Grant appears in Pokémon X and Y as a Gym Leader. Trainers who defeat Grant will receive the Cliff Badge, along with TM39 (Rock Tomb). He excels at a variety of sports, such as bike racing and mountain climbing. According to the television show Gym Freaks, he is a trend setter and very fashionable, with his hairstyle of rolling stones apparently being popular with young people. It also states that he cuts down on his eating to keep his weight down, but appears to miss the opportunity to eat sweets because of this.
"Oh dear... If you're here for the Bicycle race, I'm afraid you're too late. The race is over, and I took first place. I feel bad that you missed it. Here--allow me to give you this StrengthHM in consolation. If one of your Pokémon uses the move, it will be able to push large rocks around."
"However, if you want to use the move outside of battle, you'll first need a Badge from the Gym I run in this city. On that note, I'll be waiting for you in the Gym. Come challenge me at your leisure."
Cyllage Gym
Before battle
"I've been waiting in eager anticipation! What have I been waiting for? For a worthy challenger to appear! It's quite an achievement to have climbed all the way up here. Very impressive, actually! I have a feeling that our battle will turn out to be worth the wait! I hope you'll show me that your skill as a Trainer surpasses even mine."
Being defeated
"You have proven to be a wall that I am unable to surmount!"
After being defeated
"There are some things that seem out of reach no matter how hard you try. However, it's important that you never give up—no matter the opponent or the odds. I could tell from our battle that you and your Pokémon understand that. To commemorate such an impressive show of teamwork, please accept the Cliff Badge!"
"With the Cliff Badge in your grasp, you should have no issues working together with Pokémon up to level 40. This even applies to Pokémon you've received from other people in trade. And that's not all. You also get…this!"
"It's Rock Tomb. With this move, a Pokémon can hurl rocks at its target, not only inflicting damage but also lowering the target's Speed and preventing it from moving. Now that you've become a master wall climber and conquered this Gym, it's time you thought about how to apply your skills in other areas! Think about how you can improve yourself, as well as the Pokémon that are always by your side. When you find the answer, that's when you'll truly be able to smile!"
(post-game) "Have you heard of the Battle Chateau on Route 7? I like to take the occasional trip there. If it pleases you, I hope you might honor me with a rematch there someday."
Battle Chateau
Before battle
"There is only one thing I wish for. That by surpassing one another, we find a way to even greater heights."
Being defeated
"You continue to be a wall that I am unable to surmount!"
After being defeated
(if giving the player an item) "To commemorate such an impressive show of teamwork, please accept this gift!"
"Yes, this is the way it should be. This way both humans and Pokémon will grow."
After defeating the player
"Do not give up. That is all there really is to it. The most important lessons in life are simple."
Gym Freaks
April: "Hello! It's time for Gym Freaks, your source for the hottest news about hot Gym Leaders in Kalos. So... I'm now in front of the Cyllage City Gym! ... Whoa! Grant has arrived! He's good looking! So good looking! Lean yet muscular. Fascinating! That hairstyle of rolling stones into your hair is very popular among young people now! Grant is not only a Gym Leader but also a leader in fashion! Oh... He went inside the Gym... That's all for the on-site report. Good-bye for now, everyone."
April: "Hello! It's time for Gym Freaks, your source for the hottest news about hot Gym Leaders in Kalos. So... I'm now in front of the Cyllage City Gym! ... Whoa! Grant has arrived! He's good looking! So good looking! Lean yet muscular. Fascinating! But I know that he cuts down on his eating to keep his weight down! I saw him longingly looking at sweets in front of a café. He's so cute! Oh... He went inside the Gym... That's all for the on-site report. Good-bye for now, everyone."
Grant debuted in Breaking Titles at the Chateau!, where Ash and his friends met him at the Battle Chateau. He was promoted to the Grand Duke rank after his Onix won a battle against Viola's Surskit. Close to the end of the episode, Ash and his friends discovered that Grant is the Cyllage City Gym Leader, making Ash even more excited about his upcoming Gym battle with him.
Grant cannot resist scaling walls and often falls on the ground, which Viola has become accustomed to. He also seems to be good friends with her.
Grant reappeared in Climbing the Walls! when Ash reached Cyllage Gym. Grant, unlike most Gym Leaders, allowed Ash to use his entire team against him while he would only be using two Pokémon. After some hard battles, Ash emerged victorious and Grant awarded him the Cliff Badge, telling the Trainer he would like to battle him at the Battle Chateau sometime.
