Physical
Balanced
288Low
45Very Slow
DTier

Inkay doesn't have much going for it on its own — the stats just aren't there. The payoff is Malamar, and getting there is worth the grind. Part of the Gen 6 roster. Psychic moves can't touch it, and only 2 types hit it super-effectively.

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
288Below
HP53
D
Attack54
D
Defense53
D
Sp. Atk37
F
Sp. Def46
D
Speed45
D
Total288
Low <60
Avg 60-89
High 90-149
Top 150+
EV YieldDefeating Inkay yields +1 Atk
HPAtk+1DefSpASpDSpe
Details
Catch190EasyMedium Fast1M XP0.4m / 1'04"3.5kg / 7.7 lbs58Base XP
Pokedex Entries

Opponents who stare at the flashing of the light-emitting spots on its body become dazed and lose their will to fight.

Omega Ruby

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.

Alpha Sapphire

Inkay Weakness

Avg

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.

4xCriticali
2xWeaki
½xResisti
None
¼xResisti
None
0xImmunei
2Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Scorei-3
SpikesGrounded — up to 25%
Toxic SpikesVulnerable
4x Bug — U-turn, Bug Buzz, Megahorn
Abilities
ContraryInverts stat changes.
Suction CupsPrevents being forced out of battle by other Pokémon's moves.
InfiltratorHABypasses light screen, reflect, and safeguard.

Inkay is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Malamar. Check the evolution method below. No compatible partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 194 stat points total.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
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
288D-Tier
482B-Tier+194
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Utility
Physical
Breeding
Very Easy

Breed Inkay easily from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Camouflage, Destiny Bond, Flatter and 2 more to offspring.

Egg Groups
Water1Water2
Gender
50.0%50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Egg Moves
5moves

Best Build

No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.

Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.

Breeding's the move. Camouflage and Destiny Bond give Inkay options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Flying coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Foul Play and Psychic. The egg moves push it further.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Constrict
1010035Normal
Lv 1
Peck
3510035Flying
Lv 1
Tackle
5010035Normal
Lv 4
Reflect
20Psychic
Lv 8
Foul Play
9510015Dark
Lv 12
Swagger
9015Normal
Lv 13
Psywave
10015Psychic
Lv 15
Topsy-Turvy
10020Dark
Lv 18
Hypnosis
6020Psychic
Lv 21
Psybeam
6510020Psychic
Lv 23
Switcheroo
10010Dark
Lv 27
Payback
5010010Dark
Lv 31
Light Screen
30Psychic
Lv 35
Pluck
6010020Flying
Lv 39
Psycho Cut
7010020Psychic
Lv 43
Slash
7010020Normal
Lv 46
Night Slash
7010015Dark
Lv 48
Superpower
1201005Fighting

TM Moves

Src
TM40
Aerial Ace
6020Flying
TM45
Attract
10015Normal
TM04
Calm Mind
20Psychic
TM100
Confide
20Normal
HM01
Cut
509530Normal
TM97
Dark Pulse
8010015Dark
TM32
Double Team
15Normal
TM63
Embargo
10015Dark
TM42
Facade
7010020Normal
TM35
Flamethrower
9010015Fire
TM70
Flash
10020Normal
TM56
Fling
10010Dark
TM21
Frustration
10020Normal
TM10
Hidden Power
6010015Normal
TM16
Light Screen
30Psychic
TM66
Payback
5010010Dark
TM17
Protect+4
10Normal
TM77
Psych Up
10Normal
TM29
Psychic
9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain Dance
5Water
TM33
Reflect
20Psychic
TM44
Rest
10Psychic
TM67
Retaliate
701005Normal
TM27
Return
10020Normal
TM80
Rock Slide
759010Rock
TM48
Round
6010015Normal
TM94
Secret Power
7010020Normal
TM88
Sleep Talk
10Normal
TM90
Substitute
10Normal
TM11
Sunny Day
5Fire
TM87
Swagger
9015Normal
TM12
Taunt
10020Dark
TM46
Thief
6010025Dark
TM24
Thunderbolt
9010015Electric
TM41
Torment
10015Dark
TM06
Toxic
9010Poison
TM92
Trick Room-7
5Psychic

Egg Moves

Src
Egg
Camouflage
20Normal
Egg
Destiny Bond
5Ghost
Egg
Flatter
10015Dark
Egg
Power Split
10Psychic
Egg
Simple Beam
10015Normal

Tutor Moves

Src
Tutor
Bind
158520Normal
Tutor
Foul Play
9510015Dark
Tutor
Knock Off
6510020Dark
Tutor
Role Play
10Psychic
Tutor
Snatch+4
10Dark
Tutor
Snore
5010015Normal
Tutor
Spite
10010Ghost
Tutor
Superpower
1201005Fighting

No wild encounters for Inkay in Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire. It's available in X, Ultra Sun, or Sword and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.

Inkay is not available as a wild encounter in this game.

Catch in the wild in:

Then trade to Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire.

Also found in:

  • At 288 BST, Inkay is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Malamar before bringing it to any serious fight.

  • Inkay's biggest threats include Heracross (Bug) and Togekiss (Fairy), all carrying super-effective STAB moves. Heracross is the most dangerous since Bug moves deal 4x damage. Only 2 weaknesses means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.

  • Inkay evolves into Malamar at level 30. Inkay is the base form of this evolutionary line.

  • Inkay gets Contrary, Suction Cups, and Infiltrator. But Contrary is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.

  • Inkay is a physical attacker with base 54 Attack. Fragile — can't afford to take many hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 45 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.

  • Inkay appears in 7 games, including X & Y, Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, and Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon.

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.