Feebas in Pokémon Ruby & Sapphire is a lot like a second version of Magikarp, but it's much more complicated than the iconic carp Pokémon ever was.
Pokémon has made some Pokémon that are reminiscent of previous species in the past, but Hoenn's equivalent of Magikarp, Feebas, was far more complicated than the original. Out of every time that Pokémon has retrodden similar ground, Feebas may be the most strange. Not only did it end up being a far cry from its inspiration, but it did things that no other Pokémon has done before or since.
Magikarp is infamously known as the weakest Pokémon ever, but that reputation has also made it incredibly well-known and even popular with fans. Its gimmick is equally acknowledged, with the incredibly weak Magikarp evolving into the powerful Gyrados at a relatively early level. Feebas is designed similarly, being a weak fish with a limited moveset that evolves into a mighty sea serpent. Although the two are similar, they have some drastic differences, and not just because Pokémon has been mean to Magikarp while Feebas never recieved such treatment. Some are fairly simple, such as Gyrados being physically-oriented while Milotic is special-inclined, while others require further explanation.
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The first major difference comes in their respective rarity. Magikarp has a legitimate claim to the title of being the most common Pokémon overall. Magikarp can be found virtually anywhere the player can fish, and in some games, it's the only Pokémon that can be caught with the Old Rod. Feebas is also caught via fishing, but that is where the comparisons end. While Magikarp can be found anywhere, Feebas is restricted not only to one specific area, but one of a few randomly-chosen tiles in said area. Finding Feebas in Pokémon BDSP has not changed this, so catching Feebas can still be a time-consuming and frustrating affair.
Evolutionary methods are another major difference between the two. Magikarp evolves into Gyrados at Level 20, with no gimmicks involved at all. On the other hand, Feebas needed to increase its beauty to the maximum level through Pokéblocks or Poffins in order to evolve into Milotic. After contest stats were no longer involved starting in Black and White, Feebas became a trade evolution requiring a Marvel Scale. Feebas' original evolution method was never replicated by any other Pokémon, and the removal of contest stats made sure that will remain true. It's one of Pokémon's most unusual evolution requirements, and most would have likely never guessed it without a guide, especially those who did not care for contests.
One can wonder why the developers made Feebas so complicated compared to its clear inspiration Magikarp, but it could be down to experimentation. Generation 3 was a time where Pokémon was trying a lot of new things. Ruby & Sapphire saw the debut of abilities, one of the most important additions to the series, and Pokémon Contests, the first attempt to make something other than battling for Pokémon to compete in. Even though Feebas' gimmicks never caught on for any other Pokémon, one can understand why they tried. Even though gimmicks are arguably hurting Pokémon at this point, Generation 3 was home to some of its most successful new additions.
Feebas may not be as iconic as Magikarp, but its gimmicks make it memorable regardless. As the only Pokémon who has had to have its evolution method changed due to changing mechanics, it has a legacy all its own. It may look like a mere fish, but Feebas is one of the most unexpectedly complicated Pokémon the series has ever seen.
Devin Friend is a graduate of McNeese State University with a bachelor's degree in creative writing. A lifelong love of cartoons and video games has given him endless enthusiasm as well as a critical eye for both mediums. Any game or show that catches his interest will be heavily researched and binged for hours on end. He has a great passion for creating characters and storytelling, and spends a lot of free time writing stories of his own.