Why does Snowscape Fail in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Weather-affecting moves in Pokemon games have always been a bit of a strange topic. I can’t really think of any other way to describe the ability to conjure a snowstorm indoors, though I guess that’s hardly the weirdest thing a Pokemon has done. What’s even weirder is when that doesn’t work. So, why does Snowscape fail in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Why does Snowscape Fail in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet?

Snowscape is an Ice-type move in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet that allows a compatible Pokemon (usually an Ice-type themselves) to conjure forth a snowstorm for five turns. While there’s a snowstorm going on, Ice-type Pokemon get a boost to their defense, and the move Blizzard has a much higher rate of accuracy. However, despite its 100 accuracy rating, Snowscape can rarely fail to occur when used.

Related: All Gym Leader Levels in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

There are a couple of potential reasons for this. Firstly, it could just… miss. If a Pokemon has low accuracy or has otherwise had their accuracy hampered by an enemy move or ability, it is possible for moves to miss even if they have 100 accuracy. It’s not likely, but it can happen.

Watch the Weather

The other reason is much more mundane: you can’t use Snowscape if it’s already snowing. Whether you’ve already used Snowscape once to conjure a snowstorm, or it’s actively snowing in the location you’re in such as Glaseado Mountain, if there’s already a snowstorm on the field, you obviously can’t get another one going. If you were hoping to prolong an existing snowstorm by using Snowscape twice, it unfortunately doesn’t work like that, though you can give your Pokemon an Icy Rock to hold to make any conjured snowstorms last eight turns instead of five.

Basically, the only reasons Snowscape can fail is if your accuracy has been severely hampered, or you just didn’t notice it was already snowing out. That happened to me once, ended up soaking wet on the sidewalk before I even realized what had happened.