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Pokemon Legends: Z-A

How To Evolve Inkay

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Players can evolve Inkay by levelling it past 30 while holding their Switch upside down in Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Learn more about Inkay, its location, stats, and more.

PokedexInkay
Pokedex
Shiny PokemonShiny
Inkay
Legends: Z-A Pokedex
Pokemon Legends: Z-A FurfrouFurfrou
Dex #158
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Inkay Inkay
Dex #159
Pokemon Legends: Z-A MalamarMalamar
Dex #160

How to Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Level Up Inkay While the Console is Upside Down

Inkay Evolution Line
InkayInkay
Lv. 30 with the console held upside-down
MalamarMalamar

Inkay evolves into Malamar once it levels up past level 30 while the console you're playing in is flipped upside down. If you are playing while your Switch is docked, you need to play in handheld mode and flip the console so Inkay can evolve.

To ensure the console detects itself as flipped, disconnect any external controllers to the console and only play with the Joy-Cons attached. Make sure to also flip the console before a battle starts (one where you know Inkay will level up past 30) or before you feed Inkay an experience-granting candy.

How to Get Inkay in Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Interactive Map

・Click on the arrow in the upper left corner to access our sidebar to check all other pins and even search for individual pins.
・Pins checked off the map will reflect in the list below.
We encourage users to sign up and log in to save your progress with the map.

Lumiose City Interactive Map

Alpha Inkay Location

Location Overworld and Map Image
Lumiose Sewers
Alpha Inkay Overworld Location Alpha Inkay Map Location

AlphaWesternmost Room in the Sewers
Chance to Spawn
Alpha Inkay can spawn in the westernmost corner of the Sewers.
Alpha Move: Liquidation
Lumiose Sewers
Alpha Inkay Overworld Location Alpha Inkay Map Location

AlphaEast Corridor in the Sewers
Chance to Spawn
Alpha Inkay can spawn in the east corridor of the Sewers accessed from the Saison Canal.
Alpha Move: Liquidation

All Alpha Pokemon Locations

Catch in a Wild Zone

Wild Zone 11
Day and Night

Wild Inkay may also spawn as an Alpha Pokemon in place of their regular form inside Wild Zones once you have caught all available Pokemon in the area and have earned the respective crown for the Wild Zone, which can be checked in the map.
All Wild Zones and Pokemon Locations

Catch in Lumiose Sewers

Sewers
Inkay can be found inside the Lumiose Sewers, which you can access during Main Mission 19, when you are tasked to find Gwynn before your promotion match with Ivor. It also has a chance to appear as an Alpha Pokemon.

After the Main Mission, you can get back to the area after completing Side Mission 57 and go in from the entrance found near Bleu Sector 3.
How to Return to the Sewers

Inkay Game Data

Inkay Type

Regular
Shiny
L-A Dex #159
Inkay ImageInkay
Pokemon Psychic Type IconPokemon Dark Type Icon
Gen 6
Height 0.4 m
Weight 3.5 kg
Species Revolving Pokémon
EV Yield Atk +1
L-A Dex #159
Shiny Inkay ImageShiny Inkay
Pokemon Psychic Type IconPokemon Dark Type Icon
Gen 6
Height 0.4 m
Weight 3.5 kg
Species Revolving Pokémon
EV Yield Atk +1
List of All Shiny Pokemon

Inkay Weakness and Resistance

Weak to: (4x)
Pokemon Bug Type Icon
(2x)
Pokemon Fairy Type Icon
Damaged Normally By: (1x)
Pokemon Normal Type Icon Pokemon Fire Type Icon Pokemon Water Type Icon Pokemon Grass Type Icon Pokemon Electric Type Icon Pokemon Ice Type Icon Pokemon Fighting Type Icon Pokemon Poison Type Icon Pokemon Ground Type Icon Pokemon Flying Type Icon Pokemon Rock Type Icon Pokemon Ghost Type Icon Pokemon Dragon Type Icon Pokemon Dark Type Icon Pokemon Steel Type Icon
Immune to: (0x)
Pokemon Psychic Type Icon

