Pokémonevolutions are some of the franchise’s most notable events, with various familiar pokémon undergoing dramatic aesthetic transformations and changes in character; a process often synonymous with the achievement of maturity, or a stage on the path thereto. One of the most confusing and most famous evolutions in thePokémonuniverse is that of Magikarp, the famously useless Water Type carp pokémon that transforms from flopping fish into the formidable Gyarados, a draconic Water/Flying Type pokémon with a violent temperament.
While most of theevolutions in thePokémonuniverseare dramatic and convoluted reprisals of the pokémon’s most basic; oftentimes most juvenile form, the change from fish to legendary dragon in the Magikarp cycle is quite confusing. The reason why Magikarp evolves into Gyarados is loosely based on a Chinese legend.
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The Fish
Magikarp is a fish-like pokémon loosely based on koi, as well as goldfish, hence the original Japanese name “Koiking”. It was thought that the ancestors of the Magikarp were much stronger, leading pokémon scientists to research them. Its signature move is Splash, which often sends it out of the water and makes it an easy target for avian predators like Pigeotto and Pigeot. Due to its weak swimming ability, the Magikarp only lives downstream in various bodies of water, such as lakes, streams, rivers and ponds. Despite this weakness, a mature and experienced Magikarp is thought to be able to harness its Splash ability to scale entire mountains, which leads right into why Magikarp becomes Gyarados.
While the wording may differ fromPokémongame toPokémongame, the various descriptions of Gyarados throughout the various eras are united by their depiction of the pokémon as an aggressive, rampaging beast that is capable of leveling entire cities. In some descriptions, a Gyarados rampage has been rumoured to have lasted a month. The reason for the change in demeanour from Magikarp and Gyarados is owed to some structural changes to the pokémon’s brain as a result of evolution which account for its aggressive nature. Gyarados also has a Mega Evolution achieved through using Gyaradosite, the Mega Stonethat unlocks Mega Gyarados. The Mega Gyarados is much bulkier than its base form, and it becomes far more ferocious as the transformation puts considerable stress on its body. All that remains is the drive to reduce everything to ash – like some kind of dragon.
The Dragon Gate
In Chinese mythology, Longmen, is a legendary gate located at the top of a waterfall of Yellow River, located in the Longmen Mountains. The legend states that while it is normal for carp to swim upstream against the current of the river, very few carp are brave enough to actually make the final jump over the waterfall into completely new territory. If a carp does manage to make the jump, the legend has it that the carp will transform into a powerful dragon. The transformation is a reward for the carps' perseverance, and this is reflected in Magikarp’s transformation, which serves as a reward for the Trainer’s perseverance in holding onto a “pointless” pokémon like Magikarp. Various references to this myth have been made inPokémonvideo games, such as inthePokémon Snapgame, in which the only way for players to encounter a wild Gyarados is through a series of tasks that result in the player knocking a Magikarp into a waterfall, which then causes it to evolve.
Other Legends
While the basic design of Gyarados speaks to the aforementioned origin, its design is reminiscent of Asian dragons, which are far more serpentine than their European counterparts. Qinglong, also known as the Azure Dragon, is a dragon guardian of the eastern direction, forming part of the Wǔfāng Shàngdì (Five Regions' Highest Deities), and is thought to be one of the design inspirations of Gyarados, in addition to the kraken, the legendary sea monster said to appear somewhere off the coasts of Norway. Gyarados' Flying Type is attributed to its design also being inspired by the Japanese custom of “koinobori” (lit. “hanging the koi”), in which carp-shaped windsocks are hung up to celebrate Children’s Day, which takes place on May 5. Some theorize a connection to the Inkanyamba, a legendary water serpent believed to have anger capable of causing storms, located somewhere at the base of Howick Falls in Kwa-Zulu Natal Province, South Africa. The French dub name for Gyarados; Léviator, based on the word “Leviathan”, a sea serpent thought to be the embodiment of chaos in the myths of certain Abrahamic religions. This reflects the pokémon’s connection to powerful, wrathful serpents of lore.
Reward of the Steadfast
The evolution of Magikarp into Gyarados is one of many examples of an idiomatic expression being turned into an interesting character in the Pokémon universe. Despite the mixed reception of the pokémon across time, Gyarados is invariably one of the franchise’s most notable and recognizable pokémon, sharing top place with Milotic for having the greatest post-evolution stat boost. The evolution is difficult to achieve and the Magikarp is totally useless until it evolves, but the trainer’s reward for their determination and perseverance is an insanely formidable beast. It is the value of consistent effort; the journey of the hero (or Fool) summed up in the form of a useless, gutless, goofy-looking fish, and that makes it iconic.
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