Is Inkay Good in Sword & Shield Playthrough?
Inkay appears on Route 7 and the Wild Area. Dark/Psychic evolving into Malamar at level 30 while holding the console upside down. AbilityContrary reverses stat changes, so Superpower boosts Attack instead of lowering it. Piers uses a Malamar. The gimmick evolution is fun, and Contrary makes it genuinely good.
Inkay has the type edge here and should clean up Milo's team.
Inkay trades roughly evenly with Nessa's team.
Inkay trades roughly evenly with Kabu's team.
Malamar has the type edge here and should clean up Bea's team.
Malamar trades roughly evenly with Opal's team.
Malamar trades roughly evenly with Gordie's team.
Piers's typing presses Malamar's defenses.
Malamar trades roughly evenly with Raihan's team.
Malamar trades roughly evenly with Bede's team.
Malamar trades roughly evenly with Leon's team.
Catch Inkay on Bridge Field (walking, Lv 26-28). Snowstorm.
Your Inkay should hit Level 30 before you reach Bea, at typical leveling pace.
How to Get Inkay in Sword & Shield
high spawn rates in early-game routes across 66 locations. Inkay's one of the easier catches on the list. Two different catch methods are in play here. Knock it out fast and save your time for harder targets.
Where To Catch Inkay in SwSh
The path to Inkay starts with Inkay at Lv. 10-43 via walking and surfing encounters. 1 catchable stage total, with locations listed for each one below.
Step 1Inkay ✓Challenge BeachLv.10-15OverworldRate 20%OvercastFields of HonorLv.10-15OverworldRate 20%OvercastTraining LowlandsLv.10-15OverworldShieldRate 20%OvercastTraining LowlandsLv.13-18OverworldSwordRate 20%OvercastChallenge BeachLv.13-18GrassRate 15%OvercastFields of HonorLv.13-18GrassRate 15%OvercastHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 35%OvercastBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 30%Intense SunHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 25%Normal WeatherHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 25%SnowingLoop LagoonLv.16-21OverworldRate 20%OvercastBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 20%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 20%Normal WeatherTraining LowlandsLv.16-21GrassRate 15%OvercastLoop LagoonLv.19-24GrassRate 15%OvercastHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 15%RainingHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 15%Heavy FogHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 15%Intense SunBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 10%RainingBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 10%SandstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 10%ThunderstormBridge FieldLv.26-28GrassRate 10%SnowingHammerlocke HillsLv.28-30GrassRate 10%SnowstormRoute 9 - in Circhester BayLv.39-43GrassRate 25%All WeatherBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%SandstormBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%SnowingBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%ThunderstormBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%Normal WeatherBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%OvercastBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%RainingBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%Intense SunBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%SnowstormBridge FieldLv.40-43Surfing on waterRate 15%Heavy FogRoute 7Lv.37-41OverworldRate 10%All Weather
Step 2Evolve into MalamarBREEDINGAvailableLeave a compatible parent at the Pokemon Day Care to receive a Malamar egg.
