Malamar (Pokémon)

For Pokémon GO information on this species, see the game's section.
0686MS.png #0686: Inkay
Pokémon
#0688: Binacle 0688MS.png
This article is about the species. For a specific instance of this species, see Malamar (disambiguation).
Malamar
Overturning Pokémon
カラマネロ
Calamanero
#0687
Malamar



Images on the Bulbagarden Archives
Type
Dark Psychic
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Unknown Unknown
Abilities
Contrary or Suction Cups Cacophony
Cacophony
Infiltrator
Hidden Ability
Cacophony
Hidden Ability
Cacophony
Cacophony
Gender ratio
Unknown
50% male, 50% female
Catch rate
80 (18.4%)
Breeding
Egg Groups
Water 1 and Water 2
Hatch time
20 cycles
Height
4'11" 1.5 m
Malamar
0'0" 0 m
{{{form2}}}
0'0" 0 m
{{{form3}}}
0'0" 0 m
{{{form4}}}
Weight
103.6 lbs. 47.0 kg
Malamar
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form2}}}
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form3}}}
0 lbs. 0 kg
{{{form4}}}
Mega Stone
[[|]] [[|]]
Base experience yield
Unknown
Gen. IV
Unknown
IV
169
Leveling rate
Medium Fast
EV yield
Total: 2
Malamar
0
HP
2
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
0
HP
0
Atk
0
Def
0
Sp.Atk
0
Sp.Def
0
Speed
Shape
Body05.png
Footprint
F0687.png F000.png
{{{form2}}}
Pokédex color
Blue
Base friendship
70
External Links

Malamar (Japanese: カラマネロ Calamanero) is a dual-type Dark/Psychic Pokémon introduced in Generation VI.

It evolves from Inkay starting at level 30 when leveled up while the game system is held upside-down.

Biology

Malamar under water

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 are said to be the most powerful of any Pokémon. Malamar uses its hypnotic power to force others to do its bidding. Those under Malamar's control will lose their memories surrounding the event. 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. Both the animated series and the TCG show Malamar living near water or even under water. As shown in the Pokémon the Series: XY episode Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!, it uses its tentacles to propel itself, swimming leg-first. As depicted in A Conspiracy to Conquer! and Facing the Grand Design!, Malamar is shown to be highly intelligent, almost human-like, and capable of running device used by humans. It can create large energy crystals with assistant from humans. Malamar is capable of time travel through the use of said energy crystals.

Prior to Generation VIII and in Generation IX, Malamar and its pre-evolved form, Inkay, are the only known Pokémon capable of learning the move Topsy-Turvy.

Evolution

Malamar evolves from Inkay.

(For specifics on this Pokémon's Evolution in the games, refer to Game data→Evolution data.)

Game data

Pokédex entries

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI Kalos
Coastal #011
Hoenn
#—
X It wields the most compelling hypnotic powers of any Pokémon, and it forces others to do whatever it wants.
Y It lures its prey close with hypnotic motions, then wraps its tentacles around it before finishing it off with digestive fluids.
Omega Ruby It wields the most compelling hypnotic powers of any Pokémon, and it forces others to do whatever it wants.
Alpha Sapphire It lures its prey close with hypnotic motions, then wraps its tentacles around it before finishing it off with digestive fluids.
Generation VII Alola
 US  UM : #027
Kanto
#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Sun, Moon, Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!.
Ultra Sun When it comes to strong hypnosis, there's an endless number of people who utilize Malamar for their nefarious deeds.
Ultra Moon It flashes the pattern on its torso to control its prey and draw them in. The edges of its fins are supremely sharp.
Generation VIII Galar
#291
Galar
Isle of Armor #109
Sinnoh
#—
Hisui
#—
This Pokémon has no Pokédex entries in Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus.
Sword Gazing at its luminescent spots will quickly induce a hypnotic state, putting the observer under Malamar's control.
Shield It's said that Malamar's hypnotic powers played a role in certain history-changing events.
Generation IX Paldea
#—
Kitakami
#—
Blueberry
#81
Scarlet Its hypnotic powers are dangerously strong. Anyone who falls under Malamar’s control loses their memories surrounding the event.
Violet It flashes the luminescent spots on its body to hypnotize its opponents, gaining total control over them.


