From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
Inkay (Japanese: マーイーカ Maaiika) is a dual-type Dark/Psychic Pokémon introduced in Generation VI.
It evolves into Malamar starting at level 30 when leveled up while the Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo Switch* system is held upside-down.
Biology
Inkay is a blue squid-like Pokémon. It has a transparent mantle with a rounded, pink body inside that has several yellow, circular lights. There are four lights on the front and two on the back. Attached to its mantle are two transparent tentacles; its remaining tentacles are part of its main body. It has round, black eyes and a pink beak-like mouth. Inkay is often mistaken for a Water-type because of its appearance.
Those who stare at the lights on Inkay's body become dazed and lose their will to battle; this allows it to escape. It can also use these light-emitting spots to send messages in the form of complex flashing rhythms and to attract prey. Prey is then ensnared and held in place by its tentacles.
In the anime
Major appearances
An Inkay appeared in A Battle of Aerial Mobility!, which James caught while he was eating sandwiches. When James traveled to Alola in Loading the Dex!, Inkay was revealed to have been left at Team Rocket HQ.
Other
Multiple wild Inkay appeared in Facing the Grand Design!, where James's Inkay helped save them, as well as some good Malamar, from the evil Malamar. James tried to release Inkay afterwards so Inkay could be happy with the other Inkay, but Inkay refused and rejoined his team.
Minor appearances
In the manga
In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Inkay debuted in Kangaskhan...Kangascan't, under the ownership of a male Poké Fan.
Xerosic's Malamar was revealed to have been under his ownership since he was an Inkay. He evolved when Lysandre explained his peculiar evolution method and demonstrated it by turning Inkay upside-down, making him evolve instantly. He showed up in a flashback in Chesnaught Protects.
In the Pokémon - The Legend of the Dragon King manga
Kanna owned an Inkay.
In the TCG
- Main article: Inkay (TCG)
Other appearances
Inkay appears as a Poké Ball summon in both versions of the game. It turns over and hits the ground, making all opponents who are on the ground trip.
Trophy information
NA: Inkay may look like a Water-type Pokémon, but it's actually a Dark/Psychic type! Once it has reached the proper level, Inkay can evolve into Malamar if you hold the Nintendo 3DS upside down. In Smash Bros., its Topsy-Turvy move will flip anyone who wanders too close upside down. Watch out!
PAL: A Pokémon that looks this much like a squid MUST be a Water-type, right? Wrong! It's a Dark- and Psychic-type. If you're struggling to get it to evolve, try holding your system upside down. In this game, Inkay's Topsy-Turvy move can knock you over, and you won't be much use like that, so watch out!
Inkay returns as a Pokémon summoned from the Poké Ball, retaining the same behavior from the previous game.
Game data
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
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Generation VI
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Kalos Coastal #010
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Hoenn #—
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X
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Opponents who stare at the flashing of the light-emitting spots on its body become dazed and lose their will to fight.
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Y
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It flashes the light-emitting spots on its body, which drains its opponent's will to fight. It takes the opportunity to scuttle away and hide.
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Omega Ruby
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Opponents who stare at the flashing of the light-emitting spots on its body become dazed and lose their will to fight.
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Alpha Sapphire
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It flashes the light-emitting spots on its body, which drains its opponent's will to fight. It takes the opportunity to scuttle away and hide.
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Generation VIII
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Galar #290
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Sword
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It spins while making its luminescent spots flash. These spots allow it to communicate with others by using different patterns of light.
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Shield
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By exposing foes to the blinking of its luminescent spots, Inkay demoralizes them, and then it seizes the chance to flee.
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Game locations
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
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In side games
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
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In events
Held items
Stats
Base stats
Stat
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Range
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At Lv. 50
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At Lv. 100
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53
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113 - 160
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216 - 310
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54
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53 - 116
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101 - 227
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53
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52 - 115
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99 - 225
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37
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37 - 97
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71 - 190
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46
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45 - 107
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87 - 210
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45
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45 - 106
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85 - 207
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Total: 288
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Other Pokémon with this total
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- Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
- Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.
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Type effectiveness
Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Inkay
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Inkay
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Inkay
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Inkay
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations
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- Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Inkay in Generation VIII
- Moves marked with a double dagger (‡) can only be bred from a Pokémon who learned the move in an earlier generation.
- Moves marked with a superscript game abbreviation can only be bred onto Inkay in that game.
- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Inkay
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Inkay
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations
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- Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Inkay
- Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Inkay
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Move Tutor moves from other generations
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Side game data
Evolution
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+ Level 30 (hold game system upside-down) →
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Sprites
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
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Trivia
- In addition to Inkay's method of evolution into Malamar being unique, it would have been impossible in any of the previous core series Pokémon games, because the Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo's first handheld system with an internal gyroscope.
- Inkay and its evolution were designed by Hitoshi Ariga.[1]
- Inkay and Malamar are the only Pokémon in the Water 2 egg group that are not Water-type.
Origin
Inkay appears to be based on a squid, and it also seems to bear a small resemblance to a cuttlefish. Considering its flashing abilities, Inkay may have been inspired by the vampire or humboldt squids, or by deimatic behaviour in cephalopods as a whole.
Name origin
Inkay may be a combination of ink or inkfish and okay.
Maaiika may be a combination of 魔 ma (demon) and 烏賊 ika (cuttlefish or squid) or 真烏賊 maika (Japanese flying squid). It may also involve a pun of まあ,いいか Mā, iika (Well, whatever; Oh well).
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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マーイーカ Maaiika
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From 魔 ma, 烏賊 ika or 真烏賊 maika, and まあ,いいか Mā, iika
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French
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Sepiatop
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From sepia, top, and c'est pas top
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Spanish
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Inkay
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Same as English name
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German
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Iscalar
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From Kalmare and Ja ne, is klar
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Italian
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Inkay
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Same as English name
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Korean
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오케이징 Okijing
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From OK and 오징어 ojing'eo
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Mandarin Chinese
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豪喇花枝 Háolǎhuāzhī
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From 好啦 hǎo la and 花枝 huāzhī
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Cantonese Chinese
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毫喇魷 Hòuhlāyāu
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From 好啦 hou lā and 魷 yāu
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More languages
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Hindi
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इनके Inkay
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Transcription of English name
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Russian
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Инкей Inkey
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Transcription of English name
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Related articles
Notes
External links
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This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
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