Easy Smeargle Sketch Guide! Pokémon Scarlet and Violet (How to train your Smeargle)

With the new Indigo Disk DLC comes Smeargle, a veritable chess piece of cheese strats and soon to be a thorn in the side of many VGC players climbing the ranked ladder. Smeargle can do almost anything it wants, but nowhere in the game does it show you how to come about doing whatever it wants. Here's where this guide comes in clutch...
In the base game, on the route leading up to where you first fought Larry the normal type gym leader, you can sometimes find Ditto disguised as other Pokémon. Find a ditto, get it to transform into the Pokémon with the move you want Smeargle to sketch, then send in Smeargle to sketch it. It's that easy. There are some exceptions, however. The first move I tried to sketch was revival blessing, but it didn't work. I don't think Darkrai's Dark Void works anymore either. But there are a ton of options that can actually make Smeargle very scary to face off against. Destiny Bond suits my playstyle because I'll be using him as a lead and as frail as he is, he's bound to get KO'ed inevitably, and if he brings nothing else to the table, he can at least take a potential threat to the shadow realm with him. Other options are Wide Guard, Quick Guard, Follow Me, Mortal Spin, Ruination, Doodle, Instruct, Helping Hand, Spiky Shield, and even Ditto's own Transform. Let me know in the comments if there's any attack move you want me to test and see if Smeargle can Sketch it. And I do apologize if this seems a little sketchy lol.
#smeargle #pokemonscarletviolet #competitivepokemon #regulationE #series5 #pokemon #VGC #indigodisk #terapagos

[@RTG_YTC]

Any suggestions? Smeargle is basically Mew at home lol

[@YepIamPanda]

thank you so much i've been searching for a pokemon to sketch false swipe off of for so long now

[@RTG_YTC]

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@stevesamuals2651]

I can't wait to see what kind of crazy strats people make with smeargle now in the game. I can imagine a skill swap contrary varient with close combat, draco meteor, skill swap, and swagger

[@RTG_YTC]

Most people will probably just run Spore/Follow Me shenanigans…mine has Ruination. Sketched it from Ting-Lu. Depending on if Incineroar is a really popular lead like everyone is predicting, I might run quick guard to stop the fake out while my other Pokémon sets up with Swords Dance or something like that. We have options. lol

[@foodmr2022]

OMG the pokemon that can copy moves is BACK

[@RTG_YTC]

Yup so you know what that means lol…

[@FlyingHawlucha]

​@@RTG_YTC Smeargle violated me with spore no retreat shed tail and jaw lock

[@RTG_YTC]

@@FlyingHawlucha Ok ngl I didn't even think Smeargle could sketch those moves and that sounds TERRIFYING 😱😱😱

[@yaboi4043]

ty so much for this!!!

[@RTG_YTC]

You’re welcome. 😀

[@Maximiliano896]

Neat. Now I can begin training

[@RTG_YTC]

Let the training begin lol

[@randaljr.8581]

lol the space jam quote!! XD

[@RTG_YTC]

“I got it…I got his talent!” 😂😂😂

[@vcool122]

Now, how can I easily sketch substitute and spore? Because those 2 moves are tricky to sketch off of wild pokemons.

[@RTG_YTC]

I’m glad you asked. For Spore you can have your Smeargle hold a Chesto Berry to wake it up immediately and Sketch it. For Substitute, if it’s Sketchable you might want to find a wild Smeargle and lead with something in your party that knows sketch and use that in front of the wild Smeargle. I’ll have to test that out myself.

[@vcool122]

@@RTG_YTC For substitute, I was under the impression you had to sketch it when it fails once the pokemon doesn't have enough hp. Turns out if they don't have enough hp in SV they struggle even if they would still have pps on substitute. So it works even if the substitute is on the field. Pretty sure it wasn't the case in older games. For spore, I got told to simply use safety googles to negate the incoming spore.

[@GuilhermeAndrade]

Thank you

[@RTG_YTC]

You’re welcome. Happy sketching!

[@starzan103]

Damn that’s smart!

[@RTG_YTC]

I did a little too much exploring lol

[@djinndoe2213]

Can it do Salt Cure? I heard Smeargle makes people salty now it can do it literally lmao

[@RTG_YTC]

Yeah he can pass the salt lol 🧂 🧂 🧂

[@zelow79]

I like that line of thinking, but I just don't think Smearg is tanky enough to make use of it.

[@springfoxy-hy9rd]

Now what about make it rain...

[@RTG_YTC]

Might require testing, but because of Gholdengo’s Good as Gold it’s not possible using Ditto, however, there’s still a way (I think). You’ll need to get into a Wi-Fi battle against someone using a Weezing and a Galvantula. Neutralizing Gas turns off Good as Gold, allowing Galvantula to use Gastro Acid on it to turn the ability off permanently. Use Make it Rain, if the Weezing faints, the neutralizing gas will wear off, but it shouldn’t get Good as Gold back because of the Gastro Acid, allowing your Smeargle to Sketch it. This is assuming Sketch works when you use it in a Wi-Fi battle. And this is assuming Sketch is denied by Good as Gold under normal circumstances.

[@springfoxy-hy9rd]

@@RTG_YTC the thing about wifi battles is that when smeargle uses sketch it's only for the online thing...

