[OVERVIEW]
Grimmsnarl finds its place in Ubers as a part of hyper offense teams thanks to its ability to set dual screens with Prankster, allowing more powerful threats to set up safely. Grimmsnarl does not have any viability outside of these team structures due to its middling stats, but the strength of these team styles thanks to the abundance of setup sweepers in Ubers makes it an important consideration in the metagame.
[SET]
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 176 Def / 84 SpD
Tera Type: Ghost / Steel
Impish Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
- Play Rough / Parting Shot
[SET COMMENTS]
Grimmsnarl's main and only utility is as a dual screens setter on hyper offense teams. It makes use of Taunt to shut down entry hazard setters like Landorus-T and Glimmora, block Defog from Giratina-O, stop opposing Taunt users like various Arceus formes, and prevent Pokemon like Zacian-C, Koraidon, and Miraidon from setting up. Play Rough lets Grimmsnarl threaten Dark-types like Ting-Lu and opposing Grimmsnarl that are immune to Prankster Taunt as well as dealing decent damage to both Koraidon and Miraidon. Parting Shot can be used instead to generate momentum and setup opportunities for Grimmsnarl's teammates. 84 Special Defense EVs allow Grimmsnarl to live two Electro Drifts from Miraidon through Light Screen, with the rest invested to maximize physical bulk. Grimmsnarl should rarely, if ever, be the target of Terastallization, but Tera Ghost can be used to allow it to spinblock Iron Treads and lets it take advantage of the Ghost type's immunities against Choice-locked Koraidon and Extreme Speed from Arceus, while Tera Steel also helps Grimmsnarl avoid being revenge killed by Arceus while flipping its Fairy and Poison weaknesses.
Grimmsnarl is exclusively found on hyper offense teams, where it pairs well with setup sweepers that make use of the screens and pivoting it provides, such as Koraidon, Miraidon, and Calyrex-I. In turn, hyper offense teams that rely on Grimmsnarl benefit from the ability of these powerful teammates to remove Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Zacian-C that Grimmsnarl struggles to set up screens against. Ting-Lu and Ho-Oh can both use Whirlwind to phaze out sweepers, with the former able to set up entry hazards without much issue in front of Grimmsnarl and the latter able to pivot into attacks and stall out screen turns with Regenerator. Koraidon and Miraidon, respectively, can force out these Pokemon and use them at setup opportunities.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Grimmsnarl can run Thunder Wave to slow down opposing offensive Pokemon, especially Zacian-C that try to set up in front of it; however, other top threats like Miraidon and Arceus-Ground are immune to Thunder Wave, and Grimmsnarl typically finds more utility with Taunt. Grimmsnarl can opt to run Spirit Break over Play Rough, trading some power for a guaranteed Special Attack drop on the opposing Pokemon. Foul Play is another offensive option that can take advantage of Attack-boosting foes like Koraidon and Calyrex-I, but Grimmsnarl is often threatened out by these Pokemon instead.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel- and Fairy-types**: Grimmsnarl is threatened by a plethora of the metagame's top Pokemon, including Zacian-C, Arceus-Fairy, Kingambit, and Necrozma-DM, all of which can deal significant damage to it or threaten set up in front of it and keep it from setting up screens for its teammates.
**Taunt**: While it is immune to Taunt from opposing Grimmsnarl, other Pokemon such as the Arceus formes, Miraidon, and Landorus-T often carry it, quickly and easily shutting down Grimmsnarl, especially if it isn't running an attacking move.
**Phazers**: While Grimmsnarl itself isn't necessarily threatened by phazers, the teammates it supports are, as they are prevented from setting up behind the provided screens.
**Toxic Spikes**: Toxic Spikes are particularly effective against screens-based hyper offense teams, as they put Pokemon on a timer regardless of the extra defenses and setup opportunities provided by the screens, almost requiring a teammate like Eternatus that can absorb them.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aberforth.249382/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
Grimmsnarl finds its place in Ubers as a part of hyper offense teams thanks to its ability to set dual screens with Prankster, allowing more powerful threats to set up safely. Grimmsnarl does not have any viability outside of these team structures due to its middling stats, but the strength of these team styles thanks to the abundance of setup sweepers in Ubers makes it an important consideration in the metagame.
