Gyarados, the fearsome Atrocious Pokémon, is known for its incredible power and intimidating presence. Evolving from the seemingly weak Magikarp, Gyarados becomes a Water/Flying type, a combination that might seem a bit unexpected to some trainers. Many wonder why this powerful creature didn’t receive the coveted Water/Dragon typing, especially considering its draconic appearance and immense strength. Let’s dive into the reasons behind this design choice, exploring the delicate balance of gameplay, lore, and Pokémon design philosophy, and touch upon whether a Flying type can even learn to fly in the context of moves.
In the world of Pokémon Generation 1, a Water/Dragon type combination would have been incredibly overpowered. This is primarily because, back in the original games, Dragon-type Pokémon had only one weakness: other Dragon-type moves. However, Dragon-type moves were exceptionally rare, with only Dragon Rage being readily available, a fixed damage move not affected by type matchups in a significant way. This meant that a Water/Dragon Pokémon would effectively have no weaknesses against the common types trainers would encounter throughout their journey.
Imagine Gyarados, already boasting impressive base stats, entering the scene as a Water/Dragon type. Its base stat total of 540 (and an even more formidable 580 considering its pre-Gen 2 Special stat split) would have made it an absolute monster. Consider that Dragonite, intended to be the pinnacle of non-legendary Dragon-types and a challenging ‘final boss’ in its own right, would have been completely overshadowed. Dragonite was designed to be rare, requiring a lengthy leveling process for Dratini and Dragonair to reach its final form. In stark contrast, Magikarp is one of the most common Pokémon, evolving into Gyarados at a mere level 20.
The design of the Magikarp and Gyarados line is itself a core element of their appeal. It’s a classic underdog story: a seemingly useless and ubiquitous fish transforms into an incredibly powerful and majestic creature. This narrative serves as a lesson to players about not underestimating Pokémon that might initially seem weak or uninteresting. Giving Gyarados the Water/Dragon typing would have clashed with this intended design. It might have necessitated making Magikarp rarer or Gyarados weaker statistically, diluting the impact of this dramatic evolution.
Therefore, to maintain gameplay balance and preserve the intended design philosophy, Gyarados was made Water/Flying. The Flying type, while not offensively advantageous for Gyarados’s movepool in Generation 1, served a crucial purpose: introducing a significant weakness. The 4x weakness to Electric-type moves provided a clear counter to Gyarados’s overwhelming power, making it vulnerable despite its impressive stats and typing.
Furthermore, the Flying type is arguably easier to justify from a lore perspective compared to other types that could have introduced weaknesses, such as Electric or Ground. Gyarados possesses fins that resemble wings and is often depicted leaping and soaring out of the water. This visual design lends itself to the Flying type more naturally than, for example, suddenly making it part Electric or Ground, which would have felt less intuitive for its established design and lore.
In conclusion, Gyarados’s Water/Flying typing is a deliberate design choice rooted in gameplay balance and the narrative purpose of the Magikarp evolution line. While the idea of a Water/Dragon Gyarados is undoubtedly appealing in terms of raw power, it would have disrupted the game’s balance in Generation 1 and undermined the core concept behind this iconic Pokémon. The Flying type, while perhaps raising questions about moves like “Fly”, ultimately serves to ground Gyarados in the game’s ecosystem, providing a necessary weakness and aligning with its visual design and lore.
