Stats & Training
Speed and HP carry most of Smeargle's stat budget. Attack's the obvious dump stat. Tough to catch and yields 1 Speed stat exp. Follows a fast 800K XP curve.
The color of the mysterious fluid secreted from its tail is predetermined for each SMEARGLE.
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.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Fighting |
| 0x (Immune) | Ghost |
- Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
- Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move
- Special stat split into Sp.Atk and Sp.Def
 Poliwrath WaterFighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Poliwhirl (Route 30 Surfing) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Poliwrath builds →Dynamic Punch 2x184-217%KO Submission 2x147-173%KO Rock Smash 2x74-88% | ||
 Hitmonlee Fighting | C | |
Obtain MethodEvolve Tyrogue (Mt Mortar Gift) Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Hitmonlee builds →High Jump Kick 2x288-339%KO Jump Kick 2x223-263%KO Dynamic Punch 2x223-263%KO Rolling Kick 2x135-159%KO | ||
 Machoke Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machoke builds →Cross Chop 2x192-226%KO Dynamic Punch 2x192-226%KO Vital Throw 2x135-159%KO Karate Chop 2x98-115%KO | ||
 Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Machoke Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machoke builds →Dynamic Punch 2x185-218%KO Karate Chop 2x94-111%KO Rock Smash 2x75-89% | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Machoke Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machoke builds →Dynamic Punch 2x178-210%KO Karate Chop 2x91-107%KO Rock Smash 2x72-86% | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Machoke Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machoke builds →Dynamic Punch 2x178-210%KO Karate Chop 2x91-107%KO Rock Smash 2x72-86% | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
Machoke Fighting | D | |
Available Moves Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machoke builds →Dynamic Punch 2x178-210%KO Karate Chop 2x91-107%KO Rock Smash 2x72-86% | ||
Tyrogue Fighting | D | |
Obtain MethodMt Mortar Gift | ||
In Crystal, Cloyster can KO Smeargle with Explosion (152-179%). Snorlax threatens a KO with Double-Edge (124-146%). Forretress's Explosion also KOs at 145-171%.
 | S | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Cloyster builds →Surf63-75% Explosion152-179%KO | ||
 | S | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Snorlax builds →Double Edge124-146%KO Earthquake69-81% | ||
 | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Forretress builds →Explosion145-171%KO Rapid Spin29-35% | ||
 Exeggutor GrassPsychic | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Exeggutor builds →Psychic88-103%KO Explosion152-179%KO Giga Drain73-86% | ||
 Machamp Fighting | A | |
Recommended Build ItemLeftovers Moves
Damage vs Smeargle View Machamp builds →Rock Slide60-71% Earthquake80-94% | ||
Crystal Evolution
Smeargle doesn't evolve, so breeding's where the action is. You'll find plenty of partners 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 66 breeding partners from the Ground egg group.
Crystal Smeargle Best Moveset
Best Build
Support Moveset
- Spore
- Baton Pass
- Agility
- Spikes
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
Crystal Smeargle Locations
Smeargle appears at moderate rates across 1 spots in mid-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 Crystal
Smeargle Guide
In Crystal, 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.
In Crystal, Smeargle has niche appeal at best. 250 base stats means you're fighting uphill by mid-game. There are better Normal Pokemon available.
For Crystal, we rate Smeargle B-Tier: a solid option in Crystal for the right team. At 250 BST, it fits the hazard setter role. Spore with Miracleberry is the standard set.
Smeargle's best stat is Speed at base 75. Normal typing is straightforward. Pure Normal type with same-type attack bonus on Normal moves.
Base 75 Speed is workable. Faster than some, slower than many. On offense, Smeargle is a physical attacker with base 20 Attack. Defensively? Fragile, can't afford to take many hits. Best used as a hazard setter.
Game Availability
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