How to beat Grimmsnarl
Grimmsnarl has 2 versions in the 2026–27 Standard format, with up to 170 HP as a Psychic Pokémon. Here's the maths for Knocking it Out — worked out from every Standard-legal card.
- HP
- 170
- Weakness
- Metal, Grass
- Resistance
- None
- Prizes
- 1
- One-hit KOs
- 180
- Fastest KO
- 0 Energy
Game plan
- Hit its Weakness. Grimmsnarl is weak to Metal and Grass, so those attacks do double damage. 63 Standard cards can Knock it Out in one hit that way — the fastest needs just 0 Energy.
- Don't over-invest. It only gives up 1 Prize card, so avoid spending a big two-Prize attacker on it if a cheaper Pokémon can do the job.
- Plan for its big hit. Its strongest printed attack is Knuckle Sandwich for 160 (3 Energy). 246 Standard cards have enough HP to survive one hit — before any Weakness, + or × effects.
- Watch the Retreat Cost. It costs 2 Energy to retreat. If it gets stuck in the Active Spot, that's your chance.
One-hit Knock Outs using Weakness
These Metal/Grass attacks do at least 170 after Weakness. Fastest (fewest Energy) first.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Grimmsnarl | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alolan Dugtrio Surging Sparks | Metal | Trio-Cheehoo Free | 120 | 240 | 110 | 1 |
| Tinkaton Mega Evolution | Metal | Windup Swing M | 240- | 480 | 160 | 1 |
| Escavalier Black Bolt | Metal | Wild Lances M | 90 | 180 | 130 | 1 |
| Decidueye Shrouded Fable | Grass | Power Shot G | 170 | 170 | 150 | 1 |
| Kingambit Ascended Heroes | Metal | Double-Edged Slash MM | 180 | 360 | 170 | 1 |
| Klinklang Stellar Crown | Metal | Hyper Ray CC | 130 | 260 | 140 | 1 |
| Escavalier Journey Together | Metal | Iron Buster MC | 120 | 240 | 120 | 1 |
| Scizor ex Temporal Forces | Metal | Cross Breaker MM | 120× | 240 | 270 | 2 |
| Rillaboom Twilight Masquerade | Grass | Wood Hammer GG | 180 | 180 | 180 | 1 |
| Mega Excadrill ex Pitch Black | Metal | Undermine MM | 90 | 180 | 340 | 3 |
| Mega Mawile ex Mega Evolution | Metal | Huge Bite MMC | 260 | 520 | 270 | 3 |
| Melmetal Stellar Crown | Metal | Reforged Axe MCC | 250 | 500 | 160 | 1 |
One-hit Knock Outs without Weakness
Attacks with a printed 170+ damage.
| Pokémon | Type | Attack | Damage | Damage to Grimmsnarl | HP | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palafin ex Prismatic Evolutions | Water | Giga Impact W | 250 | 250 | 340 | 2 |
| Ceruledge Phantasmal Flames | Fire | Infernal Slash R | 220 | 220 | 140 | 1 |
| Greninja ex Twilight Masquerade | Fighting | Shinobi Blade W | 170 | 170 | 310 | 2 |
| Slaking ex Surging Sparks | Colorless | Great Swing CC | 280 | 280 | 340 | 2 |
| Mega Lucario ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Mega Brave FF | 270 | 270 | 340 | 3 |
| Vikavolt Pitch Black | Lightning | Giga Railgun LL | 260 | 260 | 160 | 1 |
| Cynthia's Garchomp ex Ascended Heroes | Fighting | Draconic Buster FF | 260 | 260 | 330 | 2 |
| Luxray ex Twilight Masquerade | Lightning | Volt Strike LL | 250 | 250 | 310 | 2 |
| Salamence ex 30th Celebration | Dragon | Dragon Pulse RW | 240 | 240 | 330 | 2 |
| Haxorus Shrouded Fable | Dragon | Dragon Pulse FM | 230 | 230 | 170 | 1 |
Pokémon that survive its biggest attack
These can take a printed 160 from Knuckle Sandwich and stay in play (Weakness included). Single-Prize Pokémon first.
| Pokémon | Type | Stage | HP | Weakness | Retreat | Prizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wailord Journey Together | Water | Stage 1 | 240 | Lightning ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Shrouded Fable | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Rhyperior Stellar Crown | Fighting | Stage 2 | 200 | Grass ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Steelix Mega Evolution | Metal | Stage 1 | 200 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Copperajah Journey Together | Metal | Stage 1 | 190 | Fire ×2 | 4 | 1 |
| Tyranitar Journey Together | Darkness | Stage 2 | 190 | Grass ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Aggron Twilight Masquerade | Metal | Stage 2 | 180 | Fire ×2 | 3 | 1 |
| Alolan Golem Journey Together | Lightning | Stage 2 | 180 | Fighting ×2 | 4 | 1 |
Every Standard Grimmsnarl card
| Card | Set | HP | Stage | Attacks (cost · damage) | Retreat | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grimmsnarl 73/159 | Journey Together H | 170 | Stage 2 | Shadowy Knot P 50× Mega Punch PC 120 | 2 | Metal ×2 |
| Grimmsnarl 96/142 | Stellar Crown H | 170 | Stage 2 | Goad 'n' Grab CC — Knuckle Sandwich DCC 160 | 3 | Grass ×2 |
Damage is the number printed on the card. Attacks marked + or × can do more, and Abilities, Tools and Stadiums can change the maths — always read the card. Energy letters: G Grass, R Fire, W Water, L Lightning, P Psychic, F Fighting, D Darkness, M Metal, N Dragon, C Colorless (any Energy).
Related: all Grimmsnarl cards in Standard · how to knock out a 170 HP Pokémon · Metal vs Psychic · beating big Pokémon ex · more counter guides
Questions people ask
What is Grimmsnarl weak to?
Grimmsnarl is weak to Metal and Grass, so those attacks do double damage (×2).
How much HP does Grimmsnarl have?
Up to 170 HP in Standard (170 on the Journey Together version, 170 on the Stellar Crown version).
How many Prize cards does Grimmsnarl give up?
1 — it's a regular Pokémon.
What can one-hit KO Grimmsnarl?
180 Standard cards can, going by printed damage. The fastest: Alolan Dugtrio's Trio-Cheehoo (0 Energy, 240 damage); Tinkaton's Windup Swing (1 Energy, 480 damage); Palafin ex's Giga Impact (1 Energy, 250 damage).
What is Grimmsnarl's strongest attack?
Knuckle Sandwich, which prints 160 damage for 3 Energy.
Pully Play is an independent fan guide. It isn't run by The Pokémon Company. Format facts are checked against official announcements; always confirm card legality with the official rules before a tournament.