Role Play (move)

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Role Play なりきり Change Appearance

Battles Type  Psychic Category  Status PP  10 (max. 16) Power  — Accuracy  —% Priority  0 Does not make contact Not affected by Protect Not affected by Magic Coat Not affected by Snatch Not affected by King's Rock

Range Opponent Opponent Opponent Self Ally Ally Normal: May affect anyone adjacent to the user

Availability Introduced  Generation III Move Tutor in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Move Tutor in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Move Tutor in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire

Contests Condition  Cute Appeal  1 ♥ Jam  0   Makes the appeal as good as those before it.

Super Contests Condition  Cute Appeal  1 ♥ Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.

Contest Spectaculars Condition  Cute Appeal  1 ♥ Jamming  0   Shows off the Pokémon's appeal about as well as the move used just before it.

On Smogon's Movedex: Generation III Generation IV Generation V Generation VI Generation VII Generation VIII Generation IX

Role Play (Japanese: なりきり Change Appearance) is a non-damaging Psychic-type move introduced in Generation III.

Effect

Role Play replaces the user's Ability with the target's Ability. Role Play cannot copy Zen Mode, Wonder Guard, Multitype, Imposter, Illusion or Stance Change.

Role Play is not affected by Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield, but will fail if the target is protected by Crafty Shield.

Description

Games Description RSEColoXD Mimics the target and copies its special ability. FRLG The user mimics the foe completely and copies the foe's ability. DPPtHGSS The user mimics the foe completely, copying the foe's natural ability. BWB2W2 XYORAS The user mimics the target completely, copying the target's natural Ability.

Learnset

By leveling up

#	Pokémon		Type		Level
					I		II		III		IV		V		VI
064		Kadabra	Psychic		Psychic	33			36				42			42 41
122		Mr. Mime	Psychic	Fairy	40	41	43				43			43
234		Stantler	Normal		Normal		31	33				33			33
439		Mime Jr.	Psychic	Fairy				43				43			43
648		Meloetta	Normal	Psychic								71			71
655		Delphox	Fire	Psychic											1
658		Greninja	Water	Dark											1
678		Meowstic	Psychic		Psychic											43
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By breeding

#	Pokémon		Type		Father
					II		III		IV		V		VI
096		Drowzee	Psychic		Psychic
327		Spinda	Normal		Normal
511		Pansage	Grass		Grass
513		Pansear	Fire		Fire
515		Panpour	Water		Water
676		Furfrou	Normal		Normal
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move. A dash (−) indicates a Pokémon cannot learn the move by the designated method. An empty cell indicates a Pokémon that is unavailable in that game/generation.

By Move Tutor

#	Pokémon		Type		Game
					FRLG	E	XD	DP	Pt	HGSS	BW	B2W2	XY	ORAS
035		Clefairy	Fairy		Fairy									✔		✔		✔
036		Clefable	Fairy		Fairy									✔		✔		✔
037		Vulpix	Fire		Fire									✔		✔		✔
038		Ninetales	Fire		Fire									✔		✔		✔
039		Jigglypuff	Normal	Fairy									✔		✔		✔
040		Wigglytuff	Normal	Fairy									✔		✔		✔
054		Psyduck	Water		Water									✔		✔		✔
055		Golduck	Water		Water									✔		✔		✔
056		Mankey	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
057		Primeape	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
063		Abra	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
064		Kadabra	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
065		Alakazam	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
066		Machop	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
067		Machoke	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
068		Machamp	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
094		Gengar	Ghost	Poison									✔		✔		✔
096		Drowzee	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
097		Hypno	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
106		Hitmonlee	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
107		Hitmonchan	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
122		Mr. Mime	Psychic	Fairy									✔		✔		✔
124		Jynx	Ice	Psychic									✔		✔		✔
128		Tauros	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
150		Mewtwo	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
151		Mew	Psychic		Psychic						✔			✔		✔		✔
173		Cleffa	Fairy		Fairy									✔		✔		✔
174		Igglybuff	Normal	Fairy									✔		✔		✔
185		Sudowoodo	Rock		Rock									✔		✔		✔
190		Aipom	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
228		Houndour	Dark	Fire									✔		✔		✔
229		Houndoom	Dark	Fire									✔		✔		✔
234		Stantler	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
236		Tyrogue	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
237		Hitmontop	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
238		Smoochum	Ice	Psychic									✔		✔		✔
257		Blaziken	Fire	Fighting									✔		✔		✔
296		Makuhita	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
297		Hariyama	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
302		Sableye	Dark	Ghost									✔		✔		✔
307		Meditite	Fighting	Psychic									✔		✔		✔
308		Medicham	Fighting	Psychic									✔		✔		✔
325		Spoink	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
326		Grumpig	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
327		Spinda	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
331		Cacnea	Grass		Grass									✔		✔		✔
332		Cacturne	Grass	Dark									✔		✔		✔
352		Kecleon	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
353		Shuppet	Ghost		Ghost									✔		✔		✔
354		Banette	Ghost		Ghost									✔		✔		✔
359		Absol	Dark		Dark									✔		✔		✔
380		Latias	Dragon	Psychic									✔		✔		✔
386		Deoxys Normal Forme	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
386		Deoxys Attack Forme	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
386		Deoxys Defense Forme	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
386		Deoxys Speed Forme	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
390		Chimchar	Fire		Fire									✔		✔		✔
391		Monferno	Fire	Fighting									✔		✔		✔
392		Infernape	Fire	Fighting									✔		✔		✔
424		Ambipom	Normal		Normal									✔		✔		✔
438		Bonsly	Rock		Rock									✔		✔		✔
439		Mime Jr.	Psychic	Fairy									✔		✔		✔
441		Chatot	Normal	Flying									✔		✔		✔
447		Riolu	Fighting		Fighting									✔		✔		✔
448		Lucario	Fighting	Steel									✔		✔		✔
453		Croagunk	Poison	Fighting									✔		✔		✔
454		Toxicroak	Poison	Fighting									✔		✔		✔
459		Snover	Grass	Ice									✔		✔		✔
460		Abomasnow	Grass	Ice									✔		✔		✔
480		Uxie	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
481		Mesprit	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
482		Azelf	Psychic		Psychic									✔		✔		✔
494		Victini	Psychic	Fire											✔		✔
509		Purrloin	Dark		Dark											✔		✔
510		Liepard	Dark		Dark											✔		✔
511		Pansage	Grass		Grass											✔		✔
512		Simisage	Grass		Grass											✔		✔
513		Pansear	Fire		Fire											✔		✔
514		Simisear	Fire		Fire											✔		✔
515		Panpour	Water		Water											✔		✔
516		Simipour	Water		Water											✔		✔
531		Audino	Normal		Normal											✔		✔
549		Lilligant	Grass		Grass											✔		✔
562		Yamask	Ghost		Ghost											✔		✔
563		Cofagrigus	Ghost		Ghost											✔		✔
574		Gothita	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
575		Gothorita	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
576		Gothitelle	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
577		Solosis	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
578		Duosion	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
579		Reuniclus	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
605		Elgyem	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
606		Beheeyem	Psychic		Psychic											✔		✔
619		Mienfoo	Fighting		Fighting											✔		✔
620		Mienshao	Fighting		Fighting											✔		✔
624		Pawniard	Dark	Steel											✔		✔
625		Bisharp	Dark	Steel											✔		✔
641		Tornadus	Flying		Flying											✔		✔
642		Thundurus	Electric	Flying											✔		✔
645		Landorus	Ground	Flying											✔		✔
648		Meloetta	Normal	Psychic											✔		✔
655		Delphox	Fire	Psychic													✔
656		Froakie	Water		Water													✔
657		Frogadier	Water		Water													✔
658		Greninja	Water	Dark													✔
676		Furfrou	Normal		Normal													✔
677		Espurr	Psychic		Psychic													✔
678		Meowstic	Psychic		Psychic													✔
686		Inkay	Dark	Psychic													✔
687		Malamar	Dark	Psychic													✔
708		Phantump	Ghost	Grass													✔
709		Trevenant	Ghost	Grass													✔
710		Pumpkaboo	Ghost	Grass													✔
711		Gourgeist	Ghost	Grass													✔
720		Hoopa	Psychic	Ghost													✔
Bold indicates a Pokémon gains STAB from this move. Italics indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form receives STAB from this move.

Special move

Generation V

#   Pokémon Type Obtained with 0185 Sudowoodo Rock Dream World - Pleasant Forest 0441 Chatot Normal Flying Dream World - Windswept Sky Bold indicates a Pokémon which gets STAB from this move. Italic indicates a Pokémon whose evolution or alternate form gets STAB from this move.

In other games

Description

Games Description MDRB Copies the target's Special Ability. The user regains its own Special Ability when it leaves the floor.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Alakazam
The user copies the opponent's Ability.
Pokémon	Method
User	First Chapter Used In		Notes
	Alakazam's face starts to glow brightly and the top half of its face morphs to look like the opponent. It then uses the opponent's Ability.
Blue's Alakazam	Secrets from Sneasel		Debut

Trivia

• Role Play can be considered a move counterpart to the ability Trace, as they both have the same effect. However, Trace can copy Wonder Guard, whereas Role Play cannot.

In other generations

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

Generation I	RBY	Generation I (Japanese)	Generation I (international)	Generation II	Generation II (Japanese)	Generation II (international)	Crystal	Generation III	Generation III (Japanese)	Generation III (international)	RS	FRLG	FRLGE	Generation IV	Generation IV (Japanese)	Generation IV (international)	PtHGSS	HGSS	Generation V	BW	B2W2	Generation V (Japanese)	Generation V (international)	Generation VI	XY	ORAS	Generation VII	SMUSUM	LGPE	Generation VIII	SwSh	BDSP	Legends: Arceus	Generation IX	Stadium (JP)	Stadium	Stadium 2	Colosseum	XD	Battle Revolution	Battrio	MD: Red and Blue	MD:Time, Darkness, andSky	MD: Blazing, Stormy, & Light Adventure Squad	MD: GTI	SMD	MD: RTDX	Rumble	Rumble Blast	Masters EX

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 角色扮演 Jiǎo​sè​ Bànyǎn French Imitation German Rollentausch Greek Υπόδυση Italian Giocodiruolo Korean 역할 Yeokhal Brazilian Portuguese Jogo Teatral Serbian Gluma Spanish Imitación

This article is part of Project Moves and Abilities, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on two related aspects of the Pokémon games.