Onix is Grant's first known Pokémon which he used in a battle against Viola's Surskit at the Battle Chateau. Despite Surskit creating its signature ice battlefield to aid its speed, Onix was able to turn the tables on the Pond Skater Pokémon by using its masterful control of Rock Tomb to trap it and Rock Polish to increase its speed, keeping Surskit on the defensive. Eventually, Onix ended the battle by using its powerful Flash Cannon to knock Surskit out. It was seen in flashbacks in A PokeVision of Things to Come! and Coming Back into the Cold!.
Onix reappeared in Climbing the Walls! as the first Pokémon Grant used in his Gym Battle against Ash, going up against Froakie. Onix attempted to keep up with the Bubble Frog Pokémon, but Froakie's speed in combination with Double Team confused Onix, leaving it open to attacks, which eventually allowed Froakie to knock it out with Water Pulse.
Tyrunt was the second Pokémon used by Grant in his Gym Battle against Ash. Tyrunt, unlike Froakie, was quick, and while Froakie was able to dodge Rock Tomb, it was easily overpowered by Tyrunt's Draco Meteor. Tyrunt next went up against Fletchling and managed to knock it out easily (but not before taking damage from a super-effective Steel Wing).
Finally, Tyrunt went up against Pikachu, who was able to dodge Tyrunt's attacks and even used the projectiles from Draco Meteor for momentum before managing to wedge a rock in Tyrunt's mouth and finally knocking it out with a direct hit from Thunderbolt.
Grant is first seen in Cyllage City alongside Clemont. He teases Clemont for leaving the Prism Tower in the hands of Bonnie while he is away, but Clemont shrugs it off. Grant then points Clemont to Grace, who he noticed sitting on a bench. They see her being taken away by Team Flare members and wonder what is happening. Later, he finds that Cycling Road had been damaged from a helicopter crash. He angrily demands the pilot, Cassius, explain to him what had happened, which causes the two to get into an argument. Cassius manages to end the argument by agreeing to pay for the damages.
Later, he travels to a Laverre City hospital alongside Valerie and Olympia. They came to visit their friend and fellow Gym Leader Korrina, who was still recuperating from injuries she sustained from a battle with Team Flare. Additionally, the Gym Leaders gathered to have meeting with Team Flare as the subject. Grant notes that while they are still waiting for Wulfric and Ramos to arrive, no one has been able to contact Clemont, which worries him. Afterward, he heads off to the meeting with Valerie and Olympia.
After meeting up with Wulfric and Ramos, the Gym Leaders finish their meeting and return to Y's group. They travel by sea on Wulfric's Avalugg to Geosenge Town, where Team Flare's base is located. Upon arriving, they find the ultimate weapon in the process of being activated. When Y leaps in to keep the weapon's petals from opening, the Gym Leaders assist her by also using their strength and their Pokémon to keep the weapon closed. Despite their best efforts, the Gym Leaders are unable to prevent the ultimate weapon from blooming and firing on the Kalos region. The attack hits many areas and damages several buildings, but the heroes' efforts managed to weaken the weapon's power and prevent any lives from being taken. The Gym Leaders and Y were also protected from the attack thanks to Olympia and Valerie's Pokémon surrounding them in barriers.
Later, the Kalos Gym Leaders help rebuild the damaged buildings that were destroyed by the ultimate weapon's blast. Due to Team Flare's influence over the media, the Gym Leaders and X's group were blamed for the incident.
Aurorus is Grant's first known Pokémon. It was first seen accompanying its Trainer as they patrolled around Cycling Road only to find it in shambles from the crash of Cassius's helicopter. At Geosenge Town, it helped try to keep the ultimate weapon from opening with its weight. Later, it helped repair the damage done by the ultimate weapon firing on Kalos.
Tyrantrum is Grant's second known Pokémon. It was first sent out at Geosenge Town to keep the ultimate weapon from opening as it was being unearthed. With the help of Valerie's Mr. Mime, it was able to stand on the air, but was knocked off by Bryony's Bisharp.
None of Tyrantrum's moves are known.
Trivia
Grant's Japanese Leader title is ワイルド マイルド ロッククライマー.
Grant is the only Rock type specialist who is not the first Gym Leader of their region.
In the games, Grant is also the only Rock type specialist to not use Geodude or Onix at any point.
Grant is the only Kalos Gym Leader who does not use a fully evolved Pokémon outside of the Battle Chateau.
In the games, Grant is also the only Kalos Gym Leader who doesn't use a Pokémon introduced before Generation VI.
In the anime, Grant made his debut exactly five (aired) episodes before his Gym battle against Ash, with the aforementioned Gym battle episode being the first to have its air date moved forward due to the postponement of the episode intended to air before it. Coincidentally, Grant shares this trait with Burgh.
Grant is the only single Gym Leader who uses Pokémon with identical levels in a Gym battle.
Names
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
ザクロ Zakuro
From 石榴 zakuro (pomegranate), which contains the character 石 ishi (rock).
