7-year-old Pokemon fan furious that Magikarp got an SIR card before Gyarados

A seven-year-old Pokemon fan has gone viral after demanding that The Pokemon Company give Gyarados the Special Illustration Rare card he believes the classic Water-type deserves.

Gyarados first appeared in the physical Pokemon Trading Card Game’s Base Set and has since received dozens of printings, including ex, GX, V, VMAX and Shining versions. However, collectors still have no physical Gyarados Special Illustration Rare, the full-art rarity marked by two gold stars in the modern era.

The complaint is especially focused on Magikarp’s Illustration Rare from Paldea Evolved. The Shinji Kanda card became one of the set’s most talked-about chase cards because its artwork hides a Gyarados in the background, making the contrast with its evolution’s lack of a SIR even more noticeable.

https://www.tiktok.com/@williams.world7/video/7703629302398602529

“Come on Pokemon, give Gyarados an SIR!”

In the 53-second TikTok, the child asks, “Can somebody explain how Gyarados still doesn’t have a special edition Pokemon card?”

He points out that Gyarados has been part of the Pokemon Trading Card Game since the original Base Set and says the Pokemon has “loads of different cards over the years.” He then calls Gyarados “one of the coolest Pokemon ever” before turning his attention to Magikarp.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love that Magikarp card,” he says, arguing that it makes no sense for Magikarp to have such a striking Illustration Rare while Gyarados still lacks a Special Illustration Rare. He also pitches the kind of artwork he would like to see, imagining Gyarados bursting out of the ocean in a dramatic scene.

“Come on Pokemon, give Gyarados an SIR!” he concludes, before asking viewers which Pokemon should receive one next.

The clip was reposted by Guru Collects on X, where it was described as a child finally having “ENOUGH of the Gyarados disrespect.” The repost helped push the complaint beyond the original TikTok, with collectors joining the conversation over which overlooked Pokemon deserve premium artwork.

Pokemon TCG Pocket does include a Gyarados Illustration Rare, but that digital card is separate from the physical Pokemon TCG releases being discussed in the video. The Pokemon Company has not announced a physical Gyarados SIR, so the seven-year-old’s request remains a fan campaign for now.