[@RTG_YTC]

@@springfoxy-hy9rd Oh then nvm. I don’t think you can get Make it Rain in that case.

[@springfoxy-hy9rd]

@@RTG_YTC yeah, I have thought of every scenario (excluding hax) to try and get make it rain on smeargle, and it's not possible.

[@mamelouk]

Nice but can you somehow Sketch a move that KOes the user like Self Destruct or Memento?

[@RTG_YTC]

I want to say you can but it’s complicated…for self destruct you’d have to get yourself into a double battle in the blueberry academy with a random trainer. Have a Golduck with Damp and Skill Swap. Skill Swap the damp ability onto your Smeargle then switch it out for something with the move self destruct. Use self destruct next to your Damp Smeargle and the Pokémon won’t faint, allowing you to sketch it in theory but I’ll have to test this myself when I get home. For Memento you may need another double battle and just Protect. I don’t know if Memento fails if you protect I have to test it, but if it does you can just sketch it the next turn.

[@mamelouk]

@@RTG_YTC ok yeah I can see that working, thank you I'll try it

[@FukuritaMariko]

I soon learn smeargle can obtained the move Happy Hour an event exclusive move and wonder any good strategies for this involving money 🤔

[@RTG_YTC]

Certainly. I use the Academy Ace Tournament for ridiculously fast money. Lead the Smeargle (I use the event Zoroark with Happy Hour, but both work) use Happy Hour. Your opponents are now upper level 70's and 80's so be prepared for that. I have 3 level 100 Gholdengos and 2 Persians and they only use Make It Rain and Pay Day. Give oen of them the Amulet Coin to hold and you will earn minimum 12,000 in pick up per battle, plus the prize money earned for beating the trainer. The only trouble you may run into is the fighting-type lady as her Tauros will very likely KO Smeargle, but even if Smeargle faints you still get the doubled cash.

[@FukuritaMariko]

@@RTG_YTC sounds like a good strategy but I don’t have an extra 2,000 gimmighoul coins to get the extra gholdengos 😅 but I looked through some competitive battle sets and saw people mostly use smeargle as some states partner like so I’m thinking a states increasing smeargle and botton baton pass after a use of before useing Happy hour and after a baton pass my status buff pokemon can just sweep my opponent from only make it rain or payday somehow but I don’t know I haven’t tested that yet

[@RTG_YTC]

@@FukuritaMariko For the Ace Academy money farming strat you can do it with just one Gholdengo but you’ll need leppa berries or ethers to restore Make it Rain pp. And Hyper Potion/Full Restore because you’ll get hit at some point. As for doubles Smeargle people are using Decorate to give their partner instant plus 2 Attack and Sp.Atk which isn’t bad now that I think about it.

[@Sn4il3D]

Does sheer cold and lunar blessing work

[@RTG_YTC]

They should. I’ll have to test it out when I get home.

[@null5338]

Maybe I'm stupid but why do you want smeargle to learn the own tempo ability?

[@RTG_YTC]

@@null5338 To prevent confusion.

[@null5338]

@RTG_YTC ok but how is that useful for shiny hunts though?

[@RTG_YTC]

@@null5338 If you’re shiny hunting Smeargle, its ability will either be own tempo or technician at default, you’ll need an ability patch if you want Moody. If you’re talking about shiny hunting something else, there are better options than Smeargle.

[@null5338]

@@RTG_YTC i need him so I can teach him imprison and memento so I can shiny hunt mons with memento.

[@RTG_YTC]

@@null5338 Ok. Mons that know Memento are usually dark and ghost types which also usually have moves like Swagger and confuse ray so own tempo will stop both of those for subsequent turns.

[@Spirit_xd]

I’m boutta make this the worst stalling Pokémon ever detect protect spiky sheild hehehe

[@AntonioMM92]

How do you track hin explosión?

[@RTG_YTC]

I don’t think you can. Sketch has to sketch the Pokémon and when someone uses explosion, they faint.

[@alexesvargas9093]

I try my smergal and I can only save 4 moves and can't save the other moves normally I use smergal as utility Pokemon depending on the situation they changed it also why you defeat the wild Pokemon why not run away?

[@RTG_YTC]

I defeated the wild Pokémon because after ditto transforms you can get the TM crafting materials’ equivalent to whatever was transformed. You can farm as many as you want.

[@alexesvargas9093]

@@RTG_YTC can you give me examples because some move are eggs moves like fake out spiking shield etc

[@RTG_YTC]

Fake out you can sketch by anything that learns it like Morpeko or Morgrem. Spikey Shield you can get from Ogerpon or Cacturne.

[@christopherbennett5858]

⁠​⁠@@alexesvargas9093spore. Seriously, put some goggles on smeargle and it won’t be put to sleep. Follow me is good in tandem with instruct. That way, in tag battles, your smeargle can lure the opponent away from a partner that is setting up. Then, if it survives, it’ll let the partner attack twice with instruct. Sticky web, spikes, stealth rock, Stone axe, Ceaseless edge and Rapid spin are all good choices. A protection move would also be good. Wide guard is okay but many would rather run moves like burning bulwark, spiky shield or silk trap. Spiky is preferred if you’re using spore because burning will stop a pokemon falling asleep outside of Rest.

[@sasamichan]

TALK Learn to TALK I want to not watch the video TALK

[@RTG_YTC]

No me grites. 😂😂😂