Sketch (move)
| Sketch スケッチ Sketch | ||||||||||||
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Sketch (Japanese: スケッチ Sketch) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation II. It is the signature move of Smeargle.
Effect
Generation II
Sketch allows the user to learn the target's last move permanently, replacing Sketch in the process. It bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly.
Sketch cannot be used to copy Selfdestruct, Explosion, Transform, Struggle, Metronome, Mimic, Mirror Move, Sleep Talk, or Sketch itself.
Sketch will fail if used to copy a move the user already knows.
If used by a transformed Pokémon, Sketch will allow the Pokémon to permanently learn the sketched move; this is known as the Sketch glitch. If used against a transformed Pokémon, Sketch will fail.
If the battle does not allow experience points to be earned (such as link battles or Battle Tower battles), Sketch will fail.
Sketch is not affected by Protect or Detect.
Generation III
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire only, Sketch can copy a move a Pokémon attempted to use, but failed to due to sleep. This allows the moves Metronome, Mimic, and Transform to be copied (which otherwise cannot be)—this means that in the Generation III games, these moves can only be copied by Sketch in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire.
Sketch can now be used to copy Selfdestruct and Explosion when used in a battle with a Pokémon with the Damp Ability. Struggle, Chatter, and Shadow moves cannot be sketched.
If the battle does not allow experience points to be earned (such as link battles or Battle Tower battles), any moves learned via Sketch will be forgotten at the end of the battle.
If used by a transformed Pokémon, Sketch will fail. Sketch will also fail if a Pokémon somehow uses it without having Sketch in its current moveset.
Generation IV–VII
Sketch can now be used to copy Metronome, Mimic, and Transform like any other move (without the need for the move to fail due to sleep).
Sketch will fail if used against a target protected by Crafty Shield. Sketch is not affected by Spiky Shield.
If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Sketch, the user's Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed are raised by one stage each.
Z-Moves cannot be sketched.
Generation VIII
Sketch cannot be selected in a battle.
Description
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Learnset
By leveling up
| # | Pokémon | Types | Egg Groups | Level | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | ||||||
| 0235 | 
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Field | 1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
1 11 21 31 41 51 61 71 81 91 |
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| Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation. | |||||||||||||
In other games
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series
In Red Rescue Team, Blue Rescue Team, Sketch is a move with 1PP and 100% accuracy. The user targets enemy in the front and upon success will copy their most recent move, replacing Sketch with it. Sketch does not copy the Ginseng boost. The move will fail if the target's last move was since forgotten, or if it's Sketch, Struggle, or a move that calls other moves (except Sleep Talk, Snatch, and Mirror Move); although Sketch can technically copy itself if bounced back by Mirror Move. This move is affected by Taunt.
In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move can now sketch moves that call other moves.
In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Sketch will always fail when used against Gigantic Pokémon, since they use completely different versions of the same move.
Description
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In the anime
 Smeargle; sketching | |||
| It enables the user to learn the move last used by the target. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Used In | Notes | |
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Smeargle grabs its tail and waves it around, causing the image of a pencil to circle around the opponent while leaving behind a trail of pink sparkles. Smeargle then learns the last move used by the opponent. | ||
| Ilima's Smeargle | Smashing with Sketch! | Debut | |
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
 Smeargle; sketching  Smeargle; using the sketched move | |||
| The user watches the opponent use an attack. The user then copies how the opponent did the attack and instantly learns it. | |||
| Pokémon | Method | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| User | First Chapter Used In | Notes | |
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Smeargle watches the opponent use an attack while pointing the tip of its tail at it. It then instantly learns how to use the attack. | ||
| Whitney's Smea-Smea | The Last Battle XII | Debut | |
| Noland's three Smeargle | A Cheeky Charizard Change-Up II | None | |
In other generations
Core series games
Side series games
Spin-off series games
Trivia
- Sketch is the first Generation II move in index number order.
- Sketch is the only move that can be on a Pokémon's moveset that does not naturally have a PP value at a multiple of 5.
- Sketch holds the record for being learned the most times via leveling up by a single Pokémon, being learnt ten times by Smeargle. It is also the only move that can be learnt more than four times via leveling up.
In other languages
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This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games. |
