smeargle
Generation II · #0235 — Painter Pokémon
Smeargle, known as the Painter Pokémon, is a Normal-type Pokémon from Generation II that has captivated trainers and researchers alike with its extraordinary ability to copy nearly any move used against it. Classified as Pokédex entry #235, this unassuming creature stands at 1.2 meters tall and weighs 58.0 kilograms, possessing a total base stat distribution of 250 that emphasizes speed with a base Speed stat of 75. Despite its seemingly modest stats and the lowest Attack and Special Attack values at 20 each, Smeargle's true power lies not in raw numerical strength but in its signature move Sketch, which permanently copies the last move used by an opponent with only minor exceptions. This unique mechanic has made Smeargle a fascinating subject of study for competitive players and casual enthusiasts, as it can theoretically learn virtually any move in the entire Pokémon arsenal, making it one of the most versatile Pokémon ever conceived.
Base Stats
Height
1.2m
Weight
58.0kg
Category
Painter Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
white
Shape
upright
Habitat
urban
Abilities
Prevents confusion.
Strengthens moves of 60 base power or less to 1.5× their power.
Raises a random stat two stages and lowers another one stage after each turn.
Smeargle Biology & Physical Characteristics
Smeargle is a bipedal, beagle-like Pokémon characterized by its predominantly white fur with brown markings throughout its body. The most distinctive feature is its long tail, which terminates in a brush-like structure that oozes a mysterious paint-like fluid of predetermined coloration for each individual. This fluid serves as the basis for Smeargle's territorial behavior and is chemically unique to each specimen, with researchers documenting over 5,000 different marking patterns left by various Smeargle across different regions. The Pokémon wears what resembles a beret-like structure upon its head, complemented by floppy brown ears and a brown collar encircling its neck. Brown rings encircle both of Smeargle's eyes, and the creature bears a distinctive footprint marking on its back—typically matching the color of its tail's fluid—that signifies adulthood. This footprint is placed on the Smeargle by its comrades as they mature, representing a social ritual unique to the species. Each of its four limbs terminates in three digits, and brown bands encircle the upper portions of both arms and legs.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Smeargle Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Smeargle exhibits a perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male and 50% female, making it equally likely to encounter either sex in the wild or during breeding endeavors. When breeding Smeargle, the species is classified within the Field Egg Group, allowing it to breed with a wide variety of other Pokémon within that classification. The breeding process yields eggs that require 20 cycles to hatch, translating to approximately 4,884–5,140 steps depending on factors such as the Pokémon's base friendship value and breeding mechanics. Smeargle begins its life with a base friendship value of 70, making it relatively amenable to companionship with trainers from the moment of hatching, though this value has fluctuated slightly across different game generations. The species boasts a moderate capture rate of 45, suggesting that while Smeargle is not exceptionally difficult to catch in the wild, it still maintains reasonable resistance to capture attempts, requiring standard Poké Balls and moderate effort to add to a trainer's roster.
Sprites
Smeargle Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Smeargle does not evolve from any other Pokémon, nor does it evolve into any subsequent form, representing a unique case in the Generation II Pokédex as a standalone species with no evolutionary relatives. This lack of an evolutionary line distinguishes Smeargle from most other Pokémon, as it must rely entirely on its own base statistics and movepool for competitive viability. Despite the absence of evolutionary growth opportunities, Smeargle's utility in battle derives not from stat progression but from its unparalleled movepool flexibility through Sketch and the support it can provide through moves copied from opponents. The species also does not possess a Mega Evolution form, further emphasizing its role as a versatile support and utility Pokémon rather than a traditional power-focused fighter. Its stagnant stat distribution across all games since its introduction in Generation II reflects Game Freak's intentional design philosophy of making Smeargle powerful through move availability and strategic versatility rather than through base stat superiority.
Where to Find
ruins of alph
johto
+14 more
hoenn altering cave
hoenn
+9 more
artisan cave
hoenn
+9 more
kanto altering cave
kanto
+21 more
sinnoh route 212
sinnoh
+9 more
sinnoh route 208
sinnoh
+1 more
johto safari zone
johto
+1 more
kalos route 7
kalos
+3 more
alola route 2
alola
+5 more
Smeargle Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Smeargle demonstrates highly territorial behavior, using the specialized fluid secreted from its tail as a marking medium to establish and maintain territorial boundaries throughout its habitat. This creative and methodical approach to territorial establishment has led researchers to document an astounding variety of marking patterns, with some estimates suggesting that over 5,000 distinct marks attributable to Smeargle populations have been identified across various regions. The fluid itself appears to be responsive to the emotional state of the Pokémon, with the intensity of its coloration fluctuating based on the creature's internal mood and disposition. Adult Smeargle demonstrate a remarkable social tendency to allow their comrades to place footprints upon their backs, a behavior that appears to serve both as a marker of maturity and as a bonding ritual within Smeargle communities. The species inhabits areas where it can establish clear territorial boundaries, typically favoring environments where such markings remain visible and serve their intended purpose of communication and resource delineation among the population.
Pokedex Entries
A special fluid oozes from the tip of its tail. It paints the fluid everywhere to mark its territory.
Once it becomes an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant footprints on its back.
The color of the mysterious fluid secreted from its tail is predeter mined for each SMEARGLE.
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.
Once it becomes an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant footprints on its back.
A special fluid oozes from the tip of its tail. It paints the fluid everywhere to mark its territory.
