Grookey works best as a wallbreaker, and for good reason: it has the strongest priority move in the tier, along with strong stats and varied coverage options.
You’ll want an offensive Pokemon to form a core with Grookey. One of the best is Mienfoo – aside from being a tier staple, it pairs well with Grookey as it can help wear down Foongus/Koffing and keep momentum with U-turn.
Mienfoo @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Regenerator
EVs: 196 Def / 36 SpD / 236 Spe
Jolly Nature
- High Jump Kick
- Knock Off
- U-turn
- Fake Out / Taunt
This is the set recommended by Smogon. High Jump Kick is the strongest viable STAB move Mienfoo can run – though the recoil is scary, it’s better on average than Close Combat. Knock Off is Mienfoo’s main method of breaking down defensive walls and can open them up to Grookey’s attacks later on. U-turn pairs well with Fake Out, Regenerator, and Grookey, allowing Mienfoo to stay in the game longer and break down more threats.
Both Grookey and Mienfoo struggle against Pokemon like Larvesta and Ponyta, so you’ll need a strong counter to those. You have a few options, but based on your desire for an offensive team, one of the best is Staryu. This is because it doesn’t care about being burned and can hit Fire types with super effective STAB.
Staryu @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Analytic
EVs: 156 Def / 116 SpA / 236 Spe
Timid Nature
- Hydro Pump
- Thunderbolt
- Ice Beam
- Recover
A more defensive set would be better at tanking neutral hits and removing hazards, but the team doesn’t really need that yet. Fast Hydro Pumps are enough to deal with non-Wild Charge Larvesta/Ponyta, while Ice Beam chips Foongus and Grookey on the switch.
The team so far is a little frail, so we’ll need a bulkier backbone. One of the best is Pawniard, as it complements Mienfoo defensively while still providing offensive pressure.
Pawniard @ Eviolite / Berry Juice
Level: 5
Ability: Defiant
EVs: 156 Atk / 36 Def / 196 SpD / 116 Spe
Careful Nature
- Knock Off
- Iron Head
- Sucker Punch
- Stealth Rock
Pawniard is one of the most reliable Stealth Rock setters thanks to its typing and ability to threaten Natu (which is additionally helpful in allowing Grookey to break through). Knock Off and Iron Head help break down defensive Pokemon like Frillish, while Sucker Punch is helpful in curtailing sweeps from faster Pokemon like Archen and Carvanha.
These four Pokemon form a strong core already, but they’re still weak, ironically, to Grookey. As there were with your Fire type counter, there are a few options for Grookey answers. Foongus and Koffing are good, but you may not want them if you want a more offensive team. Therefore, I think Ponyta is the best fit.
Ponyta @ Eviolite
Level: 5
Ability: Flame Body
EVs: 76 Atk / 156 Def / 76 SpD / 196 Spe
Jolly Nature
- Flare Blitz
- Will-O-Wisp
- Morning Sun
- Flame Charge / Wild Charge / High Horsepower
Though this Pokemon is primarily used as a Grookey check, this set has the happy benefit of doing a decent job against Mienfoo as well. This bulky variant relies on burns to get the job done – Flame Body and Will-O-Wisp deter most physical attackers, and Grookey doesn’t want to stay in on a possible Flare Blitz. Flame Charge is recommended by Smogon so it can answer Diglett, but you might not need that with Grookey’s Grassy Glide. I prefer Wild Charge to chip Water types like Staryu and Frillish, but you can also use High Horsepower to hit Mareanie and Onix.
Finally, since the aim of the game is to build around Grookey, we’ll want one more Pokemon that can force progress and enable a monkey sweep. Grookey’s main counters in Natu and Fire types are answered by teammates, so all we really need now is a way to eliminate Foongus and Koffing. And who better than Abra?
Abra @ Focus Sash / Life Orb
Level: 5
Ability: Magic Guard
EVs: 36 Atk / 236 SpA / 196 Spe
Hasty Nature
- Psychic
- Shadow Ball
- Fire Punch
- Protect
As a Psychic type, Abra threatens both Koffing and Foongus, particularly if their Eviolites have been removed. Focus Sash allows Abra to come in relatively safely on hazardless switches, but as this team has no form of hazard removal, you may find Life Orb works better instead. Shadow Ball is a relatively safe answer to other Psychic types like Natu, while Fire Punch is a really funny option to nail Ferroseed that think they can come in for free. Protect wastes Trapinch’s First Impression and can stall against a burned attacker like Grookey.
And that’s the team. It may have a few flaws, such as no hazard control, but I didn’t find them to be much of an issue while playtesting. You can always swap moves and members around to find out what works best for you, but this should be a good start. Have fun in LC!
