Pokémon the Series
History
In Battle Aboard the St. Anne, the Magikarp salesman made his debut, along with his Magikarp, and sold one to James of Team Rocket, complete with a "gold" Poké Ball. It eventually evolved into a Gyarados. It later escaped in Pokémon Shipwreck, much to James's disappointment.
Another one of the salesman's Magikarp appeared in Tricks of the Trade. The Magikarp salesman tried to sell this one to James. James was almost roped into it again, but a quick flashback to their first encounter reminded James of who the guy was, causing James to angrily chase the man around the Pokémon Swap Meet, accidentally knock Jessie over, and cause her Lickitung's Poké Ball to fall onto the trade machine, where it was traded for Benny's Wobbuffet.
In Doin' What Comes Natu-rally, the Magikarp salesman tried to sell another Magikarp to James. James was almost roped into it again, but at the last moment remembers the salesman but before given the chance to chase after him, Jessie and Meowth tell him to forget about him and concentrate on their newest plan to steal Pokémon.
The salesman's next attempt was in Here's Lookin' at You, Elekid; he first tried to sell Team Rocket another Magikarp, but due to James calling him a rip-off, he instead offered to trade his Weepinbell for James's Victreebel. James didn't want to do this; despite Victreebel's constant attempts to eat its Trainer, James still loved it, but Jessie forced him to.
In Showdown at the Oak Corral, he attempted to sell yet another Magikarp, this time to Tracey, but he was too smart to fall for it. The salesman then ran off upon realizing that he was at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
In Pearls are a Spoink's Best Friend, he sold Jessie a supposed Feebas, which was in fact nothing more than another one of his Magikarp, painted like a Feebas.
In The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!, he was seen trying to sell yet another Magikarp at the Kanto Fair in Unova.
In The Arceus Chronicles (Part 1), he was seen trying to sell another Magikarp at the Sinnoh Festival in Sinnoh.
Personality and characteristics
The Magikarp showed typical traits of their species, merely splashing in place. They are deemed as low-valued Pokémon, with the Magikarp salesman using various schemes and lies to sell them. One Magikarp, after evolving into Gyarados, was shown enraged for how useless it was deemed.
Moves used
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Using Splash
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A † shows that the move was used recently, unless all moves fit this case or there are fewer than five known moves.
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Pokémon Origins
Magikarp in Pokémon Origins
Magikarp salesman sold Red a Magikarp for $500 on Route 4 in the Pokémon Origins episode File 2: Cubone.
In Route 4's Pokémon Center, a shady salesman, who was possibly the basis for the Magikarp salesman in the anime, sells the player a Magikarp for $500. He does not give refunds.
This grants the player an option to obtain a Magikarp far earlier in the game than would normally be possible, as the Old Rod is not available prior to reaching Vermilion City. With some normal training and patience, the player can potentially get their Magikarp to evolve into Gyarados as early as prior to reaching Cerulean City, essentially giving the player a late-game powerhouse before reaching even the second Gym.
The Magikarp salesman appears once again in Black and White and Black 2 and White 2. He can be found on the west end of Marvelous Bridge. Like in Kanto, it also costs $500 to purchase a Magikarp from him. This specific instance of buying a Magikarp is special as Magikarp is not native to Unova, and the only other place one can be obtained is the Nature Preserve in Black 2 and White 2.