Someone who actually appreciates Magikarp!!! Hooray!

Well, I guess that I'll discuss the Karp too, with a little on the assorted
Gyarados as well...

Base set brought us our first Magikarp and our first Gyarados.  Gyarados was
loved, Magikarp was....well...hated.

Here's Magikarp:

Name:         Magikarp
Type:         Basic Pokemon
Color:        Water 
HP:           30 HP
Weakness:     L
Resistance:   none
Retreat:      1
Attack:       [1]  Tackle  (10)
Attack:       [W]  Flail  (10x)
              Does 10 dam. times number of dam. counters on Magikarp.

Tackle is a little weak, and flail isn't great.  Without plus-power, he
couldn't be killed 1st turn...yet.  That all changed with TR Zapdos and TR
voltorb...oh well. 

    Combos:  Base Magikarp/Base Gyarados/Recall.  This is from Ness's CoTD
section.  Get a pile o' damage on Gyarados and recall Flail for major damage.

Base Gyarados was a whole lot better:

Name:         Gyarados
Type:         Stage 1 -- from Magikarp
Color:        Water 
HP:           100 HP
Weakness:     G
Resistance:   F -30
Retreat:      3
Attack:       [WWW]  Dragon Rage  (50)
Attack:       [WWWW]  Bubblebeam  (40) 
              Flip coin.  If heads, defender is now Paralyzed.

This guy's great; Dragon Rage is powerful, bubblebeam has a good status
effect, and 100 HP kicks serious tail.  Fighting resistance was great, and
Grass weakness wasn't too bad at that time.  3 retreat kinda hurt, but if you
played him, you kept him out for the long haul.
    Combos:  Gyarados and Blastoise:  Basic Raindance. 
               Gyarados and Recall: See Base Magikarp

Then came Rocket.  A brand new Magikarp emerged along with a brand new
Gyarados.  I disagree with Twik's statement that Rocket Magikarp's Waterfall
evolution was bad; it was great.  Dk. Gyarados wasn't as good.  It's pokemon
power only worked when it was knocked out, and then only half the time.  Ice
Beam (30+50%paralysis for WWW) wasn't all too great either.  This guy was a
flop.

Then came Gym Challenge, with two new Magikarp and two new Gyarados.  Here's
their stats:

Name:        Misty's Magikarp
Type:        Basic Pokemon
Color:       Water
HP:          30 HP
Weakness:    L
Resistance:  none
Retreat:     1
Attack:      [1]  Play Dead
             Flip a coin.  If heads, during your opponent's next turn, prevent
             all effects of attacks, including damage, done to Misty's
             Magikarp.
Attack:      [1]  Leap  (10)

Play dead is nice because it allows you to stall while building up for her
Gyarados.  Here it is:

Name:        Misty's Gyarados
Type:        Stage 1 -- Evolves from Misty's Magikarp
Color:       Water
HP:          100 HP
Weakness:    G
Resistance:  F -30
Retreat:     3
Power:       "Rebellion"
             Whenever Misty's Gyarados attacks, flip 2 coins.  If both of them
             are tails, that attack does nothing.  Instead, shuffle Misty's
             Gyarados and all cards attached to it into your deck.  (This
power
             works even if Misty's Gyarados is Confused.)
Attack:      [WWWW]  Tidal Wave  (70)

This guy's the BEST Gyarados out there.  Tidal Wave is pure power; there's no
other attack that can wipe out haymaker pokemon with this much accuracy. 
Rebellion is a pain in the neck, but throw in a Muk and you're fine.  100 HP
is awesome, and allows you to survive even Scyther (either of them).

Finally, there's Giovanni's dragon fish:

Name:        Giovanni's Magikarp
Type:        Basic Pokemon
Color:       Water
HP:          30 HP
Weakness:    L
Resistance:  none
Retreat:     1
Attack:      [W]  Ancestral Memory  (40)
             Flip a coin.  If tails, this attack does nothing.  Either way,
             you can't use this attack again as long as Giovanni's Magikarp
             stays in play (even putting Giovanni's Magikarp on the Bench
won't
             let you use it again).
Attack:      [1W]  Flail Around  (10x)
             Flip 3 coins.  This attack does 10 damage times the number of
             heads.

Ancestral memory is strong, and flail around isn't too bad either.  30 HP is
though...the best of the Magikarp...

Name:        Giovanni's Gyarados
Type:        Stage 1 -- Evolves from Giovanni's Magikarp
Color:       Water
HP:          90 HP
Weakness:    G
Resistance:  F -30
Retreat:     3
Attack:      [W]  Summon Storm
             Flip 2 coins.  If both of them are heads, this attack does 20
damage
             to each other Pokemon (even your own).  Don't apply Weakness and
             Resistance for this attack.
Attack:      [2WW]  Dragon Tornado  (40)
             Unless this attack Knocks Out the Defending Pokemon, choose 1 of
your
             opponent's Benched Pokemon and switch it with the Defending
Pokemon.

Summon Storm isn't great, although combined with transparent walls you can
protect your own bench.  It's also goos vs. Wigglys.  Dragon Tornado isn't
bad either, it works like an after-attack GOW.  This guy works with Blastoise
or DCE, but either way is fast.  Althogh not as powerful as Misty's Gyarados
or as Versatile as Base Gyarados, Giovanni's Gyarados isn't bad at all and
could easily see play in many decks.  You might want to try Giovanni with
him; it'll let you get a Summon storm going first turn. 


Well, that's it for Magikarps and Gyarados for the meanwhile. 
                                                   
                                                -FossilMagikarp
                                        email: Edestus360@aol.com