It marks its territory by using its tail like a paintbrush. There are more than 5,000 different marks.
A special fluid oozes from the tip of its tail. It paints the fluid everywhere to mark its territory.
Once it becomes an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant footprints on its back.
It marks its territory by using its tail like a paintbrush. There are more than 5,000 different marks.
It marks its territory by using its tail like a paintbrush. There are more than 5,000 different marks.
It marks its territory by using its tail like a paintbrush. There are more than 5,000 different marks.
Once it becomes an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant footprints on its back.
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.
The unique creations produced by each Smeargle are painted using the fluid that oozes from its tail. This is how it marks its territory.
The fluid of Smeargle’s tail secretions changes in the intensity of its hue as the Pokémon’s emotions change.
It draws symbols all over the place to mark its territory. In towns with many Smeargle, the walls are covered in graffiti.
It draws symbols with the fluid that oozes from the tip of its tail. Depending on the symbol, Smeargle fanatics will pay big money for them.
Smeargle Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name Smeargle derives from the English words 'smear' and 'beagle,' perfectly encapsulating the Pokémon's dual characteristics as an artist-like creature with canine features. In its original Japanese designation, Doble (ドーブル), the name reflects a more direct reference to artistic endeavors, with the 'do' kanji potentially linking to the concept of creating or making art. The design itself appears heavily inspired by the beagle breed of dog, with Smeargle's floppy ears, general body structure, and four-legged stance all reflecting these canine origins, while the addition of the brush-like tail and paint-secreting abilities transform it into a uniquely Pokémon-specific artistic creature. The beret-like structure on its head further reinforces the artist motif, evoking images of painters and creative individuals from classical artistic traditions. The decision to make Smeargle a Normal-type rather than any other typing reflects its role as a generalist and adaptive creature, unbound by the specific elemental affinities that define most other Pokémon species, much like how a blank canvas welcomes any color or artistic vision.
Learnable Moves
Smeargle can learn 1 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| sketch | normal | Status | — | — | 1 |
Smeargle Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon play, Smeargle occupies a unique and specialized niche as a utility Pokémon capable of providing unparalleled support through its signature move Sketch. While its base stats are remarkably underwhelming—with Attack and Special Attack at 20 each and HP at only 55—Smeargle's viability in competitive formats stems entirely from its ability to copy and permanently learn opponent moves, allowing skilled trainers to adapt their movepool to counter specific threats and strategies. The Technician ability amplifies Smeargle's utility by increasing the power of moves with 60 base power or less to 1.5 times their original power, making lower-power utility moves more potent while maintaining their supportive functions. Own Tempo serves as an alternative ability that grants immunity to confusion, a useful defensive property in certain competitive scenarios involving strategies that rely on inducing confusion as a control mechanism. Smeargle's hidden ability Moody introduces an element of unpredictability by randomly raising one stat by two stages while simultaneously lowering another stat by one stage after each turn, creating a volatile and often unreliable competitive option suitable only for casual or experimental play. The species' high base Speed of 75 allows it to outpace many slower opponents and position itself strategically before executing its utility functions, making speed-based EV investment a viable competitive strategy.
Commonly Asked Questions About Smeargle
What type is Smeargle?
Smeargle is a normal type Pokemon.
What does Smeargle evolve from?
Smeargle does not evolve.
What are Smeargle's weaknesses?
Smeargle is weak to fighting type moves.
Where can I find Smeargle?
Smeargle can be found in ruins of alph (johto), hoenn altering cave (hoenn) and artisan cave (hoenn) and 6 other locations.
Smeargle Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Smeargle has become an iconic representative of artistic expression within Pokémon culture, appealing to trainers who appreciate the intersection of creativity and gameplay mechanics. The species has featured prominently in various Pokémon animated adaptations and manga series, where its personality and artistic nature have been explored through narrative storytelling that emphasizes the whimsical and creative aspects of the Pokémon world. In competitive Pokémon communities, Smeargle has achieved legendary status as the ultimate support and utility Pokémon, with innovative trainers constantly discovering new Sketch copying strategies and unexpected move combinations that can surprise opponents in tournament play. The distinctive visual design of Smeargle, particularly its brush-like tail and artist's aesthetic, has made it a popular subject for fan artwork and creative interpretations within the broader Pokémon fan community. Smeargle's presence in Pokémon Stadium 2, where its back and tail markings could display different colors, demonstrated early game development interest in celebrating the species' unique artistic visual characteristics across multiple platforms and media formats.
Where to Find Smeargle in Every Pokémon Game
Smeargle was first introduced in the Johto region within Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal versions, where it served as an early-game encounter for trainers exploring the generational transition. Throughout subsequent game releases, Smeargle has maintained consistent availability with varying prominence; it appears as a native species in many regional Pokédexes while maintaining special rarity designations in others, with its local Pokédex number fluctuating depending on the specific game version and region. In Pokémon X and Y, Smeargle receives the local Pokédex number 124 within the Central Kalos region, making it relatively accessible to trainers progressing through the Kalos region's main campaign. The species becomes available in the Alola region Pokédex in Pokémon Sun and Moon (local number 058) and Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon (local number 070), ensuring that players of seventh-generation titles can obtain Smeargle through normal gameplay progression. More recently, Smeargle's inclusion in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet through The Indigo Disk DLC content (local number 040) guarantees its continued availability to modern players, maintaining the species' presence across contemporary gaming platforms and ensuring that new generations of trainers can experience Smeargle's unique mechanics and artistic charm.