Gyms are supposed to be arenas where the best trainers in the world achieve glory with the help of the most powerful Pokémon. Somehow, gyms everywhere have turned into a non-stop Magikarp train instead.
Those of you playing Pokémon Go may have noticed that it has become a thing to challenge and defeat a gym, only to replace the crowning champions with low-level Magikarps. Apparently, this has a name: “Karping,” according to Babycastles co-owner Todd Anderson.
On social media, people are posting dozens of screenshots dailyof gyms with Magikarp defenders. Sometimes, it’s just for fun—I mean, it’s pretty funny to see a Magikarp gym leader, even if you know it’ll get dethroned quickly. Other times, the gym Magikarp is meant as an insult against the defeated team. And some trainers clearly just want to watch the world burn, one splash at a time. Here’s a small taste of the silliest trends in Pokémon Go:
https://twitter.com/embed/status/753960330548670466
I cant believe im out fighting a gym at 12:21am cause this person only has a Magikarp garding it. Feels like a trap. pic.twitter.com/PonDEuUxqc
— Gary Hanson (@Gary200) July 15, 2016
tequila: you should put magikarp in the gym bro
me: but-
tequila: trust me I won't let you down
tequila: pic.twitter.com/YVMlqNNgBt— kenzie (@chrskmkz) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/756369073127030784
Someome put their cp 10 magikarp in a gym. pic.twitter.com/1TRxLzGxml
— Kiwi (@DoodlingKiwi) July 18, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/755647289880932352
Put my magikarp on a gym yesterday and it's still holding strong 💪😎 pic.twitter.com/MwwYQz7e7a
— Huffinator (@huffinator20) July 19, 2016
My Magikarp gym in my local area only lasted 1 minute haha. Dedicated this gym to @ludicolopatrol pic.twitter.com/SGFXH0imHU
— 🇦🇺 Phil Nguyen (@Aussie_Phil_N) July 19, 2016
Is this motherfucker really trying to defend the Gym with a fucking Magikarp, CP 52….wat r u doin? pic.twitter.com/PMZi3wh7Da
— 𓆩♱HAN♱𓆪 (@Han_Zensei) July 19, 2016
Finally conquered a gym. Put my magikarp in charge. LONG MAY KING SPLASHY REIGN pic.twitter.com/9yEmQUS9uV
— Harrison Werner (@ASharpEgret) July 18, 2016
how the fuck is somebody a gym leader with a magikarp #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/apj6M9URMn
— bjönka 🇵🇸🍉 (@commuterailed) July 17, 2016
Taking a gym and leaving your cp10 Magikarp like a "horse head" in the Godfather to make a point! 😈 #TeamInstinct pic.twitter.com/QC9L6gP5Lo
— Team Instinct Tucson (@TeamInstinct520) July 17, 2016
When you beat a level 8 gym and leave a magikarp #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/v47bF02vAL
— Sky (@gaythesis) July 17, 2016
People keep taking my #Pokemon gym today so I trolled em with a cp31 magikarp #PokemonGO #TeamMystic pic.twitter.com/lMaVpa0lct
— CrunchyPasta🌐 (@crunchypasta03) July 17, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/754192518456090624
Today I beat gym to put my magikarp and beat it again to put my magikarp back pic.twitter.com/KwLk9HHWmN
— Jordi (@riiayuu) July 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/756373494032502784
When you take over an instinct gym just to put a magikarp down to defend it the ultimate disrespect. #TeamValor pic.twitter.com/S59J2duu8R
— Ronny Junja (@Jorge16diaz) July 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/754247322498953216
https://twitter.com/embed/status/753665047709220864
https://twitter.com/embed/status/754014019275460608
Just took a gym for #TeamValor . Left a magikarp named "1V1 me bro". I consider this the #PokemonGO equvilent of teabagging.
— Jordan Douglas (@THE_CRIMSON_J) July 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/754890042405945344
https://twitter.com/embed/status/754902274661507072
TEAM VALOR TOOK BACK THE OVER POWERED TEAM MYSTIC GYM AND HE ASSIGNS A FUCKING MAGIKARP TO PROTECT IT YOU FOOL pic.twitter.com/uvhfwtWdqy
— Winnie @ READ BIO (@seerofIight) July 18, 2016
Take over a gym then put in a Magikarp 😈🔪 pic.twitter.com/kviTod0JiR
— ᜇ᜔ᜌᜒᜐᜒᜌ᜴ (@Jesse_lol2) July 18, 2016
there's a lvl 10 magikarp at the gym on my street and 1250 vaporeon what kinda fuckery is that 😂
— لانهائي (@michaellmira) July 19, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/755394191539122180
I like beating each gym and leaving my Magikarp there just to be insulting asf
— rozo (@rozomusic) July 19, 2016
I took over a gym and left a 44 magikarp named Let Me Stay. Then 4 cop cars pulled up and was chilling. I bet they're the ones that took it.
— Byron (@Byron_20_G) July 20, 2016
Fuck the guy that keeps taking over the gym next to my work and only putting a magikarp on it
— 🌘night Φwl🦉 (@nate_yup) July 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/756191346466009089
When my gym was taken over and they put a 10 CP magikarp to show dominance #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/iiQe3u3VqF
— Marth Crust (@crustumer) July 14, 2016
Putting a Magikarp in a gym is extrmemly disrespectful pic.twitter.com/xx8asUp3MD
— Rizzard Kelly (@CanoTheMonkey) July 14, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/753575371350548480
That feeling you get when you take down a level 7 gym with 5 pkmn and put a Magikarp in their place just for shits n giggles 😂
— Josa (@_Riikooo) July 14, 2016
Apparently there's a gym in the middle of NOWHERE Central Texas with a single Magikarp inside named "HaveMercy". LOL
— LEIGH!! (@theoutli3r) July 15, 2016
https://twitter.com/embed/status/756159602908102656
https://twitter.com/embed/status/753901296428744704
