Malamar (カラマネロ Karamanero) is a Dark/Psychic Pokémon introduced in Generation VI.
Biology
Physiology
Malamar is an amphibious Pokémon that resembles an upside-down squid. It has sinister-looking yellow eyes with light purple eyelids that have a squinted appearance. It has a magenta beak for a mouth. Malamar has a fringe of bluish tentacles sprouting from its head, and an oblong deep purple body with yellow patches and spots that form a pattern on its belly. Two long arm-like tentacles sprout from its shoulders; they are magenta and pastel purple in color, with white fins at the tips. Malamar stands upright on two large white sharp-edged fins on either side of its lower body, which it uses as legs.
Abilities
Malamar have strong hypnotic powers akin to brainwashing, which many shady people exploit.
Behaviour
Malamar use the flashing lights like an anglerfish to lure prey in and ensnare them before eating the prey.
Evolution
Malamar is the evolved form of Inkay. Its evolution method is very unique, as it evolves from Inkay at level 30 only when the 3DS is held upside down.
Starting from Pokémon Sword and Shield, the upside down trick an only be done by setting the switch into handheld mode.
Game info
Game locations
| Locations | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Version(s) | Area(s) | Rarity | |||||||
| X and Y | Evolve Inkay | None | |||||||
| Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire | Trade | None | |||||||
Pokédex entries
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Stats
| Base Stats | |
|---|---|
| HP | |
| Attack | |
| Defense | |
| Sp. Atk | |
| Sp. Def | |
| Speed | |
| Total | 482
|
Learnset
Leveling
| LevelingGeneration VII | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Category | |||
| 1 | Reversal | — | 100% | 15 | Fighting | Physical | |||
| 1 | Tackle | 40 | 100% | 35 | Normal | Physical | |||
| 1 | Peck | 35 | 100% | 35 | Physical | ||||
| 1 | Constrict | 10 | 100% | 35 | Normal | Physical | |||
| 1 | Reflect | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status | |||
| 4 | Reflect | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status | |||
| 8 | Foul Play | 95 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical | |||
| 12 | Swagger | — | 85% | 15 | Normal | Status | |||
| 13 | Psywave | — | 100% | 15 | Psychic | Special | |||
| 15 | Topsy-Turvy | — | —% | 20 | Dark | Status | |||
| 18 | Hypnosis | — | 60% | 20 | Psychic | Status | |||
| 21 | Psybeam | 65 | 100% | 20 | Psychic | Special | |||
| 23 | Switcheroo | — | 100% | 10 | Dark | Status | |||
| 27 | Payback | 50 | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical | |||
| 31 | Light Screen | — | —% | 30 | Psychic | Status | |||
| 35 | Pluck | 60 | 100% | 20 | Physical | ||||
| 39 | Psycho Cut | 70 | 100% | 20 | Psychic | Physical | |||
| 43 | Slash | 70 | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical | |||
| 46 | Night Slash | 70 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical | |||
| 48 | Superpower | 120 | 100% | 5 | Fighting | Physical | |||
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
| LevelingGeneration VI | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level | Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Category | Contest Category | Appeal | Jam |
| 1 | Superpower | 120 | 100% | 5 | Fighting | Physical | 
| 6 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 1 | Reversal | — | 100% | 15 | Fighting | Physical | 
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 1 | Tackle | 50 | 100% | 35 | Normal | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 1 | Peck | 35 | 100% | 35 | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| 1 | Constrict | 10 | 100% | 35 | Normal | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 4 | Reflect | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status | 
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 8 | Foul Play | 95 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 12 | Swagger | — | 90% | 20 | Normal | Status | 
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 13 | Psywave | — | 100% | 15 | Psychic | Special |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 15 | Topsy-Turvy | — | 100% | 20 | Dark | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 18 | Hypnosis | — | 60% | 20 | Psychic | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 3 ♥ |
| 21 | Psybeam | 65 | 100% | 20 | Psychic | Special | 
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 23 | Switcheroo | — | 100% | 10 | Dark | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 1 ♥ |
| 27 | Payback | 50 | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 31 | Light Screen | — | —% | 30 | Psychic | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 35 | Pluck | 60 | 100% | 20 | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| 39 | Psycho Cut | 70 | 100% | 20 | Psychic | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 43 | Slash | 70 | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 46 | Night Slash | 70 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| 48 | Superpower | 120 | 100% | 5 | Fighting | Physical |
| 6 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
TM/HM
| TMs and HMs Generation VII | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM/HM | Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Cat. | |||
| TM03 | Psyshock | 80 | 100% | 10 | Psychic | Special | |||
| TM04 | Calm Mind | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status | |||
| TM06 | Toxic | — | 90% | 10 | Poison | Status | |||
| TM10 | Hidden Power | 60 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special | |||
| TM11 | Sunny Day | — | —% | 5 | Fire | Status | |||
