Magikarp/Gyarados questions
In my biome, Magikarp are almost as common as Pidgey, Rattata, Sentret, Spinarak and Hoothoot. I currently have seven CP 100+ wonders, a shiny non-wonder (with pathetic CP) and over a thousand candy, with little effort.
There has been much speculation about Gyarados learning Waterfall and Hydro Pump becoming legacy. Should I immediately evolve as many high-CP wonder Magikarps as I can (hoping for HP) or should I wait until Gen 3 comes out (potentially saving stardust and TMs)? I currently have no need for another Gyarados; my two with Bite/HP do their job well, a third with DT/OR is no longer useful and others with terrible moves (like Twister) were sent to the professor well before TMs were released.
What are the odds of a Magikarp being a shiny wonder? Trying to determine whether catching one (or even two, to also get a red Gyarados) is an attainable goal, with more effort and in my biome.
Answers
I wouldn't evolve any more non-shiny karp since you're happy with the two you have. Maybe the advice would be different if it weren't 400 candies per Gyarados.
I've seen 2248 and caught 1580 Magikarp. I have 3 shinies with the best one being 76% (15a/4d/15s), which I evolved. I feel pretty darn lucky with that one and will power it up. Especially since I spent 7 charge TMs to finally get Hydropump.
Out of my over 3000 Magikarps 17 were shiny. Only 1 was an amazing wonder who battles with the best.
I powered up all the impressive strong ones too. I normally wouldn't but come one it was a shiny and the first two I caught were mid 70%!
Its attainable but what's the point. If they're so common for you by the time you find one you should have no problem boosting it. Most people in my area have at least one. Out of everyone there are easily 100 shinies. I don't know more than 3 or 4 with wonders.