Can You Beat Pokémon Legends: Arceus Using Only a Magikarp?

Like most games in the Pokémon series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus features Magikarp, a Pokémon that stands out for being incredibly weak. So is it possible to beat the entire game using only a Magikarp? In this video, I attempt to beat Pokémon: Legends Arceus using only a Magikarp!
The clip of the Arceus battle used in this video was recorded by Hawlo! ► / hawelo92
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/ @mandatorypixel
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Music from Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Diamond/Pearl/Platinum, Pokémon Battle Revolution, Learn with Pokémon: Typing Adventure, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Pokémon Duel, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, Pokémon X/Y, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
Grand Arena / The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky / Copyright © Nihon Falcom Corporation

[@morfy42]

I really enjoyed how many rival battles you were allowed to lose in Arceus, it made it feel like an actual rivalry instead of me just curb stomping Hop while he talks about how we're equals

[@MandatoryPixel]

That's true! I imagine most playthroughs probably never find out that you're allowed to lose, though. But it certainly helped me out!

[@arcticdino1650]

I'm baffled by them removing moves from Magikarp, especially since there are Pokedex entries talking about how they used to be much stronger in the past

[@legendslayer6558]

the most painful part of this i noticed is your magikarp had minus attack and boosted spa, which probably honestly didnt hurt terribly but plus attack minus spa is definitely ideal here

[@MandatoryPixel]

Yeah, I only noticed that after I'd already been playing for a while... might've made some parts easier for sure!

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

Personality I would have shot for a nature like impish to lower special attack to increase def

[@rtyuik7]

wow...simultaneously pulling a Magikarp-Only run AND a Struggle-Only run, at the Same Time...

[@lamergamer8211]

I feel like them removing moves from magickarps move pool just feels mean. Like there’s no reason for them to do it they just did it to punch down on that was already terrible for no reason.

[@MandatoryPixel]

Haha, very true! Maybe they were trying to stop people from attempting stupid stuff like this challenge. ;)

[@BaconNuke]

I wonder if it is to meme on making you do a research task of seeing up to 100 uses of Splash.. imagine you trying to grind it out and the wild karps are tackling every so often

[@the-anonymouse]

Honestly I assume it’s because you can level them without battle, at least in this game? Don’t know about the other open world 3d games though. Still a stupid thing imo.

[@FungusBug]

Same game that gave Regigigas the Slow Start ability in a game where no other Pokémon has an ability btw

[@softpaw6234]

​@@FungusBugYeah but slow start is a balancing feature for Rigigigas's high stats

[@essixthefalcon8657]

ok but the cynthia theme jumpscare when volo first appears is fucking glorious editting

[@torenchao]

oh buddy... that's not cynthia's theme...

[@ellioteel]

Every single volo moment had me giggling regardless of if I knew it was coming Your humor is enjoyable and you put a lot of effort into your videos! Keep up the great work c:

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks very much!

[@lazypaladin]

_Legends Arceus could've gave Magikarp some insane moves and just used Biological Evolution as an excuse as to why it doesn't have those moves in Modern Day._

[@MandatoryPixel]

In several games, the Pokédex entry for Magikarp even mentions that it was stronger in the past. So that would've been fun!

[@tonybrewer7536]

​@MandatoryPixel My headcanon is people misidentified Basculegion as strong Magikarp

[@MarkofWisdom]

congrats on finishing this absurd run, and that struggle bug is super weird. As a note for future Arceus runs-you can force spawn new pokemon without having to return to the village by double resting at a bed, with best/most consistent results being sleeping until midday and then sleeping until dawn so it forces 2 days to pass. Used this to try and do shiny hunting stuff...to mixed success

[@Trans4Hire]

Absolute legend, I would have given up after learning Magikarp only learns Splash and definitely thought it was over with the weird dodgy Munchlax, bravo 👏

[@cryptidx6088]

that struggle miss mechanic is so weird... why would they even bother adding something like that to a move that 99% of players will never see?? yet it still wasnt enough to stop a singular magikarp LMAO

[@MandatoryPixel]

Yeah, I'm still not 100% sure why it worked like that! Especially since it only happened against the wardens and clan leaders.

[@Donnmuney]

Really great video but I can only imagine the pain and suffering you went through to make this 😅 Magikarp definitely didn’t need another nerf 😵‍💫

[@MandatoryPixel]

It was pretty tough! They gave Magikarp a few more moves in Scarlet and Violet at least.

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

20:17 I have a theory why. starting around the second half, the clan leaders and wardens start doing multiple pokemon at once, in others words, the game started doing final fantasy nes jank and aimed at nonexistent mons. it's why it's a coin flip

[@MandatoryPixel]

Interesting theory! But some of of them, like Mai, don't use multiple Pokémon in rematches, so I'm not sure if that's it.

[@qm_turtle]

After beating Pokemon Gen 1 to 6 (Blue, Gold, Emerald, Platinum, White, and X) with a single Magikarp (and a Ditto in Gen 1 for the Ghost types), I highly appreciate this video. Unfortunately I don't have a switch yet, so I can't do this run just yet. Next on my list for now is Ultra Moon. Thank you for this video!

