Inkay is a blue squid-like Pokémon. It has a transparent mantle with a rounded, pink body inside that has several yellow, circular lights. There are four lights on the front and two on the back. Attached to its mantle are two transparent tentacles; its remaining tentacles are part of its main body. It has round black eyes and a pink beak-like mouth. Inkay is often mistaken for a Water-type because of its appearance.
Those who stare at the lights on Inkay's body become dazed and lose their will to battle; this allows it to escape. It can also use these light-emitting spots to send messages in the form of complex flashing rhythms and to attract prey. Prey is then ensnared and held in place by its tentacles.
Multiple wild Inkay appeared in Facing the Grand Design!, where James's Inkay helped save them, as well as some good Malamar, from the evil Malamar. James tried to release Inkay afterwards so Inkay could be happy with the other Inkay, but Inkay refused and rejoined his team.
Xerosic's Malamar was revealed to have been under his ownership since he was an Inkay. He evolved when Lysandre explained his peculiar evolution method and demonstrated it by turning Inkay upside-down, making him evolve instantly. He showed up in a flashback in PS588.
Inkay appears as a Poké Ball summon in both versions of the game. It turns over and hits the ground, making all opponents who are on the ground trip.
Inkay also appears as a trophy in both versions of the game.
Trophy information
NA: Inkay may look like a Water-type Pokémon, but it's actually a Dark/Psychic type! Once it has reached the proper level, Inkay can evolve into Malamar if you hold the Nintendo 3DS upside down. In Smash Bros., its Topsy-Turvy move will flip anyone who wanders too close upside down. Watch out!
PAL: A Pokémon that looks this much like a squid MUST be a Water-type, right? Wrong! It's a Dark- and Psychic-type. If you're struggling to get it to evolve, try holding your system upside down. In this game, Inkay's Topsy-Turvy move can knock you over, and you won't be much use like that, so watch out!
Inkay instinctively reacts to anything in the water that lights up or makes an echoing sound. That’s because it usually uses its own luminescence to communicate with others of its kind.
Inkay appears to be based on a squid, and it also seems to bear a small resemblance to a cuttlefish. Considering its flashing abilities, Inkay may have been inspired by the vampire or humboldt squids, or by deimatic behaviour in cephalopods as a whole.
Name origin
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 or 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 a pun of まあ、いいか Mā, iika