GRIMMSNARL STRATEGY IN COMPETITIVE POKÉMON

In the eighth generation we find many very powerful Fairies in Competitive Pokémon , with the legendary Zacian and Zamacenta being in the top 1. But today we bring you a strategy of a fairy that every inhabitant of Galar wants in his Pokémon team: Grimmsnarl , the Dark Elf.

This Pokémon has many characteristics that make it a beast of the Competitive; great type mix, decent stats, and all the support moves you could want. And we’re not exaggerating, Grimmsnarl has so many moves that he can fill almost any support role your team needs.

Here we leave you all the necessary information so that you can use it in your teams or play against it, in addition to our favorite sets for both Singles and Doubles.

? GRIMMSNARL STATS

His stats add up to a total of 510 . An average value, let’s see its distribution:

• Health: 95.
• Attack: 120.
• Defense: 65.
• Special Attack: 95.
• Special Defense: 75.
• Speed: 60.

Although we are dealing with a Pokémon that fulfills the support function, Grimmsnarl has 120 Attack. With this statistic we will have some movement that will surprise more than one rival with good damage. However when we see his 60 Speed ​​this almost rules out the possibility of making him a sweeper .

Defensively he starts quite solid with that 95 Health, although his Defense (65) and Special Defense (75) are quite low, although now we will see that his type covers this weakness.

TYPE, RESISTANCES AND WEAKNESSES

Grimmsnarl is a Dark- type Fairy , which gives it the following weaknesses and resistances:

• It is immune to Dragon, Psychic, and the Moves of Pokémon with the Trickster ability (explained in more detail below).
• It is resistant to Ghost.
• Very resistant to Sinister.
• It is weak to Poison, Steel and Fairy.

2 immunities that allow him to make changes if we can predict an Attack of these types, especially useful against Dragon. Also, its immunity to the moves of Pokémon with Joker is fantastic. If a Pokémon with this ability, such as Sableye , uses a status movement against us, such as Taunt, we will be immune to it. Its resistances to Ghost can help those Ceruledge or Annihilape .

Let’s see finally its weaknesses:

• Fairy : Being weak to Fairy is always awkward. We must have answers in the rest of our team, because Grimmsnarl can do little. Watch out for Hatterene in Trick Room and Togekiss .
• Steel : Steel is a great type and many are capable of weakening our goblin. Watch out for Tinkaton with his double STAB and big Scizor .
• Poison : It is the least annoying weakness. It’s a rare type, but Pokemon like Venusaur can do a lot of damage to us.

GRIMMSNARL’S ABILITIES

Grimmsnarl has 3 abilities at his disposal, although one of them is clearly superior to the rest:

JOKER

This is Grimmsnarl’s best ability. When we use a status movement, it will have priority . This allows us to set up moves like Thunder Wave with priority. And we have many more options, keep reading.

SEARCH

This ability gives us something interesting. When the Pokémon enters the field, it reveals the opponent’s objects to us. It can be useful, but Joker is far superior.

THEFT (HIDDEN ABILITY)

Theft makes it so that when the user uses contact moves it steals the item. A pretty weak skill.

IVS, EVS AND NATURE

The function of our Grimmsnarl will be to endure a lot and help our team with disablers or screens such as Taunt or Reflection. This is how it will be important that we promote their survival:

• EV’s : Regarding its EV’s, we will seek to maximize its durability, so we will increase Health and Defenses.
• Nature : An Agitated (+Defense, –Special Attack) or Cautious (+Special Defense, -Special Attack) Nature are the best choices. If we want to do damage we will take Firm Nature (+Attack, -Special Attack), we will see below when we will use it.

RECOMMENDED ITEMS

These are the most recommended items for Grimmsnarl:

• Reflector : This item increases the duration of Reflection, Lightscreen, and Aurora Shroud from 5 to 8 turns.
• Baribá Berry : This berry will reduce the damage of a Steel-type blow to our Pokémon by 50%. It allows us to take hits we shouldn’t, even from the great Zacian .
• Leaden Tail : The wearer of this item will move last, although it does not affect Pokémon that use Trickster. This object will be a very annoying trick for the opponent.

