Inkay is a fascinating Dark/Psychic-type Pokémon from the Kalos region, and evolving it into Malamar in Pokémon Go requires a unique method. Unlike many Pokémon, Inkay’s evolution process deviates from the usual Candy collection and requires a specific trick. This guide will walk you through the process, ensuring you know exactly how to evolve Inkay into Malamar and the best strategies for gathering the necessary resources.
To evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon Go, you will need 50 Inkay Candies. While that part is typical, the fun twist comes in the method used to trigger the evolution. Here’s how it works:
- Collect 50 Inkay Candies – Like most Pokémon evolutions, you will first need to accumulate enough Candies to initiate the evolution process. These Candies can be gathered through catching Inkay, walking with Inkay as your Buddy, using Pinap Berries during catches, transferring Inkay, or converting Rare Candies into Inkay-specific ones.
- Flip Your Phone Upside Down – Once you have enough Candies, the next crucial step is to physically turn your phone upside down. This mimics the method from the Nintendo 3DS games, where players had to rotate their console to evolve Inkay into Malamar. When your phone is upside down, the “evolve” button will change color from red to green, allowing you to proceed with the evolution.
- No Gyroscope? No Problem! – If your phone doesn’t have a gyroscope, don’t worry. Since 2021, Niantic made it possible for players without a gyroscope to evolve Inkay simply by collecting 50 Candies. For these devices, flipping the phone isn’t necessary.
How to Get Inkay Candies Fast
Now that you know how to evolve Inkay, you’ll want to gather those 50 Candies as quickly as possible. Here are some tips to help speed up the process:
- Catch Inkay in the Wild: Each time you catch an Inkay, you’ll receive 3 Candies. Malamar, its evolved form, grants 5 Candies if you manage to catch one during special events or raids.
- Use Pinap Berries: These items double the number of Candies earned during a catch, making them a valuable tool for speeding up the evolution process.
- Walk with Inkay as Your Buddy: Setting Inkay as your Buddy allows you to earn 1 Candy for every 3 kilometers you walk together.
- Transfer Extras: Don’t forget to transfer any extra Inkay you catch. This action rewards you with 1 Candy for each transfer.
- Convert Rare Candies: If you’ve gathered Rare Candies from raids or research tasks, you can turn them into Inkay Candies.
Where to Find Inkay
Finding Inkay can sometimes be challenging, but there are multiple ways to encounter it in Pokémon Go. During specific in-game events or raids, Inkay may appear more frequently. Additionally, it can occasionally be a reward for completing field research tasks. Staying alert during Pokémon Go events that feature Dark or Psychic-type Pokémon will give you a better chance of encountering Inkay in the wild.
Why Is Inkay’s Evolution Special?
Inkay’s evolution process is based on its appearance in the mainline Pokémon games. Specifically, in the Pokémon X and Y games, players had to turn their 3DS upside down to evolve Inkay into Malamar. This unique evolution method ties into the Pokémon’s design and lore. Known as the “Revolving Pokémon,” Inkay is cleverly evolved through overturning your device. Its evolved form, Malamar, is the “Overturning Pokémon,” and this playful twist adds a memorable touch to the evolution experience.
Malamar’s Role in Pokémon Go
Once evolved, Malamar becomes a formidable Pokémon in certain gameplay situations. It is particularly useful in the Psychic Cup, a themed competition in which only Psychic-type Pokémon are allowed. With its dual Dark and Psychic typing, Malamar can surprise opponents by exploiting weaknesses and disrupting common Psychic-type strategies. If you’re building a team for these kinds of battles, Malamar is a strong contender thanks to its unique move set and typing advantages.
