Malamar is a Pokémon that resembles an upside-down squid. Several purple tentacles with bright blue undersides sprout from the top of its head. It has yellow eyes with black sclerae, a dark pink beak-like mouth, and lighter purple eyelids. Its main body is dark purple and has six circular yellow lights on the front and back. There is also a yellow stripe nearly encircling its upper body. Covering its main body is a transparent mantle with two white fins on the bottom that function as legs. On each side of the mantle is a long tentacle with dark pink at the top and white, scythe-like fins at the ends. The edge of Malamar's fins are said to be supremely sharp.
Malamar possesses strong hypnotic powers, which is said to be the most powerful of any Pokémon. Malamar uses its hypnotic power to force others to do its bidding. People often utilize this ability for nefarious deeds. Malamar's hypnotic powers are said to have played a role in several history-changing events. It lures prey with the flashing pattern on its luminescent body and hypnotic motions, then ensnares them in its tentacles. The prey is then finished off with digestive fluids. Prior to Generation VIII, Topsy-Turvy was its signature move.
An evil, psychopathic Malamar appeared in A Conspiracy to Conquer!. It had hypnotized an Officer Jenny to pose as "Madame X". While it was defeated in the end, it escaped. Malamar reappeared in Facing the Grand Design!, along with two other evil Malamar, where they attempted to initiate their plan of world conquest. After being foiled again, they used a machine to escape into the future.
Other
Six Malamar appeared in Facing the Grand Design!, along with the three evil Malamar. Unlike the three evil Malamar, these Malamar were peaceful and lived with Pokémon living in the forest. They later helped James and Clemont stop the three evil Malamar from completing their plans and rescue their friends.
Malamar, the Overturning Pokémon, and the evolved form of Inkay. Possessing the strongest hypnotic powers of any Pokémon, Malamar can compel others to do anything it wants them to do.
Malamar, the Overturning Pokémon. A Dark and Psychic type. Looking at Malamar's luminescent body can cause one to become hypnotized and susceptible to the Pokémon's control.
In addition to Inkay's method of evolution into Malamar being unique, it would have been impossible in any of the previous core seriesPokémon games because the Nintendo 3DS is Nintendo's first handheld system with an internal gyroscope.
Malamar and its pre-evolution were designed by Hitoshi Ariga.[1]
Malamar and its pre-evolution are the only Pokémon to have Contrary as a standard Ability instead of a Hidden Ability.
Malamar is based on an upside-down squid. According to Hitoshi Ariga, Malamar's upside-down design was inspired by the fact that squids are commonly illustrated upside-down in pictorial books.[2] Its body orientation and hypnosis ability may also have been inspired by the vampire squid's abilities to invert its tentacles and produce light. The fact that Malamar turns upside-down when it evolves from Inkay may also be a reference to torsion, a process in the embryonic development of gastropods where the body rotates 180 degrees with respect to the head. Malamar and Inkay are based on cephalopods, not gastropods; but both are mollusks.
Additionally, as alluded to by Ariga,[3] Malamar's physical appearance and its use of hypnosis to forcefully control others may be inspired by a stereotypical extraterrestrial supervillain, especially ones that are common in tokusatsu shows.
Name origin
Malamar may be a combination of mal- (Latin-derived prefix for bad), μαλάκιο malákio (Greek for mollusk), calamari, and mare (Latin for sea).
Calamanero may be a combination of 絡ます karamasu (to entangle), calamari, 魔 ma (demon), nero (Italian for black), and possibly nero di seppia (Italian for cuttlefish ink).
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
カラマネロ Calamanero
From 絡ます karamasu, calamari, 魔 ma, and possibly nero di seppia
Assault Vest (100%)
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For other sprites and images, please see Malamar images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
