Grimmsnarl, the Bulk Up Pokémon. This Pokémon has complete control over its hair. Grimmsnarl normally keeps its hair wrapped around its body to support its muscles. It lives deep within the forest. Even after evolving into this splendid form, it hasn't given up on its petty misdeeds and pranks.

Overview

The hero of uncountable raids and goblinoid menace, the male counterpart to Hatterene returns to Paldea, reprising its role as the arguable greatest Prankster user in the game. For Grimmsnarl has all the tools to make use of one of the most powerful abilities in the game. Dark Fairy typing is fantastic in the lens of a Prankster user, giving Grimmsnarl potent STAB against opposing Dark types that would otherwise be immune to its Prankster shenanigans. Base 95 HP makes Grimmsnarl rather durable by Prankster standards, allowing it to stick around as long as possible to exercise its own brand of mayhem. However, a Prankster user is as only good as its Status moves and Grimmsnarl has those in spades. Prankster boosted Reflect, Light Screen, Taunt, Thunder Wave, Trick, Parting Shot, are all methods that Grimmsnarl can support its team or harry the opposing team. Or just live up to its name as the Bulk Up Pokémon and use that to preemptively setup before hitting with its solid base 120 Attack and offensively great Fairy and Dark STABs defying the passivity expected of a support Pokémon.

However, Grimmsnarl’s use begins and ends with Prankster. While Grimmsnarl is bulky for a Prankster user, it is only in that lens. Poor defenses sabotage Grimmsnarl’s otherwise Good HP and the Dark Fairy typing cancels out most of Fairy’s valuable resistances greatly limiting Grimmsnarl’s defensive utility despite its common role as a screen setter. The lack of reliable recovery stands out even more and makes it even more difficult for Grimmsnarl to play the long game. Furthermore, outside the lens of Prankster, Grimmsnarl is rather slow, sitting at a poor base 60 Speed, making those poor defenses hurt all the more as Grimmsnarl must use them to tank before acting offensively. While Grimmsnarl can rectify these issues with the appropriate status move, this leads to Grimmsnarl’s biggest issue as a sufferer of four moveslot syndrome. Grimmsnarl can never fit all the moves it wants into a single set and will always have gaps as a result. This has not stopped Grimmsnarl from being one of the best Screen setters in the game and a true troll for all that face it.
Positives
One of the best Prankster users in the game, and with a robust moveset to abuse it.
Dark Fairy typing makes Grimmsnarl excellent into the Dark types immune to Prankster.
Base 120 Attack is a solid starting point, and ensuring on the occasions Grimmsnarl does attack, it can deal the damage.

Negatives
65/75 defenses and Dark Fairy typing leave Grimmsnarl unimpressive defensively.
Base 60 Speed leaves Grimmsnarl rather slow when not using Prankster.
Cannot fit all the support, disruption it wants into one set.

Movesets

Barrier Brute

-Reflect
-Light Screen
-Sprit Break
-Sucker Punch
Ability: Prankster
Item: Light Clay
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 128 Def / 124 SpD / 4 Spe
ImpishNature

Grimmsnarl's flagship Prankster Screens set sees all sorts of use in all tiers of play for aggressive teams, enabling setup sweepers to safely setup, to allowing attackers to survive blows they otherwise'd otherwise fall to and knock out their opponent in return, the utility of Reflect and Light Screen cannot be understated. Commonly as lead or Grimmsnarl can come out to an opponent it resists as a free opportunity to setup for its allies. Ideally one should pivot out or sacrifice Grimmsnarl once its duty is done to get an ally in to make the most of the turns of increased bulk. Spirit Break is to ensure Grimmsnarl isn't entirely passive and between the Fairy STAB offering wide coverage and good damage is a good move to begin with. However, the guaranteed Special Attack drop on top is a great rider, potentially stacking with Light Screen to reduce an opponent's special attack to pitiable levels. Sucker Punch allows Grimmsnarl to act as a clean up artist, picking off heavily weakened opponents before they can damage Grimmsnarl in turn, especially ones brought down to Focus Sash like Calyrex-Shadow Rider, or Flutter Mane.

Tera Types:
Screen setting Grimmsnarl is one of the last Pokémon you want to Terastalize, as you are not using it offensively and it getting knocked out can be a boon, getting your Pokémon on the field with as many turns remaining on the screens as possible. Only in formats with Extreme Speed users is Terastalization recommended with any regularity, as Extreme Speed does out prioritize Prankster and can remove Grimmsnarl before it can setup Screens. Tera Ghost is heavily recommended for this, given the immunity it provides, though it does expose Grimmsnarl to the anti Ghost coverage of such Pokémon like Arceus' Shadow Claw or Lucario's Crunch, which can make Tera Steel a decent compromise, providing a wide array of resistances, including Normal, while not making Grimmsnarl weak to such moves.

