How To Evolve Inkay In Pokemon GO - Complete Guide 2026

Inkay is one of the most unique Pokemon to evolve in Pokemon GO, requiring a special upside-down method that pays homage to its original evolution mechanic from the main series games.

Quick Answer: You need 50 Inkay Candies and must hold your phone upside down when pressing the Evolve button to evolve Inkay into Malamar.

Evolution Requirements

To successfully evolve Inkay into Malamar, you’ll need:

  • 50 Inkay Candies - Collect these by catching Inkay or walking with it as your buddy
  • A working orientation sensor - Your phone must be able to detect when it’s upside down
  • Auto-rotation enabled - Make sure rotation lock is turned off

The Upside-Down Method

The unique evolution method comes from Pokemon X and Y on the Nintendo 3DS, where players had to hold their 3DS upside down to evolve Inkay. Niantic brought this mechanic into Pokemon GO as a fun Easter egg.

Step-by-Step Evolution Process

  1. Collect 50 Inkay Candies
    • Use Pinap Berries when catching Inkay to get 6 candies instead of 3
    • Make Inkay your buddy Pokemon to earn candies while walking
    • Transfer duplicate Inkay to Professor Willow for 1 candy each
  2. Select your Inkay
    • Open your Pokemon storage
    • Choose the Inkay you want to evolve
    • You’ll notice the Evolve button appears faint or grayed out
  3. Turn your phone upside down
    • Physically rotate your device 180 degrees
    • The Evolve button should become more visible and bright
    • This confirms your phone’s orientation sensor is working
  4. Tap the Evolve button
    • While holding your phone upside down, tap the now-visible Evolve button
    • The evolution animation will begin
    • Congratulations! Your Inkay is now Malamar

Troubleshooting Tips

If the evolution button doesn’t activate or remains faint, try these solutions:

  • Check rotation lock: Ensure your device’s auto-rotation feature is enabled in system settings
  • Restart the app: Close Pokemon GO completely and reopen it
  • Calibrate your sensor: Open your device’s compass app and move it in a figure-8 pattern
  • Clear cache: If the issue persists, clear the app’s cache and try again
  • Update the app: Make sure you have the latest version of Pokemon GO installed

Did You Know? This upside-down evolution method is not event-exclusive and has been the only way to evolve Inkay since it was introduced to Pokemon GO. There are no alternative evolution methods.

About Malamar

Malamar is a Dark/Psychic-type Pokemon with interesting stats and moves:

  • Type: Dark/Psychic
  • Best Moves: Psycho Cut (Fast), Foul Play (Charged)
  • Usage: Great for PvP battles, particularly in Great League and Ultra League
  • Weakness: Bug and Fairy-type moves
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