The Sludge Pokemon. Grimer lurks in the Pokemon Mansion and Yellow's Power Plant. Late-game appearance and Poison's weak offensive typing make it hard to justify.
315HP80Attack80Defense50Speed25Sp.Def40Sp.Atk40
Grimer
Muk
Weak to
Physical
Trick Room
25Speed · Very Slow

Is Grimer Good in Yellow Playthrough?

Slow and limited offensively. Grimer doesn't offer much at this stage, and even Muk can't overcome the fundamental problem that Poison doesn't threaten anything important in Gen 1.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadTTTTEEETEETEEBrockGym 1MistyGym 2SurgeGym 3ErikaGym 4KogaGym 5SabrinaGym 6GrimerCatchableMukEvolveBlaineGym 7GiovanniGym 8LoreleiE4BrunoE4AgathaE4LanceE4BlueChamp*
Brock
Gym 1
Tough

Brock's typing presses Grimer's defenses.

Risky
Geodude
Lv 10
RockGround
Rock Head
Tackle
Risky
Onix
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleScreechBindBide
Misty
Gym 2
Tough

Misty's typing presses Grimer's defenses.

Even
Staryu
Lv 18
Water
Illuminate
TackleWater Gun
Risky
Starmie
Lv 21
WaterPsychic
Illuminate
TackleWater GunHardenBubble Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 3
Tough

Lt. Surge's typing presses Grimer's defenses.

Risky
Raichu
Lv 28
Electric
Static
ThunderboltMega PunchMega KickGrowl
Erika
Gym 4
Tough

Erika's typing presses Grimer's defenses.

Risky
Tangela
Lv 30
Grass
Chlorophyll
ConstrictBindMega DrainVine Whip
Risky
Weepinbell
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Razor LeafSleep PowderStun SporeAcid
Risky
Gloom
Lv 32
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Petal DanceStun SporeSleep PowderAcid
Koga
Gym 5
Even

Grimer trades roughly evenly with Koga's team.

Even
Venonat
Lv 44
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicTackleSleep PowderPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 46
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicPsybeamSupersonicPsychic
Even
Venonat
Lv 48
BugPoison
Compound Eyes
ToxicDouble EdgeSleep PowderPsychic
Risky
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Shield Dust
Leech LifeDouble TeamPsychicToxic
Sabrina
Gym 6
Even

Grimer trades roughly evenly with Sabrina's team.

You Win
Abra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
Flash
Even
Kadabra
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
KinesisRecoverPsychicPsywave
Risky
Alakazam
Lv 50
Psychic
Synchronize
PsywaveRecoverPsychicReflect
Blaine
Gym 7
Even

Muk trades roughly evenly with Blaine's team.

Even
Ninetales
Lv 48
Fire
Flash Fire
FlamethrowerTail WhipQuick AttackConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 50
Fire
Run Away
StompGrowlFire SpinTake Down
Even
Arcanine
Lv 54
Fire
Intimidate
FlamethrowerFire BlastReflectTake Down
Giovanni
Gym 8
Tough

Giovanni's team hits Muk's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Dugtrio
Lv 50
Ground
Sand Veil
DigSand AttackFissureEarthquake
Even
Persian
Lv 53
Normal
Limber
ScreechDouble TeamFury SwipesSlash
Avoid
Nidoqueen
Lv 53
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeTail WhipThunderDouble Kick
Avoid
Nidoking
Lv 55
PoisonGround
Poison Point
EarthquakeLeerThunderDouble Kick
Even
Rhydon
Lv 55
GroundRock
Lightning Rod
Rock SlideFury AttackHorn DrillEarthquake
Lorelei
Elite Four
Even

Muk trades roughly evenly with Lorelei's team.

