We’re back for the Normal-type reviews, and today we’re going to focus on Smeargle, an artist Pokémon with the strange ability to learn any move used by others! If you are ready with this one, please proceed.
Selected Fan Art (Artist: o0TeaLeaf0o)
Based on its name and looks, Smeargle is based on a dog and painter. Specifically, Smeargle is based on a beagle, a type of small-sized dog that is a popular pet. Unlike most dog Pokémon, Smeargle stands up straight, which it needs to do if it were to paint effectively. Its brush-like tail could be used for painting, and using its exclusive Sketch move, it could paint whatever it sees.
The tip of Smeargle’s tail secretes special ooze that basically acts like paint. This allows Smeargle to paint things with that ooze, and since its tail is brush-like, it could do it well. The colour in which Smeargle could paint is different between each other, but the general rule is that in Pokémon, it’s always a specific colour unless it’s shiny. When a Smeargle is an adult, it has a tendency to let its comrades plant their footprints on its back, which is why you see a print on its back. It might be similar to the behaviour of dogs smelling each other butts to know each other.
What does Smeargle use its painting skills on? Mainly, it marks its territory with that paint. It’s not just a specific thing, because Smeargle could have different types of marks, and according to the PokéDex, there are about 5000 different variations found. It is very similar to how dogs mark their territory: through urination. A dog’s sensitive smell is able to pick up the other dogs’ territory, but Smeargle merely paint pictures to mark it. If dogs use urine to mark the territory, then does that mean Smeargle’s paint is also like urine? This is one of the mysteries that is best left unsolved if you are easily repulsed by gross things.
Even though Smeargle is supposed to be based on a dog, some people might not see the resemblance. We are able to identify dogs by its big, dark nose, but Smeargle oddly doesn’t have it. Smeargle’s ears are also a bit shorter than a beagle’s. Dog tails are normally shorter, but since Smeargle is a painter, it understandably has a longer tail to be able to paint better. One could say that Smeargle resembles cattle, which I certainly thought it did because its face is cattle-like, despite the lack of horns, as well as the tail and ears’ shape. The only thing that could conceivably be dog-like is its tongue that sticks out.
With its signature move Sketch, Smeargle is able to learn any move used before it, and I mean any move, including some exclusive ones like Dark Void, V-Create and Aeroblast… well, almost. The only moves it couldn’t copy are Chatter and Struggle. Chatter is likely because of its recording feature, but even when that isn’t used anymore, Chatter still cannot be copied.
Because Smeargle could use any move, it should be a flexible battler, right? Well, with its stats, it cannot ever be a flexible battler offensively or defensively. The main reason Smeargle is used is for its access to many support moves, especially the more obscure ones. It could pass boosts like Shell Smash, Quiver Dance and Moody-powered boosts, or utilise entry hazards like Sticky Web, and if allowed, it could even use Dark Void to put both opponents to Sleep in a Double Battle. Because it has low stats all around, its Speed is always the most important stat to invest in, since going first is what support is about, and because Speed is Smeargle’s highest stat.
Now, the question is, how on earth does Smeargle copy moves that it doesn’t necessarily possibly execute? Things like flying, unleashing fire or even use psychic powers seem to be out of the realm of Smeargle’s abilities, after all. In the Pokémon Adventures/Special manga, Smeagle mimics the move by pointing its tail at the Pokémon executing the move and swinging it, then it could use that move for good. It sounds like it could instantly learn that move, and that’s quite right. As for my personal theory, I think that Smeargle’s ooze could come to life, allowing it to do anything with what it paints, so for example, if it wants rocks, it paints rocks and, viola, rocks! This theory is based on how Smeargle is a painter, and there is a form of artistic freedom in painting a picture, so there must be a way for Smeargle to do all of this based on its ability.
There are two main reasons Smeargle is popular among Pokémon fans: one, it can learn almost every move, which is a useful skill; two, it represents the artist in all of us, which is why it is often the mascot for any Pokémon art sections. Otherwise, it’s only a mildly interesting curio of a Pokémon, being made in a Generation that introduced many Pokémon with low stats and generally fantastical abilities that would be useful outside of battle.
+ Able to learn virtually any move
+ Represents the artist in all of us
– Doesn’t resemble dog despite being named after one
– Smeargle’s paint could disgust some people
TCG Card
There are many ways to interpret the incident of scattered graffiti. The Smeargle might be a vandal or one to demand a large territory, but in either case, Smeargle’s stance looks like it means business and is not afraid to plaster you with paint when threatened, so you need to watch out because the effects might be indelible. Besides, the “paint” might even be disgusting because you don’t even know what it is made of.
Sketch
Smeargle’s signature move is also one that defines it very well. For one, it has talent as an artist, as its brush-like tail suggests. Another thing is how Sketch is a very adaptable move, because it can change to another move.
As mentioned in Smeargle’s article, Sketch is able to copy virtually every move used before it. However, some moves are harder to copy than others, such as Explosion (which requires Damp to prevent blowing up).
There are a lot of ways this could be taken advantage of. Being able to copy any move allows Smeargle to have a vast combination of moves, but its low power and defences meant that support moves are the way to go. Even then, access to every support move still makes Smeargle viable. Since Smeargle has the ability to have almost any combination of moves, it could easily pass Egg Moves to any Pokémon in the Field Egg Group.
Overall, Sketch really defines Smeargle as a popular Pokémon because of its unique properties, as well as fitting its nature as an artist Pokémon.
That’s all for today’s article. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I have writing it.
Next Article: Munchlax & Snorlax