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thank you for watching! The mechanics in this game definitely made the challenge pretty unique compared to other games in the series - it was very annoying and difficult, so I'm glad people are still enjoying the video! If you have any other Pokémon challenge ideas you'd like to see me try, or challenges/video ideas for other games, then feel free let me know! I can't guarantee I'll do them, but I try to do challenges that other channels haven't done before so it's always good to know what people might be interested in!

[@SubwaySandwichBossIngo]

This is honestly quite impressive. Not something I would've dared do. Absolute mad lad.

[@ScubaShark8857]

Man beat Volo with a fish

[@t-rexstudioproductions781]

Magikarp no longer flops It floats!

[@neo_b]

your commitment is so admirable i had to subscribe!

[@angle4096]

Man this was amazing, and with an MODEST magikarp too, literally the worst possible nature and you did it. You are super underrated and I hope you get more subscribers.

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks very much!

[@angle4096]

@@MandatoryPixel Inspired I will do the same, just with an adamant karp. I must get the respect of the fish to find a shiny karp in sword. Any tips?

[@MandatoryPixel]

If you're doing it in Legends Arceus, the strategies I came up with are shown off in the video, so I don't really have too many suggestions beyond them! Be prepared for a ton of grinding, I guess. If you're doing it in Sword (or another mainline game), Magikarp can be taught moves besides Splash, so it would probably be better to use those over Struggle.

[@angle4096]

@@MandatoryPixel Thanks I will update when I fulfill my quest

[@kungfuzing1018]

This video is a testament to the power of healing items. Also, good job on surviving the insanity inducing run lol

[@Ludicollision]

The editing in this is so good. Love the volo moments lmao

[@JustJulyo]

This was amazing! Can't believe I haven't seen that many Legend Arceus challenges before

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks! This challenge is still the longest and hardest one I've done for the channel, so I'm glad to see people still watching it!

[@appointmenteer]

great video!! this was so fun to watch

[@unnamed3378]

I really like your videos. Keep up the good work

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks very much!

[@face_nemesis]

i feel nothing but complete despair and dread watching this. i would have given up a thousand times over.

[@MandatoryPixel]

I almost did when I misclicked against Giratina 😂

[@face_nemesis]

I had to pause this. I was watching on my lunch break and it physically hurt. im back with calming soothing tea so i can survive the rest of the video @@MandatoryPixel

[@ChaosMaelstrom]

Should've let that Magikarp evolve at the end. Sure as hell earned it. But I suppose maybe it didn't since it was unable to defeat the game's true antagonist: *potatoes*

[@a_person5668]

Well… there is still one more thing you can do… get to 50 in the endless battle reverie.

[@victisjkb6526]

Another really cool video, keep it up This challenge really turned much more interesting than what I initially thought it would be

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks very much! I thought it ended up being pretty interesting as well!

[@kaidendimitrievich2054]

does he realise he can chose who he can attack in battle by usig the ZL button

[@alexisdipoalo9443]

That's not True with all moves for the record

[@graceholbert2126]

I had no idea that Magikarp didn't even get Tackle in this game

[@snicc_]

they should really take away any recoil when using struggle, either have it hit or not hit just for the people who want to do interesting challenges like this. great video and keep up the work

[@angel-hz9mu]

dude this video was so entertaining and interesting- how does it only have 20k views?! this is a crime ToT

[@torenchao]

Honestly, as someone who did a pacifist run of PLA (that is, only battling when absolutely mandatory, and even then attempting to catch pokémon (in forced battles like alpha kricketune) by chucking balls without damaging them) I have full confidence before watching that you'll be able to do it since there are shockingly few *mandatory* battles... good luck with the postgame boss though, if you end up trying it. edit: 48 mins in and you've 'completed' the main story... time for ~15 minutes focused on my favourite character 🎉🎉 edit2: congrats on beating him with the world's most pathetic fish oh my god

[@bobosmith101]

I have no idea why struggle was behaving oddly. Such behavior isn't even on bulbapedia.

[@MandatoryPixel]

Yeah, I'm not sure either! Especially since it didn't even apply to Ingo. Maybe somebody will do a deep dive into the game's mechanics someday and find out.

[@nicosteer3629]

Funny thing i didnt know about the possibility to send my pokemon to fight the bosses... So i basicaly just exhausted my dudes arm and yeeted these things at the dudes

[@MandatoryPixel]

If it works, it works!

