Sketch (move)

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

Sketch cannot be used to copy Selfdestruct, Explosion, Transform, Struggle, Metronome, Mimic, Mirror Move, Sleep Talk, or Sketch itself.

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 Tower 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.

Sketch is not affected by Protect or Detect.

## Sketch (move)

 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.

Sketch can now be used to copy Selfdestruct and Explosion when used in a battle with a Pokémon with the Damp Ability. Struggle and Shadow moves cannot be sketched.

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–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). Chatter cannot be sketched.

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.

### Generation VIII

#### Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Sketch is usable and functions as in earlier generations.

### Generation AN-I

Sketch functions as it does in Generation VII.

## Description

 **BWB2W2****XYORAS****SMUSUM****SwShBDSPLA** | It enables the user to permanently learn the move last used by the target. Once used, Sketch disappears.

## Learnset

### By leveling up

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 **Bold** indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move.*Italics* indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

## In other games

### Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team, Blue Rescue Team, Sketch is a move with 1PP and 100% accuracy. The user targets enemy in the front and upon success will copy their most recent move, replacing Sketch with it. Sketch does not copy the Ginseng boost. The move will fail if the target's last move was since forgotten, or if it's Sketch, Struggle, or a move that calls other moves (except Sleep Talk, Snatch, and Mirror Move); although Sketch can technically copy itself if bounced back by Mirror Move. This move is affected by Taunt.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move can now sketch moves that call other moves.

In Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, Sketch will always fail when used against Gigantic Pokémon, since they use completely different versions of the same move.

## Trivia

* Sketch is the first Generation II move in index number order.
* Sketch is the only move in the main series that can be on a Pokémon's moveset that does not naturally have a PP value at a multiple of 5.
	+ In Generation AN-IV, Pixel Breaker shares this distinction.
* Sketch holds the record for being learned the most times via leveling up by a single Pokémon, being learnt ten times by Smeargle in the main series, and thirteen times by Smeargle as of Generation AN-I. It is also the only move that can be learnt more than four times via leveling up.