Pokémon Pokopia: How to Get Windup Inkay in Bubbly Basin

The Windup Inkay is one of the harder items to track down in Bubbly Basin, the underwater region added to Pokémon Pokopia in the first part of the Expansion Pass. It sits inside a red Poké Ball hidden in a dark undersea zone below the main map, sealed behind a breakable rock wall. Reaching it takes a specific swim route and the Rock Smash ability.

Quick answer: Dive into the deep crevice near the ruined ornate building and bridge on the eastern side of Bubbly Basin, follow the dark path past the glowing purple coral, use Rock Smash on the rock wall on your right, then interact with the red Poké Ball to collect the Windup Inkay.

Where the Windup Inkay is located in Bubbly Basin

The Windup Inkay is stored in a red Poké Ball resting on the seafloor inside the dark underwater area beneath the main Bubbly Basin map. The entrance is a large gap in the ground next to the big ruined ornate building and the broken bridge near the eastern end of the region. When you dive down far enough, the map swaps from the standard Bubbly Basin view to a separate dark undersea map, which confirms you are in the right zone.

You need the Dive move to reach Bubbly Basin at all, and Rock Smash to open the final wall. Rock Smash is Ditto’s ability, so make sure it is set on your ability wheel before you start.

Full route to the Windup Inkay

Start at the Pokémon Center. It works as a central landmark to line up the rest of the trip. Leave the Center area and swim back underwater into the main Bubbly Basin region.

Find the large, grand staircase in the central part of the basin and swim up it. This points you in the correct direction toward the crevice.

Windup inkay main bubbly basin map location in pokopia

From the top of the stairs, head north and keep going until you see the large, dilapidated red building and the ruined bridge beside it. Swim to the wide gap sitting between these two landmarks.

Dive straight down into the gap as far as you can go to drop into the dark underwater area below. Your map will switch to the dark undersea map the moment you enter, so you know you have arrived.

Windup inkay dark bubbly basin map location in pokopia

Visibility is poor down here, so look for a small gap in the wall near a patch of glowing purple coral. Swim through that gap. On the right-hand side you may also spot a pile of sand marking the corridor, another sign there is more to find.

Follow the path forward until a rock wall appears on your right. Select Rock Smash from the ability wheel and break through it to open the hidden area behind it.

On the far side of the broken wall, a glowing red Poké Ball sits on the ground. Interact with it to receive the Windup Inkay. The item enters your inventory once the pickup prompt finishes, which confirms you have it.

Buy the recipe instead of exploring

If you would rather not make the dive, the Windup Inkay crafting recipe can be purchased at the Pokémon Center. That gives you a repeatable way to build the toy without returning to the dark undersea area each time.

What the Windup Inkay is used for

The Windup Inkay works as a decorative toy that raises the comfort level of your Pokémon, and it is also a required component for the Muddy Playtime habitat. That habitat needs Muddy Water, Floating Logs, a Towel Rack, and the Windup Inkay to build.

Detail	Information
Item type	Toy (comfort-raising decoration)
Habitat use	Muddy Playtime
Habitat requirements	Muddy Water, Floating Logs, Towel Rack, Windup Inkay
Pokémon spawned	Marshtomp, Inkay, and Barboach (Barboach first appears via story progression)

With the Windup Inkay secured, you can complete Muddy Playtime and start bringing those Pokémon into Bubbly Basin.