How Many Kilometers Do You Need to Walk for a Single Magikarp Candy in Pokémon GO?
The simple answer is 1 kilometer. In Pokémon GO, you earn one Magikarp Candy for every 1 kilometer you walk with Magikarp set as your Buddy Pokémon. This makes Magikarp one of the easiest Pokémon to farm candy for, a crucial factor considering you need a whopping 400 candies to evolve it into the mighty Gyarados.
Why Magikarp Candy Matters
Before diving deeper, let’s understand why accumulating Magikarp Candy is so important. Magikarp, known for its utter uselessness in battle, undergoes one of the most dramatic transformations in the Pokémon universe. This transformation requires a significant investment of 400 candies, making it a long-term goal for many trainers.
Gyarados, on the other hand, is a powerful Water and Flying-type Pokémon that can be a valuable asset to any team. It boasts impressive stats and is capable of learning a diverse range of moves, making it effective in raids, Gym battles, and even Trainer battles. Furthermore, evolving a Magikarp into Gyarados is a requirement in some Special Research tasks, such as the Mythical Discovery task.
Optimizing Your Magikarp Candy Grind
Walking is the most common way to earn Magikarp Candy, but there are a few strategies you can employ to speed up the process:
- Set Magikarp as your Buddy Pokémon: This is the most basic step. Go to your profile, tap on the Buddy icon at the bottom left, and select Magikarp.
- Use Pinap Berries: When encountering Magikarp in the wild, use a Pinap Berry before catching it. This will double the amount of candy you receive from the catch.
- Participate in Events: Keep an eye out for events that offer bonuses to catching Water-type Pokémon or increased candy rewards. These events can significantly accelerate your Magikarp Candy accumulation.
- Trade Pokémon: Trading Pokémon with friends can earn you extra candy. The further away the Pokémon were originally caught, the more candy you receive for trading.
- Transfer Pokémon: Transferring unwanted Magikarp to Professor Willow will give you one candy per transfer.
Adventure Sync: Earning Candy While You’re On the Go
Pokémon GO’s Adventure Sync feature allows you to track your walking distance even when the app isn’t actively running. This is a fantastic way to earn Magikarp Candy passively as you go about your daily activities. Ensure that Adventure Sync is enabled in your settings to take advantage of this feature.
To enable Adventure Sync, follow these steps:
- Go to the Settings menu in Pokémon GO.
- Scroll down and tap on Adventure Sync.
- Grant the necessary permissions to allow Pokémon GO to access your location and activity data.
With Adventure Sync activated, Pokémon GO will track your distance and reward you with Magikarp Candy (and other benefits) even when the app is closed. This makes it easier than ever to reach that magic number of 400 candies.
Don’t Forget About XL Candy!
Once you reach Trainer Level 31, you’ll start encountering XL Candy, which is used to power up your Pokémon beyond Level 40. You can get Magikarp XL Candy by catching Magikarp, hatching eggs, and trading. You can also convert 100 regular Magikarp Candy into one Magikarp XL Candy.
Is Magikarp a good Buddy Pokemon?
Yes, absolutely! With only 1 km required to earn one candy, Magikarp is a great buddy. It’s also important to consider while completing some of the special research tasks and quests in the game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Magikarp Candy
1. Why does Magikarp require 400 candies to evolve?
Magikarp requires 400 candies because its evolution into Gyarados represents a massive power jump. Magikarp is notoriously weak, and Gyarados is a powerful and versatile Pokémon. The high candy cost reflects this dramatic transformation.
2. Is it worth making Magikarp my Buddy Pokémon?
Yes, especially if you’re trying to evolve it into Gyarados. The 1 km walking distance makes it one of the most efficient Pokémon for candy farming. Also, certain Special Research tasks require you to earn candy with your buddy.
3. Are there any events that increase Magikarp Candy rewards?
Yes, Pokémon GO frequently hosts events that feature increased candy rewards for catching certain Pokémon. Keep an eye out for events that focus on Water-type Pokémon, as these often include boosted Magikarp Candy drops.
4. Can I use Rare Candy on Magikarp?
Yes, Rare Candy can be used on any Pokémon, including Magikarp. However, it’s generally more efficient to use Rare Candy on Legendary or Mythical Pokémon, as they are much harder to obtain candy for.
5. What is the best way to catch Magikarp in Pokémon GO?
Magikarp are commonly found near bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. Using Lure Modules at PokéStops near water can increase your chances of encountering Magikarp. You can also use Incense.
6. Does the weather affect Magikarp spawns?
Yes, weather conditions can influence Pokémon spawns. Magikarp are more likely to appear during rainy or windy weather.
7. What is Adventure Sync, and how does it help me get Magikarp Candy?
Adventure Sync is a feature that tracks your walking distance even when the Pokémon GO app is closed. By enabling Adventure Sync, you can passively earn Magikarp Candy as you go about your daily activities.
8. Can I convert regular Candy into XL Candy?
Yes, once you reach Trainer Level 31, you can convert 100 regular Magikarp Candy into one Magikarp XL Candy.
9. What is the purpose of XL Candy?
XL Candy is used to power up your Pokémon beyond Level 40, increasing their CP and overall strength.
10. Is there a shiny version of Magikarp in Pokémon GO?
Yes, there is a shiny version of Magikarp in Pokémon GO. It is gold in color and is significantly rarer than the standard red Magikarp.
11. Does the evolution of Magikarp result in a better Pokemon for gameplay?
Yes, Magikarp evolves into Gyarados, which is a powerful Water and Flying-type Pokémon that is effective in raids, Gym battles, and Trainer battles.
12. Does the time of the day affect the spawn rate of Magikarp?
In general, the time of day doesn’t significantly impact the spawn rate of Magikarp. Magikarp is primarily a Water-type Pokémon, so the weather and location will affect spawns more.
13. How do lucky eggs affect Magikarp candy?
Lucky eggs don’t affect candy when catching Magikarp, as the Lucky Egg doubles XP earned, not candy.
14. How do I earn stardust while hunting Magikarp?
To earn stardust while hunting Magikarp, catch them in the wild, participate in research tasks and challenges, use stardust-boosting items such as Star Pieces, and battle in raids and gyms.
15. How does the Games Learning Society relate to Pokemon Go?
Although not directly related, Pokémon GO exemplifies the principles studied by the Games Learning Society, as it leverages gameplay to encourage real-world exploration, social interaction, and physical activity. GamesLearningSociety.org explores how games, like Pokemon Go, can foster learning, engagement, and positive behavior in players.
Conclusion
Earning Magikarp Candy in Pokémon GO is a straightforward but time-consuming process. By understanding the mechanics of walking distance, utilizing bonuses like Pinap Berries, and taking advantage of features like Adventure Sync, you can efficiently accumulate the 400 candies needed to evolve your Magikarp into the formidable Gyarados. Happy hunting, trainers!