Pokédex Image Malamar USUM.png Pokédex Image Malamar SV Blueberry.png
Malamar in the Alola PokédexUSUM Malamar in the Blueberry Pokédex

Game locations

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI
X Y
Evolve Inkay
Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire
Trade
Generation VII
Sun Moon
Trade
Ultra Sun Ultra Moon
Evolve Inkay
Let's Go Pikachu Let's Go Eevee
Unobtainable
Generation VIII
Sword Shield
Watchtower Ruins, West Lake Axewell, Motostoke Riverbank, Stony Wilderness, Giant's Mirror, Hammerlocke Hills (Max Raid Battle)
Expansion Pass
Fields of Honor, Soothing Wetlands, Loop Lagoon, Training Lowlands (Wanderer)
Max Lair (Dynamax Adventure)
Brilliant Diamond Shining Pearl
Unobtainable
Legends: Arceus
Unobtainable
Generation IX
Scarlet Violet
TradeVersion 3.0.0+
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero
Tera Raid Battles (5★, 6★)


In side games

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI
Battle Trozei
Mountain of Order: Stage 4
Rumble World
Starlight Islands: Upside-Down Island (All Areas, Entrance Boss)
Generation VII
Rumble Rush
Pinsir Sea, Greninja Sea, Zygarde SeaFinal
Generation VIII
This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation VIII side games.
Cross-Generation
Shuffle
Expert Stage: Stage EX32


In events

Games Event Region Location Level Distribution period
OR Shigeki Morimoto's Malamar PAL region Online 50 August 5, 2015 to January 22, 2016

Held items

Game Held Item(s)
Events* Assault Vest Assault Vest (100%)

Stats

Base stats

Stat Range
At Lv. 50 At Lv. 100
86
146 - 193 282 - 376
92
87 - 158 170 - 311
88
83 - 154 162 - 302
68
65 - 132 126 - 258
75
72 - 139 139 - 273
73
70 - 137 135 - 269
Total:
482
Other Pokémon with this total
  • Minimum stats are calculated with 0 EVs, IVs of 0, and (if applicable) a hindering nature.
  • Maximum stats are calculated with 252 EVs, IVs of 31, and (if applicable) a helpful nature.

Type effectiveness

Under normal battle conditions in Generation IX, this Pokémon is:
Damaged
normally by:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy
None
Weak to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy
None
Immune to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy
None
Resistant to:
Normal
Fighting
Flying
Poison
Ground
Rock
Bug
Ghost
Steel
Fire
Water
Grass
Electric
Psychic
Ice
Dragon
Dark
Fairy
None
Notes:

Learnset

Malamar is available in Scarlet and Violet Version 3.0.0+.

By leveling up

Generation IX
Other generations:
VI - VII - VIII
 Level   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP
011 Reversal Fighting Physical 0000 100100% 15
011 Peck Flying Physical 03535 100100% 35
011 Tackle Normal Physical 04040 100100% 35
011 Hypnosis Psychic Status 0000 06060% 20
011 Wrap Normal Physical 01515 09090% 20
099 Payback Dark Physical 05050 100100% 10
1212 Pluck Flying Physical 06060 100100% 20
1515 Psybeam Psychic Special 06565 100100% 20
1818 Swagger Normal Status 0000 08585% 15
2121 Slash Normal Physical 07070 100100% 20
2424 Night Slash Dark Physical 07070 100100% 15
2727 Psycho Cut Psychic Physical 07070 100100% 20
3333 Switcheroo Dark Status 0000 100100% 10
3737 Foul Play Dark Physical 09595 100100% 15
4242 Topsy-Turvy Dark Status 0000 00——% 20
4747 Superpower Fighting Physical 120120 100100% 5
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Malamar
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Malamar
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see level-up moves from other generations

