People are often scared to use gyrados because of it's puny predacessor,
magigarp. It has low hp, but it is not the worst!

Name:         Magikarp 
Type:         Basic Pokemon
Card #:       card 35 of 102 
Rarity:       Uncommon
Color:        Water 
HP:           30 HP
Weakness:     L
Resistance:   none
Retreat:      1
Species:      Fish
Level:        8
Pokemon #:    129
Attack:       [1]  Tackle  (10)
Attack:       [W]  Flail  (10x)
              Does 10 dam. times number of dam. counters on Magikarp.

imrovement from goldeen, except hp! Dewgong is only better by hp too! Heh heh
ohhhh. Okkaaayy, so it is kind of bad, but flail will do 20 sometimes! It
could kill a diglet or ratata if you get the coin flip! DEFENDER PEOPLE,
DEFENDER!!!!
3/10. I know....

looky here


Name:        Magikarp
Type:        Basic Pokemon
Card #:      card 47 of 82
Rarity:      Uncommon
Color:       Water
HP:          30 HP
Weakness:    L
Resistance:  none
Retreat:     1
Pokemon #:   129
Species:     Fish
Level:       6
Attack:      [1]  Flop  (10)
Attack:      [WWW]  Rapid Evolution
              Search your deck for an Evolution card named Gyarados or Dark
              Gyarados and put it on Magikarp.  (This counts as evolving
              Magikarp.)  Shuffle your deck afterward.

better. same first attack. ugh.... But rapid evelution! Great! Search for a
gyardis in your deck and evolve magikarp! the three energy retreat cost
prepares you for gyrados' costly attacks. I admit the promo eevee is much
better than this card. Free evelution, three choices for evolving, 20 damge
attackn on turn 1, same hp. But gyrados people! It is worth it. Raindance
decks help.
4/10, not much better, still in my deck

Misty's Magikarp
Type:  Basic Water Pokemon
LV.5      HP 30
C:   Play Dead
  Effect:  Flip a coin.  If heads, during your opponent's next
    turn, prevent all damage done to this Pokemon by attacks.
    (Other effects are unchanged.)
C:   Splash:   10
-C     Retreat
L      Weakness
No. 129 (Common)

what the ... level 5! Pichu is level 5! splash, uh you know the drill.
Ugh..... play dead wuill keep you alive awhile, it's just like pichu, with a
costly baby power. Misty's gyrados is worth it though, unless the pokemon
power is trouble for you.
2/10 yeah, not good at all, but lasts. computer search.....


Giovanni's Magikarp
Type:  Basic Water Pokemon
LV.9      HP 30
W:   Dragon Memory:   40
  Effect:  Flip a coin.  If tails, this attack does nothing.
    Either way,  you can't use this attack again as long as this
    Pokemon stays in play (even putting this Pokemon on your
    Bench won't let you use it again).
WC:   Splash Roll:   10x
  Effect:  Flip 3 coins.  This attack does 10 damage times the
    number of heads.
-C        Retreat
L         Weakness
No. 129 (Common)

Yessssss! Hooorray! dragon memory rocks! better than farfetch'd! actually a
good attack! splash roll is good too, max 30 damage, costly for a flipper
like this though. Giovanni's gyrados is okay too, but misty's and base are
better, and kingdora is a better version by far. By the way, the gym
maguikarps are common, and of all the magikarps to be common, they chose
giovaanni's. The boss is not pleased, nor am i.
6/10 much better. much much much much better! Too bad it can only be used for
giovanni's uses though.

Well, if giovanni's magikarpo could evolve into any gyrados, it would rule
the world, but sadly we must stick to base and rocket (rocket only really.)
but there are good magikarps out there. also if promo eevee was a magikarp,
it wouldnt be an eevee, and the world would be a better place. And this just
goes to show... GYM 2 IS THE BOMB!!!!

Andygarin@aol.com-AG :)