Even
Dewgong
Lv 54
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Bubble BeamAurora BeamRestTake Down
Even
Cloyster
Lv 53
WaterIce
Shell Armor
SupersonicClampIce BeamSpike Cannon
Even
Slowbro
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Oblivious
PsychicSurfWithdrawAmnesia
Even
Jynx
Lv 56
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapIce PunchLovely KissThrash
Even
Lapras
Lv 56
WaterIce
Water Absorb
Body SlamConfuse RayBlizzardHydro Pump
Bruno
Elite Four
Even

Muk trades roughly evenly with Bruno's team.

Even
Onix
Lv 53
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamDig
Even
Hitmonchan
Lv 55
Fighting
Keen Eye
Ice PunchThunder PunchFire PunchDouble Team
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 55
Fighting
Limber
Double KickMega KickHigh Jump KickDouble Team
Even
Onix
Lv 56
RockGround
Rock Head
Rock SlideScreechSlamEarthquake
Even
Machamp
Lv 58
Fighting
Guts
LeerKarate ChopStrengthSubmission
Agatha
Elite Four
Tough

Agatha's team hits Muk's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Gengar
Lv 56
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RaySubstituteLickMega Drain
Even
Golbat
Lv 56
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
SupersonicToxicWing AttackLeech Life
Avoid
Haunter
Lv 55
GhostPoison
Levitate
Confuse RayLickHypnosisDream Eater
Risky
Arbok
Lv 58
Poison
Intimidate
WrapGlareScreechAcid
Avoid
Gengar
Lv 60
GhostPoison
Cursed Body
Confuse RayPsychicHypnosisDream Eater
Lance
Elite Four
Even

Muk trades roughly evenly with Lance's team.

You Win
Gyarados
Lv 58
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon RageLeerHydro PumpHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveSlamThunderboltHyper Beam
Even
Dragonair
Lv 56
Dragon
Shed Skin
Bubble BeamWrapIce BeamHyper Beam
Risky
Aerodactyl
Lv 60
RockFlying
Rock Head
Wing AttackSwiftFlyHyper Beam
Risky
Dragonite
Lv 62
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
BlizzardFire BlastThunderHyper Beam
Blue
Champion
Even

Muk trades roughly evenly with Blue's team.

Risky
Sandslash
Lv 61
Ground
Sand Veil
SlashPoison StingEarthquakeFury Swipes
Even
Alakazam
Lv 59
Psychic
Synchronize
PsybeamRecoverPsychicKinesis
You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 61
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
BarrageHypnosisStompLeech Seed
Even
Ninetales
Lv 61
Fire
Flash Fire
Confuse RayTail WhipQuick AttackFire Spin
Even
Magneton
Lv 63
Electric
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltThunder WaveSwiftScreech
Even
Vaporeon
Lv 65
Water
Water Absorb
Aurora BeamMistQuick AttackHydro Pump

Catchable

Available after Badge 6
Type
Poison
Tier
E

Catch Grimer in the Pokémon Mansion (walking, Lv 23-26, uncommon).

View Grimer locations

Evolve Grimer to Muk

Level 38
Type
Poison
Tier
E

Grimer evolves into Muk at Level 38. Your Grimer should hit Level 38 before you reach Blaine, at typical leveling pace.

View Muk locations

Recommended Moves

How to Get Grimer in Yellow

Grimer oozes across 5 spots in two areas, common to uncommon, levels 23 to 38. Plenty of chances, so grab the first one you trip over.

2 locations to catch Grimer

Encountered via tall grass encounters

Badge 6
Badge 7

Where To Catch Grimer in Y

Grimer is the chain's first catch. You'll find walking and trade encounters from Lv. 23-41 across 10 total spots in the chain.

To plan your throws, open the Yellow catch rate calculator with Grimer preloaded.

Grimer Weakness

Grimer is weak to Ground, Psychic, and Bug. Standard number of weaknesses for the Poison typing.

