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 spots that can glow brightly. There are four of these luminescent spots 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, eight in total. It has round black eyes and a pink beak-like mouth.
Inkay can cause its luminescent spots to blink and flash; this behavior serves a variety of uses. If Inkay is threatened, the blinking lights will cause its opponents to become dazed and lose their will to battle, allowing it to escape. The blinking also serves to attract Inkay's prey, which is then ensnared and held in place by its tentacles. Inkay also uses various complex rhythms and patterns of lights to communicate to others of its kind. Because of this, Inkay instinctively reacts to anything in its habitat that emits light or echoing sounds. By floating upside-down, Inkay improves its blood flow along with clearing its head. This also drastically boosts the power of Inkay's Psychic moves and is what triggers its evolution into Malamar.
Prior to Generation VIII and in Generation IX, Inkay and its evolved form, Malamar, are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Topsy-Turvy.
Evolution
Inkay evolves into Malamar.
(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)
Game data
Pokédex entries
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI. |
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| Generation VI | | Kalos
Coastal #010 | | Hoenn
#— |
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| X | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | | Galar
#290 | | Galar
Isle of Armor #108 | | Sinnoh
#— | | Hisui
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| This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus. |
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| Sword | 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 | 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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| Generation IX | | Paldea
#— | | Kitakami
#— | | Blueberry
#80 |
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| Scarlet | It protects itself from tough foes by flashing its luminescent spots to discourage them. |
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| Violet | Being upside-down improves its blood flow and clears its mind, causing the power of its psychic moves to increase dramatically. |
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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 | Shield | 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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| Brilliant Diamond | Shining Pearl | |
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| Legends: Arceus | |
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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
Type effectiveness
| Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is: | |
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Learnset
Inkay is available in Scarlet and Violet Version 3.0.0+.
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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 or an alternate form 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
- 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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Side game data
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Pokémon Rumble Rush | Walking Speed: 2.08 seconds | Base HP: 49 | | | Base Attack: 67 | Base Defense: 48 | Base Speed: 60 |
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Pokémon GO | Base HP: 142 | Base Attack: 98 | Base Defense: 95 | | Egg Distance: 12 km | Buddy Distance: 3 km | Evolution Requirement:  50 with mobile device held upside-down* | | Fast Attacks: Peck, Tackle, Psywave* | | Charged Attacks: Psybeam, Night Slash |
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New Pokémon Snap | | Photodex entry #087 | | 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 data
|  + 
Level 30
(hold game system
upside-down)
→
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Sprites
| This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI. |
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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. Inkay returned to James's party in Rocket Revengers!.
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
Pocket Monsters XY: The Legend of the Pokémon 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 trophy in Super Smash Bros. for 3DSInkay 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.
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.
Additionally, Inkay's physical appearance and its use of lights for mind control may be inspired by a stereotypical extraterrestrial supervillain, especially ones that are common in tokusatsu shows.
Name origin
Inkay may be a combination of ink or inkfish and okay.
Maaiika is derived from 烏賊 ika (cuttlefish or squid) and a pun on まあ，いいか Mā, iika ("Well, whatever"; "Oh well").[4] It may also involve 魔 ma (demon) or 真烏賊 maika (Japanese flying squid).
In other languages
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| More languages |  Hindi | स्याहीहै Syaaheehai | From स्याही syāhī and a pun on सही है Sahī hai |  Russian | Инкей Inkey | Transcription of English name |  Thai | มาอีกะ Maika | Transcription of Japanese name |
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Related articles
References
External links
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