If you are trying to evolve Inkay Pokémon GO and nothing seems to be happening, you are not alone. Inkay is one of the few Pokémon in the game that uses a very unusual evolution method, which often catches players off guard. Many trainers collect enough candy and press the evolve button only to find that nothing happens.
The reason is that to evolve Inkay Pokémon GO requires a special action involving your phone itself. Instead of simply using candy, players must turn their phone upside down during the evolution process.
Once you know the trick, evolving Inkay becomes very simple, but until then it can be confusing. This guide explains exactly how to evolve Inkay Pokémon GO, why the mechanic exists, and how to make sure the evolution works correctly.
How to Evolve Inkay Pokémon GO
To evolve Inkay Pokémon GO you need to meet two conditions. The first is collecting enough candy, and the second is performing the evolution while your phone is turned upside down.
Follow these steps carefully:
Catch or obtain an Inkay in Pokémon GO
Collect 50 Inkay Candy
Open the Inkay’s Pokémon page in your storage
Turn your phone completely upside down
Press the evolve button while your phone is inverted
When the phone is rotated correctly, the evolve option will work and Inkay will evolve into Malamar. If the phone is not upside down, the evolution will not trigger correctly and the evolve button may appear unavailable.
Why Inkay Evolves by Turning Your Phone Upside Down
The mechanic used to evolve Inkay Pokémon GO is actually inspired by the main Pokémon games. In Pokémon X and Pokémon Y on the Nintendo 3DS, Inkay evolved into Malamar by turning the console upside down while the evolution animation played.
Niantic recreated this mechanic in Pokémon GO as a fun reference to the original evolution method. While it is a clever nod to longtime Pokémon fans, it can easily confuse players who are unfamiliar with the original games.
Because the game does not clearly explain the requirement, many trainers end up searching for help when they cannot evolve their Inkay normally.
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How Much Candy You Need to Evolve Inkay Pokémon GO
To evolve Inkay Pokémon GO you will need 50 Inkay Candy.
There are several ways to collect Inkay Candy in the game. The most common method is catching Inkay when it appears in the wild. Using Pinap Berries when catching Inkay will double the candy reward, which can speed up the process significantly.
You can also earn Inkay Candy by walking Inkay as your buddy Pokémon, transferring duplicate Inkay to Professor Willow, or completing certain research tasks during special events. With regular play, collecting enough candy for the evolution is usually straightforward.
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What Inkay Evolves Into in Pokémon GO
When you evolve Inkay Pokémon GO it evolves into Malamar.
Malamar is a Dark and Psychic type Pokémon known for its distinctive appearance and unusual evolution mechanic. Its dual typing makes it somewhat unique in battle, although it is generally not considered one of the strongest choices for raids or competitive PvP.
Many players still evolve Inkay primarily to complete their Pokédex or simply because the evolution method is one of the most interesting in the game.
Tips to Make Sure Inkay Evolves Correctly
If your Inkay refuses to evolve, it is usually because the phone is not being rotated properly.
Make sure your screen rotation is enabled and that the phone is fully turned upside down before pressing the evolve button. Holding the phone steady while tapping evolve can also help ensure the game recognises the correct orientation.
It is also important to confirm that you have collected the required 50 Inkay Candy before attempting the evolution. Once both conditions are met, the evolution should trigger immediately.
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Is It Worth Evolving Inkay in Pokémon GO
For many players, evolving Inkay Pokémon GO is mainly about completing the Pokédex and experiencing one of the game’s most unique evolution mechanics. Malamar may not dominate raids or PvP leagues, but it remains a memorable Pokémon due to the creative way it evolves.
Since Inkay occasionally appears during events and in the wild, evolving one is usually not too difficult for dedicated trainers. If you enjoy collecting Pokémon or filling out your Pokédex, evolving Inkay into Malamar is definitely worth doing.
Evolving Inkay Pokémon GO
Learning how to evolve Inkay Pokémon GO becomes simple once you know the trick behind it. Unlike most Pokémon that evolve using only candy, Inkay requires players to turn their phone upside down during the evolution process. This clever mechanic references the original Pokémon games and adds a fun twist to the evolution system in Pokémon GO.
As long as you have collected 50 Inkay Candy and remember to rotate your phone before pressing evolve, your Inkay will evolve into Malamar without any problems. It may seem strange at first, but once you know the method, evolving Inkay Pokémon GO is quick and easy.
