Magikarp. The very name evokes images of uselessness. A Pokémon known for its signature move, Splash, which does absolutely nothing. Yet, hidden beneath its seemingly pathetic exterior lies the potential for greatness. Evolving Magikarp into the mighty Gyarados is a rite of passage for many Pokémon trainers, but it requires a significant investment: 400 Magikarp Candy. This guide will explore every conceivable method to acquire that coveted candy, transforming your floppy fish into a fearsome dragon.
Understanding the Magikarp Candy Grind
The journey to 400 Magikarp Candy isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. Understanding the various methods available and optimizing your approach is crucial. Patience and persistence are your best allies in this endeavor. Let’s delve into the primary sources of Magikarp Candy and how to maximize your gains.
Catching Magikarp: The Foundation of Your Candy Empire
The most straightforward method is, of course, catching Magikarp. Every Magikarp you catch yields 3 candies. While this might seem insignificant, consistent catching quickly adds up. Focus on locations where Magikarp spawns are frequent.
Location, Location, Location: Finding Magikarp Habitats
Magikarp is a Water-type Pokémon, so naturally, you’ll find them near bodies of water. Rivers, lakes, oceans, and even large ponds are potential hotspots. The closer you are to a significant body of water, the better your chances of encountering Magikarp.
Explore areas near docks, marinas, and beaches. Parks with large ponds or fountains can also be surprisingly productive. Don’t neglect smaller water features; sometimes, a single Magikarp can spawn in the most unexpected places.
Weather Boost: Ride the Rainy Wave
Weather plays a crucial role in Pokémon spawns. When it’s raining in the game, Water-type Pokémon like Magikarp spawn more frequently. Rainy weather also provides a CP boost to Water-type Pokémon, making caught Magikarp stronger. Utilize rainy weather to your advantage and significantly increase your catch rate.
Transferring Magikarp: Converting Captures into Candy
Once you’ve caught a Magikarp, you have the option to transfer it to Professor Willow. In exchange for transferring a Pokémon, you receive 1 candy of that Pokémon’s type. This might seem like a small amount, but transferring every Magikarp you catch is essential to accumulating candy quickly.
Remember, always transfer lower CP and IV Magikarp. Keep the ones with the best stats for potential evolution during events that offer special moves for Gyarados.
Pinap Berries: Doubling Your Candy Yield
Pinap Berries are a trainer’s best friend. When used before attempting to catch a Pokémon, they double the amount of candy you receive upon a successful catch. This means you’ll get 6 Magikarp Candy per catch instead of the usual 3.
Stock up on Pinap Berries by spinning Photo Discs at PokéStops and completing research tasks. They are invaluable for accelerating your candy collection. Use them wisely on every Magikarp encounter.
Research Tasks: Earning Candy Through Quests
Keep an eye out for research tasks that reward Magikarp Candy. These tasks can range from catching a certain number of Pokémon to completing specific raid battles. The rewards can vary, but they often provide a significant boost to your candy count.
Check your “Today View” for daily research tasks and special event research. These tasks are a consistent source of bonus candy and can significantly reduce the time it takes to evolve your Magikarp.
Buddy Pokémon: Walking for Candy
Assigning Magikarp as your Buddy Pokémon is another reliable way to earn candy. After walking a certain distance with your Buddy, you’ll receive a candy. The distance required for Magikarp is relatively short, making it an efficient method.
Walking with your Buddy is a passive way to earn candy while you’re playing the game. It’s especially effective when combined with other methods, such as catching Magikarp and completing research tasks. Use a Poffin to maximize buddy affection and reduce the walking distance.
Leveraging Events and Promotions for Magikarp Candy
Pokémon GO frequently features events and promotions that can significantly impact your ability to collect Magikarp Candy. Being aware of these events and taking advantage of them is crucial for maximizing your candy gains.
Community Days and Spotlight Hours: A Candy Bonanza
Community Days and Spotlight Hours are special events that feature increased spawn rates for specific Pokémon. While Magikarp Community Days are rare, Spotlight Hours can occasionally feature Magikarp. These events often include bonus candy multipliers, making them incredibly lucrative for candy farming.