Inkay Stats

Base Stats
Lv. 50 Stats
Stat Value Rank
HP
53
#237
Atk
54
#258
Def
53
#242
SpAtk
37
#292
SpDef
46
#267
Speed
45
#248
Total
288
#289
List of Pokemon by Base Stats
Stat Max 0Nat 0EV -Nat Min
HP 160 160 128 128 113
Atk 116 106 74 66 53
Def 115 105 73 65 52
SpAtk 97 89 57 51 37
SpDef 107 98 66 59 45
Spd 106 97 65 58 45
  • Max: Max IVs & EVs and a stat-boosting Nature
  • 0Nat: Max IVs & EVs and a neutral Nature
  • 0EV: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a neutral Nature
  • -Nat: Max IVs, 0 EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature
  • Min: 0 IVs & EVs, and a stat-reducing Nature


Inkay Best Nature for Story

Impish or Careful

Nature Stat Changes
Impish Defense, SpAtk
Careful SpDef, SpAtk

Due to Inkay having very high Defensive stats, its best natures are either Impish or Careful to boost its Defense or Special Defense further.

Inkay also has a better Attack stat compared to its Special Attack, so choosing one of the above natures allows Inkay to still deal some damage with its Physical Moves.

Alternative Natures

Nature Stat Changes
Relaxed Defense, Speed
Sassy SpDef, Speed

You can also give Inkay either Relaxed or Sassy nature, allowing you to increase your Defense or Special Defense at the cost of reduced Speed.

Keep in mind that giving Inkay any of the above two natures will increase the cooldown of moves, putting you at a disadvantage against faster Pokemon.

Use Mints to Change Natures

Mint Usage

If your Inkay has a different Nature than the ones we recommend above, you can use a Mint to change its Nature.
Mints Locations and How to Change Nature

Inkay Learnset

narrow down the range of conditions

Learnset by Leveling Up

Lv. Move Type Cat Power/CD
Base Tackle Normal Type Moves Physical Type Moves 40 / 4
The user attacks by charging forward and slamming into targets with its whole body.
Base Peck Flying Type Moves Physical Type Moves 35 / 6
The user attacks by jabbing targets with a sharply pointed beak or horn.
3 Hypnosis Psychic Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 10
The user employs hypnotic suggestion to make targets drowsy.
6 Fake Tears Dark Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 10
The user feigns crying to fluster targets, which lowers their Sp. Def stats for a while.
14 Knock Off Dark Type Moves Physical Type Moves 65 / 10
The user attacks by slapping targets' held items away, making the items unusable for the rest of the battle. This move does more damage to targets holding items.
15 Psybeam Psychic Type Moves Special Type Moves 65 / 6
The user attacks by shooting targets with a peculiar ray. This may also leave targets confused.
21 Slash Normal Type Moves Physical Type Moves 70 / 7
The user attacks by slashing with claws, scythes, or the like. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
24 Night Slash Dark Type Moves Physical Type Moves 70 / 7
The user attacks by slashing the instant an opportunity arises. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
33 Psycho Cut Psychic Type Moves Physical Type Moves 70 / 7
The user attacks by tearing at targets with blades formed from psychic power. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
37 Psyshock Psychic Type Moves Special Type Moves 80 / 8
The user attacks by materializing a mysterious psychic wave. This move deals physical damage.
42 Topsy-Turvy Dark Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 10
The user turns all the stat changes affecting targets topsy-turvy so that they become the opposite of what they were.
54 Close Combat Fighting Type Moves Physical Type Moves 120 / 12
The user attacks by abandoning defense and charging in close to targets. This lowers the user's Defense and Sp. Def stats for a short time.

