Mimic (move)

**Mimic** (Japanese: **ものまね** *Mimic*) is a non-damaging Normal-type move introduced in Generation I. It was TM31 in Generation I. In Generation II, it was the signature move of Sudowoodo.

### Generation I

In battles against a non-player character or wild Pokémon, Mimic allows the user to see the target's moveset and select one of its moves to copy. However, in link battles as well as the Template:Jap and English Pokémon Stadium games, Mimic does not display the target's moveset; it copies one of the target's moves at random.

The user will retain the copied attack in Mimic's place until it faints or is switched out, or the battle ends. Unlike in later generations, Mimic can copy all selectable moves, including the opponent's Mimic, Transform, and Metronome, as well as any move that the user already knows. However, Mimic can't copy Struggle because it is not a normally selectable move.

The copied move will use Mimic's PP (therefore, Mimic itself loses PP whenever a move copied by Mimic is used). If a Pokémon uses Mimic as a result of Mirror Move or Metronome, then the copied move will use the PP of the move that called it. If the player uses any PP-healing items, they will heal up to Mimic's (or Mirror Move's, or Metronome's) maximum PP.

If a Pokémon uses Mimic which was acquired from Transform (or if a Pokémon uses Mimic as a result of Mirror Move or Metronome acquired from Transform), then the 5 PP that is given by Transform will be used for the copied move as well, instead of using the the Pokémon's own PP.

In the list of moves, the maximum PP displayed is taken from the copied move, even though this value is not used in battle. If Mimic (as well as Mirror Move or Metronome) has its PP increased by any PP Ups, this unused maximum PP displayed is affected by the PP Ups. For instance, if Mimic copies Tackle and currently has 9 PP, this can be displayed as "<sc>Tackle</sc> 9/35" (where "35" is Tackle's maximum PP, with no PP Ups), or possibly "<sc>Tackle</sc> 9/56" (if three PP Ups have been used on Mimic). However, the true maximum PP usable in battle is Mimic's PP as displayed in the summary screen, not the maximum PP displayed in the list of moves. This was fixed in the Pokémon Stadium series, where the copied move properly display's Mimic's maximum PP for the copied move (for instance, <sc>Tackle</sc> 9/10" where "10" is Mimic's maximum PP).

In this generation only, if a Pokémon that used Mimic levels up in battle and learns a new move, Mimic's effect is reverted. The move copied by Mimic is lost, and Mimic will be usable again.

If Mimic copies a partial trapping move, and if the target switches out when its PP is 0 and before its duration is over, the current PP of the move will roll over to 63 and full PP Ups will be applied to it. This increased PP value can be used normally (and, as usual, other moves copied by Mimic will also use this PP value), and the user will retain the full PP Ups indefinitely. However, if the move's PP is healed (for instance, by using a PP-healing item or a Pokémon Center), then it will return to its legitimate maximum value (with full PP Ups).

Mimic has an accuracy of 100.

### Generation II

Mimic copies the target's last move; the mimicked move has 5 PP. It fails to copy the moves Sketch, Transform, Struggle, Metronome, or any move the user already knows.

### Generations III-IV

Mimic now bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the opponent is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. It copies Me First, not the move called by Me First. It fails to copy Shadow moves and Chatter.

Mimic can be used to copy Transform in Generation IV, which could cause a glitch in early copies of the Japanese

## Mimic (move)

. To trigger the glitch, a Pokémon must use Mimic to copy and use Transform, then faint. If the Mimic-using Pokémon's owner wins the battle, all moves gained from the use of Transform are retained after the battle.

### Generations V-VI

The mimicked move now has the max PP as opposed to 5. Mimic is no longer able to copy Transform. If a Rayquaza mimics Dragon Ascent, it still will not be able to Mega Evolve.

### Generation VII onwards

Mimic fails to copy Z-Moves.

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Mimic, the user's accuracy is raised by one stage.

### Other effects

Two Pokémon can evolve when they know Mimic: Bonsly into Sudowoodo and Mime Jr. into Mr. Mime.

## Description

 **BWB2W2****XYORAS****SMUSUMPE****SwShBDSP** | The user copies the target's last move. The move can be used during battle until the Pokémon is switched out.

## In other games

### Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

In Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team, Mimic is a move with 17PP and 100% accuracy. The user targets enemy in front of it, copying the last move they used. Mimic cannot copy itself, Encore, Sketch or a move that calls other moves (except Sleep Talk and Snatch). This move is affected by Taunt.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, the move can now copy Nature Power and Metronome. It can also copy Me First.

## Trivia

* In Generation III, the status screen erroneously states that the move has 100% accuracy, even though it ignores accuracy and evasion checks.