Grimer is a slimy, amorphous blob-like Pokémon whose body was animated because of lunar X-rays. Its purple sludge body contains a variety of pungent bacteria, which are so potent that it renders soil barren and incapable of supporting plant life. It has two large eyes with beady pupils, and a gaping mouth with a grey tongue. While it lacks any visible legs, it does have two arms with three digits on each hand. It is constantly oozing a bacteria-rich fluid from all parts of its body. Pieces of it often break off during travel, and go on to become new Grimer. When combined with another Grimer, it produces new poisonous compounds.
Due to its lack of a solid form, it is capable of squeezing into any space or crevices with relative ease. It uses this to penetrate sewage pipes so that it may feed off of the filthy waste water inside. Its population fluctuates based on the availability of waste. It can be found in polluted lakes and streams, as well as within cities and factories where trash and industrial waste can be found.
Grimer was brought to Alola to deal with the excess waste generated by the region's increased population. Its introduction has also led to a massive reduction in Trubbish and Garbodor populations. Without liquid sludge to feed on, it took to eating solid garbage instead; this steady diet of trash caused its form to change. This variant's body is green with a line of yellow sludge along its lower lip. It also has two "teeth" in its upper jaw; these are actually crystallized toxins formed from the garbage that Grimer has been eating. It is not known how to break down these toxic crystals, but direct contact with them is known to be dangerous. Lethal poisons leak out of Grimer's body when these crystals fall out. Grimer is perpetually hungry and must constantly eat trash; if none is readily available, it will eat other manufactured products instead. Because it stores its toxins within the crystals, Alolan Grimer does not produce a foul stench like the standard version.
Grimer debuted in a flashback in Pokémon Scent-sation!. Celadon CityGym LeaderErika told a story about when she was a youngster, where she got lost one day and ran into a Grimer. However, a Gloom chased the Grimer off and saved her.
Multiple Grimer physically debuted in Sparks Fly for Magnemite. Ash and his friends encountered the Grimer and a Muk when they were gumming up the turbines in the power plant in Gringey City, causing a citywide power loss. This was eventually resolved when Ash caught Muk.
Koga wears a Grimer on his shoulder in the form of a ninja outfit in Go for the Golbat. He used it extensively to smother Blue, preventing him from breathing and restrict his movement so that he would be unable to call on his Pokémon. He again used it in the battle with the evil Elite Four Agatha, to little effect.
In A Flaaffy Kerfuffle, a Grimer appeared as one of the Pokémon in Professor Oak's fantasy when he explains that Trainers should only have six Pokémon with them.
Grimer's sludgy and rubbery body can be forced through any opening, however small it may be. This Pokémon enters sewer pipes to drink filthy wastewater.
Grimer emerged from the sludge that settled on a polluted seabed. This Pokémon loves anything filthy. It constantly leaks a horribly germ- infested fluid from all over its body.
Grimer's sludgy and rubbery body can be forced through any opening, however small it may be. This Pokémon enters sewer pipes to drink filthy wastewater.
Grimer emerged from the sludge that settled on a polluted seabed. This Pokémon loves anything filthy. It constantly leaks a horribly germ- infested fluid from all over its body.
In Sparks Fly for Magnemite, Grimer's anime debut, Grimer had a very strong odor that made most people around the Grimer cover their noses from the smell. However, in recent episodes, Grimer's smell has seemingly ceased to exist. This is most obvious in Camping It Up! where Dawn is given a Grimer to train, and it immediately hugs her, but no one complains about any smell.
Grimer shares similar traits to Koffing and Trubbish. All three Pokémon are pure Poison-types with a single evolution and roughly the same base stat totals.
Alolan Grimer and its Alolan evolution were designed by Hitoshi Ariga.
Origin
It appears to be a pile of living sludge. Grimer may also be based on the imagined fear that heavy pollution, caused by the leakage and/or improper disposal of toxic/radioactive waste, may result in the creation of new and undesirable life.
Alolan Grimer may be based on an oil slick, particularly the multiple colors it produces when it mixes with water.
Name origin
Grimer is derived from grime (dirt or filth).
Betbeter may be derived from べとべと betobeto and べたべた betabeta, both meaning sticky.
In other languages
Language
Title
Meaning
Japanese
ベトベター Betbeter
From べとべと betobeto and べたべた betabeta, both meaning sticky
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Nugget (2%)
Black Sludge (5%)
For other sprites and images, please see Grimer images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