EVs and Items:
EVs and nature are to increase Grimmsnarl's bulk as much as possible on both sides of the spectrum so it can survive setting up both Reflect and Light Screen. Impish is generally preferred given the prevalence of physical priority which can be troublesome for Grimmsnarl (the 4 EVs in Speed are so they aren't wasted when at level 50 where 124 and 128 Special Defense EVs both hit 111 Defense). Going all in on physical Defense is also an option, especially when facing guaranteed critical hits that bypass Reflect like Urshifu-Rapid's Surging Strikes or Meowscarada's Flower Trick so Grimmsnarl can better survive their strikes and threaten them with STAB Spirit Break if need be. Some Speed investment can be considered to help guarantee outrunning fellow Base 60s Primarina and Galarian Weezing who both threaten Grimmsnarl with their Fairy STAB but dislike Spirit Break (as well as setup Screens/Taunt in the face of Galarian Weezing's Neutralizing Gas). Light Clay is standard on this set to make each use of Reflect and Light Screen as long lasting as possible so Grimmsnarl doesn't have to keep coming in. Otherwise, if running Trick, Lagging Tail is preferred, reducing a normally fast foe to being forced to move last and thus able to be easily knocked out.

Partners:
Offensive Pokémon of all stripes love Grimmsnarl's support, but extra attention must be given to setup sweepers who love the extra wiggle room in setting up, greatly increasing their opportunities to do so. Koraidon is of particular interest given it resisting both Wicked Blow and Surging Strikes that otherwise ignore the Reflect Grimmsnarl throws up, giving your opponent few options to answer it. Various Arceus forms, especially base Arceus love the Screen support given their already excellent base bulk making them incredibly difficult to remove. Calyrex-Shadow Rider is an example that does not need setup to excel with Screen support as with Reflect and Light Screen helping mitigate Calyrex-Shadow Rider's frailty, it can make the most of the extra turns to grab knock outs and snowball with Grim Neigh. This pattern repeats as one heads into more restrictive formats, with Swords Dance Scizor, Gholdengo, Gear Shift Revavroom, Swords Dance Cornerstone Ogerpon,Toxtricity and Flygon just being a sampling of the wide range of Pokémon Grimmsnarl can and has supported.

Other Options:
Thunder Wave and Trick are powerful Speed control options that can take blazingly fast targets like Calyrex-Shadow Rider and Speed Booster Energy Flutter Mane and Roaring Moon and turn them into fodder for Grimmsnarl's teammates. Parting Shot is a great way for Grimmsnarl to generate advantage even while pivoting out, ensuring the opposing Pokémon will struggle to damage Grimmsnarl's ally between the Parting Shot drop and Screens. Taunt prevents opposing Pokémon from using Grimmsnarl's own setup as free setup for themselves as well as deny Defog users from removing Grimmsnarl's Screens.

It Is In The Name

-Bulk Up
-Spirit Break
-Sucker Punch
-Drain Punch
Ability: Prankster
Item: Leftovers
EVs and Nature:
252 HP /4 Atk / 252 SDef
Careful Nature

As befitting the Bulk Up Pokémon, Grimmsnarl is quite adept at using it. Indeed, Bulk Up pairs wonderfully with Prankster, allowing Grimmsnarl to increase its physical defense before any physical attack strikes it, blunting the blow while powering Grimmsnarl’s follow up attack. Spirit Break remains a mainstay on this set as reliable Fairy STAB with the Special Attack drop rider synergizing beautifully with Bulk Up to make Grimmsnarl nigh unbreakable. Sucker Punch is secondary STAB and addresses Grimmsnarl’s poor speed giving it an answer against faster attackers, especially Espeon and Mismagius who carry Fairy coverage and ignore the boosts from Bulk Up with their special offense. Drain Punch rounds out the set, giving Grimmsnarl both vital coverage against Steel types who tank Spirit Break and can generally play around Sucker Punch as well as offer vital recovery, allowing Grimmsnarl to play the long game, recovering damage taken while boosting.

Tera Types:
As this Grimmsnarl set is meant to stick around and boost up, Terastalization is heavily leaned upon to help Grimmsnarl survive setting up and attacking especially given its low speed. Tera Steel is by far the most popular, giving Grimmsnarl resistance or immunity to all its weaknesses as well as the Toxic that would place Grimmsnarl on a timer. All of this in addition to the excellence that is Tera Steel in general. Tera Poison is another common choice for much of the same reason but lacks a poor matchup into Fire types like Rotom Heat and Salazzle, which Grimmsnarl can struggle with as well as greatly improving Grimmsnarl’s matchup into opposing Fighting types. Tera Fighting is a more offensive option, but can be considered if for the boost to Drain Punch alone, giving Grimmsnarl badly needed oomph to its best source of recovery.

