Gyarados vs Magikarp
Gyarados (Legendary Collection) and Magikarp (Legendary Collection) are frequently compared because they belong to the same evolution line. This page breaks down which one is the better buy right now.
Current TCGPlayer market prices put the two at $193.82 for Gyarados and $220.20 for Magikarp — a gap of $26.38 (14%). Prices update daily, and the two charts below show how each has moved.
Stat comparison
| Market price | $193.82 | $220.20 |
| Set | Legendary Collection | Legendary Collection |
| Number | #12 | #52 |
| HP | 100 | 30 |
| Type | Water | Water |
| Subtypes | Stage 1 | Basic |
| Retreat cost | 3 | 1 |
| Rarity | Rare Holo | Uncommon |
Price history
Price History
Price History
Which should you buy?
When comparing Gyarados (Legendary Collection #12) against Magikarp (Legendary Collection #52), the most immediate difference is price. Magikarp currently trades at roughly $220.20 while Gyarados sits near $193.82 — a gap of about $26.38 (14%). That spread alone is often the deciding factor for buyers weighing the two. On raw HP, Gyarados edges the comparison at 100 to the other card's 30 — a meaningful margin for trading hits and surviving chip damage. Both are Water-type Pokémon, which means they compete for the same energy slots and archetype shells. Running both in the same deck is usually overkill unless the strategy specifically wants redundancy. Gyarados evolves directly from Magikarp, so the two are not really "competing" cards — they sit on the same evolution line, with the basic feeding into the evolution. Collectors often want both to complete the line. Rarity is another dividing line: Gyarados is Rare Holo while Magikarp is Uncommon, which typically explains most of the price gap and signals different print volumes. For buyers, the practical question is usually about use-case. If you are chasing value or planning to flip, the cheaper card carries less downside risk. If you are building a deck, the shared-deck or evolution relationship matters more than the sticker price. And for collectors, the two printings or variants together tend to form a more complete set than either alone. Always check the live TCGPlayer and Amazon listings before buying, since prices move.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more expensive, Gyarados or Magikarp?
Magikarp (Legendary Collection) is more expensive at $220.20, versus $193.82 for Gyarados (Legendary Collection) — a difference of $26.38 (14%). Prices refresh daily from TCGPlayer market data.
Are Gyarados and Magikarp used in the same decks?
Not in the archetypes tracked on this site. They may still see play in rogue or tournament-specific builds that aren't listed here.
Which is more recent?
Both were released in 2002, from Legendary Collection and Legendary Collection respectively.
Where should I buy Gyarados or Magikarp?
Both cards are typically available on TCGPlayer (the largest individual-card marketplace) and Amazon (where sealed product and bundles dominate). Use the buy links above to see live listings by condition and seller.