How to Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go: Complete Guide

If you have played Pokemon Go, then you must know that evolving certain Pokemon can be pretty straightforward, which is just gathering enough candy and hitting the evolve button. But the catch is this process can't be followed for every Pokemon, as there are some unique ones that certainly require extra efforts and understanding, and Inkay is one of those Pokemon. Inkay might look like a regular catch at first, but its evolution into Malamar catches every player's attention.

If you’ve recently caught Inkay and are wondering why the usual evolve button isn’t showing up, don’t worry, you’re not missing anything. It just means you haven’t unlocked the right method yet. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the exact steps for how to evolve Inkay in Pokémon Go.

Inkay Evolution Requirement in Pokemon Go

Evolving Inkay requires more than just hitting the "Evolve" button. Niantic implemented an alternative approach that reflects how Inkay evolved in the main Pokemon titles. To evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokemon Go, you must fulfill the following Inkay evolution requirement:

• Candy Requirement: 50 Inkay Candy are required. Candy is typical in Pokemon and can be obtained by catching Inkay, transferring duplicate copies, or walking with Inkay as your buddy. You can double the Candy collected from catching Inkay if you use Pinap Berries.
• Device Orientation Requirement: The most crucial requirement is that you need to hold your mobile device upside down at the time of evaluation. Simply obtaining enough Candy will not be enough; the evolution option will only display if your phone or tablet is upside down.
• Level Requirement: Unlike the main games, there is no minimum level requirement for Inkay to evolve in Pokemon Go. As long as you have 50 Candy and flip your device upside down, you are ready to evolve Inkay.

How to Catch Inkay in Pokemon Go

First, before you learn how to evolve Inkay into Malamar, you'll need to catch one to add to your collection. Sometimes Inkay can be a little tricky to find easily, but there are a few good ways to encounter Inkay in Pokemon Go.

You can obtain Inkay through research tasks. Occasionally, you are rewarded with a chance to find Inkay after you complete Field Research or Special Research quests by fulfilling simple tasks. These tasks are as simple as making a designated number of Nice Throws or catching a specific type of Pokemon.

There are also times when Inkay is available from 5 km Eggs during exclusive rotations. The one catch is that this is not always a reliable source for catching Inkay, so it's worth seeing if Inkay is currently available from the pool of Eggs in the game. These steps are also highlighted in several Pokemon Go Guide resources for players.

The other reliable method is through event spawns. Niantic often features Inkay to spawn in themed events. This means that you'll find it much more easily during these times. In-game news of any events or announcements is an excellent way to know when to look for Inkay.

Lastly, Inkay is one of the Pokemon that can be available in one-star raids. You can say this is one of the best and most consistent ways to get an Inkay. Once you clear the one-star raid, you are guaranteed a chance to catch Inkay by understanding the Inkay evolution guide in Pokemon Go.

How to Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go

Once you’ve caught an Inkay, the next big step is evolving it into Malamar. The process is easy to follow, but it has a fun little twist that makes it very different from most other evolutions. Here’s how you can do it step by step.

Step 1: Collect 50 Inkay Candy
To start, you need 50 candies. You can get this by catching Inkay in the wild, using Pinap Berries while catching to earn double Candy, and walking with Inkay as your buddy (this will earn you one Candy for every 3 km). If Inkay is hard to find in your area, you can also use Rare Candy to reach the total.

Step 2: Choose the Inkay you need to Evolve
Go into your Pokemon storage and look for the Inkay you’d like to evolve. It’s a good idea to check its stats with the appraisal option before evolving. If you’re interested in using Malamar in battles, then choosing an Inkay with strong IVs will give you a more powerful Malamar.

Step 3: Turn Your Device Upside Down
Here comes the important and very interesting part. Here, you have to rotate your phone to evolve it; you’ll need to flip your phone or tablet upside down. This step is very important because the evolve button won’t appear unless your device is inverted.

Step 4: Tap the Evolve Button
Once your device is upside down, the evolve button should become available. Tap it to begin the evolution just like you would with any other Pokemon.

Step 5: Watch Inkay Become Malamar
Now, sit back and enjoy the animation as Inkay evolves into Malamar. When it’s done, Malamar will be added to your Pokédex, and you’ll have a new Pokemon to battle with or show off in your collection.

Just to add some information, This special method is actually a fun reference to the original Pokemon games, where players had to hold their Nintendo 3DS upside down to evolve Inkay. Pokémon Go kept that quirky detail, making Inkay’s evolution into Malamar one of the most memorable in the game.

Tips to Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go

The process of how to evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go might feel straightforward, but there are a few smart and secret tricks that can make the process much easier and save you time. Here are some of the most helpful ones explained simply:

1. Use Pinap Berries When Catching
Whenever you spot an Inkay in the wild, feed it a Pinap Berry before you throw your Poké Ball. This will double the Candy you receive from the catch. Since you need 50 Candy for evolution, this little trick helps you save time by cutting down the number of Inkay you’ll need to catch.

2. Walk with Inkay as Your Buddy
If Inkay doesn’t appear very often where you play, make it your buddy Pokemon. Inkay only requires 3 kilometers of walking to earn one Candy, which is fairly quick compared to many other Pokemon. For example, just by taking a short stroll, you’ll be earning Candy without even thinking much about it.

3. Take Advantage of Events
Special in-game events are one of the best opportunities to find Inkay. During Psychic- or Dark-type themed events, Inkay usually appears much more often. You should play actively during these times, as this will give you the chance to catch several Inkay in a short amount of time, making it much easier to collect Candy for evolution.

4. Use Rare Candy if You Are Stuck
Sometimes Inkay can be very rare and hard to find. If that happens, Rare Candy is a great backup option. You can earn Rare Candy from raids, research tasks, or special rewards. Converting it into Inkay Candy will help you quickly reach the 50 you need to evolve, without waiting around for another spawn.

That is all you need to know about how to evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go.