Sketch (move)

The picture used in this article is unsatisfactory. Please feel free to replace it so it conforms to Bulbapedia conventions. Reason: Should be replaced with Generation VII images

---

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

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 opponent is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly.

Sketch cannot be used to copy Selfdestruct, Explosion, Struggle, Transform, Metronome 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 the battle does not allow experience points to be earned (such as link battles or Battle Tower battles), any move learned via Sketch will be forgotten at the end of the battle.

Sketch is not affected by Protect or Detect.

Generations III-V

Sketch can now be used to copy Selfdestruct and Explosion when used in a battle with a Pokémon with the Damp Ability. It can also be used to copy Metronome and Transform, if the move fails to activate due to effects such as sleep. Struggle, Chatter and Shadow moves cannot be sketched.

If used by a transformed Pokémon, Sketch will fail.

Generation VI onwards

Sketch can now be used to copy Metronome and Transform, without the need for either move to fail.

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.

Description

Games Description Stad2 A move that allows the user to copy a move used by an opponent and learn that move. GSC Copies the foe's move permanently. RSE Copies the foe's last move permanently. FRLG This move copies the move last used by the foe, then disappears. ColoXD Copies the target's last move permanently. DPPt It enables the user to learn a move used by the foe. Once used, the move Sketch disappears. PBR It enables the user to learn a move used by the foe. HGSS It enables the user to permanently learn the move last used by the foe. Once used, Sketch disappears. BWB2W2 XYORAS SM It enables the user to permanently learn the move last used by the target. Once used, Sketch disappears.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
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
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 Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Sketch will always fail on Gigantic Pokémon.

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.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Sketching Using Flamethrower
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, andSky	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, andSky	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, andSky	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 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.

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 Sketch Portuguese Brazil Esboço Portugal Sketch 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.