During these events, use Pinap Berries on every catch to maximize your candy yield. Focus on catching as many Magikarp as possible within the event’s duration. These events are the fastest way to accumulate large amounts of candy.
Special Events: Taking Advantage of Limited-Time Opportunities
Keep an eye out for special events that offer bonus candy for catching Pokémon or transferring Pokémon. These events can significantly speed up your candy collection efforts.
Events often include tasks or research that rewards extra candy, so prioritize completing them. Stay informed about upcoming events through the Pokémon GO app and online resources.
Optimizing Your Gameplay for Maximum Candy Gain
Beyond the specific methods outlined above, there are several general strategies you can employ to optimize your gameplay and maximize your Magikarp Candy accumulation.
Maximize Encounters: Route Planning and Lure Modules
Plan your routes strategically to maximize the number of Magikarp encounters. Focus on areas with high concentrations of PokéStops and water features.
Use Lure Modules on PokéStops near water to attract more Pokémon, including Magikarp. Lure Modules are particularly effective when combined with Incense, which increases the spawn rate of Pokémon around your avatar.
Strategic Use of Incense: Attracting Magikarp to Your Location
Incense is an item that attracts Pokémon to your location for a limited time. While it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll encounter Magikarp, it does increase the overall spawn rate of Pokémon, increasing your chances of finding one.
Use Incense in areas where Magikarp is known to spawn to maximize its effectiveness. Incense is especially useful in areas with limited PokéStops or when you’re unable to travel to a known Magikarp hotspot.
Raid Battles: A Less Common but Possible Source
While Magikarp is not a common raid boss, it occasionally appears in low-tier raids during special events. Completing these raids will reward you with a significant amount of Magikarp Candy.
Keep an eye out for raid events that feature Magikarp and participate in as many raids as possible. This is a less consistent method than catching and transferring, but it can provide a substantial candy boost.
Advanced Techniques for Dedicated Trainers
For trainers who are truly dedicated to evolving their Magikarp, there are some advanced techniques that can further optimize their candy collection efforts.
Utilizing Pokémon GO Plus or Similar Devices: Autocatching Candy
The Pokémon GO Plus and similar devices allow you to automatically catch Pokémon and spin PokéStops without actively using your phone. This can be a highly efficient way to passively accumulate Magikarp Candy while you’re busy with other tasks.
While these devices aren’t always reliable for catching every Pokémon, they can significantly increase your overall catch rate, especially in areas with high Magikarp spawn rates.
Trading: Swapping Pokémon for Candy
Trading Pokémon with friends is another way to acquire candy. When you trade a Pokémon, both trainers receive a candy of that Pokémon’s type. This can be particularly useful if you have friends who also have a surplus of Magikarp.
Keep in mind that trading requires Stardust and can only be done with trainers who are nearby. However, if you have a reliable trading partner, this can be a valuable method for supplementing your candy collection. The farther the distance between where the Pokemon were caught, the higher the chance to get a lucky Pokemon.
Mega Evolution Bonuses: Enhanced Candy Rewards
Certain Mega-Evolved Pokémon provide bonuses to candy received when catching Pokémon of the same type. If you have a Mega Evolved Water-type Pokémon, it can increase the amount of Magikarp candy you receive when catching Magikarp.
Plan your Mega Evolutions strategically to coincide with periods of increased Magikarp spawns or during events that offer bonus candy.
Conclusion: From Flop to Fierce
Evolving Magikarp into Gyarados is a challenging but rewarding endeavor. By consistently employing the methods outlined in this guide, you can efficiently accumulate the 400 Magikarp Candy required to unlock the power of this iconic Pokémon. Remember, patience, persistence, and a strategic approach are key to success. So, get out there, catch those Magikarp, and prepare to unleash the fury of Gyarados!
How much Magikarp Candy do I need to evolve Magikarp into Gyarados?