| TM12 | Taunt | — | 100% | 20 | Dark | Status | |||
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | 150 | 90% | 5 | Normal | Special | |||
| TM16 | Light Screen | — | —% | 30 | Psychic | Status | |||
| TM17 | Protect | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM18 | Rain Dance | — | —% | 5 | Water | Status | |||
| TM21 | Frustration | — | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical | |||
| TM24 | Thunderbolt | 90 | 100% | 15 | Electric | Special | |||
| TM27 | Return | — | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical | |||
| TM29 | Psychic | 90 | 100% | 10 | Psychic | Special | |||
| TM32 | Double Team | — | —% | 15 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM33 | Reflect | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status | |||
| TM35 | Flamethrower | 90 | 100% | 15 | Fire | Special | |||
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | 60 | —% | 20 | Physical | ||||
| TM41 | Torment | — | 100% | 15 | Dark | Status | |||
| TM42 | Facade | 70 | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical | |||
| TM44 | Rest | — | —% | 10 | Psychic | Status | |||
| TM45 | Attract | — | 100% | 15 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM46 | Thief | 60 | 100% | 25 | Dark | Physical | |||
| TM48 | Round | 60 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special | |||
| TM56 | Fling | — | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical | |||
| TM59 | Brutal Swing | 60 | 100% | 20 | Dark | Physical | |||
| TM63 | Embargo | — | 100% | 15 | Dark | Status | |||
| TM66 | Payback | 50 | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical | |||
| TM68 | Giga Impact | 150 | 90% | 5 | Normal | Physical | |||
| TM77 | Psych Up | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM80 | Rock Slide | 75 | 90% | 10 | Rock | Physical | |||
| TM87 | Swagger | — | 85% | 15 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM90 | Substitute | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status | |||
| TM92 | Trick Room | — | —% | 5 | Psychic | Status | |||
| TM97 | Dark Pulse | 80 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Special | |||
| TM100 | Confide | — | —% | 20 | Normal | Status | |||
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
| TMs and HMs Generation VI | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TM/HM | Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Cat. | Contest Cat. | Appeal | Jam |
| TM03 | Psyshock | 80 | 100% | 10 | Psychic | Special |
| 1 ♥ | 4 ♥ |
| TM04 | Calm Mind | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM06 | Toxic | — | 90% | 10 | Poison | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM10 | Hidden Power | 60 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM11 | Sunny Day | — | —% | 5 | Fire | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM12 | Taunt | — | 100% | 20 | Dark | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 1 ♥ |
| TM15 | Hyper Beam | 150 | 90% | 5 | Normal | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 4 ♥ |
| TM16 | Light Screen | — | —% | 30 | Psychic | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM17 | Protect | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM18 | Rain Dance | — | —% | 5 | Water | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM21 | Frustration | — | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 3 ♥ |
| TM24 | Thunderbolt | 90 | 100% | 15 | Electric | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM27 | Return | — | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM29 | Psychic | 90 | 100% | 10 | Psychic | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM32 | Double Team | — | —% | 15 | Normal | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM33 | Reflect | — | —% | 20 | Psychic | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM35 | Flamethrower | 90 | 100% | 15 | Fire | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM40 | Aerial Ace | 60 | —% | 20 | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| TM41 | Torment | — | 100% | 15 | Dark | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM42 | Facade | 70 | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM44 | Rest | — | —% | 10 | Psychic | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM45 | Attract | — | 100% | 15 | Normal | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM46 | Thief | 60 | 100% | 25 | Dark | Physical |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM48 | Round | 60 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM56 | Fling | — | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM63 | Embargo | — | 100% | 15 | Dark | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM66 | Payback | 50 | 100% | 10 | Dark | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM67 | Retaliate | 70 | 100% | 5 | Normal | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM68 | Giga Impact | 150 | 90% | 5 | Normal | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 4 ♥ |
| TM70 | Flash | — | 100% | 20 | Normal | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM77 | Psych Up | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM80 | Rock Slide | 75 | 90% | 10 | Rock | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 2 ♥ |
| TM87 | Swagger | — | 90% | 15 | Normal | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM88 | Sleep Talk | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM90 | Substitute | — | —% | 10 | Normal | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM92 | Trick Room | — | —% | 5 | Psychic | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM94 | Secret PowerORAS | 70 | 100% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM97 | Dark Pulse | 80 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| TM100 | Confide | — | —% | 20 | Normal | Status |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| HM01 | Cut | 50 | 95% | 30 | Normal | Physical |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ |
