How to Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO (2025)

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Welcome, Trainer! Evolving Pokémon in GO is usually straightforward, but Inkay, the adorable Dark/Psychic-type, flips that idea (quite literally!) on its head. If you’re wondering how to evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO, you’ve found the right guide.

This guide will show you exactly how to evolve Inkay into Malamar, explain why this peculiar method exists, and even share tips on finding Inkay if you haven’t caught one yet.

How to Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO

Ready to transform your Pokémon GO Inkay? This unique evolution is simpler than it seems once you know the secret. You’ll need the usual Candy, plus a special interaction with your phone.

Here’s exactly how to evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO into Malamar:

Step 1. Get Your Candy Ready

You’ll need 50 Inkay Candies to start the evolution. Gather these by catching Inkay, transferring extras, or by making Inkay your Buddy Pokémon.

Step 2. Pick Your Inkay

Head to your Pokémon storage and select the Inkay you want to evolve.

Step 3. Prepare for the Flip

On Inkay’s screen, the “Evolve” button might look faint even if you have enough candy. Don’t worry, that’s normal; it means the special condition isn’t met yet.

Step 4. The Upside-Down Twist

This is the key! Physically turn your mobile device (phone or tablet) completely upside down. Make sure your screen orientation lock is off if it’s on.

Step 5. Tap to Evolve

Once your device is flipped, the “Evolve” button should light up. Quickly tap it to complete the Inkay evolution Pokémon GO process.

And there you have it! Your Inkay will now evolve into Malamar.

Why Inkay Evolves This Way

Inkay’s unique evolution method comes from its debut in the main series games, Pokémon X and Y. Niantic brought this clever design over to Pokémon GO, making it a fun and memorable part of the game.

Inkay is a Dark and Psychic-type Pokémon, designed to look like an upside-down squid. Its evolved form, Malamar, also has an inverse squid appearance. The “upside-down” evolution truly reflects Inkay’s playful design.

Why Evolve Inkay to Malamar? Beyond completing your Pokédex, Malamar is a formidable Psychic and Dark-type Pokémon in its own right. With a good set of moves, Malamar can be a decent choice for certain PvP (Player vs. Player) leagues and even hold its own in some raids, offering unique type resistances and weaknesses.

Inkay Evolution Troubleshooting

Sometimes, players hit a snag when trying to evolve Inkay. If yours isn’t cooperating, try these common solutions:

Check Phone Rotation Lock: This is the most frequent culprit. Ensure your device’s screen rotation lock is disabled. The game needs to register your phone’s actually flipping.

Restart the App: A quick fix for many game glitches. Fully close Pokémon GO (swipe it away from your recent apps) and then reopen it.

Verify Gyroscope: Some older or basic phones might not have a gyroscope, which detects your phone’s orientation. This is rare, but if so, you might be out of luck for this method.

Keep It Steady: When you flip your phone, try to do it smoothly and steadily, giving the game a clear signal.

How to Catch Inkay in Pokémon GO

Before you can think about Inkay evolution, you need to catch one! As a Psychic and Dark-type, Inkay doesn’t appear as often as some common Pokémon. Here’s how to boost your chances:

Weather Boost: Look for Inkay during Foggy or Windy in-game weather. These conditions increase its spawn rate and give it higher stats.

Incense & Lure Modules: Use Incense (attracts Pokémon to you) and Lure Modules on PokéStops (attracts Pokémon to that Stop). Using both can significantly increase your encounters.

Event Opportunities: Inkay often appears more frequently during special in-game events like Psychic Spectacular or Limited Research Days. These are your best chances! Keep a close eye on official Pokémon GO news.

Field Research Rewards: Occasionally, completing specific Field Research tasks might reward you with an Inkay encounter. Check your daily tasks!

Level Up Your Game: Catch & Evolve Inkay with LocaRun

Sometimes, Inkay can be hard to track down, and physically hunting for enough to catch or waiting for the right weather isn’t always practical. This is where a reliable Pokémon GO spoofer like LocaRun can be a game-changer. LocaRun is a powerful GPS location changer that lets you modify your device’s GPS coordinates, allowing your in-game avatar to “move” without you physically walking.

LocaRun works seamlessly with the official Pokémon GO app, ensuring a smooth experience without needing unofficial, modified game versions.

Key Benefits of Using LocaRun for Inkay Evolution & More:

Instantly teleport to known Inkay spawn locations or areas with ideal weather. No need to travel physically.
Simulate realistic walking routes to hatch eggs and earn candies, including those crucial Inkay Candies, all from home.
Explore Pokémon and events in any part of the world, increasing your chances of finding Inkay or joining related events.
Enjoy intuitive movement with features like a joystick and adjustable speeds for realistic in-game travel.
LocaRun supports both iOS and Android devices, making it accessible to a wide range of Trainers.

Ready to master all your Pokémon GO adventures, including tricky evolutions like Inkay’s? Visit the LocaRun User Guide for detailed setup and advanced tips!

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FAQs About Inkay Pokémon GO

Can Inkay be shiny in Pokémon GO?

Yes, Shiny Inkay was released in Pokémon GO during the Inkay Limited Research event in September 2022. Since then, it has been available, though encountering a shiny version is still rare.

Is Inkay rare in Pokémon GO?

Yes, Inkay is generally considered a rarer Pokémon spawn compared to many common types. While its appearance rate can increase significantly during specific events, it’s not a Pokémon you’ll typically find everywhere all the time.

What do you need to evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO?

To evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon GO, you need 50 Inkay Candies and must physically turn your mobile device upside down during the evolution process. The evolve button will only become active when the phone is inverted.

My Inkay isn’t evolving, what’s wrong?

The most common reason Inkay won’t evolve is that your phone’s screen rotation lock is enabled, preventing the game from detecting the necessary upside-down orientation. Make sure it’s off. Other reasons could include not having enough candies or a temporary app glitch (try restarting the game).

Is Inkay’s evolution in Pokémon GO the same as in the main games?

Yes, the Inkay evolution Pokémon GO method directly mirrors its unique evolution requirement from the main series games, specifically Pokémon X and Y. Players also had to turn their Nintendo 3DS console upside down to evolve Inkay into Malamar.

Conclusion

Evolving Inkay in Pokémon GO is certainly one of the game’s more memorable and playful mechanics, directly inspired by its original design. Once you know the trick of flipping your device, transforming your Inkay into a powerful Malamar is straightforward.

Whether you’re actively hunting for Inkay during events or using tools like LocaRun to virtually explore and catch them from anywhere, mastering this unique evolution is a fun and rewarding part of your Pokémon GO journey. Happy evolving!

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Looking for more Pokémon GO insights? Explore these essential guides for Trainers:

Danny

Hi, I’m Danny, a cybersecurity expert with 15+ years in digital privacy. I lead Locarun’s technical content on geolocation security solutions. My industry background helps me translate complex privacy technologies into practical strategies for protecting your online identity. I’m dedicated to empowering users with effective tools to control their digital footprint through our GPS location changer.