[SET]
Grimmsnarl @ Light Clay
Ability: Prankster
EVs: 248 HP / 176 Def / 84 SpD
Tera Type: Ghost / Steel
Impish Nature
- Reflect
- Light Screen
- Taunt
- Play Rough / Parting Shot
[SET COMMENTS]
Grimmsnarl's main and only utility is as a dual screens setter on hyper offense teams. It makes use of Taunt to shut down entry hazard setters like Landorus-T and Glimmora, block Defog from Giratina-O, stop opposing Taunt users like various Arceus formes, and prevent Pokemon like Zacian-C, Koraidon, and Miraidon from setting up. Play Rough lets Grimmsnarl threaten Dark-types like Ting-Lu and opposing Grimmsnarl that are immune to Prankster Taunt as well as dealing decent damage to both Koraidon and Miraidon. Parting Shot can be used instead to generate momentum and setup opportunities for Grimmsnarl's teammates. 84 Special Defense EVs allow Grimmsnarl to live two Electro Drifts from Miraidon through Light Screen, with the rest invested to maximize physical bulk. Grimmsnarl should rarely, if ever, be the target of Terastallization, but Tera Ghost can be used to allow it to spinblock Iron Treads and lets it take advantage of the Ghost type's immunities against Choice-locked Koraidon and Extreme Speed from Arceus, while Tera Steel also helps Grimmsnarl avoid being revenge killed by Arceus while flipping its Fairy and Poison weaknesses.
Grimmsnarl is exclusively found on hyper offense teams, where it pairs well with setup sweepers that make use of the screens and pivoting it provides, such as Koraidon, Miraidon, and Calyrex-I. In turn, hyper offense teams that rely on Grimmsnarl benefit from the ability of these powerful teammates to remove Steel-types like Necrozma-DM and Zacian-C that Grimmsnarl struggles to set up screens against. Ting-Lu and Ho-Oh can both use Whirlwind to phaze out sweepers, with the former able to set up entry hazards without much issue in front of Grimmsnarl and the latter able to pivot into attacks and stall out screen turns with Regenerator. Koraidon and Miraidon, respectively, can force out these Pokemon and use them at setup opportunities.
[STRATEGY COMMENTS]
Other Options
====
Grimmsnarl can run Thunder Wave to slow down opposing offensive Pokemon, especially Zacian-C that try to set up in front of it; however, other top threats like Miraidon and Arceus-Ground are immune to Thunder Wave, and Grimmsnarl typically finds more utility with Taunt. Grimmsnarl can opt to run Spirit Break over Play Rough, trading some power for a guaranteed Special Attack drop on the opposing Pokemon. Foul Play is another offensive option that can take advantage of Attack-boosting foes like Koraidon and Calyrex-I, but Grimmsnarl is often threatened out by these Pokemon instead.
Checks and Counters
====
**Steel- and Fairy-types**: Grimmsnarl is threatened by a plethora of the metagame's top Pokemon, including Zacian-C, Arceus-Fairy, Kingambit, and Necrozma-DM, all of which can deal significant damage to it or threaten set up in front of it and keep it from setting up screens for its teammates.
**Taunt**: While it is immune to Taunt from opposing Grimmsnarl, other Pokemon such as the Arceus formes, Miraidon, and Landorus-T often carry it, quickly and easily shutting down Grimmsnarl, especially if it isn't running an attacking move.
**Phazers**: While Grimmsnarl itself isn't necessarily threatened by phazers, the teammates it supports are, as they are prevented from setting up behind the provided screens.
**Toxic Spikes**: Toxic Spikes are particularly effective against screens-based hyper offense teams, as they put Pokemon on a timer regardless of the extra defenses and setup opportunities provided by the screens, almost requiring a teammate like Eternatus that can absorb them.
[SET CREDITS]
Written by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/maia.439018/
Quality checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/taka.595062/
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/aberforth.249382/
Grammar checked by:
https://www.smogon.com/forums/members/a-blue-banana.649096/