You’ll need a whopping 400 Magikarp Candy to evolve your floppy fish into the powerful Gyarados. This high candy requirement is what makes evolving a Magikarp a significant accomplishment in Pokémon GO. It demands dedication, patience, and utilizing various strategies to maximize your candy gains.
Considering the substantial candy cost, effective candy acquisition methods are crucial. Focusing on optimal catching techniques, Pinap Berry usage, and strategic buddy walking can significantly expedite your Magikarp candy collecting journey. Don’t forget to leverage events that offer increased candy rewards for catching specific Pokémon, or even Magikarp itself!
What are the best locations to find Magikarp in Pokémon GO?
Magikarp are primarily found near bodies of water, mirroring their natural habitat. Look for them in areas like rivers, lakes, oceans, and even canals. Public parks with ponds or fountains can also be productive hunting grounds for this Water-type Pokémon.
In addition to physical water sources, consider areas designated as “water biomes” within Pokémon GO. These locations often have increased spawn rates for Water-type Pokémon, making them ideal for finding Magikarp. Local Pokémon GO communities or online resources can often provide insights into the best Magikarp hotspots in your specific area.
How can I effectively use Pinap Berries to increase my Magikarp Candy gains?
Pinap Berries are your best friends when aiming to quickly accumulate Magikarp Candy. Feeding a Pinap Berry to a Magikarp before attempting to catch it will double the amount of candy you receive if the catch is successful. This effectively triples the base candy reward, making Pinap Berries invaluable for candy farming.
Remember that the Pinap Berry effect lasts only for the next catch attempt. If the Magikarp breaks free, you’ll need to feed it another Pinap Berry before trying again. Mastering the art of consistently catching Magikarp with Pinap Berries will drastically accelerate your evolution goal.
What is the Buddy System and how can it help me get more Magikarp Candy?
The Buddy System allows you to designate a Pokémon as your “Buddy,” and walking a certain distance with them will reward you with candy. Magikarp, being a relatively common Pokémon, requires a shorter distance walked compared to many other Pokémon to earn candy.
Select your Magikarp as your Buddy, and walk the required distance (typically 1km) to receive a candy. This is a passive way to gain candy while you’re out exploring, catching other Pokémon, or even just doing your daily routine. Remember to check your Buddy’s mood and feed it Poffins to reduce the distance required for candy.
Are there any events in Pokémon GO that increase Magikarp spawns or candy rewards?
Yes, Pokémon GO frequently features events that can greatly benefit your Magikarp Candy hunt. Look out for Water-type themed events, Community Days featuring Magikarp, or events that offer increased candy rewards for catching Pokémon.
These events often include boosted spawn rates for specific Pokémon, including Magikarp, making them significantly easier to find. They may also provide bonuses such as double or even triple catch candy, or increased candy rewards for transferring Pokémon. Keeping an eye on official Pokémon GO announcements and in-game news is crucial for maximizing your candy gains during these events.
Should I prioritize catching or hatching Magikarp for candy acquisition?
Generally, prioritizing catching Magikarp is the more efficient method for candy acquisition. While hatching Magikarp from eggs is possible, the probability of hatching a Magikarp from a specific egg type is relatively low compared to the abundance of Magikarp in suitable wild locations.
Catching Magikarp allows for targeted candy farming, especially when utilizing Pinap Berries and leveraging events. Furthermore, catching provides Stardust, which is a valuable resource for powering up your Pokémon. While hatching can be a nice bonus, focusing on catching is usually the faster path to 400 candies.
What should I do with my lower IV Magikarp after I’ve caught a better one?
After you’ve caught a Magikarp with better Individual Values (IVs) and are focusing on evolving that specific one, it’s generally best to transfer your lower IV Magikarp to Professor Willow. This will grant you an additional Magikarp Candy, contributing to your overall candy accumulation goal.
Transferring Pokémon is a simple but crucial aspect of candy management. While you might be tempted to hold onto multiple Magikarp, especially those with decent CP, the primary goal is to evolve one with the best possible stats. Therefore, transferring your weaker Magikarp is a worthwhile sacrifice to hasten your Gyarados evolution.