EVs and Items:
Max HP and Special Defense EV investment are recommended for this set as physical Defense and Attack are handled by Bulk Up, making Grimmsnarl as bulky as possible post setup. A more offensive investment. Alternatively, one could go for a more offensive spread of with Max Speed and Attack investment. While this exasperates Grimmsnarl’s matchup into Special Attackers, the added Speed is great for outrunning Alolan-Sandslash, while the extra attack is vital in outmuscling bulky foes like Rhyperior and Fluffy Houndstone without too many boosts. Leftovers is recommended for this set in general, as Grimmsnarl is meant to play the long game with defensive setup and helps Grimmsnarl recover while setting up.

Partners:
Answers into opposing Fairy types are greatly appreciated for this set given Bulk Grimmsnarl’s poor match up into them with both its priority and recovery being resisted by them. Salazzle is recommended as a result, its vicious Poison STAB making quick work of most Fairies while any Psychic attackers Salazzle draws can be a setup opportunity for Grimmsnarl. Salazzle excels even more given its great matchup into Steel types, another problematic matchup for Grimmsnarl if not running Drain Punch. Munkidori is another excellent option with its own Poison STAB while being able to turn a target into setup fodder with Trick. Answers to Steel types if not running Drain Punch are highly recommended. Hisuian-Typhlosion is good at blasting such Pokémon to pieces while ripping holes in the opposing team for Grimmsnarl to exploit, and Grimmsnarl can take advantage of the Dark and Ghost attacks Hisuian Typhlosion draws for easy pivoting. Tauros-Blaze and Rotom-Heat are more defensive answers that can forcibly make holes for Grimmsnarl to setup with Intimidate, Will-O-Wisp and/or Thunder Wave while addressing Steel types.

Other Options:
Substitute is a powerful option, allowing Grimmsnarl to shield against otherwise lethal blows as well as block status attempts like Toxic and Will-O-Wisp from ruining it. Crunch is an alternative to Sucker Punch, being a non-conditional Dark STAB, but Grimmsnarl really misses the priority from Sucker Punch.

Doubles and VGC Options

As potent as Grimmsnarl’s Prankster antics are in singles, they take on a new dimension in Doubles. Reducing damage for Grimmsnarl’s entire team with Reflect and Light Screen takes on new meaning when two Pokémon are out at the same time, making for a marked defense boost that enables all sorts of strategies. It gets even more impactful when one considers the scarcity of Defog, meaning opposing teams are likely not even running removal for them. Prankster Thunder Wave has been a potent Speed control option for generations and Grimmsnarl is more than happy to continue that tradition, or put a new spin on it with Trick Lagging Tail. Taunt is an even strong option in doubles between the prevalence of Protect, redirection, speed control and more there is always a good Taunt target on every team. It goes even beyond that with even options like Misty Terrain, Fake Tears and Fake Out seeing considerable use. Grimmsnarl’s Dark typing gains new meaning in Doubles with the prevalence of other Prankster users, making its natural immunity to opposing Prankster Taunt even more important. However, between Grimmsnarl’s underwhelming durability and numerous moves it wants to run, it is rather passive in Doubles despite its great offensive traits and struggles to seal battles on its own. This has not stopped Grimmsnarl from being a supportive and disruptive Pokémon par excellence, and a versatile threat one must account for.

Captain Goblin

-Reflect
-Light Screen
-Thunder Wave
-Spirit Break
Ability: Prankster
Item: Light Clay
Tera Type: Ghost
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 4 Atk / 132 Def / 116 SpD / 4 Spe
Careful Nature

The most common set Grimmsnarl boasts in Doubles though only scratching the surface of what it can do. Grimmsnarl is the bulkiest Dark typed Prankster Screen setter in the game, vital traits that allows it to reliably set both Screens, multiple times if need be. Thunder Wave is the most common form of Speed control on Grimmsnarl and as Thundurus has proven, Prankster Thunder Wave is an incredible move, immediately and permanently sapping a target's Speed while have the potential to force the target to miss turns, a dangerous condition in the fast paced doubles format. Spirit Break rounds out the set, giving Grimmsnarl a relatively clean out to Prankster Immune dark types while making Grimmsnarl and its allies even bulkier against Special Attackers.

EVs are to increase Grimmsnarl's bulk as much as possible with the 4 EVs in Speed to get the jump on other Grimmsnarl. With the given Special Defense EVs and Careful nature, Grimmsnarl is guaranteed to survive itemless Gholdengo's Make It Rain before Light Screen as well as Timid (non Specs) Flutter Mane's Moonblast. While Terastalizing Grimmsnarl is far from ideal, Tera Ghost is great in dodging Fake Out and ensuring Grimmsnarl's Screens go up.

