Darktide

Darktide (ダークタイド, Dakūtaido) is a Pokémon and the third captured by Ryan during his journey through the  region. This was captured at the  after being forced to evolve by 's scheme to use radio waves to force Pokémon.

History
It is unknown if Gyarados was always Shiny. According to, its red coloration stems from being forced to evolve from before it was ready, and so it retained Magikarp's color. Red Gyarados was encountered by Ryan at the, north of , after Team Rocket forced it to evolve with radio waves. Ryan battled Gyarados and caught it in order to calm it. Nicknaming it Darktide, he continued to use Gyarados throughout his Johto adventures, culminating in defeating Lance himself. He later left Gyarados with  upon departing for  and.

Ryan transfered Darktide to years later in order to battle the Alola League. In Alola, their bond increased, and Ryan was able to use to Mega Evolve Gyarados during his battles with the. Darktide was then left with when Ryan left for Galar.

Darktide returned once again when Ryan traveled to the, after becoming 's Champion. On the island, the pair trained to master Darktide's, granting the Attrocious Pokémon a host of new moves. Ryan used his strengthened Red Gyarados in battle against his rival Sara and to defend his title in the Galar League.

Personality and characteristics
When Ryan first encountered Darktide, the Atrocious Pokémon was enraged and rampaging in the Lake of Rage due to Team Rocket's meddling. It carried this anger throughout most of Ryan's Johto adventures, though it rarely directed its outrage at its trainer. When Ryan again used Darktide in Alola, the red Gyarados had mellowed out, but could still tap into its rage in battle. However, over time, it came to genuinely care about its trainer, and their bond deepened enough that it could use Mega Evolution.

By the time Ryan reused it in Galar, Darktide showed him genuine affection and particularly enjoyed in both the  and the Isle of Armor. It was also shown to have developed somewhat of a lazy streak, as it was said to have enjoyed taking many naps.

Regardless, it remains one of Ryan's most fierce battlers. In battle, it uses a combination of and  to boost its attacking power and speed. Its power grows with subsequent knock-outs thanks to Moxie, and, given enough time, can be Ryan's most powerful battler—surpassing even Chomper in strength. As of the Isle of Armor, it is 100.

Pokémon League victories
Darktide has been used to defeat the following Pokémon Leagues:
 * (Johto)

Trivia

 * Darktide was Ryan's first captured Pokémon. His first seen Shiny was an.
 * Darktide is one of Ryan's most distinguished Pokémon. It is Shiny, possesses its Hidden Ability, and is one of the few Pokémon he owns that can Mega Evolve, use Z-Moves, and Dynamax.
 * Darktide's nickname originates from the two s it has when it Mega Evolves: dark for and tide for.