The Psychic Spectacular event in Pokémon GO is a highlight for trainers every September, bringing a host of Psychic-type Pokémon into the spotlight. Among the exciting additions is Inkay, a unique Dark and Psychic-type Pokémon originally from the Kalos region. Known for its distinctive evolution method, Inkay’s evolution to Malamar in Pokémon GO mirrors its quirky origins in Pokémon X and Y, requiring a special trick that players need to know. This guide will walk you through exactly How To Evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon GO, ensuring you don’t miss out on adding this powerful Pokémon to your collection.
Gathering Inkay Candy for Evolution
To evolve Inkay into Malamar, you will need 50 Inkay Candy. Candy is essential for evolving Pokémon in Pokémon GO, and there are several effective ways to accumulate the necessary amount for Inkay:
- Catching Inkay: The most straightforward method is to catch Inkay whenever you encounter it. During events like the Psychic Spectacular, Inkay’s spawn rate is significantly increased, making it easier to find in the wild.
- Using Pinap Berries: To maximize your Candy gains, use Pinap Berries when catching Inkay. Pinap Berries double the amount of Candy you receive per catch, helping you reach 50 Candy much faster.
- Making Inkay Your Buddy: Assign Inkay as your Buddy Pokémon. As you walk with Inkay, it will earn Candy at set distances. This is a steady way to gain Candy passively while playing.
- Utilizing Rare Candy: If you have Rare Candy, you can use it to obtain Inkay Candy. Rare Candy can be earned through raids, Special Research, and Timed Research, offering a quicker route if you have a stockpile.
By combining these methods, you can efficiently gather the 50 Inkay Candy required to initiate its evolution.
The Unique Evolution Method: Turning Your Phone Upside Down
Once you have collected 50 Inkay Candy, you might notice a question mark beside the ‘Evolve’ button for Inkay in Pokémon GO. This is a deliberate hint to Inkay’s special evolution method. Veterans of the main series Pokémon games will recall that evolving Inkay into Malamar is no ordinary task. Staying true to this tradition, Pokémon GO requires trainers to replicate this unique method: you must turn your phone upside down to evolve Inkay.
This quirky requirement is not just a fun gimmick; it’s a nod to Inkay and Malamar’s intriguing lore and dual typing as Dark and Psychic-types. The topsy-turvy method perfectly suits this Revolving Pokémon.
Here’s how to execute the evolution:
- Ensure you have 50 Inkay Candy.
- Select Inkay from your Pokémon storage.
- Tap the ‘Evolve’ button.
- Immediately flip your phone completely upside down.
Keep your phone inverted while the evolution sequence completes. If done correctly, Inkay will evolve into Malamar. This method is consistently required and isn’t tied to any specific event, so you’ll always need to perform this trick to evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO. Thankfully, mobile devices are perfectly suited for this maneuver, making it a seamless, albeit unusual, evolution process.
How to Get Inkay in Pokemon GO
Before you can evolve Inkay, you need to catch one! Fortunately, Inkay is available in Pokémon GO, especially during events like the Psychic Spectacular. Here are the primary ways to encounter Inkay:
- Wild Encounters: Inkay appears in the wild, and its spawn rate increases during specific events. Keep an eye on the in-game news for announcements about events that feature Psychic-type or Dark-type Pokémon, as Inkay often makes appearances during these times.
- Incense and Lures: Using Incense can attract Pokémon to your location, and during events, this significantly boosts the chances of encountering event-specific Pokémon like Inkay. Similarly, Lure Modules placed on PokéStops can also enhance spawn rates, including Inkay.
- Research Tasks: Keep an eye out for Field Research or Special Research tasks that reward encounters with Inkay. Event-themed research often includes tasks that lead to encounters with featured Pokémon.
- Shiny Inkay: During special events, there’s also a chance to encounter Shiny Inkay for the first time. Shiny Pokémon are rare and highly sought after, so be sure to actively look for Inkay during these periods to try and add this unique variant to your collection.
By actively participating in events, using Incense and Lures, and completing research tasks, you’ll maximize your opportunities to find and catch Inkay, setting you on the path to evolving it into Malamar.
Evolving Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon GO is a memorable and unique process, reflecting the Pokémon’s intriguing nature. By gathering enough Candy and mastering the upside-down phone trick, you can successfully add Malamar to your Pokédex and leverage its powerful Dark and Psychic-type abilities in battles. Happy catching and evolving!
