How Do You Feed Magikarp? A Comprehensive Guide

The surprisingly simple answer is: it depends on where you’re trying to feed the notoriously weak Magikarp. In the vast world of Pokémon, the methods and even the need to feed your Pokémon vary greatly between the core games, spin-offs like Pokémon GO, and the sprawling animated series.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you can entice wild Magikarp with Oran Berries by tossing them into the water. Once they are calm and focused on the berries, they will begin to eat the provided treat before it disappears. Also, according to the game, Magikarp’s preferred foods are Hearty Grains and Plump Beans. In other games, specifically after you’ve captured a Magikarp, the system changes entirely. Let’s break down the various scenarios to give you the full picture of Magikarp feeding across the Pokémon universe.

Magikarp Feeding in Pokémon Games

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

In the Hisui region, interacting with Pokémon is a core mechanic. You can feed wild Pokémon to make them easier to catch. For Magikarp, this involves a few simple steps:

1. Locate a Magikarp: They are often found in bodies of water.
2. Observe Their Behavior: Magikarp aren’t aggressive, but they are easily startled.
3. Calm Them Down: Approach slowly and avoid sudden movements.
4. Throw Oran Berries: Toss berries in their direction.
5. Watch Them Eat: They’ll usually swim toward the berries and eat them before they disappear.

This method is mainly about enticing the Pokémon for easier capture, as it temporarily distracts and pacifies them. In this game, their preferred foods are Hearty Grains and Plump Beans.

Core Series Games (e.g., Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Sword and Shield)

In the core series games, there is no direct mechanic to feed your own Pokémon in the wild. Once captured, your Pokémon are cared for by the game’s systems:

• No Direct Feeding: You can’t manually feed your Pokémon individual meals.
• Held Items: You can equip them with items that provide benefits in battle, like Berries for healing or stat boosts.
• Camping/Picnics: In some games like Sword and Shield or Scarlet and Violet, you can set up camp or have a picnic. This allows you to cook meals that provide various buffs to your team, such as increased experience gain or higher encounter rates for certain Pokémon types. However, this is a team-wide buff, not direct feeding.

Pokémon GO

Pokémon GO takes a slightly different approach to the food dynamic. While you can’t specifically feed a Magikarp you own, you can utilize Berries in a few ways:

• Feeding Wild Pokémon: You can feed wild Pokémon Berries like Razz Berries to make them easier to catch. This lowers their flee rate and increases your chance of a successful capture.
• Gym Defense: You can feed Berries to Pokémon defending Gyms to restore their motivation. Motivation decreases over time, and feeding them Berries keeps them in the Gym longer.

So, in Pokémon GO, the focus is on using food items strategically for capture and gym defense, not individual Pokémon care.

Magikarp Feeding in the Pokémon Anime

In the animated series, the depiction of Pokémon eating is more generalized. Pokémon are often shown eating Pokémon food, berries, and other items, but the specifics of their diet aren’t typically highlighted. Magikarp is rarely shown eating in the anime, which reflects its status as a weak and often ridiculed Pokémon. However, it’s safe to assume they consume food appropriate for Water-type Pokémon.

Why Can’t I Directly Feed My Pokémon?

The lack of direct feeding mechanics for your own Pokémon in most games stems from a few design choices:

• Simplification: Pokémon games are already complex, with battling, breeding, training, and collecting. Adding a detailed feeding system would add another layer of complexity.
• Focus on Battling: The core of the Pokémon experience is battling. The games prioritize mechanics that enhance the battling experience over simulation aspects like feeding.
• Team-Based Care: The care of your Pokémon is often abstracted to the team level. Camping and cooking provide benefits to the entire team, streamlining the care process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Feeding Magikarp

Here are some frequently asked questions to further illuminate the world of Magikarp and its dietary needs:

1. What do Magikarp eat in the wild?

In the wild, Magikarp are believed to be omnivores, consuming algae, small aquatic plants, and occasionally small insects or crustaceans. However, given their weak nature, their diet is likely opportunistic and not particularly specialized. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus specifically, their preferred foods are listed as Hearty Grains and Plump Beans.

