as a reward for Field Research tasks, such as “Catch 5 Pokémon” or “Use 5 Pinap Berries to help catch Pokémon.”
- Team GO Rocket: Shadow Magikarp encounters can also be shiny, making them a unique variant to collect.
Catch Rates and Best Strategies
Because Magikarp has a relatively low base CP (maxing at 310 CP at Level 50), catching it is usually easy, but shiny hunting requires persistence.
- Base Catch Rate: About 16.74% at Level 20 without berries.
- Boosting Odds:
- Use a Curveball Great or Excellent throw to nearly double catch chances.
- Razz Berries and Golden Razz Berries significantly improve capture rate.
- Silver Pinap Berries let you collect extra Candy while keeping high catch odds.
Since shinies don’t appear on the overworld map, you’ll need to tap every Magikarp you see. Only the encounter screen reveals if it’s shiny.
How to Evolve Shiny Magikarp into Red Gyarados
To evolve Magikarp, you’ll need 400 Magikarp Candy. Helpful methods to gather enough include:
- Walking Magikarp as your Buddy Pokémon (1 km per Candy).
- Using Pinap Berries for doubled Candy per catch.
- Participating in events where Magikarp spawn rates are boosted.
- Mega evolving Water-type Pokémon like Mega Gyarados or Mega Blastoise to increase Candy rewards when catching Magikarp.
See also: Mega Camerupt Counters and CP Ranges for Raids in Pokémon GO
Quick Tips for Shiny Hunting
- Play During Events: Niantic often boosts Magikarp spawns during seasonal events. This is the best time to shiny hunt.
- Stack Research Tasks: Look for Field Research that rewards Magikarp encounters and complete as many as possible.
- Use Lures and Incense: Water-type spawns like Magikarp are more likely near water, but lures and incense can bring them to you anywhere.
- Check Every Encounter: Since shinies are rare, persistence is the real key. The more Magikarp you tap, the better your odds.
Catching a Shiny Magikarp is about patience and maximizing encounters. Whether you’re chasing nostalgia for the red Gyarados or filling out your shiny collection, every golden Magikarp caught is a milestone worth celebrating. Stay alert during events, keep a stock of berries ready, and never skip a chance to tap a Magikarp—you never know when it’ll sparkle.
