[overview]
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onward
**Price Range**: 3-5 points
**Overview**: With access to nearly every single move, Smeargle can appear to have godlike role compression when it comes to support moves. In reality, Smeargle's presence on a draft symbolizes either a panic to shore up preparation deficiencies or a flexible celebration of a completed draft strategy that has the freedom to pick it up. Nine times out of ten, Smeargle will serve as a barely-effectual bandage to a weak support move backbone, unable to provide the compression it appears to have. Smeargle can provide the support needed in select few circumstances; however, in most cases, it serves more as a teambuilder threat to an overthinking opponent.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: With access to every entry hazard available, teams that have the ability to not worry about hazard removal can make use of Smeargle's options to pick and choose what to set for a matchup.
**Blanket check**: With a custom built moveset, Smeargle can kit itself out to target a specific threat and remove or neutralize it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Extreme Speed, Population Bomb
**Setup Moves**: No Retreat, Belly Drum
**Utility Moves**: Spore, Stone Axe, Ceaseless Edge, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Taunt, Mortal Spin, Nuzzle, Burning Bulwark, Parting Shot, Healing Wish, Memento, Encore, Taunt, Endeavor, Knock Off, Rapid Spin
**Coverage**: With base 20 offenses, Smeargle will cause more damage to its opponents by using anything but damaging attacks.
Niche Moves
========
**Destiny Bond**: If Smeargle can find time to use the move, it can enable a replacement to set up or remove an opposing threat. Destiny Bond can even provide an additional turn for Smeargle as an opponent waits for the effect to wear off.
**Fake Out**: Despite doing next to no damage, Fake Out can disrupt Multiscale, Sturdy, and Focus Sash strategies.
**Imprison**: Against certain stall or setup threats, Smeargle can counterbuild their expected moveset, using Imprison to make them unable to execute their strategy.
**Trick / Switcheroo**: Trick can surprise opponents expecting a status-inducing move or hazards, inhibiting their strategies by giving them a Choice item or a debilitating item like Toxic Orb, Flame Orb, or Iron Ball.
**Chilly Reception**: If Smeargle's team needs the weather to be cleared, Chilly Reception can be run as a pivoting move. Chilly Reception reduces the impact of opposing weather sweepers by removing sand, sun, or rain if positioned correctly.
**Dragon Tail / Circle Throw**: Smeargle can use phazing moves as an emergency check to setup sweepers. Additionally, forcing switches has natural synergy with the entry hazards that Smeargle can set.
**Court Change**: An option that requires Smeargle to rely less on setting its own entry hazards, Court Change reverses the hazard environment entirely, freeing up moveslots if hazard-setting Pokemon like Glimmora or Skarmory are on the opposing team.
Common Items
========
**Focus Sash**: Smeargle cannot take hits at all, and Focus Sash affords it a turn to accomplish whatever goal it was built to do.
Niche Items
========
**Mental Herb**: If Taunt is expected as a means of stifling Smeargle's progress, Mental Herb can be a surprise method to circumvent that and act anyway.
**Choice Scarf**: While not particularly fast naturally, a Choice Scarf outspeeds most unboosted threats and can be combined with Trick to limit an opposing Pokemon. Alternatively, Choice Scarf can ensure Smeargle outspeeds a specific threat and handle it with a specifically selected move for the circumstance.
**Custap Berry** When paired with Endure, Smeargle can assure itself one turn of moving first, which can be enough to take out a runaway threat or accomplish its predetermined task during the game.
Tera
========
Tera does Smeargle no favors, as even blanking a powerful attack with an immunity is less effective when the opponent can see it coming from Tera Preview and barely more effective if they can't. In niche cases where Smeargle is the only available Tera Captain to pair alongside an expensive top-end partner, Tera Ghost can provide Rapid Spin immunity even just as a bluff. Additionally, Tera Normal with a No Retreat or Belly Drum boost can turn STABs moves like Extreme Speed or Population Bomb into something worth considering.
Draft Strategy
========
Smeargle works best when it can focus on its own role and not worry about needing to serve any other purposes or its role being disrupted. While Smeargle should not be planned around, a well-drafted team can ensure that Smeargle does not end up as an anchor in battle.
