Copycat (move)

Copycat まねっこ Imitate

Battles Type  Normal Category  Status PP  20 (max. 32) 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 Self: Affects the user

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

Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  0   Jam  0   Receives voltage points if previous Pokémon reaches maximum voltage

Super Contests Condition  Cool Appeal  0   Steals the Voltage of the Pokémon that just went.

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

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

Copycat (Japanese: まねっこ Imitate) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation IV.

Effect

Generation IV

Copycat causes the user to use the last move that was used in the battle (even if the last move was by the user). If no move has been made, Copycat fails. If the copied move's target is not the user, an appropriate target is randomly chosen.

The last-used move is updated whenever any Pokémon attempts to use a move.

• If a move successfully executes (generally, if the text "<Pokémon> used <move>!" is shown), that move becomes the last-used move. This is regardless of the move's result—whether it hit or missed or its effect was successful or failed (such as a Light Screen that fails because the previous Light Screen has not expired).
  • Some moves that require multiple turns to execute do not count as valid moves in all of their turns. If Copycat executes after a turn when a move was not considered valid, Copycat will fail.
    • Charging moves: the initial turn does not count as a valid move.
    • Recharging moves: the recharge turn does not count as a valid move.
    • Bide: the final turn does not count as a valid move.
  • If any move calls another, the calling move is counted as the last move used instead of the called move.
    • However, this only applies to the turn when the calling move was selected to be used. If a called move requires multiple turns to execute in full (such as Bide, Dig, or Thrash), it may validly become the last-used move in subsequent turns.
• If a Pokémon tries to use a move but is prevented by a status condition or effect (such as sleep, paralysis, or flinching), the last-used move becomes invalid and Copycat will fail if it executes next.

Copycat will fail if any of the following moves are the last move:

Move Type Cat. Assist  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Chatter  Flying  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Copycat  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Counter  Fighting  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Covet  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Destiny Bond  Ghost  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Detect  Fighting  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Endure  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Feint  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Focus Punch  Fighting  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Follow Me  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Helping Hand  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Me First  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Metronome  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Mimic  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Mirror Coat  Psychic  Special {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Mirror Move  Flying  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Protect  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Sketch  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Sleep Talk  Normal  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Snatch  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Struggle  Normal  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Switcheroo  Dark  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Thief  Dark  Physical {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}} Trick  Psychic  Status {{{3}}} {{{4}}} {{{5}}} {{{6}}}

Generation V

If any move successfully calls another, the called move now counts as the last move used instead of the calling move.

The last move used is now unaffected if a Pokémon tries to use a move but is prevented by a status condition or effect. In other words, the last-used move remains what it was before the Pokémon's turn.

Charging moves, recharging moves, and Bide no longer have invalid turns that will cause Copycat to fail. Instead, charging moves and Bide can be copied on any turn, while recharging moves are ignored on their recharge turn (the last move used remains whatever it was before the recharge message appeared).

Copycat will fail if any of the following moves are the last move:

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Check ban list; probably similar to Assist

Generation VI

Copycat will fail if any of the following moves are the last move:

This section is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this section to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Check ban list; probably similar to Assist, but some (such as Dig) is definitely different

Generation VII

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Copycat, the user's accuracy rises one stage. Additionally, the copied move will become its corresponding Z-Move. If the copied move is a status move, it will not receive its Z-Power effect.

Description

Games Description DPPtHGSSPBR BWB2W2 XYORAS SMUSUM The user mimics the move used immediately before it. The move fails if no other move has been used yet.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Types	Egg Groups		Level
						I	II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0122		Mr. Mime		Human-Like		Human-Like	4	4	4	4
0173		Cleffa		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	13	13	13	13
0174		Igglybuff		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	17	17	17XY 11ORAS	11
0185		Sudowoodo		Mineral		Mineral	1	1	1	1
0238		Smoochum		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	38	41	41	41
0300		Skitty		Field	Fairy	11DP 18PtHGSS	18	18XY 19ORAS	19
0311		Plusle		Fairy		Fairy	24	24	24XY 22ORAS	22
0312		Minun		Fairy		Fairy	24	24	24XY 22ORAS	22
0327		Spinda		Field	Human-Like	10	10	10XY 5ORAS	5
0438		Bonsly		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	1	1	1	1
0439		Mime Jr.		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	4	4	4	4
0440		Happiny		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	5	5	5	5
0447		Riolu		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	29	29BW 19B2W2	19	19
0481		Mesprit		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered	61	61	1, 61	1, 61
0778		Mimikyu		Amorphous		Amorphous				1
0802		Marshadow		style="text-align:center; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" width="140px" colspan="2" | Undiscovered	style="text-align:center; display:none; background:#Template:Undiscovered egg color;" | Undiscovered				20
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.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Types	Parent Egg Groups		Egg Move
						II	III	IV	V	VI	VII	VIII	IX
0298		Azurill		Water 1	Fairy			✔	✔
0427		Buneary		Field	Human-Like		✔	✔	✔
0501		Oshawott		Field		Field		✔	✔	✔
0509		Purrloin		Field		Field			✔	✔
0570		Zorua		Field		Field			✔	✔
0669		Flabébé		Fairy		Fairy			✔	✔
0684		Swirlix		Fairy		Fairy			✔	✔
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

Description

Games Description MDTDS Causes the user to unleash the same move as the last one used by the facing enemy. Some moves can't be copied. SMD You counter the enemy by mimicking the enemy's last move.

In the anime

Riolu; copying Leaf Blade Riolu; copying a Fire-type move Lucario; copying a Steel-type move Riolu; copying Air Cutter
The user copies the opponent's last move and uses it.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Used In		Notes
	After the opponent has used a move, Riolu becomes surrounded in a waving aura of light. It then recalls how the opponent used the move, one of its eyes twinkles, and it uses the same move the opponent just used. The color of the aura depends on which type of move Riolu is copying.
Cameron's Riolu	Mission: Defeat Your Rival!		Debut
	When it sees its opponent about to use an attack, Lucario becomes surrounded in a waving aura of light. It then recalls how the opponent is using the move, and it uses the same move the opponent is using. The color of the aura depends on which type of move Lucario is copying.
Cameron's Lucario	A Unova League Evolution!		None

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Mime Jr.
The user imitates the opponent's attacks.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Mime Jr. copies the move used by the opponent.
Ken's Mime Jr.	All About Arceus IX		Debut

In other generations

Core series games

																								File:Copycat.png File:Copycat 2.png
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

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 仿效 Fónghaauh * 仿造 Fóngjouh * Mandarin 仿效 Fǎngxiào * 仿造 Fǎngzào * French Photocopie German Imitator Greek Αντιγραφή Antigrafí Italian Copione Korean 흉내쟁이 Hyungnaejaeng'i Polish Imitacja Portuguese Brazil Imitador Portugal Copiar-Colar Spanish Copión Vietnamese Sao Chép

Variations of the move Mirror Move
Mirror Move • Copycat

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.