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
Breeding
| To see the Egg Moves that Malamar can learn, refer to Inkay. |
|---|
Tutoring
| Tutoring Generation VII | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Category | ||||
| Ally Switch USUM | — | —% | 15 | Psychic | Status | ||||
| Bind USUM | 15 | 85% | 20 | Normal | Physical | ||||
| Block USUM | — | —% | 5 | Normal | Status | ||||
| Foul Play USUM | 95 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical | ||||
| Knock Off USUM | 65 | 100% | 20 | Dark | Physical | ||||
| Role Play USUM | — | —% | 10 | Psychic | Status | ||||
| Signal Beam USUM | 75 | 100% | 15 | Bug | Special | ||||
| Snatch USUM | — | —% | 10 | Dark | Status | ||||
| Snore USUM | 50 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special | ||||
| Spite USUM | — | 100% | 10 | Ghost | Status | ||||
| Superpower USUM | 120 | 100% | 5 | Fighting | Physical | ||||
| Telekinesis USUM | — | —% | 15 | Psychic | Status | ||||
| Throat Chop USUM | 80 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical | ||||
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
| Tutoring Generation VI | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move | Power | Accuracy | PP | Type | Category | Contest Category | Appeal | Jam | |
| Bind ORAS | 15 | 85% | 20 | Normal | Physical |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Block ORAS | — | —% | 5 | Normal | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Foul Play ORAS | 95 | 100% | 15 | Dark | Physical |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Knock Off ORAS | 65 | 100% | 25 | Dark | Physical |
| 2 ♥ | 3 ♥ | |
| Role Play ORAS | — | —% | 10 | Psychic | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Signal Beam ORAS | 75 | 100% | 15 | Bug | Special |
| 3 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Snatch ORAS | — | —% | 10 | Dark | Status |
| 1 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Snore ORAS | 50 | 100% | 15 | Normal | Special |
| 4 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Spite ORAS | — | 100% | 10 | Ghost | Status |
| 2 ♥ | 1 ♥ | |
| Superpower ORAS | 120 | 100% | 5 | Fighting | Physical |
| 6 ♥ | 0 ♥ | |
| Bold indicates this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. Italic indicates an evolved or alternate form of this Pokémon receives STAB from this move. | |||||||||
3D Models
Appearances
Three Malamar appeared in the very first episode of the XY series, swimming along with some Water-type Pokémon.
A Malamar made its appearance as an evil, rogue Pokémon who used its hypnotic abilities to put Ash's friends, Pikachu, Team Rocket (bar Meowth), Officer Jenny, and several other Pokémon in a trance in A Conspiracy to Conquer!. This very same Malamar appeared again where it faced off against James' Inkay in Facing the Grand Design! and partnered up with two other evil Malamar.
Several other Malamar also made an appearance in Facing the Grand Design!. However, unlike the three evil Malamars, they appeared to be gentle and kind to both humans and Pokémon and would fight for freedom, peace, honor and justice. When the three evil Malamars kidnapped everyone except for Clemont, James and Meowth, they joined forces with them along with several Inkays on a rescue mission to stop the evil Malamars from fulfilling their dark plans and save their friends from mortal danger.
Trivia
- Despite living in water and being based on a cuttlefish and a squid, Malamar, along with its pre-evolution, Inkay is not a Water-type.
- This is also rather ironic as it is in the Water 2 group.
- It is like it is not a water type is to have a balance between the types, and the psychic type makes more sense to represent its hypnotic powers.
- This is also rather ironic as it is in the Water 2 group.
- Its appearance, as well as the evolution method to evolve Inkay into one, makes it possible that it is actually upside-down.
- Inkay and Malamar are the only Pokemon that have no resistances and are not Normal-type.
- Malamar cannot be evolved on a Gameboy, Gameboy advanced on DS(if it existed at the time)as they lack a gyroscope that its gimmick relies on.
- It is designed by Hitoshi Ariga.
- It and Bruxish have a unique catch rate(80).
- Despite its Pokédex entries saying that it sounds malicious, most Malamar are actually very peaceful in the anime, save for the recurring one and Xerosic’s.
Origin
Its appearance is that of a squid, upside-down. Its hypnotic abilities are likely derived from those of the broadclub cuttlefish, and its Dark/Psychic typing may be a reference to Cthulhu, an alien god from the H.P. Lovecraft Mythos who appears as a giant humanoid with dragon-like wings and a head shaped like a cephalopod. It also resembles an owl.
Etymology
Malamar's name comes from the words 'malicious' and 'calamar' (Spanish for squid or cuttlefish). It may also derive from "mar-", meaning "of or related to the ocean."
Karamanero may come from "calamar," 魔 (ma, meaning magic or demon), "negro" (pronounced neh-ro, Spanish for "black," referring to its Dark type), Nero (a Roman emperor commonly thought of as a cruel dictator), and the Portuguese phrase "cara maneiro," meaning "cool guy."
Gallery
Add a photo to this gallery| Generation VI Pokémon | |
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| Other Pokémon: Kanto • Johto • Hoenn • Sinnoh • Unova • Alola • Galar |
| Evolutionary Line | |
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