By TM

Generation IX
Other generations:
VI - VII - VIII
   TM   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
TM003Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM003 Fake Tears Dark Status 0000 100}}100% 20
TM006Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM006 Scary Face Normal Status 0000 100}}100% 10
TM007Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM007 Protect Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM016Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM016 Psybeam Psychic Special 06565 100}}100% 20
TM018Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM018 Thief Dark Physical 06060 100}}100% 25
TM020Bag TM Grass SV Sprite.png TM020 Trailblaze Grass Physical 05050 100}}100% 20
TM025Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM025 Facade Normal Physical 07070 100}}100% 20
TM027Bag TM Flying SV Sprite.png TM027 Aerial Ace Flying Physical 06060 00—}}—% 20
TM032Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM032 Swift Normal Special 06060 00—}}—% 20
TM041Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM041 Stored Power Psychic Special 02020 100}}100% 10
TM043Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM043 Fling Dark Physical 0000 100}}100% 10
TM047Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM047 Endure Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM049Bag TM Fire SV Sprite.png TM049 Sunny Day Fire Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM050Bag TM Water SV Sprite.png TM050 Rain Dance Water Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM054Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM054 Psyshock Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10
TM062Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM062 Foul Play Dark Physical 09595 100}}100% 15
TM070Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM070 Sleep Talk Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM074Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM074 Reflect Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TM075Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM075 Light Screen Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 30
TM085Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM085 Rest Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM086Bag TM Rock SV Sprite.png TM086 Rock Slide Rock Physical 07575 090}}90% 10
TM087Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM087 Taunt Dark Status 0000 100}}100% 20
TM094Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM094 Dark Pulse Dark Special 08080 100}}100% 15
TM098Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM098 Skill Swap Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM103Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM103 Substitute Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM109Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM109 Trick Psychic Status 0000 100}}100% 10
TM110Bag TM Water SV Sprite.png TM110 Liquidation Water Physical 08585 100}}100% 10
TM120Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM120 Psychic Psychic Special 09090 100}}100% 10
TM125Bag TM Fire SV Sprite.png TM125 Flamethrower Fire Special 09090 100}}100% 15
TM126Bag TM Electric SV Sprite.png TM126 Thunderbolt Electric Special 09090 100}}100% 15
TM129Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM129 Calm Mind Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TM130Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM130 Helping Hand Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TM132Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM132 Baton Pass Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 40
TM134Bag TM Fighting SV Sprite.png TM134 Reversal Fighting Physical 0000 100}}100% 15
TM140Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM140 Nasty Plot Dark Status 0000 00—}}—% 20
TM152Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM152 Giga Impact Normal Physical 150150 090}}90% 5
TM161Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM161 Trick Room Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM163Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM163 Hyper Beam Normal Special 150150 090}}90% 5
TM171Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM171 Tera Blast Normal Special 08080 100}}100% 10
TM177Bag TM Ghost SV Sprite.png TM177 Spite Ghost Status 0000 100}}100% 10
TM178Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM178 Gravity Psychic Status 0000 00—}}—% 5
TM181Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM181 Knock Off Dark Physical 06565 100}}100% 20
TM185Bag TM Bug SV Sprite.png TM185 Lunge Bug Physical 08080 100}}100% 15
TM199Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM199 Lash Out Dark Physical 07575 100}}100% 5
TM203Bag TM Normal SV Sprite.png TM203 Psych Up Normal Status 0000 00—}}—% 10
TM217Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM217 Future Sight Psychic Special 120120 100}}100% 10
TM218Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM218 Expanding Force Psychic Special 08080 100}}100% 10
TM221Bag TM Dark SV Sprite.png TM221 Throat Chop Dark Physical 08080 100}}100% 15
TM228Bag TM Psychic SV Sprite.png TM228 Psychic Noise Psychic Special 07575 100}}100% 10
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Malamar
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution or an alternate form of Malamar
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see TM moves from other generations

By breeding

Generation IX
Other generations:
VI - VII - VIII
 Parent   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
QwilfishQwilfishOverqwilPincurchin
Acupressure Normal Status —% 30
QwilfishQwilfishOverqwil
Destiny Bond Ghost Status —% 5
PsyduckGolduckSlowpokeSlowpokeSlowbroSlowbroSlowkingSlowkingBruxish
Disable Normal Status 100% 20
  • Moves marked with an asterisk (*) must be chain bred onto Malamar
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Malamar
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Malamar
  • Click on the generation numbers at the top to see Egg moves from other generations

By a prior Evolution

Generation IX
Other generations:
VI - VII - VIII
 Stage   Move   Type   Cat.   Pwr.   Acc.   PP 
This Pokémon has no moves exclusive to prior Evolutions.
  • Bold indicates a move that gets STAB when used by Malamar
  • Italic indicates a move that gets STAB only when used by an Evolution of Malamar

Side game data

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
MDP 3DS 687.png

Body size: Standard (1 tile)
How to Recruit: Battle
Connected to: Omastar
Connection Orb Set: 11

