Grimer sits at the start of its evolution line — not yet at full power, but that changes fast. Most trainers push through to Muk as fast as possible. Only weak to Ground and Psychic. Known as the Sludge Pokemon.
HP and Attack carry most of Grimer's stat budget. Speed's the obvious dump stat. Common in the wild and yields 1 HP EV. Follows a medium-fast 1M XP curve.
Born from sludge, these Pokémon now gather in polluted places and increase the bacteria in their bodies.
When two of these Pokémon’s bodies are combined together, new poisons are created.
Grimer Weakness
GoodGrimer is weak to Ground and Psychic-type moves. 5 resistances help offset the weaknesses. Just 2 weak spots to worry about, which keeps teambuilding straightforward.
One evolution ahead. Grimer grows into Muk through a straightforward two-stage chain. Plenty of partners for breeding via one egg group. Eggs are average hatch time. Evolving adds up to 175 stat points total.
How to Evolve
Breed Grimer easily with 63 breeding partners from the Indeterminate egg group.
Stickyhold and Eviolite give Grimer staying power beyond its evolution stage. Brave nature boosts Attack, a spread EV build EVs set the spread, and the pre-evolution bulk actually works here.
Best Build
Best Grimer Moveset
- Drain Punch
- Shadow Sneak
- Poison Jab
- Thunder Punch
Recommended Teammates
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Grimer cleanly, with Gunk Shot and Belch anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Breeding opens up real options for Grimer. Acid Spray and Curse come exclusively from egg moves, and they're worth the effort. The rest of the kit covers basics through Gunk Shot and Belch and coverage across 9 types.
TMs carry this one. Grimer learns Sludge Bomb and Poison Jab naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Ground and beyond give it real matchup play.
The TM pool is where it gets interesting. Coverage across 11 types means almost nothing walls Grimer cleanly, with Gunk Shot and Belch anchoring the STAB side. Matchup flexibility isn't a problem.
Easy grab on Grimer with high spawn rates across 4 locations in mid-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Best Locations
Which version you're playing matters for Grimer. 4 walking spots at Lv. 19-42 spread across Scarlet and Violet, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
decent spawn rates for Grimer across 10 locations in mid-game routes. Nothing complicated. Check the sorted list below, compare the top few options, and head to whichever is closest.
Best Locations
Before you go hunting for Grimer, check which of the 10 spots belong to your version. Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond each have different walking and special encounters at Lv. 18-63.
Grimer starts showing up in late-game routes at high spawn rates across 4 encounter spots. The list below is sorted so you can pick what fits your current progress without scrolling through everything.
Best Locations
Walking and trade encounters at Lv. 37-44 across 4 spots for Grimer. Sorted by progression so you can see what's reachable at your current point in the game.
Easy grab on Grimer with high spawn rates across 6 locations in early-game routes. The sorted list below shows the full spread so you can pick the most convenient spot.
Best Locations
Which version you're playing matters for Grimer. 6 walking spots at Lv. 5-28 spread across Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and some routes only appear in one cartridge. Check the version badges below.
Grimer is meant to evolve into Muk. At 325 BST, the stats aren't there for competitive play yet. Pre-evolution Pokemon rarely hold up against fully evolved threats.
Grimer can evolve into Muk and Alolan Muk depending on the method. Grimer is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Stench is the go-to ability for Grimer. It has a 10% chance of making target Pokémon flinch with each hit. Its hidden ability Poison Touch can work in specific setups. Sticky Hold is the other option — pick based on what your team needs.
Base 25 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go. On offense, Grimer is leaning toward the physical side (base 80 Attack). Best used as a trick room.
Grimer appears in 19 games, including Yellow, Red & Blue, and Gold & Silver.
Since debuting in Red & Blue, Grimer has appeared in 19 titles over 9 generations. Along the way, it received an Alolan form in Generation 7, keeping it relevant across different competitive metas.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRBDebut
Red & Blue - Gen IIGS
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISMAlolan
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A