Stats & Training
You won't find a real weakness in Inkay's stat line. It's well-rounded for the Revolving Pokemon, and what it does with that depends on moveset and items. Yields 1 Attack EV, on a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Opponents who stare at the flashing of the light-emitting spots on its body become dazed and lose their will to fight.
It flashes the light-emitting spots on its body, which drains its opponent’s will to fight. It takes the opportunity to scuttle away and hide.
Inkay Weakness
Type-wise, Inkay takes extra damage from Bug and Fairy. Watch out for Bug attacks, those deal 4x damage. Psychic moves do nothing thanks to a full immunity.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 4x (Critical) | Bug |
| 2x (Weak) | Fairy |
| 0x (Immune) | Psychic |
 Ledyba Bug | D | |
 Flabébé Fairy | D | |
 Combee Bug | D | |
 Burmy Bug | D | |
 Scatterbug Bug | D | |
 Volbeat Bug | C | |
 Illumise Bug | C | |
 Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift | ||
 Nincada BugGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Nincada builds →Leech Life 4x142-168%KO Struggle Bug 4x79-95% | ||
Ledyba Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Ledyba builds →Struggle Bug 4x98-116%KO Infestation 4x44-53% | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 4x138-162%KO Struggle Bug 4x95-113%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift | ||
Nincada BugGround | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Nincada builds →Leech Life 4x132-155%KO Struggle Bug 4x72-85% | ||
Ledyba Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Ledyba builds →Silver Wind 4x101-120%KO Struggle Bug 4x84-99% Infestation 4x41-49% | ||
 Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x269-318%KO Struggle Bug 4x101-120%KO | ||
 Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Heracross builds →Struggle Bug 4x84-99% Pin Missile 4x89-106%KO | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 4x138-162%KO Struggle Bug 4x95-113%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Anorith builds →X-Scissor 4x221-261%KO Struggle Bug 4x84-99% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x269-318%KO Struggle Bug 4x101-120%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Heracross builds →Struggle Bug 4x84-99% Pin Missile 4x89-106%KO | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Volbeat builds →Signal Beam 4x138-162%KO Struggle Bug 4x95-113%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Anorith builds →X-Scissor 4x221-261%KO Struggle Bug 4x84-99% | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x275-324%KO Struggle Bug 4x107-126%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Heracross builds →Struggle Bug 4x86-102%KO Pin Missile 4x91-108%KO | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Anorith builds →X-Scissor 4x219-258%KO Struggle Bug 4x86-102%KO Fury Cutter 4x112-132%KO | ||
 Skorupi PoisonBug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Skorupi builds →X-Scissor 4x137-162%KO Bug Bite 4x107-126%KO Struggle Bug 4x76-90% Pin Missile 4x51-60% | ||
 Karrablast Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Karrablast builds →Bug Buzz 4x153-180%KO X-Scissor 4x183-216%KO Struggle Bug 4x86-102%KO Fury Cutter 4x96-114%KO | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x288-340%KO Struggle Bug 4x108-127%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Heracross builds →Struggle Bug 4x88-104%KO Pin Missile 4x92-110%KO | ||
Anorith RockBug | D | |
Obtain MethodAmbrette Town Gift Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Anorith builds →X-Scissor 4x230-271%KO Struggle Bug 4x88-104%KO Fury Cutter 4x117-138%KO | ||
Skorupi PoisonBug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Skorupi builds →X-Scissor 4x141-167%KO Bug Bite 4x108-127%KO Struggle Bug 4x73-87% Pin Missile 4x49-58% | ||
Karrablast Bug | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Karrablast builds →Bug Buzz 4x152-179%KO X-Scissor 4x190-225%KO Struggle Bug 4x88-104%KO Fury Cutter 4x98-115%KO | ||
 Durant BugSteel | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Durant builds →X-Scissor 4x255-300%KO Bug Bite 4x191-225%KO Struggle Bug 4x95-113%KO Fury Cutter 4x131-155%KO | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Pinsir builds →X-Scissor 4x283-333%KO Struggle Bug 4x107-127%KO | ||
Heracross BugFighting | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Heracross builds →Megahorn 4x422-497%KO Struggle Bug 4x88-103%KO Pin Missile 4x91-108%KO | ||
Volbeat Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Volbeat builds →Bug Buzz 4x167-197%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x48-58% Signal Beam 4x139-164%KO U-turn 4x163-192%KO | ||
Illumise Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Illumise builds →Bug Buzz 4x227-267%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x67-80% U-turn 4x120-141%KO Struggle Bug 4x131-155%KO | ||
In X & Y, Volcarona threatens a KO with Flamethrower (124-146%). Genesect's U-turn also KOs at 293-345%.
 Whimsicott GrassFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemLeftovers NatureBold Moves View Whimsicott builds →
| ||
 Volcarona BugFire | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityFlame Body ItemLum Berry NatureModest Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Volcarona builds →Giga Drain69-81% Flamethrower124-146%KO | ||
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Genesect builds →U Turn 4x293-345%KO Flamethrower57-67% Ice Beam57-67% | ||
X & Y Evolution
Inkay is the base form in a two-stage line leading to Malamar. Check the evolution method below. Plenty of partners for breeding via two egg groups. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 194 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Inkay easily with 87 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Camouflage, Destiny Bond, Flatter and 2 more to offspring.
X & Y Inkay Best Moveset
Best Build
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 6.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
Breeding's the move. Camouflage and Destiny Bond give Inkay options it can't learn any other way, and Normal and Flying coverage and more already covers a decent range on top of Foul Play and Psychic. The egg moves push it further.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Event Moves
X & Y Inkay Locations
Inkay appears at decent spawn rates across 6 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Inkay in X & Y
6 walking encounters at Lv. 14-27 for Inkay across X and Y. A few locations are version-exclusive, so your copy of the game affects what's available.
Inkay Guide
Inkay evolves into Malamar at level 30. One evolution, no branching. Solid jump from 288 BST.
Inkay evolves into Malamar at level 30. Takes some grinding. Plan your team around the mid-game wait.
In X & Y, For a casual playthrough, Inkay works as a placeholder. Dark/Psychic coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Malamar. That's where the stats start mattering.
Inkay is catchable in X & Y. Check the Locations section above for specific routes, encounter rates, and methods. It also appears in 6 other games across the series.
Game Availability
Since X & Y, Inkay has been obtainable in 7 games. A Generation 6 debut means a shorter history, but Inkay has appeared steadily across every generation since.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves