Trace (Ability)

Trace redirects here. For the anime character who sometimes goes by this nickname, see Tracey Sketchit.

Trace	トレース
	Trace
Flavor text Generation III Copies special ability. Generation IV The Pokémon copies the foe's ability. Generation V The Pokémon copies a foe's Ability. Generation VI The Pokémon copies an opposing Pokémon's Ability. Generation VII When it enters a battle, the Pokémon copies an opposing Pokémon's Ability. Generation VIII Currently unknown Generation IX Currently unknown

Trace (Japanese: トレース Trace) is an Ability introduced in Generation III.

Effect

In battle

Trace changes into the Ability of a random adjacent opponent.

Trace can copy Wonder Guard. Trace can be swapped by Skill Swap.

Generation III

When a Pokémon with Trace enters battle, it copies a random opponent's Ability (replacing itself). It can copy any Ability, but if it copies Trace, it will not activate again.

Trace can be copied by Role Play.

Generation IV

While a Pokémon with Trace is in battle, if at any time an opponent has an Ability that can be copied by Trace, Trace will activate and replace itself with that Ability. Trace can only activate once while a Pokémon is on the field; even if the Pokémon gains Trace again (e.g. via Skill Swap) after activating it the first time, Trace cannot activate until after it is switched out.

Trace cannot copy Trace, Forecast, or Multitype.

Trace can be copied by Role Play.

Generation V

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Check Imposter You can discuss this on the talk page.

When a Pokémon with Trace enters battle, it copies a random opponent's Ability (replacing itself). If no opponents have Abilities that can be copied by Trace when the Pokémon with Trace enters battle, Trace cannot be activated until it enters battle again.

Trace cannot copy Trace, Forecast, Flower Gift, Multitype, Illusion, or Zen Mode.

Trace cannot be copied by Role Play. Entrainment will fail if used by a Pokémon with Trace.

Generation VI onward

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Check Power Construct You can discuss this on the talk page.

While a Pokémon with Trace is in battle, if at any time an opponent has an Ability that can be copied by Trace, Trace will activate and replace itself with that Ability. After activating Trace, if a Pokémon gains Trace again (e.g. via Skill Swap), Trace will activate at the first opportunity.

Trace cannot copy Trace, Forecast, Flower Gift, Multitype, Illusion, Zen Mode, Imposter, Stance Change, Power of Alchemy, Receiver, Schooling, Comatose, Shields Down, Disguise, RKS System, or Battle Bond.

Trace cannot be copied by Role Play, Power of Alchemy, or Receiver. Entrainment will fail if used by a Pokémon with Trace.

Outside of battle

Trace has no effect outside of battle.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Trace is only activated when the Pokémon is attacked, and one Ability chosen at random is copied.

Pokémon with Trace

#	Pokémon		Types		First Ability	Second Ability	Hidden Ability
065M	Alakazam	Alakazam	Psychic		Psychic	Trace	None	None
0137		Porygon	Normal		Normal	Trace	Download	Analytic
0233		Porygon2	Normal		Normal	Trace	Download	Analytic
0280		Ralts	Psychic	Fairy	Synchronize	Trace	Telepathy
0281		Kirlia	Psychic	Fairy	Synchronize	Trace	Telepathy
0282		Gardevoir	Psychic	Fairy	Synchronize	Trace	Telepathy
Please note that Abilities marked with a superscript are only available in the stated generation or later. For Generation III and IV games, ignore Hidden Abilities.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

This article is incomplete. Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it. Reason: Image of Diantha's Gardevoir activating the ability

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The user changes the opponent's Ability.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Gardevoir changes the opponent's Ability.
Diantha's Gardevoir	X & Y chapter		Debut

• In volume 23, Blue's Porygon2 was revealed to have Trace as its Ability.

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese 複製 Fūkjai * 追蹤 Jēuijūng * Mandarin 複製 / 复制 Fùzhì * 追蹤 Zhuīzōng * French Calque German Fährte Italian Traccia Korean 트레이스 Trace Portuguese Traçar Spanish Rastro Turkish Kopyalama Vietnamese Theo dấu

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.