2. Can I feed Magikarp in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet?

No, you cannot directly feed Magikarp or any other Pokémon in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. You can, however, make sandwiches during picnics that will give your entire team various buffs, but this is not direct feeding.

3. What happens if I don’t feed my Magikarp?

In most Pokémon games, there are no negative consequences for not “feeding” your Magikarp. The game assumes your Pokémon are adequately cared for. In Pokémon GO, if you don’t feed a Pokémon defending a Gym, its motivation will decrease, and it will eventually be knocked out.

4. Is there a special food that Magikarp loves?

While not explicitly stated in most games, Hearty Grains and Plump Beans are considered Magikarp’s preferred foods in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. In general, Water-type Pokémon tend to enjoy foods that are rich in nutrients and easily digestible.

5. Can I feed my Magikarp TMs?

No, Magikarp cannot learn any TMs. It is notoriously limited in its movepool, typically only learning moves like Splash, Tackle, and Flail. This is part of its design as a weak Pokémon with the potential for a powerful evolution.

6. How do I keep my Magikarp happy?

While you can’t directly feed your Magikarp in most games, you can keep it happy by:

• Battling: Using it in battles, even if it just means switching it out immediately.
• Training: Leveling it up through experience points.
• Affection (in some games): Playing with it in Pokémon Amie (Sun and Moon) or Pokémon Refresh (Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Eevee!), which increases its affection.
• Picnics: Make Sandwiches in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

7. What are the best berries to feed wild Magikarp?

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Oran Berries are the most effective for calming and distracting Magikarp. In Pokémon GO, Razz Berries can be used to increase the likelihood of catching a wild Magikarp.

8. Why is Magikarp so weak?

Magikarp is intentionally designed to be a weak Pokémon to highlight the dramatic transformation it undergoes when it evolves into Gyarados. This evolution is based on the Chinese mythological tale of carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, transforming into dragons as a reward for their perseverance.

9. Is Magikarp edible?

According to lore within the Pokémon universe, particularly in the book “Pokémon Shipwreck,” Magikarp is basically inedible. It’s described as being mostly scales and bones, with very little actual meat.

10. How many eggs does Magikarp lay?

Magikarp are known to lay over 1,000 eggs during breeding season. This high reproductive rate helps ensure the survival of the species despite their individual weakness.

11. Does Magikarp need water to survive?

Yes, Magikarp is a Water-type Pokémon and needs water to survive. They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater environments.

12. What level does Magikarp evolve?

Magikarp evolves into Gyarados at level 20. This is a significant milestone for trainers, as it transforms one of the weakest Pokémon into a powerful and formidable creature.

13. Why does it take 400 candies to evolve Magikarp in Pokémon GO?

The high candy requirement (400) to evolve Magikarp into Gyarados in Pokémon GO is due to the massive stat increase that occurs during the evolution. Gyarados is significantly stronger than Magikarp, making it a worthwhile investment. This also provides a compelling goal for players.

14. Can Magikarp turn into Rayquaza?

No, Magikarp does not evolve into Rayquaza. This misconception arises from a fan theory based on certain in-game events and glitches, but it is not an official part of the Pokémon lore.

15. Where can I learn more about the educational aspects of Pokémon?

You can explore the Games Learning Society, an academic organization dedicated to understanding the intersection of games and education. Visit their website at GamesLearningSociety.org or through this anchor text: Games Learning Society to learn more about the research and educational initiatives in gaming.

In conclusion, while the act of feeding Magikarp may seem simple on the surface, its nuances vary depending on the specific Pokémon game you’re playing. From throwing berries in Arceus to using them for gym defense in Pokémon GO, understanding the different mechanics allows you to fully engage with the Pokémon world.