Pokémon Go’s latest event is making everyone a Magikarp fan

An event running in Pokémon Go right now is celebrating water-type Pokémon of all kinds, but it’s the dopiest Pokémon of all that players are most excited for. Magikarp, Pokémon’s eternal punching bag, has become the game’s most popular monster because of the Water Festival event — but not because of the Pokémon itself.

The reason everyone is into Magikarp right now is because, as it turns out, it’s the first Pokémon in the game that comes in a shiny variant. Shiny Pokémon are highly coveted in the handheld series, as they’re incredibly hard to find. These rare recolors can transform a Pokémon’s entire look, and because they have different markings and colors than standard Pokémon, catching a shiny Pokémon is an obvious achievement.

A shiny Magikarp isn’t just cool because it’s a collector’s item, though. When it evolves into the much more powerful Gyarados, it retains that unique coloring — becoming what’s known as the red Gyarados, a Pokémon that figured heavily into the storyline of Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Finding the golden Magikarp isn’t easy, although it’s way easier in Pokémon Go than the portable games. The ongoing Water Festival makes water-type Pokémon more common, no matter a player’s geographical area, so players in landlocked areas can still find Magikarp aplenty. Still, a discovery rate of 220 normal Magikarp to one shiny isn’t great, so players shouldn’t expect to find them without some work ... or some devastating trial and error, thanks to Ditto, as reported by Kotaku.

Niantic, the game’s developer, is giving everyone a chance to wear their Magikarp obsession proudly. There’s a hat inspired by the Pokémon now available to purchase from the in-game shop, and it ... well, it’s not quite our aesthetic, but to each her own.

The special event ends on March 29 at 4 p.m. ET, so if you want a shiny Magikarp, you better get to it while the water Pokémon are still hanging out on the shore. As for shiny Pokémon, no one has spotted any others yet — so expect Magikarp to be everyone’s favorite even after the event ends.