How to Sketch

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Ditto

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How to Sketch
By JulesLetters and Ditto

For all of the people who opened this article hoping to learn how to draw, sorry to upset you. Instead this is an in-depth look into the move Sketch and its uses.

Sketch
Sketch is a move that allows the user to permanently learn the last move used by its target. Smeargle learns Sketch at Levels 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, but it can only know 1 Sketch at a time.

This is one of the most interesting moves in the game, and it's exclusive to Smeargle. Not only does it allow for Smeargle to have an infinite number of movesets, but it also makes him the best male parent for the Ground Egg Group. The latter earns Smeargle almost as much action in the Day Care as Ditto.

Methods for Sketching
Endurance Method
The Endurance Method is the most painful method, because it involves waiting for a wild Pokemon to use a move that you want to Sketch. Due to Smeargle's frailty, it is suggested that the item Focus Sash be used when doing this. There are two main sub-divisions of this method, Stalling and Move Trapping.

  • Stall

  1. Find ways to waste Smeargle's turn, such as using items (like X-Defense or other stat boosters), until the desired move is used.
  2. Once the desired move is used, have Smeargle use Sketch. To effectively use this method, Smeargle must be faster than the opponent in order to guarantee a successful Sketch.
  • Move Trapping

  1. Start off with a Pokemon that knows either Switcheroo, Trick, or Encore. Use Switcheroo or Trick to give the opponent a Choice item and lock them into a single move. However, this can sometimes be unreliable, because you never know which move the wild Pokemon will use. For this reason, it is often better to use a fast Pokemon with Encore in order to trap the opponent into their move after they have used it.
  2. Switch Smeargle in and use Sketch. Note that Smeargle will have to be able to take at least one hit from the move when switching in, although hopefully you are using a Focus Sash, just in case.
Wild Smeargle Method
The Wild Smeargle Method involves leading with a Pokemon that knows the move you want and finding a wild Smeargle.

  1. Using a Pokemon with the move you want as the lead, attack the wild Smeargle with the move. Note that you must be faster. The wild Smeargle has no choice but to Sketch the move.
  2. Switch to your own Smeargle, remembering that you must be able to take whatever attack the wild Smeargle now knows. Use your own Sketch to copy the move on the following turn.
Generation III

  • [E] The Artisan Cave at the Battle Frontier. 100% Smeargle encounter rate.
  • [R/S/FR/LG] Smeargle is not found in the wild in any of these games.
Generation IV

  • [D/P] Route 212 (North end), using the PokeRadar. Level 17 - 18.
  • [Pt] Route 208, using PokeRadar. Level 18 - 20. Route 212 (North end), using the PokeRadar. Level 24 - 26.
  • [HG/SS] In the grass at the Ruins of Alph. Level 20 - 22.

Double Battle Method
The Double Battle Method is perhaps the most reliable and predictable of all the methods, and should be the main focus of effort. It involves having both Smeargle and a Pokemon with the move you want. Any Double Battle can work to this end, as long as the player has control of two Pokemon. Again, due to Smeargle's frailty, it is suggested that the item Focus Sash be used when doing this.
  1. First place Smeargle and a Pokemon with the desired move as the two leads to your party.
  2. Using the Pokemon with the move you want, select the move you wish to Sketch.
  3. If the Smeargle is faster, use any method to use its turn so that it doesn't use Sketch, while the other Pokemon uses the move you want to Sketch. Using items is a nice way to waste Smeargle's turn (again, stat boosters are a recommended example). Have Smeargle use Sketch the next turn. If the Smeargle is slower, simply use both the move and Sketch during the same turn.
Generation III

  • [R/S/E] The Traveling Reporters cycle through Route 111, Route 118, and Route 120.
  • [E] Gym Leaders will double battle after the Elite Four is defeated.
  • [FR/LG] Several couples througout the game can be rebattled with the Vs. Seeker. The Young Couple north of where a Snorlax was sleeping on Route 12 has been suggested.
Generation IV

