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

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Inkay debuted in PS554, 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

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. Inkay also appears as a Spirit.

Game data

Pokédex entries

Game locations

In side games

In events

Games Event Region Location Level Distribution period X Y Pokémon Center Tokyo Bay Inkay All Japan 10 November 22, 2013 to January 26, 2014;

December 26, 2013 to January 26, 2014

Held items

Stats

Base stats

Type effectiveness

Learnset

Generation VIII Other generations: VI - VII Parent Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Acupressure Normal Status — —% 30 Destiny Bond Ghost Status — —% 5 Disable Normal Status — 100% 20 Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Inkay in Generation VIII

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

indicates a move that gets when used by Inkay Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Inkay

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

Generation VIII Other generations: VI - VII Game Move Type Cat. Pwr. Acc. PP Sw Sh IoA Expanding Force Psychic Special 80 100% 10 Sw Sh IoA Lash Out Dark Physical 75 100% 5 Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Inkay

indicates a move that gets when used by Inkay Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an evolution of Inkay

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

Side game data

Evolution

Unevolved Inkay

Dark Psychic ⤾

Level 30

(hold game system

upside-down)

→

First evolution Malamar

Dark Psychic

Sprites

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 Title Meaning Japanese マーイーカ Maaiika From 魔 ma , 烏賊 ika or 真烏賊 maika , and まあ，いいか Mā, iika French Sepiatop From sepia , top, and c'est pas top Spanish Inkay Same as English name German Iscalar From Kalmare and Ja ne, is klar Italian Inkay Same as English name Korean 오케이징 Okijing From OK and 오징어 ojing'eo Cantonese Chinese 毫喇魷 Hòuhlāyāu From 好啦 hou lā and 魷 yāu Mandarin Chinese 豪喇花枝 Háolǎhuāzhī From 好啦 hǎo la and 花枝 huāzhī More languages Hindi इनके Inkay Transcription of English name Russian Инкей Inkey Transcription of English name Thai มาอีกะ Maaiika Transcription of Japanese name





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