Inkay is a primarily blue squid-like Pokémon. It has a white "hat" with a large pink spot overlaid with yellow lights. Those who stare at those lights become dazed and lose their will to battle, allowing Inkay to escape. It has two tendrils that hang from this "hat", similar to some styles of winter hats, and these tendrils hang next to its six short tentacles. Its eyes are round and have pupils, but no identifiable iris. Inkay also has a small, pink, beak-like mouth set between its eyes.
Not only is Inkay's method of evolution into Malamar unique to it, but it would have been impossible to perform in any of the previous core series Pokémon games. However, some other games, such as Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble, included special equipment that made them capable of detecting the cartridge's motion.
Inkay may be a combination of ink or inkfish and okay.
Maaiika may be a combination of 魔 ma (demon) and 烏賊 ika (cuttlefish; squid) or 真烏賊 maika (Japanese flying squid). It may also involve a pun of まあ,いいか Mā, iika (Well, whatever; Oh well).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
マーイーカ Maaiika
From 魔 ma, 烏賊 ika or 真烏賊 maika, , and まあ,いいか Mā, iika