  • [D/P/Pt] The Double Battle Diner, on Valor Lakefront, hosts five double battles a day.
  • [D/P/Pt] Many paired trainers throughout the game can be rebattled with the VS Seeker.
    • Route 209 just south of Solaceon Town, hosts two possible double battles, with an easily accessible one at the north end.
    • Route 204, just south of Floaroma Town, there are a pair of twins that only have a Pachirisu apiece.
  • [HG/SS] To rebattle trainers in HG/SS, one must call them on the PokeGear.
    • Route 15 has a pair of twins that can be rebattled on Saturday from 8pm - 5am.
    • Route 13 has a couple that can be rebattled on Friday from 10am - 8pm

Secret Base Method
The Secret Base Method is a special method to use Sketch that can only be used in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

  1. In a cartridge different than the one your Smeargle is on, delete all of a Pokemon's moves but the one you want Sketched, and mix records with the game with Smeargle. Make sure the cartridge you mix with has an easily accessible Secret Base.
  2. Battle the trainer from the other cartridge. Sketching should be easy for Smeargle because the opponent only has one move it can use.

Sketching Multiple Moves
When Sketching more than one move, you'll need a way to return the move Sketch to your Smeargle. While Smeargle can only know 1 Sketch at a time, after you have Sketched one move onto Smeargle, it can learn Sketch again. If you do not feel like leveling Smeargle up, you can have Smeargle relearn Sketch via the Move Relearner.

  • [R/S/E] The Move Relearner is found in Fallarbor Town and costs 1 Heart Scale per use.
  • [FR/LG] The Move Relearner is found on Two Island and costs 2 TinyMushrooms or 1 Big Mushroom per use.
  • [D/P/Pt] The Move Relearner is found in Pastoria City and costs 1 Heart Scale per use.
  • [HG/SS] The Move Relearner is found in Blackthorn City and costs 1 Heart Scale per use.

Special Ways to Sketch
Moves that make the user faint or switch out require special care to Sketch, as the user of the desired move must not faint and remain out in order for Sketch to be successful. The trick to Sketching these moves is knowing how to make them fail or how to prevent the user from switching out, whichever the case may be.

R/S: Status and Sketch
In Ruby and Sapphire, whenever a move is selected, it counts as being used. This counts even when a Pokemon is asleep, frozen, or fully paralyzed. This allows you to Sketch all moves with extreme ease and bypass any special methods that may be required. This can only be used in conjunction with the Double Battle Method.

Lunar Dance / Healing Wish / U-turn / Baton Pass
In order to make these moves fail or fail to cause the user to switch out, there must be no suitable switches on your team. Thus, the only way they can be Sketched in a Double Battle is by having the only usable Pokemon in your party be the ones that are already in the battle. Using the move in this situation will cause the move to fail because there is no suitable replacement. The move can then be Sketched as normal with the Double method.

Explosion / Selfdestruct
There are two main methods to Sketch Explosion and Selfdestruct. Both can only be performed in a Double Battle.

The most reliable and highly recommended method is as follows:
  1. Bring your own Pokemon with the ability Damp (Psyduck, Golduck, Poliwag, Poliwhirl, Poliwrath, Politoed, Wooper Quagsire), and a Pokemon with Explosion. Use Explosion on the first turn, and waste the Damper's turn however you see fit.
  2. Switch the Damp Pokemon out for your Smeargle, while wasting the Exploder's turn by using an item.
  3. If your Smeargle is faster, Sketch your Exploder and it doesn't matter what the other Pokemon does. If your Smeargle is slower, waste the Exploder's turn once again, and Sketch the Exploder.
The second method involves knowing your opponent has a Damp Pokemon ahead of time, and treating Explosion as a regular move using the Double method. While faster in-battle, this requires more work. This is the only option for low-level Smeargle, unless the Exploder also knows Follow Me.

Memento
The move Memento causes the user to faint, and there is no ability which causes it to fail. However, the move can be forced to fail in one of two ways: if it has no target, or if the Memento user falls victim to Taunt.

