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 game 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
Pokémon - The Legend of the Dragon King
Kanna owns an Inkay, as seen in LDK1.
Pokémon Adventures
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 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.
Inkay also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
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. Inkay also appears as a Spirit.
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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Galar Isle of Armor #108
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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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Generation VIII
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Sword
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Shield
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Route 7, Route 9, Bridge Field, Dusty Bowl, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills Watchtower Ruins, West Lake Axewell, Motostoke Riverbank, Stony Wilderness, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills (Max Raid Battle)
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Expansion Pass
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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 VIII, this Pokémon is:
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Learnset
Inkay is available in Sword and Shield.
Generation VIII
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Other generations:
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VI - VII
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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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Generation VIII
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Other generations:
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VI - VII
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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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Generation VIII
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Other generations:
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VI - VII
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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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Generation VIII
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Other generations:
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VI - VII
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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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By transfer from another generation
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- A striped background indicates a generation in which the move can only be obtained via event or as a special move
- 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
- × indicates a move that cannot be used in Generation VIII
- Click on the generation numbers at the top to see transfer-only moves for other generations
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Side game data
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Pokémon GO
80px
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Base Stamina: 142
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Base Attack: 98
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Base Defense: 95
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Egg Distance: N/A
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Buddy Distance: 3 km
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Evolution Requirement: 50 Candy with mobile device upside down
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Fast Attacks: Peck, Tackle
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Charged Attacks: Psybeam, Night Slash
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New Pokémon Snap
80px
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Photodex entry #087
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Inkay instinctively reacts to anything in the water that lights up or makes an echoing sound. That’s because it usually uses its own luminescence to communicate with others of its kind.
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Evolution
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Rare Candy ⤾ 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
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
Related articles
Notes
External links