Speed and HP carry most of Smeargle's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 1 Speed EV. Follows a fast 800K XP curve.
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.
Smeargle's Normal typing leaves it vulnerable to Fighting. It shrugs off Ghost-type attacks completely. Just 1 weak spot to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
Cyclizar's Draco Meteor hits Smeargle for 73-85%. Alomomola's Flip Turn hits Smeargle for 36-43%.
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemAssault Vest NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Cyclizar builds →Rapid Spin33-39% U Turn31-36% Knock Off29-34% Draco Meteor73-85% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityRegenerator ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureRelaxed Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Alomomola builds →Flip Turn36-43% | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityPrankster ItemEviolite NatureCalm Moves View Murkrow builds →
| ||
 Pelipper Water | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityDrizzle ItemFocus Sash NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Pelipper builds →Hurricane86-101%KO | ||
 | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityNatural Cure ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureBold Moves View Blissey builds →
| ||
Smeargle doesn't evolve, so breeding's where the action is. You'll find a massive partner pool across one egg group, and eggs are average hatch time. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Breed Smeargle easily with 278 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
Baton Pass keeps your team's momentum going. Smeargle doesn't need to stay in long, Focus Sash provides a guaranteed survive from full HP and max HP and Speed EVs make every visit count. Baton Pass threatens on the way out. Moody adds passive value.
Best Build
Smeargle best EVs are HP and Speed
Pivot Moveset
- Baton Pass
- Spore
- Minimize
- Substitute
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Follow Me
- Spore
- Fake Out
- Decorate
Doubles Pivot Moveset
- Spore
- Baton Pass
- Minimize
- Taunt
Recommended Teammates
Physical Attacker Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Ceaseless Edge
- Mortal Spin
- Court Change
Recommended Teammates
Hazard Setter Moveset
- Sticky Web
- Spore
- Stealth Rock
- Nuzzle
Doubles Pivot Moveset
- Spore
- Baton Pass
- Geomancy
- Kings Shield
Recommended Teammates
Support Moveset
- Spore
- Foul Play
- Sticky Web
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Pivot Moveset
- Spore
- Baton Pass
- Geomancy
- Kings Shield
Recommended Teammates
Support Moveset
- Spore
- Foul Play
- Sticky Web
- Stealth Rock
Recommended Teammates
Moves
Not a lot to pick from. Smeargle gets Normal STAB for same-type damage, and limited coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Not a lot to pick from. Smeargle gets Normal STAB for same-type damage, and limited coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Not a lot to pick from. Smeargle gets Normal STAB for same-type damage, and limited coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Not a lot to pick from. Smeargle gets Normal STAB for same-type damage, and limited coverage rounds things out. You're building around what's available rather than choosing from a deep bench.
Smeargle doesn't appear in Scarlet & Violet. Transfer it from Gold, Crystal, or Brilliant Diamond to add it to your collection. Check the source games below for encounter details.
Smeargle is only available through the PokeRadar in this game. No standard wild encounters here. 2 spots are listed below with details on how to trigger them. These become available in mid-game encounter areas.
Best Locations to Catch Smeargle in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Smeargle appears at moderate rates across 4 spots in early-game routes. Sort by Best below if you want the highest rate, or Earliest if you want the quickest access point in your playthrough.
Best Locations to Catch Smeargle in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon
walking encounters for Smeargle across 4 spots at Lv. 6-10. The catch is that Ultra Moon and Ultra Sun don't share every location, so compare what's available in your version.
decent spawn rates for Smeargle across 4 locations in early-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations to Catch Smeargle in Sun & Moon
4 spots to find Smeargle at Lv. 7-10 via walking. Not all of them exist in both Moon and Sun versions, so filter by your copy below.
Watch for Hitmonlee (Fighting) when using Smeargle. They all hit it super-effectively with STAB. Only 1 weakness means fewer dedicated counters to worry about.
Smeargle has niche appeal at best. 250 base stats means you're fighting uphill by mid-game. There are better Normal Pokemon available.
Technician changes the entire equation for Smeargle. The 250 BST doesn't tell the full story. Ranked B-Tier.
Technician is what you want on Smeargle. Every competitive set worth running is built with that ability in mind. The alternatives (Own Tempo, Moody) work on paper but Technician is what makes Smeargle worth using.
Smeargle's best stat is Speed at base 75. Normal typing is straightforward. Pure Normal type with same-type attack bonus on Normal moves.
Available in 16 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Smeargle spans 9 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves