Grimmsnarl, The Bulk Up Pokémon. With the hair wrapped around its body helping to enhance its muscles, this Pokémon can overwhelm even Machamp. Its hairs work like muscle fibers. When its hairs unfurl, they latch on to opponents, ensnaring them as tentacles would.By transforming its leg hair, this Pokémon delivers power-packed drill kicks that can bore huge holes in Galar's terrain. Gigantamax energy has caused more hair to sprout all over its body. With the added strength, it can jump over the world's tallest building.

Overview

Thanks to its massive utility options and decent typing, Grimmsnarl is capable of taking advantage of its great support options and Prankster which allows him to set up screens against faster opponents thanks to the increased priority. Grimmsnarl also gained access to unique signature moves such as Spirit Break which prevents it from being total set-up fodder while being backed up by its decent Attack stat. Unfortunately, Grimmsnarl lacks recovery, which in tandem with its average bulk leaves it prone to being worn down, thus preventing it from reliably checking foes it aims to check from time to time or set-up multiple times.

Furthermore, with the new returning Pokemon on the current generation, Grimmsnarl will now have to worry about massive threats such as Scizor, Melmetal and Heatran which can further make its job more difficult. However, a well played Grimmsnarl will usually be able to set up screens and open the door for other teammates such as Moltres, Metagross or Dragonite to sweep.
Positives
With access to Prankster, Grimmsnarl is a good choice for setting up Reflect and Light Screen. It's support moveset also grants it excellent options such as Taunt, Thunder Wave and Trick.
Grimmsnarl's base 120 Attack is often overlooked and even without investment, it will hit decently hard. Spirit Break is a good STAB that is able to weaken its opponent's Special Attack by one stage.
While its defensive typing doesn't grants it a lot of resistances, Grimmsnarl can take advantage of its Dragon and Psychic immunities to switch-in safely.
Negatives
Defog makes things extremely hard for Grimmsnarl as otherwise it will render its job as useless. Combine this with Grimmsnarl's lack of recovery and it finds itself hard pressed to set up screens multiple times.
It's weakness to Fairy, Steel and Poison are problematic as Singles can effectively have Pokemon such as Excadrill and Ferrothorn who are barely afraid of what Grimmsnarl can do back at them.

Movesets

Hair Demon

- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Spirit Break
- Taunt / Trick / Thunder Wave
Item Attached: Light Clay / Lagging Tail
Ability: Prankster
EVs and Nature:
252 HP / 252 Def / 4 Spe
Impish Nature

With access to Prankster, Grimmsnarl is a good choice for setting up Reflect and Light Screen. Spirit Break prevents Grimmsnarl from becoming complete set-up fodder in case it is Taunted but with its side effect of lowering the opponent's Special Attack, it allows him to set up more easily against Pokemon like Heatran and Duralodon. Taunt can be used to prevent opposing Pokemon from setting up while being useful against passive opponents such as Toxapex. Trick alongside Lagging Tail can severely hinder a faster threat rendering its Speed useless. Thunder Wave is also an option allowing Grimmsnarl to paralyze an opponent, although it can't touch Electric or Ground types.

DYNAMAX:
While Grimmsnarl has an alternate G-Max form with a really cool side effect in G-Max Snooze, it's not really worth the trouble as Grimmsnarl loses its main niche in Prankster and it isn't a reliable Pokemon to use as a sweeper.

EVs and Items:
Max Defense and HP grants Grimmsnarl as much bulk as possible allowing it to set up at least both screens depending on what the oponent is using. Light Clay is the only item worth considering as it extends the duration of its screens for a longer time. When equipped with a Lagging Tail, Grimmsnarl can use Trick to ruin sweepers that aren't Dark-type, notably ruining targets Thunder Wave couldn't such as Zapdos and Raikou.

Other Options:
Grimmsnarl gains access to Bulk Up which can allow it to sweep against unprepared opponents given how offensively good its STAB combination is. However, this would make Grimmsnarl a really average sweeper due to its lack of coverage options and subpar Speed.

Partners:
Sweepers such as Metagross, Galarian Moltres, Dragonite and Gyarados are excellent partners that appreciate Grimmsnarl's screen protection which will make it even easier for them to sweep with Dynamax. Grimmsnarl also appreciates partners that can prevent Defog from the likes of Corviknight, Tapu Fini and Skarmory. Magnezone can easily trap the Steel birds with Magent Pull while Rillaboom can also provide Grassy Terrain to take advantage of Grassy Glide, switch into Tapu Fini and generate momentum with U-turn.

Countering Grimmsnarl

Defog is Grimmsnarl's worst enemy and Pokemon that can actually set up on it such as Zapdos, Corviknight and Tapu Fini are dangerous matchups for it. Grimmsnarl cannot paralyze Zapdos or Tapu Fini with Thunder Wave, so there's barely a few things it can do against both,

Steel types such as Ferrothorn and Melmetal are excellent switch-ins as they usually don't really mind paralysis and they can set up on Grimmsnarl instead. However, it is worth mentioning that these two Pokemon can't really prevent Grimmsnarl from setting up its screens. Excadrill deserves a special mention for being immune to Thunder Wave and capable of taking it down. Scizor is capable of checking Grimmsnarl thanks to its priority Bullet Punch which usually outspeeds Grimmsnarl's Prankster moves.

Taunt will easily shut down Grimmsnarl which will prevent it from abusing its main niche which is to set up priority screens.

Anime Appearences

Grimmsnarl has yet to make an appearance in the anime # -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