**Spinblockers**: Smeargle will be unable to set up entry hazards more than once a match on average, as it's far more likely to be KOed than switch out once it hits the field. Teammates that can disincentive or prevent hazard removal make sure Smeargle's sacrifice is not in vain. Gholdengo is the shining star in this department, but Pokemon with Defiant or Competitive can make Defog a riskier click, and Ghost-types like Annihilape and Skeledirge can prevent Rapid Spin.
**Knock Off**: Making use of the entry hazards that Smeargle sets out is important; in respnse, Smeargle's opponent can bring more Heavy-Duty Boots sets than normal. Access to Knock Off among Smeargle's teammates can remove hazard protection from the opposing team, ensuring that its entry hazards are effective.
**Offensive Entry Hazard Setters**: Many Pokemon would rather not need to bring hazards to every match, such as Garchomp, Greninja, or Metagross, who would prefer the flexibility of having the open moveslot. While Smeargle can't always be the hazard setter, or even the only hazard setter, its teammates will appreciate the flexibility to drop Stealth Rocks or Spikes in favor of running more coverage or other utility moves.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Smeargle does not have the longevity to wait out an opposing Defog or Rapid Spin and will be a wasted slot if the hazards it puts up are removed later in the battle. While removal can be disincentivized or delayed, a consistent removal option will result in Smeargle facing the Sisyphean task of keeping hazards on the field in an extremely unfriendly environment.
**Multi-Hit Moves**: Smeargle's speed leaves a lot to be desired, so a faster Pokemon can take it out through Focus Sash with a multi-hit move. Weavile's Triple Axel, Garchomp's Scale Shot, Kyurem's Icicle Spear, among others, can KO Smeargle outright. Some Pokemon have access to unconventional multi-hit moves, such as Terrakion with Double Kick, which can be brought specifically for Smeargle.
**Taunt**: With Smeargle rarely able to run Mental Herb, Taunt can prevent Smeargle from being able to use many of its options. While moves like Ceaseless Edge and Nuzzle prevent Taunt from entirely locking Smeargle out from its full moveset, other options like Sticky Web and Spore become inaccessible when Smeargle cannot use status moves.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-fairy.57965/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dex.277988/
**Draft Order**: Round 7 onward
**Price Range**: 3-5 points
**Overview**: With access to nearly every single move, Smeargle can appear to have godlike role compression when it comes to support moves. In reality, Smeargle's presence on a draft symbolizes either a panic to shore up preparation deficiencies or a flexible celebration of a completed draft strategy that has the freedom to pick it up. Nine times out of ten, Smeargle will serve as a barely-effectual bandage to a weak support move backbone, unable to provide the compression it appears to have. Smeargle can provide the support needed in select few circumstances; however, in most cases, it serves more as a teambuilder threat to an overthinking opponent.
[strategy comments]
Common Roles
========
**Entry Hazard Lead**: With access to every entry hazard available, teams that have the ability to not worry about hazard removal can make use of Smeargle's options to pick and choose what to set for a matchup.
**Blanket check**: With a custom built moveset, Smeargle can kit itself out to target a specific threat and remove or neutralize it.
Common Moves
========
**Primary STAB Moves**: Extreme Speed, Population Bomb
**Setup Moves**: No Retreat, Belly Drum
**Utility Moves**: Spore, Stone Axe, Ceaseless Edge, Toxic Spikes, Sticky Web, Taunt, Mortal Spin, Nuzzle, Burning Bulwark, Parting Shot, Healing Wish, Memento, Encore, Taunt, Endeavor, Knock Off, Rapid Spin
**Coverage**: With base 20 offenses, Smeargle will cause more damage to its opponents by using anything but damaging attacks.
Niche Moves
========
**Destiny Bond**: If Smeargle can find time to use the move, it can enable a replacement to set up or remove an opposing threat. Destiny Bond can even provide an additional turn for Smeargle as an opponent waits for the effect to wear off.
**Fake Out**: Despite doing next to no damage, Fake Out can disrupt Multiscale, Sturdy, and Focus Sash strategies.
**Imprison**: Against certain stall or setup threats, Smeargle can counterbuild their expected moveset, using Imprison to make them unable to execute their strategy.
**Trick / Switcheroo**: Trick can surprise opponents expecting a status-inducing move or hazards, inhibiting their strategies by giving them a Choice item or a debilitating item like Toxic Orb, Flame Orb, or Iron Ball.
