A Pokémon Glitch Blog

“Your friend here has caused me quite enough trouble as it is, and I don’t really feel like dealing with the both of you.

I’ve already touched on this subject here, actually! I’m afraid I don’t currently have any more information on Grimmsnarl parental habits. [Unless one of my readers would like to share some information about their own Grimmsnarl’s habits with me, so I might further my research!]

As a summary: Grimmsnarl are viciously protective of any Pokemon they take on as a ward, which is what makes them so difficult to study! From what little has been observed, they seem to make for decent caretakers- some have even been spotted ‘adopting’ Pokemon hatchlings outside their species’ line. [Once saw a wild Grimm carrying a Spritzee around like it would an Impidimp- was quite comical.]  Grimmsnarl also seem to be on the strict side of parental guidance; about the only time Impidimp behave is when a Grimm is around to keep an eye on ‘em!

The lack of info stems from the fact that...well... It’s unknown where Impidimp actually come from in the wild! While some theories on it exist, this missing piece of crucial information has made the Grimmsnarl line a bit of a mystery- their elusiveness and standoffish natures just aren’t compatible with prolonged research expeditions.

Carefully, and with an incredible amount of patience!

If you’re quiet- and I mean, extremely quiet, you can sometimes catch glimpses of Hatterene groups living peacefully within Glimwood Tangle.

While we tend to think of Hatterene as solitary Pokemon due to their dislike of noise or psychic impulses, adults actually tend to cluster together in communal bands of 3 to 5 individuals. These close-knit packs of Hatterene carve out territories in Glimwood in order to raise their young in relative peace, often helping one-another with maternal duties and taking turns guarding each other’s offspring.

Hatterene, for the most part, are surprisingly gentle when it comes to rearing their own children- They’ve been seen gathering berries and other foraged foods to feed their young, often hand-feeding the smallest of their flock until they’re able to themselves.

Unsurprisingly, as a Psychic-type, Hatterene are strong empaths who care greatly for their young, and, in turn, their young imprint on their parent almost immediately. Hatenna and Hattrem rarely wander away from their mother unless watched after by another trusted Hatterene- in fact, children of this line rarely leave their parent’s side by choice, and most Hatenna and Hattrem that are found by trainers are usually only alone because their nest was previously disturbed and they were unable to locate their siblings/mother.

[Worth noting; It’s common for bands of Hatterene to contain at least one elderly individual in charge of grooming the Hatenna and Hattrem; in return, this elder is also given food by the younger Hatterene in the group. They’re one of the few Pokemon lines that care for old, feeble individuals- ain’t that neat?]

Hatterene, bizarrely, have also been observed to ‘employ’ other Pokemon as babysitters- often at the threat of death, a Hatterene will force another Pokemon to look after their brood for a short amount of time. This usually only occurs if the Hatterene can find no companion of its own species, though it’s certainly one of the more peculiar behaviors of this Pokemon line.

Honestly?

Every other day is a bad hair day for them- it’s bound to be when you’re mostly fur! Knots, tangles, kinks- all common occurrences for both Pokemon.

However; there is ONE day that sticks out more than others:

Shortly after Sirocco evolved into a Grimmsnarl, and Muffin evolved into a Hatterene, their Trainer, Mocca, had the fancy idea to practice her haircutting skills on her new Pokemon.

To her credit, she didn’t understand their hair was a feature of their respective species [she assumed they were extremely overgrown]- and after watching several well-informed Furfrou trimming tutorials online she thought she’d give it a go!

The results were....er....

Less than spectacular.

Bless them for holding still long enough for this massacre to unfold.

A simple question- but a fun one!

I’ll start with common specimens, to give the clearest idea:

Like I mentioned in this post about grooming, a Grimm’s hair is composed of thick, prehensile cords that constrict and flex according to the will of the Pokemon in question. Their hair has a surprising amount of weight to it thanks to the hollow strands containing a plasma-like substance that allows for hydraulic movement. An individual ‘hair’ is magnitudes thicker than a human hair, and is also notably elastic.

Grimmsnarl are extremely protective of their coats! Their fur is the substitute for the majority of their motive muscle tissue, and a Grimmsnarl that’s had its coat removed/ruined may be rendered immobile- as such, it’s recommended not to alter your Grimmsnarl’s pelt without advice from a licensed groomer.

As for texture; A healthy Grimmsnarl that hasn’t been in prolonged battles will have a dense, glossy coat. Each hair is several millimeters thick and does not tangle easily. When lax, their hair weighs towards the floor instead of blowing in the breeze. When you pass your fingers through their fur, your hand should come away clean and free of grease or residue. Their hair is naturally corrugated; every other centimeter their hair strands are ‘bumped’ to allow them to better grapple their prey. This corrugation doesn’t feel unpleasant against your hand, but can if you’re grappled/constricted. They also possess softer, non-prehensile hair around their throat and stomach area, but these patches serve no function besides warmth during Winter.

And, now for Hatterene!

[As general life advice, please don’t go up to any ol’ wild Hatterene wanting to touch their coats. With few exceptions, they won’t take your intrusion politely.]

Unlike Grimmsnarl, Hatterene do not rely on their hair for mobility- instead, they transport themselves via telekinesis, which they also use to control their hair for the purpose of defense. Everything on a Hatterene, with the exclusion of their natural bodies, is comprised of either hair [Mantle/Crown] or psychokinetic aura [Bangle].

A Hatterene’s hair can grow more than five meters each year, making proper grooming a necessity for the species. Their hair strands are exceptionally thin, while their follicle density rivals that of Cinccino in terms of hairs per square centimeter, giving them one of the thickest coats in the Pokemon world.

Your hand will struggle to pass through the coat of a Hatterene as their hair’s density combines with their ambient psychic powers to form a veritable forcefield- this forcefield protects the frail, atrophied body of the Hatterene, and is their only major defense against physical attacks.

Besides that, their hair feels exceptionally silky and soft- which is why they’ve often been the target of poachers who seek to steal their pelts for a profit.

____

As for Sirocco and Muffin themselves:

Sirocco’s hair lacks the corrugation of his arboreal counterparts, but is much the same besides that! He’s a well groomed fella who takes care of his pelt.

Sirocco’s the only one of the two who reliably Gigantamaxes- I’ve actually doodled him before, on this post! His physicality is a mix between the Giga and Dyna versions, though it functions just the same as the Gigantamax. His projection is huge and he’ll flex you into the dust.

As for Muffin...er....allegedly she can, but their Trainer is terrified of the idea of a Muffin that big considering she’s....a little...uhm.....homicidal. Her Gigantamax form is a writhing, thrashing mess that destroys everything around it

Fun Fact: Muffin’s G-Max Smite makes it rain fairy-flavored butcher knives. Fun.

Good Question!

As with any Pokemon, if you’re looking to raise a championship-tier partner, you’ll need to start with their first evolution! Pokemon reared from youth by a single Trainer tend to be far more obedient- and battle ready- than those who are captured in the wild at a later stage. Grimmsnarl is no exception to this- so let’s begin with Impidimp!

 Let’s say you’re aiming for a Dual Screen Grimmsnarl [a popular competetive option]- so, you mosey on down to a reputable Fairy-type breeder and ask if they’ve any Impidimp up for sale- how will you know you’re getting one that’s good for battle when they’re so small and...well....dimpy?

There’s a few things you’ll want to look for!

-Straight, healthy fangs. No chips or weardown on their enamel. Their canines should be, roughly, two inches in length and even on both sides. [High Atk. IV]

-Decent musculature. A young Impidimp should have some athleticism- if an imp seems lethargic, or it tires out easier than others, that’s a sign you should skip it and keep looking.  [High Speed IV]

-Pointed ears that don’t droop or sag. An Impidimp should have perky ears free of debris or grime- the species is notoriously prone to ear infections so it’s best to avoid purchasing Imps that show early signs of possible issues. [High HP IV]

-A penchant for pranks. While you don’t want an Impidimp that’s truly unruly, you’ll want one that’s creative and crafty- that little spark of intelligence will help them later in life with moves like Light Screen and Reflect, which take a fair amount of concentration to uphold in tough battles. [Prankster Ability]

And most importantly!

-A good disposition. I cannot STRESS how vital it is to select an Impidimp with a nature that’s compatible with human handling. Some Imps are simply unsuitable for battling- it’s not a fault of their own, of course, but aggressive or lazy Imps should be avoided! Make sure the Imp that interests you is willing to take commands- or at least, has the ability to learn! [Beneficial Nature]

So you take your Impidimp home- now what?

Well- It’s up to you on how your Pokemon turns out!

Since we’re going for a Dual Screen Grimmsnarl, we’ll want to train our Impidimp to maximize their reflexes and endurance.

Rookidee and Skwovet are good low-level, common opponents for your Impidimp to fight against to help get them into the hang of battling. Rookidee is a speedy opponent, and Skwovets are durable little things that your Impidimp can learn a lesson or two from!

Remember to take breaks liberally- you don’t want to overwork your Pokemon! They’re young and still learning, and battling should be a positive experience. Keep your Impidimp from fainting, and always carry an array of potions and bandages at all times. When they’re successful in a fight, give them some praise! They work hard for you, after all.  

As they grow older, you’ll want to slowly introduce them to the rest of your team! Morgrems especially need socialization- they tend to take after the biggest and most powerful member of a team, out of respect, so be sure to talk to your other Pokemon about their new companion ahead of time!

After that, all it takes is steady handling! Keep their diet proper, exercise up, and take them for their regular health checks- soon enough you’ll have your own championship Grimmsnarl!

Sirocco’s son, when he’s older.

His trainer insisted on naming him Hotdog, so... his name’s Hotdog, legally, despite Sirocco’s numerous protests.

Hatterene normally continue levitating while asleep since it’s the easiest way to prevent their hair from becoming tangled, and it keeps the stresses of gravity off their frail bodies-

Except Muffin sometimes struggles with passive telekinesis. Her powers are geared purely for battle, so the majority of her abilities are focused on single, condensed psychic bursts-- meaning her more minor, innate skills, like floating during sleep, are somewhat diminished. When she first evolved into a Hatterene she was pretty miserable due to a lack of rest; when she’d try while floating, she’d wake up from falling to the floor, and when she’d try laying down to rest, she’d wind up with a messy hairdo that took hours to comb out.

So now her favorite spot to sleep is the top of Sirocco’s head. He’s at the right height where her hair doesn’t drag on the ground behind her, and the space between his horns is snug enough to hold her body without fear of slipping.

It’s not too uncommon to find him walking around with a...well...hat on his head.

You run up to the off-color Grimmsnarl with open arms. He seems confused at first- but then he recognizes the gesture and scoops you up, giving you a respectful hug and a pat on the head before setting you back down.

“S’alright, strange grey Pokemon-human-thing - Everyone needs a hug sometimes!” He chuffles, though to you it just sounds like a bunch of non-threatening grumbling. [Unless you can speak Pokemon, of course.]