Transfer-only with Own Tempo blocking confusion, Sketch lets Smeargle copy Spore, Spikes, or any move permanently at A-Tier in Ruby & Sapphire.
Ability 1Own TempoAbility 1Prevents confusion.
250HP55Attack20Defense35Speed75Sp.Def45Sp.Atk20
Weak to
Physical
Hazard Setter
75Speed · Below Avg

Is Smeargle Good in Ruby & Sapphire Playthrough?

Not native to Hoenn. Trade from Colosseum. AbilityOwn Tempo prevents confusion. MoveSketch copies any move, giving Smeargle infinite move options with terrible stats to back them. The catching utility with MoveSpore is the one reason to import. RS's native roster has nothing like Sketch.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadBBBBBBBBBBBBBRoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7WallaceGym 8SmeargleTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4StevenChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Bad

Roxanne's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Geodude
Lv 14
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Avoid
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
TackleHardenRock ThrowRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Bad

Brawly's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Machop
Lv 17
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopSeismic TossBulk Up
Avoid
Makuhita
Lv 18
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustKnock OffSand AttackBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Bad

Wattson's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Magnemite
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomThunder ShockThunder Wave
Avoid
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSelf DestructSparkSonic Boom
Avoid
Magneton
Lv 23
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicSonic BoomShock WaveThunder Wave
Flannery
Gym 4
Bad

Flannery's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Avoid
Slugma
Lv 26
Fire
Magma Armor
FlamethrowerRock SlideLight ScreenSunny Day
Avoid
Torkoal
Lv 28
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatBody SlamFlailAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Bad

Norman's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Slaking
Lv 28
Normal
Truant
EncoreFacadeYawnFeint Attack
Avoid
Vigoroth
Lv 30
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFeint AttackFacadeEncore
Avoid
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
Focus PunchSlack OffFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Bad

Winona's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Swellow
Lv 31
NormalFlying
Guts
Quick AttackAerial AceDouble TeamEndeavor
Avoid
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Avoid
Skarmory
Lv 32
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Avoid
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Bad

Tate & Liza's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Avoid
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
Levitate
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Wallace
Gym 8
Bad

Wallace's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Luvdisc
Lv 40
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
Avoid
Whiscash
Lv 42
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Avoid
Sealeo
Lv 40
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Avoid
Seaking
Lv 42
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseRain DanceFury AttackHorn Drill
Avoid
Milotic
Lv 43
Water
Marvel Scale
Water PulseTwisterRecoverIce Beam
Sidney
Elite Four
Bad

Sidney's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarTake DownSand AttackCrunch
Avoid
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
Fake OutDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
Avoid
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Avoid
Sharpedo
Lv 48
WaterDark
Rough Skin
CrunchSwaggerSurfSlash
Avoid
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceSnatchSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Bad

Phoebe's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseFuture Sight
Avoid
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallSpiteWill O WispFeint Attack
Avoid
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallPsychicAttractFeint Attack
Avoid
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicToxicSkill Swap
Avoid
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamConfuse RayEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Bad

Glacia's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchHailIce Beam
Avoid
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamHailIce Ball
Avoid
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDiveHailBlizzard
Avoid
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallCrunchHailIce Beam
Avoid
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamBlizzardSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Bad

Drake's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectCrunch
Avoid
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Take DownDragon BreathDragon DanceRefresh
Avoid
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
DigDragon BreathFlySandstorm
Avoid
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
Levitate
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathSand Attack
Avoid
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawFlyCrunch
Steven
Champion
Bad

Steven's Pokemon outpace and outclass Smeargle here.