Preferred Partners:
While any Pokémon can benefit from Grimmsnarl’s Screens, bulky attackers are by far the best recipients, becoming nigh immortal once the shields are up and allowing them to act with near impunity. Annihilape is a notable beneficiary, easily tanking multiple hits and allowing Rage Fist to hit obscene levels of damage without issue. Calyrex Ice Rider is another common partner in crime loving Grimmsnarl’s support in setting Trick Room and potentially Swords Dance up safely if not play the long game with Leech Seed. Assault Vest Miraidon is made all the more viable by Grimmsnarl’s Screens and Spirit Break, allowing it to survive obscene blows otherwise unexpected of such an offensive Pokémon while threatening absurd damage in return. Ursaluna-Bloodmoon, Archuladon, and Raging Bolt are other common beneficiaries of Screen support with absurd bulk and offense that allows them to easily outlast the competition. Trick with Lagging Tail or Iron Ball is another speed control option that can be even more debilitating given how so many Pokémon rely on their items to function while their downsides matter less and Grimmsnarl is often still going first with Prankster. Misty Terrain is incredibly disruptive against staples like Miraidon, Rillaboom and Indeedee-F. Fake Out is an incredible attack, blanking an opponent's turn when Grimmsnarl switches in and with Grimmsnarl's Dark typing, Ghosts rarely want to stick around. Taunt is great in disruptive other support Pokémon as well as stop Trick Room. Parting Shot is a great pivoting tool for Grimmsnarl to get an ally out behind Screens safely while making it even more likely they survive the onslaught with the offense drop. Covert Cloak is worth considering to prevent Fake Out users from denying Screen setup..

Countering Grimmsnarl

Given Grimmsnarl’s robust status movepool and Prankster, the issue is rarely Grimmsnarl’s offenses or defenses, but the figurative and literal Tricks it throws your way.

First and foremost is how to manage Reflect and Light Screen, the most common of Grimmsnarl’s sets in all forms of play, though answers can differ wildly. In Singles, Defog users are the way to go given their ability to wipe both entry hazards and screens in one fell swoop, though finding the time to Defog may be difficult given the highly offensive teams that Grimmsnarl gravitates too. In Doubles, options are more limited, with only the rare Psychic Fangs, and explicitly for Screens Brick Break being viable and even then difficult to justify at times. Pokémon that can guarantee Critical hits, namely the Urshifus and Meowscarada are great allies against Grimmsnarl’s Screens as they would be able to attack with the offense unhindered while they are up, greatly reducing their value.

Out prioritizing Grimmsnarl can work too, but only Choice Band Scizor can reliably OHKO with Bullet Punch and even that fails if it is a fully HP and Defense invested Grimmsnarl. Priority still has its uses in dealing Grimmsnarl a big hit and often limiting it to a single Screen, boost or disruption, making the situation far more manageable. Tera Normal Banded Dragonite, and Banded Arceus boast the necessary power to make that a reality.

What is more feasible in Doubles settings is doubling up on Grimmsnarl, especially with Fake Out given how strapped Grimmsnarl is for space it struggles to find the room to run Protect, greatly limiting if not outright denying it from setting up Screens. Non-Prankster Taunt is also useful against Grimmsnarl, cutting it off from most of its tricks and limiting it to a single piece of support or disruption before it must run.

If dealing with the Bulk Up Grimmsnarl set, Special Attackers are preferred, given Grimmsnarl can shoot its Defense higher than its Special Defense though even these must be faster than Grimmsnarl to outrun the Special Attack drop from Spirit Break. Specs Toxtricity and Florges both outspeed and threaten Grimmsnarl with their Super Effective STABs, while Chandelure can OHKO with Specs Fire Blast. While physical attackers and status users can work, they are dependent on what move Bulk Up Grimmsnarl is running. If running Substitute, powerful physical attackers like Overqwill, Grafaiai, Toxicroak, and Staraptor can overwhelm Grimmsnarl with their absurd offense even at +1 Defense, making it difficult for Grimmsnarl to gain any ground. Steel types like Alolan Sandslash, Orthworm, and Magnezone are also difficult foes who can overwhelm Grimmsnarl given it needs an absurd number of boosts to break past them with Spirit Break and Sucker Punch. If running Draining Punch, status wielders like Weezing, Fluffy Houndstone, Tauros-Blaze, Arcanine and Rotom-Heat can all ruin Grimmsnarl with a Burn.

Anime Appearences

Grimmsnarl has made an appearance when it was used by Marnie during her Pokémon World Coronation Series campaign. # -English Episode Name- -Jp. Episode Name- Pics 1188 Battling Turned Up to Eleven! Marnie from Spikemuth Pics 1189 Meeting Up with the Monarch! A Full Coverage of Leon's Special Training!! Pics 1225 These Could be the Start of Something Big! Ash and Goh! Setting Off Anew!! Pics