Can attack-based Z-Moves miss?

Question

I think there was an NPC near the beginning of the game that said something like, "Z-Moves can only be used once per battle, even if they miss!"
So...can they miss?

Answer 1

Damaging Z-Moves don't make accuracy checks.

Similar to moves such as Swift, all damaging Z-Moves skip the accuracy check, meaning they not only have 100% accuracy, but also ignore changes to the user's Accuracy stat and the target's Evasion stat. Furthermore, Z-Moves can even hit a target through Protect and similar moves, though they only deal 1/4 their usual damage in that case.

Status Z-Moves simply add an extra effect to the normal move, rather than creating an entirely new move. It sounds like the extra effect from being a Z-Move applies before the normal effects of the move, so they presumably always work, but the normal effects of the move would still be subject to accuracy if the original move was (e.g. Z-Toxic would always give +1 stage Defense, but might fail to badly poison the target).

Source: http://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/292788/are-all-z-moves-guaranteed-to-hit

How they can fail, is if for instance you moved before the z-move and killed yourself with recoil damage, the z-move will fail.

Answer 2

Z-Moves cannot miss. They have an accuracy stat of 101, which is the same as "--" but written differently because Game Freak does Game Freak things.

Damaging Z-Moves bypass accuracy checks to always hit, unless the opponent is in the semi-invulnerable turn of a move such as Dig or Fly. (Bulbapedia)

Answer 3

Yes,

it is possible, I have asked myself this many times, but I never knew for sure until I watched Pokemon Sun and Moon, (Including Ultra Adventures and Ultra Legends)
This is a direct quote from the bulbapedia:
"Rowlet is also a fast flyer, as shown in Trials and Determinations! when it was able to dodge a Z-Move"
Also both Rowlet and Decidueye were both able to dodge each others Z moves during Ash's and Hau's tournament battle, also during Ash's grand trial with Olivia, Olivia tries to finish the battle early by the use of the Rock Type Z Move Continental Crush but Ash makes a risky move. This risky move involved the dodging of the Z Move at the last second, which helps Ash win the grand trial. Also When Guzma had his tournament battle with Lana, Lana used Oceanic Opperatta, (idk if I spelled it right) Guzma's Golisopod sliced right through it, meaning that You can dodge Z-Moves and destroy Z-Moves

Comments

This question was almost definitely asking about the games, not the TV show.

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You can't use anime references to answer in-game questions, that'd be like saying Thunderbolt would work on a Rhydon if the attack animation hit its horn.

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And that You can use water to be able to hit ground types with electric type moves.  Maybe it's a reference to Soak, but Pikachu can't learn Soak.