BEST MOVES FOR GRIMMSNARL

These are the best moves for Grimmsnarl:

• Foul Play : Dark STAB, Physical, 95 Power and 100% Accuracy. This move’s damage is calculated based on the opposing Pokémon’s Attack stat, making it a great move against Physical Sweepers, as well as being very effective against Ghost and Psychic. It will do a lot of damage to Pokemon like Dragapult or Armarouge .
• Mood Shock : Fairy STAB, Physical, 75 power and 100% accuracy. Lowers the opponent’s Special Attack by one level. It is very effective damage against Dragon, Fighting and Dark. It’s fantastic for lowering the damage of those special attackers like Ferrosaco or Gholdengo, as well as being able to do terrible damage to Pokemon like Hydreigon or Bramaluna .
• Cheap Shot: Dark STAB, Physical, 70 Power and 100% Accuracy. Hits with priority, but misses if the opponent isn’t going to use an attack move.
• Reflex : Normal, Status, and 100% Accuracy. This move places a screen for 5 turns that halves the damage from physical moves on Singles and 1/3 on Doubles. It will be prioritized thanks to Joker.
• Light Display : Normal, Status and 100% accuracy. It works the same way as Reflect, but reduces the damage of special attacks.
• Last Word : Sinister, Status and 100% accuracy. Reduces the target’s Attack and Special Attack by one level, then our Pokémon returns to its Poké Ball. One of the best support moves that we will also use with priority thanks to Joker.
• Surprise: Normal, Physical, 40 power and 100% accuracy, but it only works on the first turn after it enters the field. Frightens the opponent, preventing them from using any moves. Fantastic movement that gives us a turn, giving us a lot of advantage. Be careful with the Ghosts that are immune.
• Trick : Psychic, Status and 100% accuracy. Our Pokémon exchanges its object with that of the target. That’s why we bring Lead Tail, to slow down the opponent, in addition to taking away their item. Very important: When we pass the Lead Tail to the opponent, it will move last in the next turn to receive it, not in the same turn.
• Taunt : Dark, Status and 100% Accuracy. Prevents the target from using any status moves. This move is great to prevent the opponent from being boosted , such as Rotom Wash with Machination, as well as avoiding being placed in a Trick Room.
• Thunder Wave : Electric, Status and 90% accuracy. This move Paralyzes the opponent, which can prevent them from using a move and most important of all, lowers their Speed ​​by 50%. It is key for those Pokémon as fast as Meowscarada or Fluttermane .

GRIMMSNARL STRATEGIES

Grimmsnarl is one of the best supports out there in competitive. Let’s see how we recommend using it.

GRIMMSNARL  SCREEN SUPPORT , THE DARK GLAZER (SINGLES/DOUBLES)

• IVs: Perfect.
• EVs: 252 Health, 196 Defense, and 68 Special Defense.
• Nature: Cautious.
• Object: Reflector.
• Skill: Joker.
• Movements:
  • Reflection.
  • Light screen.
  • Foul Play / Mood Shock.
  • Last Word / Mofa / Thunder Wave.

The function of our Grimmsnarl with this set is to place the screens to reduce the opponent’s damage . You must look at which Pokémon the opponent places, if it is physical or special damage and use the relevant screen and thanks to Refleluz we will have these screens for 8 turns. The remaining 2 holes are depending on needs. If we want to cover an opponent with our damage, we will take Foul Play or Mood Shock (or even both). Last Word is a spectacular movement that, in addition to lowering the opponent’s damage, allows us to pivot our Grimmsnarl when we want to remove it from the field.

The use of Taunt is focused on avoiding Trick Room (especially in Doubles) and preventing those Pokémon that boost their stats with Sword Dance, Dragon Dance, or Scheming from turning into Titans.

GRIMMSNARL SUPPORT DISRUPTOR, THE TRICKSTER – VGC DOUBLES

• IVs: Perfect.
• EVs: 252 Health, 196 Defense, and 68 Special Defense.
• Nature: Firm / Cautious.
• Object: Leaden Tail.
• Skill: Joker.
• Movements:
  • Last word.
  • Mood Shock / Foul Play.
  • Surprise / Low blow.
  • Trick.

Let’s start with the use of Trick, which is the surprise of this set. With this movement we exchange the objective’s object with the Lead Tail of our Grimmsnarl , which can already disrupt many Pokémon that carry important objects such as Life Orb, Pure Amulet or Focus Band. But it is also that in the next turn the rival Pokémon will move last, regardless of its Speed.

Last Word is necessary in this set, it is too decisive. The choice of coverage is to taste, although since it does not have screens, the value of Mood Shock is more relevant when lowering the opponent’s Special Attack. Surprise is very powerful in doubles, but Cheap Shot can take down very fast Pokemon such as Gengar or the aforementioned Dragapult.

HOW TO DEFEAT GRIMMSNARL AND COUNTERS

Grimmsnarl is very uncomfortable with his screens and priority with Joker, but everything has its counterpart. Let’s see how to face him as a rival:

• Destroy Screens : The Demolition move will destroy those screens Grimmsnarl places, lowering their impact drastically. Many Pokémon can use this move, some of the best for it are Ironpalms, Garchomp , and Abomasnow.
• Criticals : Critical hits ignore screen reduction, making Pokemon like Urshifu or Meowscarade very good options.
• Debuff him ASAP : The sooner he falls, the less time he will have to lower our damage in every possible way. For this we recommend using Pokémon like Scizor, Aegislash or Tapu Fini (the latter also places a fog field).