Malamar

Malamar in the games: the evolution you trigger by flipping the system

Malamar evolves from Inkay starting at level 30, but only if the level-up happens while the game system is held upside down, a mechanic that fits a Pokémon shaped like an inverted squid. The trick survived the move from the 3DS to the Nintendo Switch, where it works with the Joy-Con attached to the console.

Its best-known ability, Contrary, reverses stat changes, so a move that would lower its stats raises them instead. Suction Cups keeps it from being forced out, and its hidden ability, Infiltrator, lets its moves pass through Substitute and screens. Pokémon Legends: Z-A added Mega Malamar, triggered with the Malamarite, which keeps the Dark and Psychic typing.

Malamar in the anime: the hypnotist behind Madame X

The X and Y anime leaned into Malamar's hypnotic reputation. In "A Conspiracy to Conquer!" a scheming Malamar hypnotizes an Officer Jenny into posing as the villain "Madame X", escapes defeat, and returns with two more Malamar in "Facing the Grand Design!" with a plan for world conquest, which Clemont and James help foil with the aid of peaceful wild Malamar. Team Flare scientist Xerosic also battles with one, and in Pokémon Journeys Alain uses a Malamar against Leon's Charizard in the Masters Eight Tournament.

Malamar on cards: from XY to a Rebel Clash V and VMAX

Malamar's English cards start with two separate printings in the XY base set in February 2014. Phantom Forces followed that year with Malamar EX, both as a regular Ultra Rare by Eske Yoshinob and as a full art at #115 by Ryo Ueda. Sun & Moon added a Forbidden Light Rare and a shiny Malamar in Hidden Fates' Shiny Vault, drawn by Hideki Ishikawa.

Rebel Clash in 2020 gave it four cards: Malamar V and Malamar VMAX, each with a higher-rarity version (a full art V at #186 and a Secret Rare VMAX at #198). Silver Tempest's Trainer Gallery added a Holo Rare Malamar by Fumie Kittaka, and it has since returned in Scarlet & Violet and Mega Evolution sets, including an Uncommon in Pitch Black.

Cards to know

• Malamar EX (Phantom Forces #58)

  Malamar's first EX card, an Ultra Rare illustrated by Eske Yoshinob.

• Malamar EX (Phantom Forces #115)

  The full art version of Malamar EX, illustrated by Ryo Ueda.

• Malamar (Hidden Fates Shiny Vault #SV18)

  A shiny Malamar from the Hidden Fates Shiny Vault subset, illustrated by Hideki Ishikawa.

• Malamar VMAX (Rebel Clash #198)

  The Secret Rare version of Malamar VMAX from Rebel Clash.

• Malamar (Silver Tempest Trainer Gallery #TG06)

  A Trainer Gallery Holo Rare illustrated by Fumie Kittaka.