Grumpy
[Overview]
- Offensively, outclassed by Kadabra. Defensively, outclassed by Hypno. However, strikes a solid middle-ground between the two.
- Grumpig stands out among the NU mono-psychics for two reasons: His amazing support movepool, and Thick Fat.
- No reliable recovery outside of Rest
- Does not handle Pursuit well.
[SET]
Name: MindTalk
Move 1: Calm Mind
Move 2: Psychic / Focus Blast
Move 3: Rest
Move 4: Sleep Talk
Ability: Thick Fat
Item: Chesto Berry / Colbur Berry
Nature: Modest / Bold
EVs: 252 HP, 252 Def, 4 SpD
[SET COMMENTS]
- Inferior to Hypno defensively, Grumpig needs to exploit its higher Special Attack and Thick Fat in order to stand out.
- Bold nature can be used to patch up its defense, while Modest can be used to exploit its higher SpAtk.
- With a Colbur Berry, either set can just barely survive a single Pursuit from Choice Band Sneasel (and thus, the entire unboosted tier) at full health, and might even, theoretically, survive after Spikes or Stealth Rock, especially if it's Bold.
- A Chesto Berry makes the very reliable ChestoRest combo, which gives Grumpig some much-needed instant healing.
- If you're going the whole hog (dohoho) on damage, a TwistedSpoon or Psychic Gem is also an option.
- Max HP and Def, as Calm Mind will boost his Special stats, and Speed is a lost cause.
- Despite appearances, does not actually function very well on a Trick Room team. The turns would be better spent on something that does not need set-up to get the meaningful kills, and its coverage is laughably small.
- Focus Blast is a somewhat unreliable, very meta choice, really only useful as a gimmick, to get a surprise KO on Sneasel or Skuntank switching in to trap it. In this situation, Grumpig passes up its opportunity to be a Calm Mind sweeper in favor of being a surprise Trapper-killer. This set should use a Fighting Gem, in order to get the OHKO on Skuntank without any boosts, or a Wide Lens, to hopefully keep the low accuracy from ruining your surprise kill. However, keep in mind that this trades being walled by Dark-types for being walled by Ghost-types.
- RestTalk Grumpig's biggest weakness is that he has only one attacking move, and is thus incredibly, painfully predictable. This means that opposing Pokemon who resist or are immune to Psychic need to be dealt with before Grumpig can safely set up.
- Thus, good teammates for this Grumpig include anything that can take out Dark- and Ghost-types. Skuntank, ironically, actually makes a very good teammate for Grumpig, both handling ghosts, and resisting the Dark attacks that hit him so hard.
- Sawk, another usual suspect in Grumpig teammates, makes a return here, to take care of Dark-types, Steel-types and Munchlax, who is the only Whirlwind user who poses any real threat to Grumpig. (Phasing, however, is still an issue to be aware of.)
- Should you be forced to switch out for whatever reason mid-Rest, Grumpig will become dead weight, so Heal Bell support is appreciated, especially from Lickilicky, who also packs Wish to assist in switching back in.
