"If I remember correctly, in crystal, a guy said ages ago magikarps were very strong, but these days they are very weak. So i guesss they learned the move splash, and it don't do anything, because magikarp is too weak.
I think I read somewhere that the creators wanted to make magikarp be the weakest pokemon. So that's probably why splash does nothing: to emphasize the weakness of magikarp."
EDIT: You're actually wrong. Magikarp is a very powerful Pokemon; the reason why splash does nothing is because the creators needed to give it a type of Nerf Splash can also be used to leap mountains, and create great devastation. They also had to give it another Nerf; which of course is it's TERRIBLE evolution, Gyrados.
Source: http://i.imgur.com/Jgxp4.jpg
As you can see, its power is unlimited.
Chat with our AI personalities
Splash does nothing.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
nothing
Get a super rod in Pokemon Platinum and then fly to resort area. Fish in the water and Magikarps will come up. The Magikarps are lvls 50-100.
These pokemon can all learn it: Magicarp Hoppip Skiploom Driftblim Spoink Grumpig and some others. Search Serebii.net splash to see the entire list. Still... Why do you want to know this? Splash is a useless move that does nothing. Regardless... Hope I helped ;D