Role Play (move)

Move data

Type Psychic
Category Status  Status
Power
Accuracy
PP 10  (max. 16)
Makes contact? No
Introduced Generation 3

Effects

Role Play copies the opponent's ability, replacing its own with that of the target's.

Role Play does not work on Pokémon with Wonder Guard or Multitype.

Z-Move effects

When a Pokémon is holding Psychium Z and uses its Z-Power, Role Play turns into Z-Role Play and raises Speed one stage, in addition to its usual effect as above.

Move target

Foe
Foe
Foe
User
Ally
Ally

Targets a single adjacent Pokémon.

Other languages

English Role Play
Japanese なりきり (Narikiri)
German Rollentausch
French Imitation
Italian Giocodiruolo
Spanish Imitación
Korean 역할
Chinese (Simplified) 扮演
Chinese (Traditional) 扮演

Game descriptions

Ruby​/​Sapphire
Emerald
Mimics the target and copies its special ability.
FireRed​/​LeafGreen The user mimics the foe completely and copies the foe’s ability.
Diamond​/​Pearl
Platinum
HeartGold​/​SoulSilver
The user mimics the foe completely, copying the foe’s natural ability.
Black​/​White
Black 2​/​White 2
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s natural Ability.
X​/​Y
O.Ruby​/​A.Sapphire
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s natural Ability.
Sun​/​Moon
Ultra Sun​/​Ultra Moon
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s natural Ability.
Sword​/​Shield
B.Diamond​/​S.Pearl
The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s Ability.
Scarlet​/​Violet The user mimics the target completely, copying the target’s Ability.

Learnt by level up

These Pokémon learn Role Play at the level specified. The numbers given are for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet and may vary in other games; check the respective Pokédex pages for details.

Stantler Stantler
#0234 / Normal
Level 32
Shuppet Shuppet
#0353 / Ghost
Level 34
Banette Banette
#0354 / Ghost
Level 34
Meloetta (Aria Forme) Meloetta
Aria Forme
#0648 / Normal · Psychic
Level 71
Delphox Delphox
#0655 / Fire · Psychic
Level 1
Greninja Greninja
#0658 / Water · Dark
Level 1
Greninja (Ash-Greninja) Greninja
Ash-Greninja
#0658 / Water · Dark
Level 1
Meowstic (Male) Meowstic
Male
#0678 / Psychic
Level 29
Meowstic (Female) Meowstic
Female
#0678 / Psychic
Level 29
Wyrdeer Wyrdeer
#0899 / Normal · Psychic
Level 32

Learnt by breeding

These Pokémon can learn Role Play as an egg move. Their breeding groups are also shown for reference.