Sketch (move)

Sketch スケッチ Sketch

Battles Type  Normal Category  Status PP  1 (max. 1) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  0 Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Not affected by Mirror Move Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation II Not a TM, TR, HM, or Move Tutor move.

Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Jam  0   Makes the appeal as good as the one before it.

Super Contests Condition  Smart Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Clever Appeal  1 ♥ Jamming  0   Shows off the Pokémon's appeal about as well as the move used just before it.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation II Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

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

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Does the sketched move start with full PP in all generations? You can discuss this on the talk page.

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 is not affected by Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield. Sketch will fail if used against a target protected by Crafty Shield.

Although they can be sketched, Aura Wheel, Hyperspace Fury, and Dark Void (starting in Generation VII) are unable to be used in battle. These moves can only be used by Morpeko, Hoopa Unbound, or Darkrai respectively, or by a Pokémon that has transformed into them.

These moves cannot be sketched: Chatter, Mirror Move, Sleep Talk, Struggle, Sketch itself, Shadow moves, Z-Moves, and others depending on the generation.

Generation II

Sketch cannot be used to copy Transform, Metronome, or Mimic. Because moves that target the opposing Pokémon fail if there is no target on the field, Selfdestruct and Explosion also cannot be sketched.

Sketch will fail if:

• The move tries to copy a move the user already knows.
• The battle does not allow experience points to be earned (such as link battles or battle facility battles).
• The target is transformed.

If used by a transformed Pokémon, Sketch will allow the Pokémon to permanently learn the sketched move; this is known as the Sketch glitch.

Generation III

Sketch can now copy Selfdestruct and Explosion if a Pokémon with the Damp Ability is on the field.

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.

If the battle does not allow experience points to be earned (such as link battles or Battle Tower battles), any moveset changes caused by Sketch will be reverted at the end of the battle.

Sketch will fail if:

• Used by a transformed Pokémon.
• A Pokémon somehow uses it without having Sketch in its current moveset.

Generation IV to 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).

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.

Generation VIII

Pokémon Sword and Shield

Sketch cannot be selected in a battle.

Generation IX

In Versions 1.0 to 2.0.2 of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Sketch could not be selected in a battle.

Starting with Version 3.0.0, Sketch is once again usable. Sketch can no longer copy Dark Void or Hyperspace Fury, nor can it copy the newly introduced moves Revival Blessing, Tera Starstorm, or the Starmobiles' signature moves. Despite being both inaccessible and unusable, Breakneck Blitz is also specified as a move that cannot be copied by Sketch.

Description

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
											SMUSUM	BDSP	SV
0235		Smeargle		Field		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	1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91	1
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

Sketch targets the Pokémon in front and will copy their last used move, replacing Sketch with it. Sketch does not copy the Ginseng boost.

Sketch will fail if the target's last move had since been forgotten, or if it is Sketch or Struggle. In the Rescue Team series, Sketch cannot copy moves that call other moves (except Sleep Talk, Snatch, and Mirror Move); although Sketch can technically copy itself if bounced back by Mirror Move. From Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move can now sketch moves that call other moves.

Sketch cannot be used in a Pokémon Tower in the Adventure Squad series. In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Sketch will always fail when used against Gigantic Pokémon, since they use completely different versions of the same move.

Pokémon Rumble Rush

In Pokémon Rumble Rush, all status moves including Sketch could only be used by opposing Pokémon and could not be obtained on any caught Pokémon. Sketch could be seen as a move used by opposing Smeargle.

Sketch

Charge time	0.66 seconds
Range type	Arc (melee)
Target	Enemy
Additional effect	None

Description

Games Description MDRB Copies the move last used by the target and makes it the user's. Sketch disappears after it copies a move. MDTDS Copies the move last used by the target and adds it to the user's set of moves. The new move replaces the user's Sketch move. You can't link the Sketch move. BSL てきポケモンの さいごにつかったわざを うつしとり じぶんが つかえるようにする うつしとると わざ『スケッチ』は きえてしまう このわざは ポケモンタワーでは くりだせない MDGtI UNUSED SMD You learn the last move of a target. Once you learn the move, you'll forget Sketch.* You can learn the target's last move. But there are some moves that you can't sketch, so be careful!*

In animation

Pokémon animated series

Smeargle; sketching Smeargle; using Counter
This move enables the user to permanently learn the move last used by the target.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	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
	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

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Side series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Spin-off series games

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD: Time, Darkness, and Sky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Trivia

• Sketch is the first Generation II move in index number order.
• Sketch holds the record for being learned the most times via leveling up by a single Pokémon, being learned ten times by Smeargle. It is also the only move that can be learned more than four times via leveling up.
• Sketch is one of two moves (excluding Struggle), whose base PP is not a multiple of 5, the other being Revival Blessing.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 寫生 Sésāng Mandarin 寫生 / 写生 Xiěshēng * 速写 Sùxiě * Dutch Schets French Gribouille German Nachahmer Greek Αφηρημένο Σχέδιο Italian Schizzo Korean 스케치 Seukechi Polish Szkic Portuguese Brazil Rascunho Portugal Esboço Serbian Slikanje Spanish Esquema Vietnamese Phác Họa

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.