Why did Dancer fail?

Question

I need help understanding the ability Dancer.

In this replay, my Gardevoir switched into the opposing Oricorio, tracing its Dancer ability. Oricorio had used Quiver Dance on the turn Gardevoir switched in, and Gardevoir copied the Quiver Dance.

However, the next turn, Gardevoir used Psyshock, then Oricorio used Revelation Dance, and Gardevoir tried to copy the move but it failed. Later in the battle, a similar thing happened where Gardevoir was already switched in and used Psyshock, Oricorio used Quiver Dance, and Gardevoir tried to use the move but failed.

Why did the moves fail the second and third time? Is it because Gardevoir was already switched in? If so, why? Bulbapedia says Dancer will not activate on a move copied by another Pokemon with Dancer, but if that's the case, why did Dancer work when Gardevoir switched in?

Can someone help me understand?

Comments

Weird.

Answer 1

I asked about this in the Help Room on Showdown, and response I got was that the reason Gardevoir kept failing to trace those moves was because it was holding Choice Scarf.

"[17:35:03] Zangoose360: https://replay.pokemonshowdown.com/gen9randombattle-2542450514 is there any reason why when gardevoir traced dancer, it failed to copy rev dance turn 2, failed to copy quiver dance turn 27? does this have something to do with the format being randbats?
[17:35:56] iforgetwhyimhere♡: gardevoir is choice scarf
[17:36:08] iforgetwhyimhere♡: since it used a move before dancer making it QD, it fails"

On the first turn when you switched Gardevoir in, you didn't have Gardevoir lock into a move yet, allowing it to copy the move Quiver Dance. Because you have Choice Scarf, Revelation Dance (and later Quiver Dance) ended up failing because you were essentially locked into Psyshock. If you weren't holding a Choice Scarf, then Gardevoir can copy the moves from Dancer. I even did a test battle to confirm this interaction.

Also, the Dancer page on Bulbapedia says this: "Using a move through Dancer is a separate action to using the move originally selected."

Meaning that because Choice Scarf locks you into one move, you can't copy moves with Dancer if you are already locked into a move.

Comments

That makes sense. And thanks to everyone else.

Answer 2

Dancer failed the last two times because Gardevoir was locked into using Psyshock as a result of a Choice item.

A Pokémon with Dancer that is locked into a consecutively executed move (such as Petal Dance) or any move by Encore or a held Choice item will still try to copy the move, but will fail unless it is locked into that same dance move; if a Pokémon uses Petal Dance via Dancer while locked into Petal Dance, this usage does not count towards the 2-3 turn duration.

Gardevoir usually carries a Choice Scarf in randbats, which I assume is what happened here. It did work the first time, as Gardevoir switched in on that turn, so it wasn't locked onto a particular move.

For the first time it worked, referring to this blurb,

Dancer will not activate on a move copied by another Pokemon with Dancer.

It's referring to when a Dancer Pokémon copies another Pokémon's move, not when a Dancer Pokémon just uses a move itself. I.e., in this same scenario, when Gardevoir copies Quiver Dance from Oricorio, Oricorio doesn't use Quiver Dance right after. This is no doubt done to avoid temporary softlocks when it comes to Status moves and whatnot.

Dancer (Ability) - Bulbapedia

Answer 3

It's because your Gardevoir was holding a Choice item. You were able to successfully copy Quiver Dance upon switching in since you hadn't chosen a move to get locked into yet, and Quiver Dance itself doesn't count as your one move since you didn't choose it from your moveset. After you chose Psyshock, all other attempted moves fail because the item only allows Gardevoir to use Psyshock.

If Gardevoir was holding a different item, it wouldn't have had any issues with copying those moves. It has nothing to do with the abilities, moves, Pokémon, or turns involved, only the item.

If a Pokémon holding Choice Specs uses a move other than the one it's locked into (such as through Instruct or Dancer), the move will fail and no PP will be deducted.
- Bulbapedia