**Chilly Reception**: If Smeargle's team needs the weather to be cleared, Chilly Reception can be run as a pivoting move. Chilly Reception reduces the impact of opposing weather sweepers by removing sand, sun, or rain if positioned correctly.
**Dragon Tail / Circle Throw**: Smeargle can use phazing moves as an emergency check to setup sweepers. Additionally, forcing switches has natural synergy with the entry hazards that Smeargle can set.
**Court Change**: An option that requires Smeargle to rely less on setting its own entry hazards, Court Change reverses the hazard environment entirely, freeing up moveslots if hazard-setting Pokemon like Glimmora or Skarmory are on the opposing team.
Common Items
========
**Focus Sash**: Smeargle cannot take hits at all, and Focus Sash affords it a turn to accomplish whatever goal it was built to do.
Niche Items
========
**Mental Herb**: If Taunt is expected as a means of stifling Smeargle's progress, Mental Herb can be a surprise method to circumvent that and act anyway.
**Choice Scarf**: While not particularly fast naturally, a Choice Scarf outspeeds most unboosted threats and can be combined with Trick to limit an opposing Pokemon. Alternatively, Choice Scarf can ensure Smeargle outspeeds a specific threat and handle it with a specifically selected move for the circumstance.
**Custap Berry** When paired with Endure, Smeargle can assure itself one turn of moving first, which can be enough to take out a runaway threat or accomplish its predetermined task during the game.
Tera
========
Tera does Smeargle no favors, as even blanking a powerful attack with an immunity is less effective when the opponent can see it coming from Tera Preview and barely more effective if they can't. In niche cases where Smeargle is the only available Tera Captain to pair alongside an expensive top-end partner, Tera Ghost can provide Rapid Spin immunity even just as a bluff. Additionally, Tera Normal with a No Retreat or Belly Drum boost can turn STABs moves like Extreme Speed or Population Bomb into something worth considering.
Draft Strategy
========
Smeargle works best when it can focus on its own role and not worry about needing to serve any other purposes or its role being disrupted. While Smeargle should not be planned around, a well-drafted team can ensure that Smeargle does not end up as an anchor in battle.
**Spinblockers**: Smeargle will be unable to set up entry hazards more than once a match on average, as it's far more likely to be KOed than switch out once it hits the field. Teammates that can disincentive or prevent hazard removal make sure Smeargle's sacrifice is not in vain. Gholdengo is the shining star in this department, but Pokemon with Defiant or Competitive can make Defog a riskier click, and Ghost-types like Annihilape and Skeledirge can prevent Rapid Spin.
**Knock Off**: Making use of the entry hazards that Smeargle sets out is important; in respnse, Smeargle's opponent can bring more Heavy-Duty Boots sets than normal. Access to Knock Off among Smeargle's teammates can remove hazard protection from the opposing team, ensuring that its entry hazards are effective.
**Offensive Entry Hazard Setters**: Many Pokemon would rather not need to bring hazards to every match, such as Garchomp, Greninja, or Metagross, who would prefer the flexibility of having the open moveslot. While Smeargle can't always be the hazard setter, or even the only hazard setter, its teammates will appreciate the flexibility to drop Stealth Rocks or Spikes in favor of running more coverage or other utility moves.
Checks and Counters
========
**Entry Hazard Removal**: Smeargle does not have the longevity to wait out an opposing Defog or Rapid Spin and will be a wasted slot if the hazards it puts up are removed later in the battle. While removal can be disincentivized or delayed, a consistent removal option will result in Smeargle facing the Sisyphean task of keeping hazards on the field in an extremely unfriendly environment.
**Multi-Hit Moves**: Smeargle's speed leaves a lot to be desired, so a faster Pokemon can take it out through Focus Sash with a multi-hit move. Weavile's Triple Axel, Garchomp's Scale Shot, Kyurem's Icicle Spear, among others, can KO Smeargle outright. Some Pokemon have access to unconventional multi-hit moves, such as Terrakion with Double Kick, which can be brought specifically for Smeargle.
**Taunt**: With Smeargle rarely able to run Mental Herb, Taunt can prevent Smeargle from being able to use many of its options. While moves like Ceaseless Edge and Nuzzle prevent Taunt from entirely locking Smeargle out from its full moveset, other options like Sticky Web and Spore become inaccessible when Smeargle cannot use status moves.
[credits]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-fairy.57965/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/scionicle.599989/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/nyx.564960/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/dex.277988/
Last edited:
