Role Play (move)

Role Play
なりきり Change Appearance
Role Play IX.png
Role Play IX 2.png
Type  Psychic
Category  Status
PP  10 (max. 16)
Power  —
Accuracy  —%
Priority  {{{priority}}}
  • Does not make contact
  • Not affected by Protect
  • Not affected by Magic Coat
  • Not affected by Snatch
  • Not affected by Mirror Move
  • Not affected by King's Rock
Target
Foe Foe Foe
Self Ally Ally
May affect anyone adjacent to the user
Availability
Introduced  Generation III
Condition  Cute
Appeal  1
Jam  0  
Makes the appeal as good as those before it.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  1
Earn +3 if the Pokémon gets the lowest score.
Condition  Cute
Appeal  1
Jamming  0  
Shows off the Pokémon's appeal about as well as the move used just before it.

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

Effect

  This move effect may be in need of research.
Reason: Check (for both user and target) Imposter in Generation V
Check Flower Gift in Generation IV
Check Hunger Switch in Generation VIII
Check Quark Drive and Protosynthesis

You can discuss this on the talk page.

Role Play replaces the user's Ability with the target's Ability.

Role Play bypasses accuracy checks to always hit, unless the target is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. It is not affected by Protect, Detect, or Spiky Shield, but will fail if the target is protected by Crafty Shield.

Role Play fails if the target's Ability is Trace (Generation V onward), Wonder Guard, Forecast (Generation V onward), Flower Gift (Generation V onward), Multitype, Illusion, Zen Mode, Imposter, Stance Change, Power of Alchemy, Receiver, Schooling, Comatose, Shields Down, Disguise, RKS System, Power Construct, Battle Bond, Ice Face, Gulp Missile, Neutralizing Gas, Zero to Hero, or Commander.

Role Play fails if the user's Ability is Multitype, Zen Mode, Stance Change, Schooling, Comatose, Shields Down, Disguise, RKS System, Power Construct, Battle Bond, Ice Face, Gulp Missile, Zero to Hero, or Commander. If the user is under the effect of Illusion, using Role Play will cause its illusion to wear off. If the user has changed form due to Forecast, it will change back to its original form upon the successful use of the move.

Generations III and IV

If the target has the same Ability as the user, Role Play will succeed, but Abilities such as Intimidate that activate when they are gained will not activate at this time.

Generation V onwards

Role Play now displays the Ability the user had before using Role Play.

Role Play now fails if the target has the same Ability as the user.

If powered up by a Psychium Z into Z-Role Play, the user's Speed stat is raised by one stage.

Description

Games Description
RSEColo.XD Mimics the target and copies its special ability.
FRLG The user mimics the foe completely and copies the foe's ability.
DPPtHGSSPBR The user mimics the foe completely, copying the foe's natural ability.
BWB2W2
XYORAS
SMUSUM
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target's natural Ability.
SwShBDSPLA
SV
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target's Ability.


Learnset

By leveling up

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Level
0064     Human-Like Human-Like 33 36 42 42XY
41ORAS
41 40 40
0065     Human-Like Human-Like 40 40
0122    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 41RSE
40FRLG
43 43 43 43 16 16
0122  
Mr. Mime
Galarian Form
 
 
Human-Like Human-Like 1
0234     Field Field 31FRLG 33 33 33 33 33 32
0353     Amorphous Amorphous 34 34
0354     Amorphous Amorphous 34 34
0439    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 43 43 43 43 16 16
0648    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 71 71 71 71
0655    
 
Field Field 1 1 1
0658  
Greninja
All available forms
 
 
Water 1 Water 1 1 1 1
0678  
Meowstic
All forms
  Field Field 43 43 29 29
0802    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered 30 9
0866    
 
Human-Like Human-Like 1
0899    
 
Field Field 32
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 Types Egg Groups Egg Move
0096     Human-Like Human-Like
0238    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0327     Field Human-Like
0511     Field Field
0513     Field Field
0515     Field Field
0676  
Furfrou
All forms
  Field Field
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 Types Egg Groups Compatibility
Tutor
0035     Fairy Fairy
0036     Fairy Fairy
0037     Field Field
0037  
Vulpix
Alolan Form
  Field Field
0038     Field Field
0038  
Ninetales
Alolan Form
 
 
Field Field
0039    
 
Fairy Fairy
0040    
 
Fairy Fairy
0054     Water 1 Field
0055     Water 1 Field
0056     Field Field
0057     Field Field
0063     Human-Like Human-Like
0064     Human-Like Human-Like
0065     Human-Like Human-Like
0066     Human-Like Human-Like
0067     Human-Like Human-Like
0068     Human-Like Human-Like
0094    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0096     Human-Like Human-Like
0097     Human-Like Human-Like
0106     Human-Like Human-Like
0107     Human-Like Human-Like
0122    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0124    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0128     Field Field
0150     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0151     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0173     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0174    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0185     Mineral Mineral
0190     Field Field
0228    
 
Field Field
0229    
 
Field Field
0234     Field Field
0236     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0237     Human-Like Human-Like
0238    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0257    
 
Field Field
0296     Human-Like Human-Like
0297     Human-Like Human-Like
0302    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0307    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0308    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0325     Field Field
0326     Field Field
0327     Field Human-Like
0331     Grass Human-Like
0332    
 
Grass Human-Like
0352     Field Field
0353     Amorphous Amorphous
0354     Amorphous Amorphous
0359     Field Field
0380    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0386  
Deoxys
All forms
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0390     Field Human-Like
0391    
 
Field Human-Like
0392    
 
Field Human-Like
0424     Field Field
0438     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0439    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0441    
 
Flying Flying
0447     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0448    
 
Field Human-Like
0453    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0454    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0459    
 
Monster Grass
0460    
 
Monster Grass
0480     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0481     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0482     No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0494    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0509     Field Field
0510     Field Field
0511     Field Field
0512     Field Field
0513     Field Field
0514     Field Field
0515     Field Field
0516     Field Field
0531     Fairy Fairy
0549     Grass Grass
0562     Mineral Amorphous
0563     Mineral Amorphous
0574     Human-Like Human-Like
0575     Human-Like Human-Like
0576     Human-Like Human-Like
0577     Amorphous Amorphous
0578     Amorphous Amorphous
0579     Amorphous Amorphous
0605     Human-Like Human-Like
0606     Human-Like Human-Like
0619     Field Human-Like
0620     Field Human-Like
0624    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0625    
 
Human-Like Human-Like
0641  
Tornadus
All forms
  No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0642  
Thundurus
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0645  
Landorus
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0648    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0655    
 
Field Field
0656     Water 1 Water 1
0657     Water 1 Water 1
0658  
Greninja
All available forms
 
 
Water 1 Water 1
0676  
Furfrou
All forms
  Field Field
0677     Field Field
0678  
Meowstic
All forms
  Field Field
0686    
 
Water 1 Water 2
0687    
 
Water 1 Water 2
0708    
 
Grass Amorphous
0709    
 
Grass Amorphous
0710  
Pumpkaboo
All forms
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0711  
Gourgeist
All forms
 
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0720  
Hoopa
All forms
 
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0741  
Oricorio
All forms
 
 
Flying Flying
0759    
 
Field Field
0760    
 
Field Field
0764     Grass Grass
0769    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0770    
 
Amorphous Amorphous
0777    
 
Field Fairy
0781    
 
Mineral Mineral
0793    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0802    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
0805    
 
No Eggs Discovered No Eggs Discovered
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.


Special move

Generation V

# Pokémon Types Egg Groups Obtained with
0185     Mineral Mineral Dream World - Pleasant Forest
0441    
 
Flying Flying Dream World - Windswept Sky
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.


In other games

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series

Role Play replaces the user's Abilities with the target's Abilities. Prior to Gates to Infinity when Pokémon could have two Abilities, the second Ability will be removed if the target has only one. It will fail if it tries to copy Wonder Guard or Stance Change.

Game Base
Power
Max
Power
Base
PP
Max
PP
Base
Accuracy
Max
Accuracy
Range Target Cuts
corners
MDRB - - 17 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDTDS - - 17 - 100% - Front Enemy No
BSL - - 17 - 100% - Front Enemy No
MDGtI - - 20 99 —% - Front All No
SMD - - 20 99 —% - Front All No
With some exceptions, Pokémon learnsets match those from the core series games:

Description

Games Description
MDRB Copies the target's Special Ability. The user regains its own Special Ability when it leaves the floor.
MDTDS Copies the target's ability. The user regains its usual ability when it leaves the floor.
BSL てきポケモンの とくせいを コピーして じぶんの とくせいにする つぎのフロアにいくと もとの とくせいに もどる
MDGtI
SMD
MDRTDX
It copies the Ability of a Pokémon in front of you. You regain your usual Ability when you go to the next floor.


In the manga

Pokémon Adventures


In other generations

Core series games

Side series games

Spin-off series games

Trivia

  • In Generation III, the status screen erroneously states that the move has 100% accuracy, even though it ignores accuracy and evasion checks.

In other languages

Language Title
Chinese Cantonese 扮演 Baahnyín *
角色扮演 Goksīk Baahnyín *
Mandarin 扮演 Bànyǎn *
角色扮演 Jiǎosè Bànyǎn *
  French Imitation
  German RollenspielVIII+
RollentauschIIIVII
  Greek Υπόδυση
  Italian Giocodiruolo
  Korean 역할 Yeokhal
  Brazilian Portuguese Atuar
  Serbian Gluma
  Spanish Imitación
  Vietnamese Nhập Vai


  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.