Learnset by TM

No. Move Type Cat Power/CD
001 Headbutt Normal Type Moves Physical Type Moves 70 / 7
The user attacks by leaning forward and charging headfirst into targets. This may also make targets flinch.
003 Psyshock Psychic Type Moves Special Type Moves 80 / 8
The user attacks by materializing a mysterious psychic wave. This move deals physical damage.
006 Calm Mind Psychic Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 18
The user boosts its Sp. Atk and Sp. Def stats for a short time by quietly focusing its mind and calming its spirit.
012 Rock Slide Rock Type Moves Physical Type Moves 75 / 7
The user attacks by hurling large boulders. This may also make targets flinch.
016 Light Screen Psychic Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 12
The user constructs a wondrous wall of light that will reduce damage taken from special moves for a while. This effect continues even if the user is switched out.
017 Protect Normal Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 15
The user takes on a protective stance that prevents incoming attacks from landing.
031 Reflect Psychic Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 12
The user constructs a wondrous wall of light that will reduce damage taken from physical moves for a while. This effect continues even if the user is switched out.
034 Night Slash Dark Type Moves Physical Type Moves 70 / 7
The user attacks by slashing the instant an opportunity arises. This move has a heightened chance of landing a critical hit.
035 Endure Normal Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 12
The user takes a ready stance to endure any attack. While in this stance, the user will be able to take a hit and be left with at least 1 HP without fail.
045 Knock Off Dark Type Moves Physical Type Moves 65 / 10
The user attacks by slapping targets' held items away, making the items unusable for the rest of the battle. This move does more damage to targets holding items.
059 Zen Headbutt Psychic Type Moves Physical Type Moves 80 / 8
The user attacks by focusing all its willpower into a fierce headbutt. This may also make targets flinch.
060 Future Sight Psychic Type Moves Special Type Moves 120 / 10
A short time after this move is used, a blast of psychic energy will strike the spot where the target was.
062 Flamethrower Fire Type Moves Special Type Moves 90 / 8
The user attacks with a stream of fierce flames. This may also leave targets with a burn.
063 Psychic Psychic Type Moves Special Type Moves 90 / 8
The user attacks by directing a strong telekinetic force toward targets. This may also lower targets' Sp. Def stats.
067 Thunderbolt Electric Type Moves Special Type Moves 90 / 8
The user attacks with a strong electric blast. This may also leave targets paralyzed.
076 Liquidation Water Type Moves Physical Type Moves 85 / 8
The user attacks by slamming into targets using a full- force blast of water. This may also lower targets' Defense stats.
083 Nasty Plot Dark Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 15
The user boosts its Sp. Atk stat for a while by thinking bad thoughts to stimulate its brain.
085 Substitute Normal Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 10
The user sacrifices a small amount of HP to create a substitute for itself.
090 Dark Pulse Dark Type Moves Special Type Moves 80 / 8
The user attacks by releasing a horrible aura rife with ill intent. This may also make targets flinch.
095 Taunt Dark Type Moves Status Type Moves - / 12
The user taunts targets, sending them into a rage that will allow them to use only damage-dealing moves for a short time.
107 Close Combat Fighting Type Moves Physical Type Moves 120 / 12
The user attacks by abandoning defense and charging in close to targets. This lowers the user's Defense and Sp. Def stats for a short time.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A Related Guides

Pokemon Legends Z-A - New Pokedex
Pokedex: All Pokemon in Legends Z-A

Pokemon Articles

List of Articles
Legends: Z-A Starters All Trade Evolutions
How to Evolve Every Pokemon Rare Pokemon Locations
All Available Regional Forms List of All Shiny Pokemon
List of Pokemon by EV Yield How to Get Every Eeveelution
All In-Game Trades and Gift Pokemon List of Pokemon by Base Stats
All Returning DLC Pokemon -

Pokemon by Type

All Pokemon Types
Grass TypeGrass Water TypeWater Fire TypeFire
Electric TypeElectric Ice TypeIce Fighting TypeFighting
Ground TypeGround Poison TypePoison Flying TypeFlying
Psychic TypePsychic Bug TypeBug Rock TypeRock
Ghost TypeGhost Dragon TypeDragon Dark TypeDark
Steel TypeSteel Fairy TypeFairy Normal TypeNormal

All Pokemon by Generation

Pokemon Generations
Generation 1 PokemonGeneration 1 Generation 2 PokemonGeneration 2 Generation 3 PokemonGeneration 3
Generation 4 PokemonGeneration 4 Generation 5 PokemonGeneration 5 Generation 6 PokemonGeneration 6
Generation 7 PokemonGeneration 7 Generation 8 PokemonGeneration 8 Generation 9 PokemonGeneration 9

Previous and Next Pokemon

Legends: Z-A Pokedex
Pokemon Legends: Z-A FurfrouFurfrou
Dex #158
Pokemon Legends: Z-A Inkay Inkay
Dex #159
Pokemon Legends: Z-A MalamarMalamar
Dex #160

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