Grimer Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Ground, Psychic, Bug
0.5x (Resist)Grass, Fighting, Poison
Gen I Type Chart
  • Only 15 types exist — Dark, Steel, and Fairy are absent
  • Ghost has no effect on Psychic (a known bug, fixed in Gen II)
  • Special stat governs both offense and defense — no Sp.Atk / Sp.Def split

What is Grimer Weak Against

Vulnerable
3Weak
3Resist
0Immune
Score-3
4xCritical
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune
None

What is Grimer Strong Against

2Strong
4Resisted
0Immune
Score-2
2xStrong
0xImmune
None

Best Pokemon Against Grimer

Rhydon
Rhydon
GroundRock
S
Sandslash
Sandslash
Ground
C
Nidoking
Nidoking
PoisonGround
C
Graveler
Graveler
RockGround
C
Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen
PoisonGround
C

Grimer Evolutions

Grimer evolves into Muk, but can't breed. At 315 stats as a Poison type, evolution is the only path. Evolving adds up to 185 stat points total. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.

How to Evolve

2 Forms
Stat Comparison 2 Stages
Grimer
Poison
Muk
Poison
HP
80
105+25
ATK
80
105+25
DEF
50
75+25
SP.ATK
40
65+25
SP.DEF
50
100+50
SPE
25
50+25
BST
325E-Tier
500E-Tier+175
ROLE
Trick Room
Tank
TYPE
Physical
Physical
Breeding not available · Introduced in Gen 2

Y Grimer Best Moveset

Poison stats across the board with no offensive type value. MoveBody Slam is the best damage option because Poison attacks don't threaten anything competitively relevant. Muk inherits the same type problems with better bulk.

Best Build

Experimental
Utility
Ability
Unknown
Item
None
Best Nature for Grimer
HardyNEUTRAL

Utility Moveset

  • HardenUtility
  • ToxicUtility
  • MimicUtility
  • DisableUtility

Moves List

TMs carry this one. Grimer learns Sludge naturally for STAB, but the offensive range comes almost entirely from technical machines. Normal and Fire and beyond give it real matchup play.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Disable
S—5520Normal
Lv 1
Pound
—4010035Normal
Lv 30
Poison Gas
——5540Poison
Lv 33
Minimize
———20Normal
Lv 37
Sludge
D9710020Poison
Lv 42
Harden
S——30Normal
Lv 48
Screech
D—8540Normal
Lv 55
Acid Armor
D——40Poison

TM Moves

All 14 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM34D——10Normal
TM08
Body SlamS.S. Annebadge 2
C8510015Normal
TM32
Double TeamSafari Zonebadge 3
———15Normal
TM47
ExplosionVictory Road 3Fnot until badge 8
B2501005Normal
TM38D120855Fire
TM21D4010010Grass
TM31
MimicSaffron Citybadge 5
S——10Normal
TM20
RageRoute 15badge 3
D2010020Normal
TM44
RestS.S. Annebadge 2
C——10Psychic
TM36
Self-DestructSilph Co.badge 5
B2001005Normal
TM50
SubstituteRocket Game Cornerbadge 3
C——10Normal
TM25
ThunderKanto Power Plantbadge 5
D1107010Electric
TM24D9510015Electric
TM06S—9010Poison

Tutor Moves

Grimer can't learn any Tutor moves

Base Stats

Base Stats
Avg
HP80
C
Attack80
C
Defense50
D
Sp. Atk40
D
Sp. Def40
D
Speed25
F
Total315
Details
Catch Rate
Easy190 / 255
Growth Rate
Medium Fast1M XP
Height0.9 m
Weight30.0 kg
Base XP65
EV Yield
HP+1AtkDefSpASpDSpe
HP training source
Pokedex Entry

Made of hardened sludge. It smells too putrid to touch. Even weeds won’t grow in its path.

Pokemon Yellow

Grimer Yellow Guide

  • For Yellow, you can run Grimer through the first few routes without issues. 315 BST won't carry you far though. Get it to Muk as fast as you can.

  • Yes. Alolan Grimer is a regional variant with different typing and a reworked stat spread. Introduced in Gen 7. Plays completely differently from the original.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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