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Magikarp

Base Set / #35/102

Magikarp

Printed language: English · Pokémon

Set (printed edition)
Base Set
Rarity (source)
Uncommon
Illustrator
Mitsuhiro Arita
Source reference
base1-35

CARDEX BACKGROUND

The Pokémon’s story

It is easy to see Magikarp as nothing more than a small Pokémon swept along by the current. Its reputation for weakness invites people to underestimate it, as though its future amounted only to its present difficulties. Yet it can evolve into Gyarados. This transformation casts its beginnings in a different light: behind the creature that barely attracts notice lies a far more impressive possibility, still invisible at first glance.

Background on the species in the video games; its forms and card versions may have appeared later.

A detail worth noticing

Magikarp base1-35 can deliver a direct 10-damage hit with one Colorless Energy. Its other attack counts the damage counters already on it: each adds 10 damage without a coin flip. Mitsuhiro Arita illustrated this printing, where an injured Pokémon can hit harder, but only if it stays in play.

Sources for this background

Card details

HP
30
Type (source)
Water
Stage (source)
Basic
Pokédex number
129
Retreat cost
1 Energy
Weakness (source)
Lightning ×2

Printed card text — English

Quoted source text is retained in the card’s printed language so this exact printing can be identified. The CarDex background above is translated into English.

Description from the source

In the distant past, it was stronger than its horribly weak descendants that exist today.

Attacks

Tackle

Cost: Colorless

Damage: 10

Flail

Cost: Water

Damage: 10x

Does 10 damage times number of damage counters on Magikarp.

Documented variants

Versions reported by the source; identification for sales still needs verification.

  • Normal
  • First Edition
  • normal · unlimited · standard
  • normal · shadowless · standard · 1st-edition
  • normal · shadowless · standard
  • normal · 1999-2000-copyright · standard

View the TCGdex source ↗

Price history

No verified price observations are available for this printing. History will begin once reference matching has been validated; no past prices have been reconstructed.

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