Get Inkay to at least level 30, then have it gain another level while you hold the Nintendo Switch upside down. If the conditions are met, Inkay will evolve into Malamar. The Scarlet and Violet guide for this method places Inkay’s return in The Indigo Disk DLC.
Steps to evolve Inkay
- Raise Inkay to level 30 or higher. The Scarlet and Violet guide gives level 30 as the target; Serebii describes the requirement as being over level 30. To avoid the difference in wording, reach level 30 and then trigger another level-up. (Game8; Serebii’s Inkay Pokédex entry)
- Hold the Nintendo Switch upside down as Inkay gains a level. The console must be upside down during the level-up for the evolution method to work. (Serebii; Game8)
- Allow the evolution to proceed. Inkay should evolve into Malamar after the qualifying level-up. (Serebii’s Malamar Pokédex entry)
Why won’t Inkay evolve?
Check that Inkay has reached at least level 30 and that the Switch is upside down while it gains a level. The cited guides establish those conditions; they do not provide a complete troubleshooting procedure for docked play, controllers, or particular hardware setups. (Serebii; Game8)
Where this method applies
This is the Inkay evolution method described for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, in the context of The Indigo Disk DLC. The cited material does not establish that Inkay is available in the base game without the DLC, and this guide does not cover Inkay’s evolution in other Pokémon games.
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