How to catch Gyarados in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Gyarados is a powerful Pokémon with strong stats and a versatile moveset that make it a common addition to many competitive and casual players’ teams. It was introduced in Pokémon Red and Green, and has featured in many Pokémon TV shows, movies, and games. Gyarados has a place on the teams of many gym leaders and even some Elite Four champions in previous generations! This extremely strong Pokémon also happens to evolve from one of the weakest Pokémon of all: Magikarp.

Who’s that Pokémon? Gyarados Facts

1. Gyarados is a fearsome sea serpent Pokémon known for its strength.
2. Gyarados’s Water and Flying typing gives it good defense against Fire, Water, Ice, Fighting, Bug, and Steel type attacks, and immunity to Ground type attacks. However, Gyarados is weak to Rock and Electric type attacks.
3. Gyarados’s stats make it a durable physical attacker, with high Attack and HP stats, and a solid Special Defense stat.
4. Gyarados’s shiny form takes on a red appearance.
5. In some generations of Pokémon, Gyarados of different genders have slightly different appearances. Female Gyarados have white whiskers, while male Gyarados have blue whiskers.
6. Gyarados’s National Pokédex number is 130.

Can you catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield?

Gyarados can be caught in the wild in many places throughout the Galar region, or it can be evolved from Magikarp. Gyarados can be caught in both Pokémon Sword and Shield.

Where to catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield:

1. Overworld
2. Route 2
3. The Wild Area
4. Axew’s Eye
5. Bridge Field
6. Dusty Bowl
7. East Lake Axewell
8. Giant’s Cap
9. Giant’s Mirror
10. Giant’s Seat
11. Lake of Outrage
12. West Lake Axewell
13. Wild Area Max Raid Battles:
14. Bridge Field
15. Dusty Bowl
16. East Lake Axewell
17. Giant’s Cap
18. Lake of Outrage
19. South Lake Miloch
20. West Lake Axewell
21. Isle of Armor
22. Challenge Beach
23. Loop Lagoon
24. Workout Sea
25. Stepping-Stone Sea
26. Insular Sea
27. Honeycalm Sea
28. Honeycalm Island
29. Isle of Armor Max Raid Battles
30. Soothing Wetlands
31. Forest of Focus
32. Challenge Beach
33. Loop Lagoon
34. Workout Sea
35. Stepping-Stone Sea
36. Honeycalm Sea
37. Crown Tundra
38. Giant’s Bed
39. Snowslide Slope
40. Giant’s Foot
41. Frigid Sea
42. Ballimere Lake
43. Crown Tundra Max Raid Battles
44. Giant’s Bed
45. Giant’s Foot
46. Frigid Sea
47. Ballimere Lake

What are the requirements to catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield?

In order to catch Gyarados, you must be able to travel across the surface of the many lakes and rivers in the Galar region. Since Pokémon Sword and Shield don’t allow you to Surf on the overworld, you must use the upgraded Rotom Bike to travel across water. You first receive the Rotom Bike on Route 5, and later, the man who gives you the bike will upgrade it for you once you reach Route 9, south of Circhester.

How to catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield: Step-by-step guide

Read over the following guide to find the easiest way to catch a Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield:

1. After you receive the upgraded Rotom Bike on Route 9, travel to the Wedgehurst Pokémon Center. If you don’t have any PokéBalls, visit the Pokémon Center to buy a few!

1. Head out the northeast exit of Wedgehurst to Route 2.

1. Continue past the grassy areas down to Professor Magnolia’s House.

1. While in front of Professor Magnolia’s House, activate your upgraded Rotom Bike (from Route 9) and enter the water via the small dirt ramp to the left, just south of the bench.

1. Travel out onto the water and look for Gyarados. Its massive body will be easy to see on the water.

1. Enter battle with Gyarados. Carefully battle Gyarados to reduce its health and make it easier to catch. You can try inflicting a Status Effect like Paralysis or Sleep to make it even easier to catch.

1. Once Gyarados is at low health, throw your PokéBall! If it manages to break free, just keep trying until you finally add Gyarados to your Pokédex!

