Image courtesy of TCGdex.net

Gyarados: Statistical Comparison vs Similar Water-Type Cards

In the sprawling archive of the Evolutions set, Gyarados stands out not just for its dramatic art and towering presence on the bench, but for the way its stat line tells a story of risk, reward, and timing. This Water-type Stage 1 evolves from Magikarp to become a formidable late-game closer, capable of delivering a devastating 180-damage blow while also offering a more reliable 50-damage option early on. Let’s unpack the numbers behind the card and see how it stacks up against peers in its class.

Core stats at a glance

• HP: 130 — a solid middle ground for Stage 1 Water-types in this era, giving Gyarados staying power on the front lines without demanding heroic setup.
• Type & evolution: Water-type, evolves from Magikarp. This classic path is familiar to players who remember the long grind from Magikarp to a game-changing finisher.
• Stage & rarity: Stage 1, Rare. The rarity signals its place in deck-building: a prized late-game option with a splash of nostalgia for collectors.
• Weakness & retreat: Weakness to Lightning x2, retreat cost 3. That retreat cost can slow a shift in momentum if a wrestled-with tempo is needed to reposition for Dragon Rage.
• Illustrator: Mitsuhiro Arita, whose dynamic art has become synonymous with classic Pokémon TCG design evolving through generations.

Attacks that tell two different stories

• Bubble Beam — Cost: Water, Water, Water. Damage: 50. Effect: Flip a coin. If heads, your opponent's Active Pokémon is now Paralyzed. This is the card to deploy for control and stall early in the game, buying time to assemble the dragon’s roar.
• Dragon Rage — Cost: Water, Water, Water, Water. Damage: 180. Effect: Flip 2 coins. If either of them is tails, this attack does nothing. The trade-off is crystal clear: a massive damage spike that can seal a game, but it hinges on a pair of coin flips landing heads—a quintessential risk-versus-reward punch in the TCG’s probabilistic framework.

Where Gyarados sits among similar Water-types — a statistical lens

When you compare Gyarados to other Water-type attackers of its era, several trends emerge. First, HP values for Stage 1 Water-types typically cluster between 110 and 140. Gyarados’ 130 sits comfortably in that range, balancing survivability with the tempo of the match. The real differentiator is the damage-per-turn profile offered by its two attacks. Bubble Beam is an affordable way to apply pressure early and chip away at the opponent’s plan, while Dragon Rage represents a high-variance finish that can win games outright when luck aligns with power and timing.

Statistically, the 180-damage Dragon Rage is unusual for a Stage 1 Water-type in Evolution-era sets. Most big-hit options at this stage tend to be either more predictable (at a lower total cost) or come with stricter conditions. Dragon Rage’s 4-water-energy requirement makes it among the heaviest energy costs for a single attack among comparable cards in the same subset. Yet its raw damage is enticing, especially in formats that encourage swift, decisive plays toward the late game. The flip-based reliability adds a layer of strategic depth: you’re trading certain early aggression for the possibility of a game-ending payoff when the coin lands heads twice in a row.

From a probability perspective, you can model the expected value of Dragon Rage as an exercise in risk management. The attack does 180 damage only if both coins land heads; that happens with probability 1/4, yielding an expected damage of 45 from Dragon Rage if the required energy is spent each time you attempt it. In practical terms, you’ll often use Bubble Beam to stall or soften the board while you set up the Dragon Rage window, then attempt the big hit when the moment feels right. This dynamic is what makes Gyarados feel both fair and thrilling—an embodiment of the elegant risk-versus-reward design the TCG rewards in its most memorable cards.

Collector and market perspectives

From a collecting and market standpoint, this Gyarados is particularly interesting. The Evolution set’s holo variants tend to fetch higher prices than their non-holo counterparts, reflecting both nostalgia and visual appeal. Current data points show a holofoil Gyarados with a robust average price beneath the mid-to-high range of holo cards from the era, with wide variation driven by condition and language edition. The base non-holo version sits at a more accessible price tier, making it a strong option for players who want the stat block and the feel of the card without a premium investment. The card’s status as Rare, its status as a holo variant, and its memorable Dragon Rage payoff contribute to a collector’s sense of story and lineage around Evolutions-era Water-types.

For players building decks, the value of Dragon Rage is that it can be a clutch finisher in the right moment. When paired with the right energy acceleration and stall pieces, Gyarados can transition from a mid-game board presence to a decisive closing blow. For the long-term market, the holo versions, especially in well-preserved condition, tend to perform better as nostalgic investments, with price rallies sometimes tied to reprint chatter or the broader collector sentiment around vintage sets.

Deck-building notes and practical tips

• Energy management: The Dragon Rage cost is brutal, so incorporate reliable Energy acceleration into your build. While you can attach Water Energy normally, you’ll want a plan to maximize energy throughput to avoid getting stuck with a stalled Dragon Rage window.
• Stall-to-finish playstyle: Bubble Beam is your friend early, paralyzing the opponent’s Active to stall and set up your big hit. Use this period to protect Gyarados from Lightning-types that threaten it on the bench with hitting power.
• Weakness awareness: The -2x Lightning weakness means you’ll want to anticipate Electric-type counters and, if possible, pair Gyarados with supportive Water-types that can hold the line or draw support cards to delay threats.
• Collector mindset: If you’re chasing a holo card for display, the Evolutions version is a time-honored centerpiece for Water-type collections and a conversation starter among fans who remember the original Magikarp-to-Gyarados evolution arc.

Product tie-in and closing thought

For fans drawn to the tactile, high-gloss feel of new phone-case aesthetics as much as old-school deck strategy, the Slim Lexan Phone Case — Glossy Ultra-Thin provides a modern accessory that echoes the sleek, high-energy vibe of Gyarados in play. You can explore this product here: Slim Lexan Phone Case — Glossy Ultra-Thin.

Slim Lexan Phone Case — Glossy Ultra-Thin

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