Phrases
Normal I hate being bothered! Don't make me spit ink!
Low HP (< 50%) I'm sustaining quite a bit of damage now… Is it time to squirt some ink and run away?
Pokémon Rumble Rush
Rush687Body.png Walking Speed: 2.1 seconds Base HP: 57
Base Attack: 78 Base Defense: 56 Base Speed: 60
Pokémon Battle Trozei
Dark
Attack Power: ★★★★★

BT687.png

Pokémon Shuffle
None Shuffle.png
Dark
None Shuffle.png Attack Power: 70 - 110 Raise Max Level.png 5

#366
Shuffle687.png

Quirky+
Sometimes erases two extra matching Pokémon elsewhere.
Skill Swapper.png Swappable Skill(s): Block Shot


Pokémon GO
GO687.png Base HP: 200 Base Attack: 177 Base Defense: 165
Egg Distance: N/A Buddy Distance: 3 km Evolution Requirement: N/A
Fast Attacks: Peck, Psycho Cut, Psywave*
Charged Attacks: Psybeam, Foul Play, Superpower, Hyper Beam

Evolution data

Inkay
Unevolved
Inkay
 Dark  Psychic 
Rare Candy + Nintendo 3DS Metallic Red.png
Level 30
(hold game system
upside-down)

Malamar
First Evolution
Malamar
 Dark  Psychic 


Sprites

This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation VI.
Generation VI
X Y Omega Ruby Alpha Sapphire
Spr 6x 687.png
Spr b 6x 687.png
Spr 6o 687.png
Spr b 6o 687.png
Spr 6x 687 s.png
Spr b 6x 687 s.png
Spr 6o 687 s.png
Spr b 6o 687 s.png
Front Back Front Back
Generation VII
Sun Moon Ultra Sun Ultra Moon
Spr 7s 687.png
Spr b 7s 687.png
Spr 7s 687.png
Spr b 7s 687.png
Spr 7s 687 s.png
Spr b 7s 687 s.png
Spr 7s 687 s.png
Spr b 7s 687 s.png
Front Back Front Back
Generation VIII
Sword Shield
Spr 8s 687.png
Spr 8s 687 s.png
Cross-Generation
HOME
HOME0687.png HOME0687 s.png
687MS.png For other sprites and images, please see Malamar images on the Bulbagarden Archives.


In animation

Major appearances

Malamar (anime)

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.

A Malamar appeared in The Right Hero for the Right Job!, under the ownership of Xerosic. Xerosic used his Malamar to battle several of Clemont's Pokémon, but it was soon defeated. It reappeared in Facing the Needs of the Many!, where it attempted to hypnotize Clemont, but failed.

A Malamar appeared in Curtain Up! Fight the Fights!, under the ownership of Alain. It fought Leon's Charizard in the Masters Eight Tournament and lost.

Minor appearances

Malamar debuted in Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin!.

Pokédex entries

Episode Pokémon Source Entry
XY019 Malamar Ash's Pokédex 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.
Episode Pokémon Source Entry
JN115 Malamar Goh's Rotom Phone 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 the manga

Pokémon Adventures

In X-actly What They Wanted, Team Flare Scientist Xerosic was revealed to own a Malamar.

Piers's Malamar debuted in Rumble!! The Horrific Darkest Day.

Pokédex entries

Manga Chapter Entry
Pokémon Adventures PS587 It has the most powerful hypnotic powers of any Pokémon and can make others do whatever it wants them to.

In the TCG

Main article: Malamar (TCG)

Trivia

Origin

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.

Malamar's lower body also resembles a fountain pen.

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
Japan Flag.png Japanese カラマネロ Calamanero From 絡ます karamasu, calamari, ma, and possibly nero di seppia
France Flag.png French Sepiatroce From sepia and atroce
Spain Flag.png Spanish Malamar Same as English name
Germany Flag.png German Calamanero Same as Japanese name
Italy Flag.png Italian Malamar Same as English name
South Korea Flag.png Korean 칼라마네로 Calamanero Transcription of Japanese name
China and Taiwan Flags.png Mandarin Chinese 烏賊王 / 乌贼王 Wūzéiwáng From 烏賊 / 乌贼 wūzéi and wáng
Hong Kong Flag.png Cantonese Chinese 烏賊王 Wūchaahkwòhng From 烏賊 wūchaahk and wòhng


Related articles

References

External links

0686MS.png #0686: Inkay
Pokémon
#0688: Binacle 0688MS.png
Project Pokédex logo.png This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.