In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the Flying/Water-type Gyarados can be a powerful addition to a team, and players will want to have the best moveset to maximize its potential. Gyarados is the evolved form of Magikarp, a weak Water-type that only knows the move Splash. Most of Gyarados's best moves are within its Flying-Water type to benefit from the same type attack bonus.
Players can obtain a wild Magikarp in the Obsidian Fieldlands, specifically in Obsidian Falls or Lake Verity, by surfing on top of the water. Additionally, Magikarp can be caught as the featured Pokémon during a mass outbreak in Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Once players obtain a Magikarp, they can evolve it into Gyarados after reaching level 20. Players may also encounter a wild Gyarados flying around the waterfalls.
To use their Gyarados most effectively in battle, players should note that Flying-type Pokémon are weak to Electric-, Ice-, and Rock-type moves. Meanwhile, Flying-type attacks are super effective against Bug-, Fighting- and Grass-type Pokémon. Additionally, Water-type moves are super effective against Fire-, Ground-, and Rock-type Pokémon. However, Water-type Pokémon are weakest to Electric and Grass-type moves. Finally, players should note that Gyarados incurs 4x the damage from Electric-type moves because of its dual typing. Therefore, to get the most from the Gyarados on their team in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, players should use the moves Hurricane, Hyper Beam, Aqua Tail, and Hydro Pump.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus - Gyarados's Best Moveset
Hurricane is a Flying-type move with 70 Accuracy, 165 Power, and 10 PP. Gyarados can learn the move Hurricane when it reaches level 37, and it will master this skill at level 48. As a Flying-type move, Hurricane is super effective against Bug-, Fighting-, and Grass-type Pokémon.
Furthermore, Hyper Beam is a Normal-type move with 90 Accuracy, 150 Power, and 5 PP. This move will reduce the player's action speed instead of forcing them to wait for a move to recharge like in previous games. Because Hyper Beam is a Normal-type move, it is not super effective against any type of Pokémon. However, its high Accuracy and Power stats still make it a powerful choice for Gyarados's roster. Gyarados in Pokémon Legends: Arceus will learn Hyper Beam once it reaches level 57, and it will master this move at level 71.
Aqua Tail is a Water-type move with 90 Accuracy, 135 Power, and 10 PP. Aqua Tail is learned at level 20 and mastered at level 40. Because of Aqua Tail's typing, this movie is most effective against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon. Because Hydro Pump has such a low PP stat, Aqua Tail is a useful move for Gyarados to have in addition to Hydro Pump to ensure sufficient Water-type moves in its moveset.
Finally, Hydro Pump is a Water-type move with 80 Accuracy, 165 Power, and 5 PP. Gyarados can learn Hydro Pump beginning at level 47 and master the move at level 59. With only 5 PP, players should use this move sparingly if they need to complete multiple battles in a row. Furthermore, players can craft in Pokémon Legends: Arceus, the item Elixir, to restore depleted PP. As a Water-type move, Hydro Pump is most effective against Fire, Ground, and Rock-type Pokémon.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is available for the Nintendo Switch.