[@nicosteer3629]

@@MandatoryPixel Yeah lol ive just started watching your videos and im already binging them, i love your commentary and your way to approach challenges

[@MandatoryPixel]

@@nicosteer3629 Thanks very much, I'm glad you're liking them! :)

[@BaconNuke]

Okay did not know they removed Tackle and Flail.. Struggle is also weird only in the Clan fights for most part.. The surprise at not taking damage is fine.. I had the inverse when I was 10 levels above a random Drifloon and still got OHKO'd because damage calcs are so weird in this game I swear... Like my theory is the damage calcs are in some kinda weird tiering.. like if two Pokemon are similar levels and on same invisible tier (ie Bidoof and Starly) damage works out as expected for most part.. but if like.. well Magikarp is probably on lower tier than even them then it takes a lot more levels to offset it (ie Shinx using spark on Magikarp vs Starly.. Starly doesn't have to be as high of level to start living earlier than Magikarp has to be to do the same) My only evidence for this theory is even in main series pretty sure Magikarp would live stuff at least sometimes when 20-30 levels above stuff.. if not earlier... That Meli fight at start of the Highlands? On my playthrough when he asked I had clicked "no" so I could prepare.. and he just let me pass.. my only fight with Meli was the one with all 3 mons lol But because of that.. how many fights can be skipped by just saying "no"? Like.. how many losses were avoidable coin flips? Okay I have an idea.. the fights against trainers where Stuggle worked? They use Pokeballs.. other times they are seemingly half treated as wild mons.. and.. maybe since sometimes there can be up to 3 mons in those fights Struggle is just programmed weird and not realizing there isn't the max amount of targets and "missing" the only thing on the field.. and then you said Struggle still missed even when 3 mons were on the field... so maybe just maybe there was a chance more mons were gonna appear in multi battles but the idea was scrapped but data for it still existed for Struggle, and since it is not a thing most playtesters would be testing for... it got overlooked

[@gersubdenis6724]

Surprised there are so few trainer battles with electrice type pokemon

[@tsyumamatsuthehavenofguard32]

IT'S THE KING OF KARP: MAGIKARP! ...oooaaahhh...

[@Jay7707]

Kind of sad that this video was overshadowed by Keegan J’s video on Magikarp.

[@MandatoryPixel]

It is what it is! At least I was the first one to do it. :)

[@TheMapleTurtle]

I would have given in and grabbed the alpha magikarp so fast

[@Flarztheburningsoul]

Jeez, every time I heard the Volo theme, I got worried irl.

[@Zorothegallade-gg7zg]

Now I wonder if it's possible to beat Palworld with only a Chikipi

[@MongooseKingOfTheWastelands]

It's dumb how missing a move that does recoil. That shouldn't be how recoil work.

[@derekw8039]

I just can't believe it's possible to move first without Giratina getting a free two-hit KO on your lead Pokémon, especially when it's a Magikarp! Guess I must have been under-leveled when I fought him. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@eudstersgamersquad6738]

Thanks KZbin for waiting 8 months to give me a notification for a channel I am literally subscribed to. Ugh! KZbin sucks sometimes!

[@MandatoryPixel]

Hopefully you ended up enjoying it!

[@Dovah_Slayer]

Wow, magikarp is even worse than usual in this game. Why would you remove moves from Magikarp?

[@CyberCanonOfficial]

Magikkarp is my favorite pokemon

[@Lynsneakers]

holy shit

[@dynosgarcia7645]

Did I missed the part where you talk about mints or you decided to be a f-psycho and did all of this with a modest Magikarp?

[@MandatoryPixel]

Who can say...? 😉

[@Ds117]

I had fun with it

[@heyheyitsjae2475]

45:12 broke me

[@egg6932]

nice video!!! where is that "join" button???????

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks! Regarding your question, I do these videos as a hobby, and since the gaps between uploads are so long I feel like it might be a little early to add a channel membership. I appreciate the interest, though!

[@gamestoshowmyfriends]

Pixel i have to know how many hours this took you, both Ingame and Realtime!

[@MandatoryPixel]

Enough that I would never recommend it to anyone else 😂

[@vincentfitzgerald9738]

Magikarp learned aka 47 attack

[@sansthecritic2093]

Are you sure you don’t want to go the Mario rpg saga coinless but I can’t because I do t have a capture card so I can’t record footage, again I would love to but I can’t

[@MandatoryPixel]

I mentioned this on your last comment, but I am planning to do other Mario games in the future. This isn't a Mario-only channel, so they won't necessarily be next, but eventually I'll do other Mario videos.

[@hdk-gamer2829]

Next video when site?

[@MandatoryPixel]

Should be out in a day or two!

[@stunningplatinum9477]

Could you not have ever used agile style to deplete splash's pp by 2, and increase the chance of getting two turns in a row?...

[@MandatoryPixel]

Nope! Splash can't be used in agile style.

[@peteypiranalover]

Why not drain pp on other Magikarp? Instead of bidoof and shinx

[@kamuipop]

Leave my son alone

[@monopolyrubix1875]

Algorithm

[@MandatoryPixel]

Thanks for the help, haha!

[@arelr6822]

And then he gave up and disappeared from KZbin forever. Another one bites the dust.

[@MandatoryPixel]

Nope! These videos are just a hobby, so the time between each of them can be a bit, but I'm still around!

[@tnntaronewsnetwork4514]

I liked the vast majority of the run. But once you devolved into item stalling and evasion strats I had to rescind the like on the video. It wasn't a magikarp run anymore, it was a "Can you beat pokemon by Item Spam". I personally would have just conceded the run because anyone can beat any game if you break it.

[@ghostein.stereo]

Man, idk why you’re incessant on torturing yourself but this entire channel is a testament to your patience and intelligence. Nothing but good luck for your channel, man 🫡

[@MandatoryPixel]

Hahaha, thank you! 🫡