Smeargle are unusual white and brown Pokémon that seem unremarkable at first, but they possess a tail with an end that resembles a paintbrush. This paintbrush is oozing with paint. The color of the paint is apparently different for each Smeargle. Although sprites from the game depict green, brown and red, the anime also shows yellow and blue. It's been implied that each Smeargle has a different colored tail.It also has a footprint on his back that has the same color as the tail.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Smeargle secretes a fluid from its tail, which can be used as paint. Smeargle is the only Pokémon known to express itself in an artistic fashion. Smeargle is also the only Pokémon that can learn nearly any move permanently thanks to its signature move, Sketch.
Behavior
Smeargle live in groups. When a Smeargle reaches adulthood, the other members of the group draw a paw-print pattern on its back. Those who refuse to let themselves be marked are ostracized from the pack.
Smeargle are very adaptable, and can live just about anywhere. One can always tell when a Smeargle's territory is found because it will mark the boundary with the paint-like substance excreted by its tail.
Pokémon Channel: A Smeargle appears in a television program called Smeargle's Art Study. He will rate the painting hanging on the player's bedroom wall, namely a picture the player made.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
Smeargle marks the boundaries of its territory using a body fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. Over 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
Smeargle marks the boundaries of its territory using a body fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. Over 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
A Smeargle marks its territory using a fluid that leaks out from the tip of its tail. About 5,000 different marks left by this Pokémon have been found.
Smeargle is the only non-legendary, non-Template:Type2 Pokémon able to legally know Draco Meteor. Smeargle is also the only non-starter Pokémon able to legally know Frenzy Plant, Blast Burn, and Hydro Cannon and the only one able to legally know them all.
Since Sketch lets Smeargle learn nearly any move, it can also pass down egg move combinations to any Pokémon in the Ground Egg Group.
Paradoxically, Smeargle is simultaneously the Pokémon with the smallest movepool (learning only one move ever, which ties it with Ditto and Unown) and the Pokémon with the largest movepool (using that move to "learn" almost any other move).
Smeargle is the only Pokémon capable of learning the same move more than twice - some Pokémon have the same move available at level 1 as well as by leveling up, while Smeargle has the same move available ten times as it levels up.
It is possible for Smeargle to have both effects of the move Curse, provided the right moves have been Sketched. One is by simply using it to the non-Template:Type2 effect of Curse. The other is by using either Conversion, Conversion 2, or (starting in Generation III) a Skill Swapped or Role PlayedColor Change to change its type to Ghost and have the Ghost effect of Curse. In Generation II, it shared this trait with Porygon and Porygon2, who could learn Curse via TM03; starting with Generation III, Smeargle is the only Pokémon that can do the strategy it once shared with Porygon and Porygon2 legally.
Initially, the normal sprite of Smeargle featured a tail tipped with red paint, while the shiny form had green paint; this was changed in later generations, reversing the colors. Smeargle's art has always featured a green-tipped tail, however.
In the anime, Smeargle have been seen with different colored-tipped tails.
Origin
Smeargle appears to be based on a beagle and a painter.
Name origin
Smeargle's name may be a combination of smear and beagle. Its Japanese name may be a combination of dog and doodle or dabble – to splatter liquid, which could be a reference to paint being splattered.
In other languages
German: Farbeagle - From Farbe (color) and beagle.
French: Queulorior - From queue (tail) and colorier (color).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Smeargle images on Bulbagarden Archives.