  • Taunt Method

  1. Bring your own Pokemon with Taunt, and a Pokemon with Memento. The Taunter must be faster. Use Memento the first turn, while using Taunt on the Memento user. Memento will fail, but will still count as being used.
  2. Switch the Taunter out for your Smeargle, while wasting the Memento user's turn by using an item.
  3. If your Smeargle is faster, Sketch Memento and it won't matter what the Pokemon does. If your Smeargle is slower, waste the Memento user's turn once again while Smeargle uses Sketch.
  • No Target Method

  1. Bring a Pokemon that can KO two opponents simultaneously, and a Pokemon with Memento. You must be able to KO both of the opponents' Pokemon before Memento can be used. Blizzard, Discharge, Earthquake, Explosion, Eruption, Heat Wave, Muddy Water, Rock Slide, Selfdestruct, Surf, and Water Spout are all powerful moves that hit both opponents. Note that Discharge, Earthquake, Explosion, Selfdestruct, and Surf will also hit your other Pokemon, so be prepared. If both the opponents' are KOed, then Memento will have no target and fail.
  2. Switch out for your Smeargle, while wasting the Memento user's turn by using an item.
  3. If your Smeargle is faster, Sketch Memento and it won't matter what the Pokemon does. If your Smeargle is slower, waste the Memento user's turn once again while Smeargle uses Sketch.

  • A powerful Pokemon with Explosion or Selfdestruct (Metagross, Licklicky, Azelf, Snorlax) and a Ghost-type with Memento (Spiritomb, Misdreavus, Duskull, Drifloon) work very well for this method. And as a bonus, the switching-in doesn't cost a turn.

Wild Smeargle Method
Generation II

  • [G/S/C] Ruins of Alph Entry.
Double Battle Method
Generation II

  • There are no double battles in Generation II.
Sketching Multiple Moves
  • [G/S/C] There is no Move Relearner within these games, but there is a way by using Pokemon Stadium 2. All you have to do is beat E4/Lance with an un-registered team, and you can teach one of your team Pokemon a move they learn naturally at an earlier level.
 
Other moves which have complications: Baton Pass, and Memento. Special moves should include these.

I think that the focus should be almost exclusively on using the "Doubles" method, with some mention of the Smeargle method (never thought of that one, nice idea).

"The 'Endurance' method or the 'Double' method can be used. There are no repeatable Double Battles, however, so care must be taken!"
There are repeatable double battles in all those games, the reporters in RSE for example. FRLG has a VS Seeker, and you can rebattle people with trainer's eyes/match call in RS/E.

"Use Carbos, level, a Choice Scarf, or whatever available method to assure you will take the first turn."
You can just say make sure you're faster.

"The Double Battle Diner at Valor Lakefront can be used to initiate a Double Battle. The options are limited in prior generations.
(Is there anywhere like the Double Battle Diner in HG/SS?)"
VS Seeker on Route 210 lets you have as many double battles as you want per day. I'm sure there is a similar route on HGSS.

Going to need to explain a few bits more carefully and clean it up a bit, but it's a wip so you do that and say when you're pretty much done.
 
In Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, the tutor can be found in Mossdeep, and costs a Heart Scale.
Click to expand...

Hes not found in Mossdeep, Hes in Fallarbor town, next to the place where you find dittos
 
Okay, that's a decent amount of corrections so far. I also cleaned up the formatting a bit... Though it clearly needs work. I'm still looking for suggestions, and input on HG/SS. Still a work in process, but looking better.
 
In LeafGreen and FireRed, the tutor is found on Two Island, and costs two TinyMushrooms or one Big Mushroom.
Click to expand...

Sounds more professional imo, only Leaf and Fire looks a bit sloppy.

Also, on Emerald Double trainers, another worthy note is the Gym Leaders, who will always do doubles after the elite 4 is down.

In LGFR, the young couple east of Vermillion, right north of the sleeping Snorlax is a good spot. They have a Nidoking and Nidoqueen at the end, either in the thirties or 49-ish (Maximum, I don't remember right now, and don't have time to check it).
 
"In a house in Blackthorn City there is a man who will exchange Heart Scales for the use of his move relearning services."