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 |
What is Inkay Weak Against
AvgBest Pokemon Against Inkay
 Dwebble BugRock | C | |
 Grubbin Bug | D | |
 Sizzlipede FireBug | C | |
 Butterfree Bug | C | |
 Joltik BugElectric | D | |
 Ribombee BugFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Ribombee builds →Pollen Puff 4x264-312%KO Draining Kiss 2x77-90% | ||
 Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
 Vespiquen Bug | C | |
 Araquanid WaterBug | C | |
Sizzlipede FireBug | C | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
 Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x311-366%KO | ||
 Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
 Durant BugSteel | B | |
 Gardevoir PsychicFairy | B | |
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x311-366%KO | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
 Crustle BugRock | C | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x308-363%KO | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
 Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Grimmsnarl builds →Spirit Break 2x124-146%KO | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Durant BugSteel | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x308-363%KO | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Grimmsnarl builds →Spirit Break 2x125-147%KO | ||
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Butterfree builds →Bug Buzz 4x259-305%KO Draining Kiss 2x49-58% | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x319-376%KO | ||
Vikavolt BugElectric | B | |
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Butterfree Bug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Butterfree builds →Bug Buzz 4x265-312%KO Draining Kiss 2x50-59% | ||
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
 Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x321-377%KO | ||
 Pinsir Bug | C | |
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Centiskorch FireBug | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x321-377%KO | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Grimmsnarl builds →Leech Life 4x185-217%KO Play Rough 2x154-182%KO | ||
 Frosmoth IceBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Frosmoth builds →Bug Buzz 4x353-415%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x105-123%KO | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
Heracross BugFighting | B | |
Golisopod BugWater | B | |
Available Move Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Golisopod builds →First Impression 4x321-377%KO | ||
Grimmsnarl DarkFairy | B | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Grimmsnarl builds →Leech Life 4x185-217%KO Play Rough 2x154-182%KO | ||
Frosmoth IceBug | C | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Frosmoth builds →Bug Buzz 4x353-415%KO Dazzling Gleam 2x105-123%KO | ||
Pinsir Bug | C | |
In Sword & Shield, Genesect can KO Inkay with U-turn (293-345%). Mimikyu threatens a KO with Play Rough (201-237%).
 Genesect BugSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDownload ItemChoice Scarf NatureHasty Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Genesect builds →U Turn 4x293-345%KO | ||
 Mimikyu GhostFairy | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDisguise ItemLife Orb NatureJolly Moves
Damage vs Inkay View Mimikyu builds →Play Rough 2x201-237%KO Shadow Sneak45-53% Drain Punch56-66% | ||
Inkay Evolutions
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 81 breeding partners from the Water1 and Water2 egg groups. Pass egg moves like Acupressure, Destiny Bond, Disable to offspring.
SwSh Inkay Best Moveset
AbilityContrary reverses all stat changes, turning drops into boosts automatically. But 54 Attack and 37 Sp. Atk at 45 Speed make the moveset too weak to use the reversed boosts effectively. Evolve into Malamar for usable stats with the same trick.
Best Build
Inkay best EVs are HP
Utility Moveset
- Disable
- Trick Room
- Foul Play
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Moves List
Breeding's the move. Acupressure and Destiny Bond give Inkay options it can't learn any other way, and coverage across 7 types already covers a decent range on top of Future Sight and Foul Play. The egg moves push it further.
How to Read the Moves Table
Tabs
- Level-Up
- Learned by leveling up.
- TM
- Taught by a Technical Machine.
- Egg
- Inherited via breeding.
- Tutor
- NPC tutor (cost: items, BP, money).
- Reminder
- An NPC reteaches any move this Pokemon could have learned by leveling up.
- Transfer
- Carried over from an older game using Pokemon HOME.
- Event
- Given out through Mystery Gift events.
Visual Signals
CAT (Category)
How the move deals damage and which stats it uses.
A small dot on the icon's corner marks the move as contact. That triggers abilities like Static, Flame Body, Rough Skin, or Iron Barbs, plus items like Rocky Helmet and Sticky Barb.
Tier (S to D)
Each move's competitive rank in RankedBoost's system. TM, Egg, and Tutor sort by tier by default (best first). On Level-Up, click the Tier header to do the same.
PWR (Power)
Base damage. Numbers shown in a type color include STAB (base × 1.5). Hover any colored number to see the math.
— means no power (status moves) or variable power.
Sorting & Filter
Click any column header to sort. Level-Up opens with Lv 1 at the top. TM, Egg, and Tutor open with the highest-tier moves at the top.
Search filters by move name or type. The Filter button limits the list to STAB, Physical, Special, or Status moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Base Stats
It spins while making its luminescent spots flash. These spots allow it to communicate with others by using different patterns of light.
By exposing foes to the blinking of its luminescent spots, Inkay demoralizes them, and then it seizes the chance to flee.
Inkay Sword & Shield Guide
In Sword & Shield, 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.
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 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 2GS
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XYDebut
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves