Where to Find an Alpha Magikarp in Pokemon Legends: Arceus

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is set in olden times in the Pokemon world when it was rare to find harmony between people and Pokemon. Set in Hisui, modern-day Sinnoh, you will join the Galaxy Expedition Team (Galaxy Team for short) as a member of the Survey Corps stationed in Jubilife Village. You will be tasked to meet every species of Pokémon from the Hisui region to complete the region’s first-ever Pokédex.

In the game, there are Pokemon who appear larger than their regular counterparts with glowing red eyes, which means they are filled with Wild Might that increases all of their stats and reduces the damage they receive from status conditions, and increases combat capabilities that are found all over the Hisui region. These Pokemon are called Alpha Pokemon. 

In this guide, we will learn where to find an Alpha Magikarp!

Alpha Pokemon

The Alpha Pokemon will always be at a higher level than their regular counterparts. They will always be aggressive once they notice the player (except for Mantyke and Mantine) and will never run away (except for when the type of Alpha Pokemon appears during a certain time of day or if a Space-Time Distortion appears around them). Alpha Pokemon will roar and release a shockwave once they will notice the player, and if the player is close enough, the player may get staggered and get knocked to the ground for a short while.

The player will be able to catch Alpha Pokemon, regardless of the Alpha Pokemon’s level, by battling with it and then eventually throwing a Poke Ball. The player, however, can catch Alpha Pokemon without battling by sneaking around the Alpha Pokemon in the tall grass or by using stealth items and then throwing a Poke Ball; however, the player cannot do this if the player’s current obedience level is significantly lower than the Alpha Pokemon’s level.

Additionally, suppose the player has a hard time catching an Alpha Pokemon. In that case, the player can increase the catch rate of catching an Alpha Pokemon by raising the player’s Star Rank (the player’s Survey Corps rank), which can be done by completing Research Tasks and talking to Professor Laventon in any of the Base Camps.

Three types of Alpha Pokemon can be found in the game: fixed Alpha Pokemon that will always spawn and can be found in certain areas of the game and will always be at a fixed level; random Alpha Pokemon, which may only appear once the player has quelled the area’s frenzied Noble Pokemon, and Alpha Pokemon in Massive Mass Outbreaks which can appear as a second wave in the same location as the first wave. 

As the other two are completely random, we will be talking about fixed Alpha Pokemon, specifically an Alpha Magikarp.

Alpha Magikarp

Magikarp is a Water type Fish Pokemon with large red-orange scales on its body that looks like that of a fish, a pair of large eyes with a single dot for pupils, pink lips, long barbels, white pectoral and tail fins, and a yellowfin that looks like a crown on its back and a similar one on its underside. According to its Pokedex entry in the game, Magikarp is a feeble and pitiful Pokemon but very hardy. Additionally, Magikarp can be found living in all sorts of places as it is unbothered by turbid water.

Alpha Magikarp can be found in the waters west of Oreburrow Tunnel (east of Nature’s Pantry or south of Obsidian Falls) in the Obsidian Fieldlands and can be found here at all times of the day and in every weather condition. The Alpha Magikarp that can be found in this location is Level 55.

It is recommended to sneak to the back of the Alpha Pokemon, using the tall grass or stealth items like Smoke Bombs, and throw the player’s Pokemon or Poke Ball on its back to catch it unawares, which assures that the player moves first in battle.

If you plan on distracting it with food before catching it, it is worth mentioning that Magikarp’s preferred foods are Hearty Grains and Plump Beans.

Suppose you plan on battling a Magikarp first before catching it. In that case, it is worth noting that, as mentioned, Magikarp is a Water-type Pokemon which means it has a weakness to Electric-type and Grass-type moves (super effective) and resistance to Fire-type, Ice-type, Steel-type, and Water-type moves (not very effective).

Aside from the Alpha Magikarp that can be found in the Obsidian Fieldlands, the regular, non-alpha Magikarp can also be found in other parts of the Obsidian Fieldlands (around Lake Verity and in the waters east of Worn Bridge) and the Coronet Highlands (in the waters of Fabled Spring). Magikarp can be found at these locations at all times of the day and in every weather condition. Aside from that, Magikarp may also be found in Massive Mass Outbreaks in the Cobalt Coastlands.

Now that the player has an Alpha Magikarp, the player can now try to use the Alpha Magikarp to complete other requests, complete missions, or complete Arceus’ task for the player, which is to catch ‘em all!