Also, as far as I am aware (any any major site says) Memento does not fail if you don't have a switch in ready, so it's going to need to be listed separately from healing dance and the like. I'm not entirely sure how it could be Sketched, would it be stretchable if selected then Taunted and failed to activate (you'd probably have to test it/have it tested, I can't find anything definitive about it)?
 
On the topic of sketching Memento in the 4th gen: If Memento doesn't have a target in a double battle, the move will fail and the user will survive.

For Ruby and Sapphire (and I believe only these games), Memento can be sketched like any other move if the user is sleeping. In those two games, Sketch checks what move was selected, even if sleep blocked it.
 
Almost done, it looks like. For the life of me, I can't keep the spacing straight. These forums sure do love to add extra newlines for some reason.

Just need reusable double battle locations for HG/SS, and confirmation for the 'Sketch on a sleeping move user' trick.
 
For DP/Plat, the best double battle is south of florama town the two twins with the pachirsu, or the couple south of the daycare.
 
For RSE, you could include a Secret Base Method. What you do is take a Pokemon that knows the move you want to Sketch and delete all its other moves in Lilycove. Have another game create a Secret Base in a location that's easy to get to. Then, trade the Pokemon to the other game and mix records with it while they have the Pokemon in their party. Finally, go to their Secret Base and challenge them to Sketch the move. Since you need to have two game to do this and you need to have a Pokemon that already knows the move anyway, the Doubles method is probably faster. Although, this could be more efficient for commonly Sketched moves like Spore.

Also, in HGSS there is a pair of Twins on Route 15 that can be rebattled on Saturday night (8pm - 5am) for the Doubles method.
 
Maybe I'm overlooking something, but surely in the doubles method the opposing Pokemon can interfere with the sketching? Say your Breloom uses Spore, then an opposing Magneton uses Thunderbolt, then Smeargle uses Sketch - isn't Smeargle going to Sketch Thunderbolt not Spore?
 
No, you select the target of Sketch when you select it and it Sketch's the move that was used last by the Pokemon. It doesn't work like counter in that it simply targets the last Pokemon to hit it. You don't even need to hit Smeargle with the move in question.
 
another nitpick, in the memento section
2. Switch the Taunter out for your Smeargle, while wasting the Fainter's turn by using an item.
Click to expand...
You referred to this pokemon first as a Waver, and it doesn't taunt anything.

edit: in emerald, there is a double battle next to the daycare, with lower levels, and it is easier to get to if your too lazy to figure out the puzzle in the gym, or if they don't want to battle yet. They also seem to battle more often than gyms, though I'm not sure how that's measured.
 
Added everything above this post.
Still lacking in the double battle locations for HG/SS. Any particularly good ones?
Still need to check sleep-Sketching in Ruby/Sapphire. So little time, and I've misplaced the cartridges. Does anyone else know for sure if it works?
 
JulesLetters said:
Added everything above this post.
Still lacking in the double battle locations for HG/SS. Any particularly good ones?
Still need to check sleep-Sketching in Ruby/Sapphire. So little time, and I've misplaced the cartridges. Does anyone else know for sure if it works?
Click to expand...

Like I said before, you can go to Route 15 to rebattle Twins on Saturday night as much as you want in HGSS. I don't have a way to get Smeargle onto RS so I can't check if sleep-Sketching works.
 
One issue that I see -- all of the articles are generally broken down by generation. This has information for multiple generations. This poses a problem with where to actually put it.
 
mingot said:
One issue that I see -- all of the articles are generally broken down by generation. This has information for multiple generations. This poses a problem with where to actually put it.
Click to expand...
I could edit out the 2nd Gen info and it can be placed in Gen IV since sketching in Gen III and Gen IV both affect competitive Gen IV.
 
Ok, that works. I'd leave the 2nd gen information somewhere in the thread, at least. We will probably want/need it at some point.
 
mingot said:
Ok, that works. I'd leave the 2nd gen information somewhere in the thread, at least. We will probably want/need it at some point.
Click to expand...
Alright. There isn't too much info about Gen II, but I placed it at the bottom of the post.
 
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