Muk, The Sludge Pokémon. A toxic fluid seeps from its body. The fluid instantly kills plants and trees on contact. Thickly covered with a filthy, vile sludge. It is so toxic, even its footprints contain poison. It is usually undetectable because it blends in with the ground. Touching it can cause terrible poisoning. Its favorite food is anything that is repugnantly filthy. In dirty towns where people think nothing of throwing away litter on the streets, Muk are certain to gather.

Overview

I'm not going to lie; Muk is one of my favourite Pokémon. It is pretty awesome in every way possible. It doesn't have an ideal typing, and its stats aren't the best, but it is still a pretty amazing choice. It is a solid UU contender as a physical hitter or a special tank.

Ability

Stench: completely useless in Competitive play. It is all about sending wild Pokémon away or something.

Sticky Hold: blocks Trick, Knock Off, and it is better than Stench.

Move Sets

Choice Band

- Gunk Shot / Poison Jab
- Explosion
- Ice Punch
- Focus Punch
Item Attached: Choice Band
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 252 Atk / 4 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

Muk is actually pretty powerful is NU and UU. Gunk Shot ruins everything. Massive base power and STAB, pity about the accuracy. This is why Poison Jab is an acceptable choice, but the power of Gunk Shot is pretty unmatchable. Explosion is pretty much kill and be killed. It is awesomely powerful, and will wreck most of what it touches. Ice Punch lays the smackdown on most Ground types that switch into Muk. Focus Punch requires prediction to use, but if it hits a Steel type on the switch in, it won't be lasting very long.

SubPunch

- Substitute
- Focus Punch
- Gunk Shot / Poison Jab
- Explosion / Ice Punch
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 212 HP/252 Atk/44 SDef
Adamant Nature (+Atk, -SAtk)

SubPunching lets Muk deal good damage safely. Substitute is obviously a vital move in this set, as it lets Muk Focus Punch safely. Focus Punch is a great move that has high power and good coverage. Gunk Shot or Poison Jab are great choices and are both strong moves, although the former is obviously stronger but less reliable. Explosion is a great move but you force Muk to commit suicide. However, it will likely take something out or at least break a massive hole in another Pokémon. Ice Punch breaks down Ground types, but it hits them for the same amount as Focus Punch.

Curse

- Curse
- Poison Jab
- Brick Break / Ice Punch
- Explosion / Shadow Sneak
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 80 Def / 176 SpD
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)

Curse is a great move for Muk. He already has good Attack, Special Defence and HP, so Curse benefits him in the stats he needs. Poison Jab is much better than Gunk Shot on this set, as Muk will be lasting a lot longer, so 8 attacks is simply not enough. Brick Break or Ice Punch depends on whether you want to kill Steel types or Ground types. Which ever you choose, you will be walled by the other. Explosion ruins anything, especially with Curse boosts. Shadow Sneak is an option to cut through Muk's awful Speed.

Special Tank

- Poison Jab
- Shadow Sneak
- Brick Break / Focus Punch / Ice Punch
- Pain Split
Item Attached: Black Sludge
Ability: Sticky Hold
EVs and Nature:
EVs: 252 HP / 40 Atk / 216 SDef
Careful Nature (+SDef, -SAtk)

Muk has great survivability with its huge HP and Special Defence, so it makes a natural Special Tank. Poison Jab is reliable and strong, a great move in general. Shadow Sneak lets Muk get priority over fast Psychics and Ghosts in UU, who would want to hurt him with their STAB moves. Brick Break or Focus Punch depend on whether you trust your prediction enough. Brick Break is safer, but Focus Punch has more bite. Ice Punch can be used to damage Ground types coming in. Pain Split is a pretty good healing move when used properly, and Muk wants to be at as high HP as possible.

EVs and Nature:

Choice Band
No point in Muk being fast, so just max that Attack and max that HP for maximum offence and survivability.

SubPunch
212 HP gives Muk 101 Substitutes, so a Seismic Toss won't break them. Focus Punch can now be safely used behind them. Attack is there to obviously hurt as much as possible, with the leftover going into Muk's better defensive stat.

Curse
Muk will be boosting its Attack and Defence, so there isn't much need to invest in anything outside of his great HP and Special Defence.

Special Tank
Focus on the HP and Special Defence, as that is what this set is designed for. Any leftover can be thrown into Attack.

Other Options

Fire Blast, Fire Punch, Mean Look, Payback, Weather, Taunt, Thunderpunch

Fire Blast is Muk's best way of taking out Skarmory, Forretress, Steelix, and Scizor, if you can find space for it on the set.

Fire Punch is the physical version of the choice before. Not really too useful, but mentioned.

Mean Look can be used to trap and kill stuff with Explosion or what not. Interesting, but not the best choice.

Payback could be used on the Choice Bander and Curser to great effect, due to hideous Speed and massive Attack.

Weather is listed as Muk is pretty bulky, and could set up weather quite well, even if he gets no boosts from them.

Taunt is an option for the Curse set mainly, as it blocks phazers.

Thunderpunch completes the elemental punch trio, and hits various Water types pretty hard.

Countering Muk

Nidoking and Nidoqueen are great switch ins due to natural bulk and a good typing. Bulky Grounds are the best switch ins, as they take nothing from Poison moves and can ruin Muk with a STAB Earthqauke. Muk isn't ideal at taking big physical hits, so if you hit him hard enough from that side he will go down quickly. Psychic attacks are still lethal, especially as most Psychic sweepers have great Special Attack. Other Poison types can take most hits from Muk and slowly wear it down, with the secondary STAB move. Steel Pokémon are great counters, as long as they avoid the Fighting move. Aggron, Probopass, Steelix, those kind of Pokémon can take hits from Muk and blast back with a strong Ground move. Bug Pokémon can take hits with resistance to Poison, such as Venomoth.

Locations in Games

Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald Evolve from Grimer Colosseum/XD Trade from RSEFRLG (Col) Evolve Grimer (XD) Fire Red/Leaf Green Evolve from Grimer (FireRed) Pokémon Mansion Floors 1, 2, 3 & Basement 1 (LeafGreen) Diamond/Pearl/Platinum Evolve from Grimer HeartGold/SoulSilver Route 16, Route 17, Route 18, Celadon City

Animé Appearences

Muk has had a few Animé Appearences. Almost all of its appearances have been of the Muk Ash captures in a Power Plant in Kanto. Ash used it in his Indigo & Johto League campaigns. Wild ones have also appeared and Atilla of Team Rocket also had one. Episode 30: Sparks Fly For Magnemite Episode 50: Who Gets To Keep Togepi? Episode 67: Showdown at the Poké Corral Episode 74: The Ancient Puzzle of Pokémopolis Episode 79: Fourth Round Rumble Episode 87: Fit to be Tide Episode 90: In the Pink Episode 104: The Mystery Menace Episode 113: Hello Pummelo Episode 117: A Tents Situation Episode 138: Chikorita's Big Upset Episode 145: Goin' Apricorn Episode 147: A Farfetch'd Tale Episode 149: The Fire-ring Squad Episode 162: Air Time Celebi: Voice of the Forest Episode 208: The Joy of Water Pokémon Chronicles 1: The Legend of Thunder Episode 272: Can't Beat the Heat! Chronicles 8: Showdown at the Oak Corral! Chronicles 14: Journey to the Starting Line Destiny Deoxys Episode 410: The Right Place at the Right Mime Episode 555: The Psyduck Stops Here