Quick Version: How to catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield

To easily catch Gyarados in Pokémon Sword and Shield, visit Route 2 and search the lake with your Rotom Bike. You’ll eventually find Gyarados swimming in the water.

Explainer Video:

Gyarados: Moveset by Level

Level	Attack Name	Type	Category	Power
0	Bite	Dark	Physical	60
-	-	The target is bitten with viciously sharp fangs. This may also make the target flinch.
0	Flail	Normal	Physical	Variable
-	-	The user flails about aimlessly to attack. The less HP the user has, the greater the move's power.
0	Splash	Normal	Status	0
-	-	The user just flops and splashes around to no effect at all...
0	Tackle	Normal	Physical	40
-	-	A physical attack in which the user charges and slams into the target with its whole body.
0	Leer	Normal	Status	0
-	-	The user gives opposing Pokémon an intimidating leer that lowers the Defense stat.
0	Twister	Dragon	Special	40
-	-	The user whips up a vicious tornado to tear at opposing Pokémon. This may also make them flinch.
4	Whirlpool	Water	Special	35
-	-	The user traps the target in a violent swirling whirlpool for four to five turns.
8	Ice Fang	Ice	Physical	65
-	-	The user bites with cold-infused fangs. This may also make the target flinch or leave it frozen.
12	Brine	Water	Special	65
-	-	If the target's HP is half or less, this attack will hit with double the power.
16	Scary Face	Normal	Status	0
-	-	The user frightens the target with a scary face to harshly lower its Speed stat.
21	Waterfall	Water	Physical	80
-	-	The user charges at the target and may make it flinch.
24	Crunch	Dark	Physical	80
-	-	The user crunches up the target with sharp fangs. This may also lower the target's Defense stat.
28	Rain Dance	Water	Status	0
-	-	The user summons a heavy rain that falls for five turns, powering up Water-type moves. It lowers the power of Fire-type moves.
32	Aqua Tail	Water	Physical	90
-	-	The user attacks by swinging its tail as if it were a vicious wave in a raging storm.
36	Dragon Dance	Dragon	Status	0
-	-	The user vigorously performs a mystic, powerful dance that raises its Attack and Speed stats.
40	Hydro Pump	Water	Special	110
-	-	The target is blasted by a huge volume of water launched under great pressure.
44	Hurricane	Flying	Special	110
-	-	The user attacks by wrapping its opponent in a fierce wind that flies up into the sky. This may also confuse the target.
48	Thrash	Normal	Physical	120
-	-	The user rampages and attacks for two to three turns. The user then becomes confused.
52	Hyper Beam	Normal	Special	150
-	-	The target is attacked with a powerful beam. The user can't move on the next turn.

Gyarados: Pre-evolutions and Evolutions

Gyarados has one pre-evolution: Magikarp.

1. To acquire Gyarados’s pre-evolution Magikarp, breed Gyarados at the Pokémon Daycare in the Wild Area, and then travel with the egg in your party until it hatches. You can also find Magikarp by surfing or fishing in various areas on the overworld, or in certain Max Raid Battles. Train Magikarp to level 20 to make it evolve into Gyarados.

Additional Details About Gyarados

1. In Red/Blue/Yellow Version, players can get early access to Gyarados by talking to a shady salesman in the Pokémon Center by Mt. Moon. The player can spend 500 PokéDollars to receive a level 5 Magikarp that knows only the move Splash. Many players were shocked that someone sold them such a weak Pokémon, then even more shocked when it evolved into Gyarados. The only other way to obtain Magikarp or Gyarados is by fishing.

1. In Gold/Silver/Crystal the player is guaranteed to battle a Shiny (Red) Gyarados after a sequence involving Team Rocket at the Lake of Rage. To date, this is the only guaranteed shiny Pokémon players encounter in the story of a Pokémon game.

1. Gyarados is well known for evolving from one of the weakest Pokemon in the game into one of the strongest. In fact, Gyarados has the highest base Attack stat of all water Pokemon.

Final Words

Gyarados is rather easy to find on the overworld, and this Water type physical attacker makes a great addition to many well-rounded teams. Get out there and catch one of the original “cool” Pokémon today!

Let’s Go Gyarados!