Some Pokemon evolve simply by reaching a certain level while others require some fairly Byzantine methods in order to do so. One such is Inkay. Here is how to evolve Inkay in Pokemon Sword & Shield.
As you might imagine, in order to evolve an Inkay you need to catch one first. If you don’t already have one, you can capture one on Route 7 in all weather conditions.
How to Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Sword & Shield
Some need to hold specific items, others need some TLC to evolve. Some more of them require the power of evolution stone to transform. Inkay requires something a little more… esoteric than all of that.
The timing is quite precise, but what you need to do is level your Inkay to 30. After the battle is over and experience is being awarded to your Pokemon, hold your Nintendo Switch upside down and it will evolve into Malamar.
It’s worth noting that you will have to play your Switch in handheld mode in order for the Inkay to evolve.
Seriously. Pretty wild, right? Specifically, when the dialogue box reads “Inkay grew to Lv.30!,” flip your Switch upside down and push the A button.
It’s a pretty creative and cool kind of evolution, and luckily for you guides like this one exist. Working that one out on your own sounds downright impossible.
Time needed: 1 hour
To recap:
- Catch an Inkay
They can be found on Route 7, there is a 10% spawn chance and can be found during all weather conditions.
- Level Inkay to 30, and flip your Switch upside down
When it reaches level 30, hold your Switch upside down when the dialogue box reads “Inkay grew to Lv.30!” and push the A button.
And that’s it, everything you need to know in order to evolve Inkay in Pokemon Sword and Shield. For more tips and tricks, be sure to visit our Sword and Shield Wiki Guide.
Here are a couple of our guides that you might be interested in to get you started:
