The Revolving Pokemon. Inkay has Contrary reversing all stat changes, turning drops into boosts. Hold the 3DS upside down at level 30 to evolve into Malamar.
Ability 1ContraryAbility 1Inverts stat changes.Ability 2Suction CupsAbility 2Prevents being forced out of battle by other Pokémon's moves.
288HP53Attack54Defense53Speed45Sp.Def46Sp.Atk37
Weak to
Immune to

How to evolve

  1. This pageInkay
  2. Malamar
    Level 30Upside Down
Mixed
Balanced
ETier
45Speed · Slow

Inkay Best Moveset

Dark/Psychic at 54 Attack and 45 Speed with AbilityContrary reversing stat changes. MoveSuperpower normally drops Attack and Defense, but Contrary turns both into boosts. Pre-evolution Attack means the boosts don't hit hard. Evolve to Malamar for 92 Attack and Contrary Superpower that snowballs.

Evolution family tier history
SABCDEFE-EEEX & Y / ORASVIXY/ORASPEAKSun & Moon / USUMVIISM/USUMSword & Shield / BDSPVIIISS/BDSPScarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AIXSV/LZACURRENT
★Gen VI — X & Y / ORASE-

Inkay saw minimal competitive use in Gen VI (X & Y / ORAS). This was Inkay's competitive peak. Its most popular set ran Contrary with Choice Scarf, favoring a Adamant nature.

Fairy type added to the gameMega Evolution became available

Best Moves

SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 39
Psycho Cut
Psychic70POPULARSTAB
Lv 48
Superpower
Fighting120POPULARCoverage
Tutor
Knock Off
Dark65COMMONSTAB
Lv 23
Switcheroo
Dark—COMMONSTAB
TM80
Rock Slide
Rock75RARECoverage
Lv 8
Foul Play
Dark95RARESTAB
Inkay X & Y MovesInkay ORAS Moves

Best Build

Experimental
Physical Revenge Killer
Ability
Contrary
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Inkay
Adamant+ATK

Inkay best EVs are Attack and Sp. Def

EVs

Physical Revenge Killer Moveset

  • Psycho CutSTAB
  • SuperpowerCoverage
  • Knock OffSTAB
  • SwitcherooUtility

Recommended Teammates

Cyndaquil
CyndaquilGood
Bonsly
BonslyGood
Buneary
BunearyGood
→Gen VII — Sun & Moon / USUME

Inkay saw minimal competitive use in Gen VII (Sun & Moon / USUM). Inkay maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Contrary with Eviolite, favoring a Calm nature.

Z-Moves became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 15
Topsy-Turvy
Dark—COMMONSTAB
TM6
Toxic
Poison—COMMONUtility
Lv 8
Foul Play
Dark95COMMONSTAB
TM17
Protect
Normal—COMMONPriority
Lv 48
Superpower
Fighting120RARECoverage
Inkay Sun & Moon MovesInkay Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon Moves
Experimental
Wall
Ability
Contrary
Item
EvioliteBULK
Best Nature for Inkay
Calm+SPD
EVs

Wall Moveset

  • Topsy TurvySTAB
  • ToxicUtility
  • Foul PlaySTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4

Recommended Teammates

Marowak
MarowakExcellent
Butterfree
ButterfreeGood
Dusknoir
DusknoirGood
→Gen VIII — Sword & Shield / BDSPE

Inkay saw minimal competitive use in Gen VIII (Sword & Shield / BDSP). Inkay maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Infiltrator with Expert Belt, favoring a Brave nature.

Gigantamax became availableDynamax became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Egg
Disable
Normal—COMMONUtility
TM70
Trick Room
Psychic—COMMONSTAB
Lv 33
Foul Play
Dark95COMMONSTAB
TR2
Flamethrower
Fire90COMMONCoverage
Inkay Sword & Shield Moves
Experimental
Utility
Ability
Infiltrator
Item
Expert Belt
Best Nature for Inkay
Brave+ATK
EVs

Utility Moveset

  • DisableUtility
  • Trick RoomSTAB
  • Foul PlaySTAB
  • FlamethrowerCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Morpeko
MorpekoGood
Barraskewda
BarraskewdaGood
Duraludon
DuraludonGood
→Gen IX — Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-AE

Inkay saw minimal competitive use in Gen IX (Scarlet & Violet / Legends Z-A). Inkay maintained its position from the previous generation. Its most popular set ran Suctioncups with Focus Sash, favoring a Hardy nature.

Terastallization became available
SRCMOVETYPECATPWRPOPROLE
Lv 36
Topsy-Turvy
Dark—POPULARSTAB
TM7
Protect
Normal—COMMONPriority
Egg
Disable
Normal—COMMONUtility
TM125
Flamethrower
Fire90COMMONCoverage
Lv 9
Payback
Dark50RARESTAB
Inkay Scarlet & Violet MovesInkay Legends Z-A Moves
Experimental
Physical Tank
Ability
Suction Cups
Item
Focus SashSURVIVAL
Best Nature for Inkay
HardyNEUTRAL
EVs

Physical Tank Moveset

  • Topsy TurvySTAB
  • ProtectFAST +4
  • DisableUtility
  • FlamethrowerCoverage

Recommended Teammates

Sandaconda
SandacondaGood
Cacturne
CacturneGood
Bagon
BagonGood

Inkay Weakness

Type-wise, Inkay takes extra damage from Bug and Fairy. Watch out for Bug attacks, those deal 4x damage. Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.

Inkay Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
4x (Critical)Bug
2x (Weak)Fairy
0x (Immune)Psychic

What is Inkay Weak Against

Avg
2Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
Bug
2xWeak
Fairy
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
Psychic

What is Inkay Strong Against

4Strong
1Resisted
0Immune
Score+3
2xStrong
FightingPoisonPsychicGhost
½xResisted
Dark
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Inkay

Genesect can KO Inkay with U-turn (256-302%). Mimikyu threatens a KO with Play Rough (123-145%).

Genesect
Genesect
BugSteel
B
Mimikyu
Mimikyu
GhostFairy
B

Evolution

Inkay is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Malamar. Check the evolution method below. A massive partner pool for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs take an average time to hatch. Evolving adds up to 194 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Inkay
#686Inkay
30
Level 30 (Upside Down)
Malamar
#687Malamar
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Inkay
DarkPsychic
Malamar
DarkPsychic
HP
53
86+33
ATK
54
92+38
DEF
53
88+35
SP.ATK
37
68+31
SP.DEF
46
75+29
SPE
45
73+28
BST
288E-Tier
482D-Tier+194
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Physical

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Inkay easily with 114 breeding partners from the Water 1 and Water 2 egg groups.

Egg Groups
Water 1Water 2
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
gyaradosazumarillblastoisegolduckferaligatrkingdraswampertslowbroslowkingoctilleryludicolomalamar
12 of 114·

Shiny Inkay

Blue squid becomes golden-orange squid. Inkay's shiny is a complete color overhaul that looks like a different species entirely. For such a small Pokemon, it punches way above its weight in the shiny department.

Normal vs Shiny
Normal InkayNormal
Shiny Inkay Shiny
Color ShiftBluetoBrown
Shiny TierA Tier Shiny

Shiny Inkay Evolution

2 Forms
Shiny Inkay evolution
Stage 1Inkay
Lv. 30
Shiny Malamar evolution
Stage 2Malamar
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Shiny Inkay Odds & Hunting Methods

7 of 7 Verified
GameBest MethodOddsDifficulty
GameUltra Sun & Ultra Moon
MethodSOS ChainingRoute 1 (Hau'oli Outskirts) · 30%
Odds1/274
Difficulty
GameSword & Shield
MethodBrilliant Aura battle-count boostHammerlocke Hills (Main) · 35%
Odds1/456
Difficulty
GameScarlet & Violet
MethodBreeding (Masuda Method)
Odds1/512
Difficulty
GameLegends: Z-A
MethodWild EncounterWild Zone 11 +4 moreBest odds require Mega Dimension DLC
Odds1/586
Difficulty
GameX & Y
MethodPoke Radar ChainingAzure Bay · 15%
Odds1/100
Difficulty
Shiny via transfer only
Not obtainable here — bring a shiny in from a game where it can be caught or bred.
GameOmega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
GameSun & Moon
Method—
Odds—
Difficulty—
More dots = harder hunt1/200 Green = best verified rate
How do we research these odds?

We check every game where a shiny is possible, then rank each one by the best method available in that game, so the row at the top is the fastest route overall.

Odds marked verified are cross-checked against multiple independent sources before we publish them. Where a rate is not yet confirmed we mark the row pending rather than guess a number.

Read our full methodology

How to Get Inkay

All 7 games

A few locations for Inkay across endgame routes. The list below shows no spawn rates for these spots, so pick the one that fits where you are in the game.

Where To Catch Inkay in SV

Inkay is where the line starts, caught through walking encounters at Lv. 50-80. The chain covers 2 catchable stages before reaching the final form.

  1. Inkay
    Step 1Inkay ✓
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.60Overworld
  2. Malamar
    Step 2Catch or Evolve into Malamar
    Canyon Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    Coastal Biome
    Lv.50-80Overworld
    or evolve from Inkay (Step 1)

To plan your throws, open the Scarlet & Violet catch rate calculator with Inkay preloaded.

Base Stats

You won't find a real weakness in Inkay's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Revolving Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 1 Attack EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.

Base Stats
Below
HP53
D
Attack54
D
Defense53
D
Sp. Atk37
F
Sp. Def46
D
Speed45
D
Total288
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.4 m
1'04"Tiny
Weight3.5 kg
7.7 lbsFeather
Base XP58
Low Yield
Abilities
Contrary
Inverts stat changes.
Suction Cups
Prevents being forced out of battle by other Pokémon's moves.
InfiltratorHidden Ability
Bypasses light screen, reflect, and safeguard.
EV Yield
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Attack training source
Pokedex Entry

It spins while making its luminescent spots flash. These spots allow it to communicate with others by using different patterns of light.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Inkay Event Distributions

Inkay reaches players through one Mystery Gift distribution rather than a recurring giveaway.

Tokyo Bay Opening Commemoration!XYNot shiny
Lv 10 OT: ＰＣＴＢ Cherish Ball Premier Ribbon
Moves: Happy Hour, Foul Play, Hypnosis, Topsy Turvy
Original name: トウキョーベイ　オープンきねん！

Inkay Guide

  • For a casual playthrough, Inkay works as a placeholder. Dark/Psychic coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Malamar. That's where the stats start mattering.

Game Availability

Since X & Y, Inkay has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 6 debut means a shorter history, but Inkay has appeared steadily across every generation since.

Click a game to view version-specific details

Explore

Where to go next after Inkay.

Next stepPokedexBrowse the full Pokedex for every gameSee Pokedex
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