How to Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO: A Complete Guide

How to Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO – Inkay, a unique Pokémon introduced in Pokémon GO as part of the Psychic Spectacular event, brings an exciting twist to evolution mechanics. This adorable Dark/Psychic-type Pokémon evolves into Malamar, known for its distinctive upside-down design and tricky evolution requirements. For players who are eager to add both Inkay and its evolution Malamar to their Pokédex, understanding how to evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO is essential. This guide will explain everything you need to know, from requirements to tips on evolution, so you can evolve Inkay seamlessly in Pokémon GO.

What is Inkay Pokémon GO?

Inkay is a Dark/Psychic-type Pokémon from Generation VI, originally appearing in the Kalos region. Known for its unique evolutionary method, Inkay is part of a fascinating group of Pokémon with special evolution requirements. When evolved, Inkay transforms into Malamar, a Pokémon with enhanced stats and a creative twist in design. Inkay’s evolution method is unlike the standard evolution process in Pokémon GO, making it an interesting challenge for players.

With its Dark/Psychic dual typing, Inkay has advantages over Ghost and Psychic-type opponents, making it a valuable addition for PvP battles and special events. Evolving Inkay into Malamar enhances its abilities, making it even more formidable in combat.

Catch and Prepare Inkay for Evolution

Before jumping into the evolution process, make sure you have an Inkay. If you don’t already have one, you can catch Inkay during certain events or through specific encounters in Pokémon GO. Inkay is not always easy to find, so participating in Psychic-type events or Dark-type events is your best bet for encountering it in the wild.

Requirements for Evolving Inkay:

Inkay Candy: To evolve Inkay, you will need 50 Inkay Candy. You can accumulate Inkay Candy by catching multiple Inkays, walking with Inkay as your buddy, and using rare candy. Also, don’t forget to transfer any extra Inkays to Professor Willow for additional Candy.
Sufficient Stardust: While evolving Inkay itself doesn’t require Stardust, having plenty on hand can be helpful for power-ups and battles if you plan on using Malamar in your lineup.
Special Evolution Condition: Here’s where things get interesting: In addition to the Candy requirement, evolving Inkay in Pokémon GO requires a unique step — turning your phone upside down during the evolution process. This mechanic mimics how Inkay evolved in the original Pokémon games and adds an extra layer of fun to its evolution.

How to Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO

Once you’ve gathered the required Inkay Candy, you’re ready to evolve Inkay into Malamar. Here’s the step-by-step process to make it as smooth as possible:

Step-by-Step Evolution Guide:

Go to Inkay’s Profile Page: Open Pokémon GO and navigate to your Inkay’s profile page. Make sure that you have at least 50 Inkay Candy available for the evolution.
Turn Your Device Upside Down: With Inkay’s profile open, turn your phone upside down. Pokémon GO will recognize this unique movement, triggering the evolution button.
Press the Evolve Button: Once your phone is upside down, the “Evolve” button will become available. Press it to evolve Inkay into Malamar.
Celebrate Your New Malamar: After a short animation, your Inkay will have transformed into Malamar, completing this unique evolution journey. Now you have a powerful Dark/Psychic-type to add to your team!

Note: If the evolution button does not appear, double-check that your phone’s orientation lock is off. You may also need to ensure that the game has fully updated to avoid any evolution issues.

Why Does Inkay Require This Unique Evolution Method?

The unusual requirement to flip your phone upside down during Inkay’s evolution is a callback to its original evolution mechanic in Pokémon X and Y. In the mainline Pokémon games, evolving Inkay into Malamar required players to turn their Nintendo 3DS systems upside down when reaching level 30. This quirky evolution method set Inkay apart from other Pokémon and brought an additional layer of strategy and fun.

Incorporating this into Pokémon GO preserves the charm of Inkay’s unique evolution method. Players love seeing these creative adaptations of game mechanics, as it reminds them of the depth and imagination that Pokémon games are known for.

Using Malamar in Pokémon GO Battles

Now that you have Malamar, let’s explore its battle potential. Malamar’s Dark/Psychic typing gives it unique resistances and strengths. As a Dark/Psychic-type, it resists Psychic and Ghost attacks but is weak to Fairy and Bug-type moves. This type combination allows Malamar to stand out in certain PvP battles and raids.

1. Malamar’s Best Moveset

For optimal battle performance, focus on the following moveset for Malamar:

Fast Move: Psycho Cut (a fast-charging Psychic move that allows Malamar to reach its charged moves quickly)
Charged Move: Foul Play (Dark-type move that provides powerful coverage against Ghost and Psychic Pokémon)
Secondary Charged Move: Hyper Beam or Superpower (choose based on whether you want a strong Normal-type finisher or a Fighting-type coverage)

2. PvP and PvE Usage

Malamar is a decent choice for PvP, especially in Great League. Its unique typing allows it to counter several Psychic and Ghost-type Pokémon commonly used in PvP. In PvE settings like raids, Malamar can also be effective against Ghost- or Psychic-type raid bosses, although it may not be the top choice due to its limited overall stats compared to other Pokémon.

Tips for Collecting More Inkay Candy

After evolving Inkay, you may want to power up your Malamar or collect additional Inkays. Here are some tips to help you gather more Inkay Candy quickly:

Use Inkay as Your Buddy: Setting Inkay as your buddy in Pokémon GO allows you to earn Inkay Candy as you walk. It’s a simple but effective way to gather more Candy over time.
Participate in Events: Keep an eye on in-game events that increase the spawn rates for Psychic or Dark-type Pokémon. These events provide more opportunities to catch Inkay in the wild.
Transfer Extra Inkays: Don’t forget to transfer any duplicate Inkays to Professor Willow. Each transfer gives you one Candy, which can add up over time.
Use Rare Candy: If you have spare rare candies, you can convert them into Inkay Candy. This is particularly useful if you’re in a hurry to evolve Inkay or power up Malamar.
Utilize Pinap Berries: When you encounter an Inkay, use a Pinap Berry to double the Candy you receive from catching it. This simple strategy can help you build up your Candy stash faster.

Other Unique Evolutions in Pokémon GO

Inkay’s evolution process is not the only unique method in Pokémon GO. Other Pokémon also require special conditions to evolve, such as:

Eevee Evolutions: Eevee can evolve into different forms based on names, items, and time of day.
Feebas to Milotic: Feebas requires players to walk with it as their buddy before evolving.
Sneasel to Weavile and Gligar to Gliscor: Both require the use of a Sinnoh Stone.

These unique evolution methods add an engaging twist to the game, providing players with additional challenges and making each Pokémon evolution feel like a mini-adventure.

Conclusion

Evolving Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon GO is one of the more memorable experiences in the game. The requirement to turn your phone upside down adds a fun, nostalgic element to the process, reminiscent of the original evolution mechanic from Pokémon X and Y. By following this guide, you can gather the necessary Inkay Candy, prepare for the unique evolution method, and successfully add Malamar to your Pokémon collection.

Whether you’re a longtime Pokémon fan or a new player, evolving Inkay is a rewarding journey that highlights Pokémon GO’s dedication to maintaining the charm of the Pokémon franchise. So, go ahead, collect Inkays, get that Candy, and flip your phone to unlock the power of Malamar!