Copycat (move)

Copycat causes the user to use the last move that was used in the battle (even if the last move was by the user). If no move has been made, Copycat fails. If the copied move's target is not the user, an appropriate target is randomly chosen.

The last-used move is updated whenever any Pokémon attempts to use a move.

• If a move successfully executes (generally, if the text "<Pokémon> used <move>!" is shown), that move becomes the last-used move. This is regardless of the move's result — whether it hit or missed or its effect was successful or failed (such as a Light Screen that fails because the previous Light Screen has not expired).
  • Some moves that require multiple turns to execute do not count as valid moves in all of their turns. If Copycat executes after a turn when a move was not considered valid, Copycat will fail.
    • Charging moves: the initial turn does not count as a valid move.
    • Recharging moves: the recharge turn does not count as a valid move.
    • Bide: the final turn does not count as a valid move.
  • If any move calls another, the calling move is counted as the last move used instead of the called move.
    • However, this only applies to the turn when the calling move was selected to be used. If a called move requires multiple turns to execute in full (such as Bide, Dig, or Thrash), it may validly become the last-used move in subsequent turns.
• If a Pokémon tries to use a move but is prevented by a status condition or effect (such as sleep, paralysis, or flinching), the last-used move becomes invalid and Copycat will fail if it executes next.

If any move successfully calls another, the called move now counts as the last move used instead of the calling move.

The last move used is now unaffected if a Pokémon tries to use a move but is prevented by a status condition or effect. In other words, the last-used move remains what it was before the Pokémon's turn.

Charging moves, recharging moves, and Bide no longer have invalid turns that will cause Copycat to fail. Instead, charging moves and Bide can be copied on any turn, while recharging moves are ignored on their recharge turn (the last move used remains whatever it was before the recharge message appeared).

If powered up by a Normalium Z into Z-Copycat, the user's accuracy rises one stage. Additionally, if the move to be copied isn't a status move, then it will become its corresponding Z-Move.

Copycat fails if the most recently used move is a Z-Move, regardless of whether Copycat was powered up into Z-Copycat or not.

If the most recently used move is a Max Move, the user will copy the base move that was powered up. For example, if a Dynamax Pokémon used Max Guard by selecting a move slot that originally contained Trick Room, and the next Pokémon to move used Copycat, it would copy Trick Room, rather than copying Max Guard or failing entirely.

	This move effect may be in need of research. Reason: Uncallable moves in Generation VIII You can discuss this on the talk page.

Copycat cannot call itself and will also fail if any of the following moves are the last move.

In Explorers of Time, Darkness and Sky, Copycat is a move with 19PP that ignores accuracy and evasion checks. The user targets enemy in front of it, copying the last move they used. Copycat cannot copy itself, Encore, Sketch, Assist, Metronome, Mirror Move or Mimic. This move is affected by Taunt.