Pokémon Legends: Z-A: How to Evolve Inkay into Malamar

To start, you should know that Inkay isn’t available early in the game. You must first reach Rank E in the main story campaign, which unlocks Wild Zones 11 to 13. Inkay can only be found in Wild Zone No. 11, a coastal area that’s half covered by water and home to many Water- and Psychic-type Pokémon.

Inkay appears both day and night, swimming peacefully near the water’s surface. Unlike some rare Pokémon, it won’t flee from battle, so you can take your time fighting or catching it. Most Inkay found in this area are Level 30 or higher, making them immediately eligible to evolve once captured.

Once you have Inkay in your team, make sure it’s at least Level 30. From there, its evolution works in a completely unique way. Follow these steps carefully:

1. Put your Nintendo Switch (or Switch 2) in handheld mode.

2. Disconnect any external controller, as the motion sensor won’t work otherwise.

3. Reattach the Joy-Con controllers to the console, since they’re needed to detect movement.

4. Physically turn your console upside down, with the screen facing downward.

5. Open your Pokémon menu, select Inkay, and choose Evolve.
    

This unusual mechanic is a direct homage to Inkay’s original evolution method. Malamar represents manipulation and control, using moves like Topsy-Turvy and Hypnosis to turn the tide of battle. Physically flipping your console reflects that same “inversion” concept perfectly.

But that’s not all. In Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Malamar now has a Mega Evolution, made possible by its exclusive Mega Stone, the Malamarite. Acquiring it requires some dedication.

You can obtain the Malamarite from Quasartico Inc., the official Mega Stone distributor within the game. There, you can exchange 240 Mega Shards for this precious gem. However, it’s not available immediately, you must first complete Main Mission 37, which means finishing the main story campaign.

That means you won’t be able to use Mega Malamar during the story itself, but you can unleash it later in online ranked battles or the “Mega Dimension” DLC. This powered-up version gains improved defensive stats and incredible psychic power, turning it into a strategic powerhouse capable of manipulating status effects and controlling the pace of any fight.

Between its clever evolution method and its powerful Mega Evolution, Malamar in Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a must-have for any player who enjoys tactical gameplay and mind games, a Pokémon that literally and figuratively turns the battle upside down.