Avoid
Skarmory
Lv 57
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
ToxicAerial AceSpikesSteel Wing
Avoid
Claydol
Lv 55
GroundPsychic
Levitate
ReflectLight ScreenAncient PowerEarthquake
Avoid
Aggron
Lv 56
SteelRock
Sturdy
ThunderEarthquakeSolar BeamDragon Claw
Avoid
Cradily
Lv 56
RockGrass
Suction Cups
Giga DrainAncient PowerSludge BombConfuse Ray
Avoid
Armaldo
Lv 56
RockBug
Battle Armor
Water PulseAncient PowerAerial AceSlash
Avoid
Metagross
Lv 58
SteelPsychic
Clear Body
EarthquakePsychicMeteor MashHyper Beam

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Normal
Tier
A

Smeargle cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Smeargle locations

How to Get Smeargle in Ruby & Sapphire

Smeargle has no Hoenn route to find it on, painting tail and all. Trading one in is the only way to add it here.

Smeargle cannot be caught in the wild in Ruby & Sapphire, but you can still get it via these paths:

Catch in the wild and trade from these games:

Then trade to Ruby & Sapphire.

How to Get Shiny Smeargle in Ruby & Sapphire

Smeargle paints its way into Hoenn only by trade, so grab a shiny inside Artisan Cave in Emerald and bring it back. See every game where Shiny Smeargle can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Smeargle in Ruby & SapphireNormal
Shiny Smeargle in Ruby & Sapphire Shiny
Color ShiftWhitetoRed
Shiny TierC Tier Shiny

Shiny Smeargle Evolution

Does Not Evolve
Smeargle does not evolve
Single-stage PokemonView Full Evolution Chart

Smeargle Weakness

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.

Smeargle Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fighting
0x (Immune)Ghost
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Smeargle Weak Against

Good
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Smeargle Strong Against

0Strong
2Resisted
1Immune
Score-3
2xStrong
None
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Smeargle

Hariyama
Hariyama
Fighting
B
Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
B
Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C

Smeargle Evolutions

Smeargle doesn't evolve, so breeding's where the action is. You'll find a massive partner pool across one egg group, and eggs take an average time to hatch. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

No Evolution
Smeargle
#235Smeargle
Does not evolve

Breeding

Very Easy

Breed Smeargle easily with 102 breeding partners from the Field egg group.

Egg Groups
Field
Gender
♂50.0%♀50.0%
Hatch Time
20 cycles·5,140 steps
Quick~5 min with Flame Body
Breed With (best first)
raichupikachunidokinggolduckampharosrhydondewgongarbokquagsirenidorinofarfetchdflaaffy

RS Smeargle Best Moveset

Every move in the game is accessible through MoveSketch: MoveSpore at 100% accuracy, MoveBaton Pass with any stat boost, MoveSpikes setup, anything the strategy demands. AbilityOwn Tempo prevents confusion. Stats near zero but move access is infinite. The ultimate support Pokemon.

Best Build

Experimental
Pivot
Ability
Own Tempo
Item
Salac BerryRECOVERY
Best Nature for Smeargle
Jolly+SPE

Smeargle best EVs are Speed and Sp. Def

EVs

Pivot Moveset

  • SporeUtility
  • SpikesHazard
  • Baton PassSTAB
  • SubstituteUtility

Moves List

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

Lv 1
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 11
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 21
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 31
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 41
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 51
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 61
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 71
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 81
Sketch
———1Normal
Lv 91
Sketch
———1Normal

TM Moves

Smeargle can't learn any TM moves

Egg Moves

Smeargle doesn't have any Egg moves

Tutor Moves

Smeargle can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP55
D
Attack20
F
Defense35
F
Sp. Atk20
F
Sp. Def45
D
Speed75
C
Total250
Details
Catch Rate
Challenging45 / 255
Growth Rate
Fast800,000 XP
Height1.2 m
Weight58.0 kg
Base XP88
Abilities
Own Tempo
Prevents confusion.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpDSpe+1
Speed training source
Pokedex Entry

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.

Pokemon Ruby / Pokemon Sapphire

Smeargle Ruby & Sapphire Guide

  • Smeargle isn't catchable in Ruby & Sapphire. Catch one in Emerald, then trade it to Ruby & Sapphire.

Game Availability

Available in 16 titles since its debut in Gold & Silver, Smeargle spans 8 generations of Pokemon games. It's accessible through wild encounters in most mainline games.

Explore

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