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

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!