Pokemon Sword and Shield has trainers explore the Galar region, Game Freak's Generation viii take on Cracking Great britain. Even though the newest entries have brought many jarring changes, veteran trainers will be glad to know that some unique ways to evolve Pokemon have stayed the same. In particular, Inkay, a Night/Psychic-type that debuted in Generation vi, still uses the same method which turns a trainer's world upside downward.

Inkay first debuted in 2013 as a Kalos region native. Appealing because of its blueprint, it made anime appearances as one of Team Rocket's Pokemon that season, being defenseless for its cuteness. After evolving into its adjacent class, however, Inkay remains annihilation but cute. As Malamar, the Pokemon takes on a more sinister appearance, akin to an inverted squid with much darker coloration. This evolutionary line may exist nothing out of the ordinary in base stats but it has a mostly unique dual-typing and a signature motility in Topsy-Turvey which reverses all stat changes on a target Pokemon, turning negative to positive and vice versa. In Pokemon Sword and Shield, evolving Inkay requires finding and communicable it first before fulfilling a unique condition.

Updated April 10th, 2022 past Russ Boswell: Although Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl, equally well as Pokemon Legends: Arceus, have been grabbing player's attending over the past few months, at that place are all the same gamers out there making their way through Pokemon Sword & Shield. With so many Pokemon to catch, and access to the National Dex, equally well equally multiple DLC additions, there is a ton to do for players that truly want to complete as much of Pokemon Sword & Shield as possible. This includes catching curious Pokemon similar Inkay, as well every bit using its interesting development, Malamar. To ameliorate showcase the potential hidden inside Inkay in Pokemon Sword & Shield, as well as how to catch the Pokemon, the following guide has been updated with more data.

Finding Inkay

pokemon sword and shield inkay wild encounter

In-game, Inkay can be institute in five locations: Route 7, Road 9, and the Bridge Field, Giant's Mirror, or Hammerlocke Hills sections of the Wild Area. The levels of wild Inkays in these zones will range from Level 37-41, 39-43, 40-43 (26-43), 41-45, and 28-thirty respectively. Note that out of the five, Inkay will just spawn in the Overworld at Route 7 or while biking over water at Giant's Mirror. Otherwise, trainers volition have to find it through random encounters in grass at Route 9 and Hammerlocke Hills. Be aware that the random encounters in the grass for the Wild Area sections will vary from 10 percent to 35 pct depending on the weather status. Furthermore, keep in mind that Inkay can be encountered through both methods at Bridge Field. It is recommended, yet, to chase for Inkay at Route 9 every bit the random run into rate for it in the grass is set to 25 percent in all weather conditions.

Evolving Inkay

Malamar in the anime

Once trainers have caught Inkay, they need to enhance it to Level thirty or to a higher place before fulfilling the next status. After leveling upward in battle or through EXP processed rotate the console upside downwards before catastrophe the battle or endmost the dialogue. Because this requires turning the Nintendo Switch, information technology is best to do so in handheld style. If done correctly, Inkay will evolve into Malamar.

In the end, evolving Inkay doesn't require any of the changes made in Generation 8, trainers merely need to flip the Switch.

Stats For Inkay And Its Evolution

Pokemon Inkay Malamar

Like many of the other first-phase evolutions constitute throughout Pokemon Sword & SHield, Inkay isn't particularly powerful. It has a depression stat full and doesn't accept any remarkable moves. That does change a fleck when Inkay evolves into Malamar, and although the stronger Pokemon doesn't take an impressive base of operations stat total like some other Pokemon found in Sword & Shield, it does have some dandy abilities that tin can help information technology excel in battle.

Hither'due south a look at the stats for both Pokemon:

Inkay's Stats

  • HP: 53
  • Assail: 54
  • Special Attack: 37
  • Defence force: 53
  • Special Defence force: 46
  • Speed: 45
  • Full Base Stats: 288

Malamar'south Stats

  • HP: 86
  • Attack: 92
  • Special Attack: 68
  • Defense: 88
  • Special Defense force: 75
  • Speed: 73
  • Full Base Stats: 482

Malamar is a Dark and Psychic-type, despite its watery appearance. Those that are looking for a unique Pokemon to cover these type advantages may want to consider the unique fauna as information technology does have some interesting abilities. Its outset, Reverse, will cause whatever stat changes it undergoes to accept the opposite issue, making opponent'due south debuffing moves into buffing ones. By that, it has Suction Cups, which proceed it from moves that would otherwise switch it out. Lastly, its subconscious ability, Burglar, can pass through a foe'south barrier and strike them straight, making it difficult for Pokemon to avoid Malamar with guarding moves.

Those that tin cover its weaknesses to Bug (4x) and Fairy (2x) and stack it with solid moves like Superpower, Rest, or Knock Off, volition find a lot of hope in Malamar.

Pokemon Sword and Shield is out now for the Nintendo Switch.

MORE: How to Evolve Goomy into Goodra in Pokemon Sword and Shield

Source: GosuNoob