Steel-type Male Grunt Counters
Gruntsteel“You're no match for my iron will!”
Team GO Rocket Grunt. Grunts never shield. One Pokemon is picked at random from each slot; tap one for its own counters and movesets. ★ = can be caught afterwards (Alolan Sandshrew, Aron, Beldum).
Best against the whole line-up
Each slot's leaders re-fought against all three slots on the moveset that won their slot; power is the mean over the slots. Level 40, 15/15/15, no Megas.
| # | Pokemon | Moves | Power | Wins | Time | By slot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Cobalion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 7.282 | 92% | 5.8 s 1.2 charged | Slot 1 9.3Slot 2 4.8Slot 3 7.8 |
| 2 |  Melmetal | electricThunder Shock fightingSuperpowersteelDouble Iron Bash | 6.467 | 99% | 6.3 s 1.4 charged | Slot 1 9.5Slot 2 4.0Slot 3 5.9 |
| 3 |  Kingambit | fightingLow Kick fightingFocus BlastdarkFoul Play | 5.274 | 94% | 6.8 s 1.2 charged | Slot 1 7.8Slot 2 5.1Slot 3 2.9 |
| 4 |  Raikou | electricThunder Shock fightingAura SphereelectricWild Charge | 5.004 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.1 charged | Slot 1 4.9Slot 2 5.5Slot 3 4.6 |
| 5 |  Keldeo | fightingLow Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSecret Sword | 4.842 | 100% | 5.5 s 0.8 charged | Slot 1 5.7Slot 2 4.5Slot 3 4.3 |
| 6 |  Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 4.823 | 93% | 7.4 s 0.9 charged | Slot 1 6.8Slot 2 4.6Slot 3 3.1 |
| 7 |  Virizion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 4.818 | 90% | 5.8 s 1.1 charged | Slot 1 6.0Slot 2 3.0Slot 3 5.5 |
| 8 | Shadow Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 4.689 | 94% | 6.8 s 0.8 charged | Slot 1 6.9Slot 2 3.6Slot 3 3.5 |
| 9 |  Excadrill | groundMud Shot groundEarthquakegroundDrill Run | 4.686 | 88% | 6.1 s 1.2 charged | Slot 1 5.3Slot 2 3.6Slot 3 5.1 |
| 10 |  Victini | normalQuick Attack fireV-createfireOverheat | 4.678 | 82% | 6.6 s 1.3 charged | Slot 1 6.4Slot 2 5.1Slot 3 2.5 |
| 11 |  Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) | steelMetal Claw fightingClose CombatsteelBehemoth Bash | 4.468 | 99% | 7.9 s 1.3 charged | Slot 1 5.6Slot 2 3.4Slot 3 4.4 |
| 12 |  Doublade | bugFury Cutter fightingSacred SwordsteelIron Head | 4.382 | 79% | 7.9 s 1.7 charged | Slot 1 8.8Slot 2 2.8Slot 3 1.6 |
| 13 |  Zygarde (Complete) | darkBite groundBulldozedarkCrunch | 4.333 | 94% | 8.1 s 1.5 charged | Slot 1 4.9Slot 2 3.8Slot 3 4.3 |
| 14 |  Jirachi | psychicConfusion fightingAura SpheresteelDoom Desire | 4.332 | 93% | 7.9 s 1.5 charged | Slot 1 6.2Slot 2 2.5Slot 3 4.3 |
| 15 |  Magnezone | electricVolt Switch electricWild ChargeelectricZap Cannon | 4.285 | 96% | 7.3 s 1.3 charged | Slot 1 5.4Slot 2 4.9Slot 3 2.5 |
Slot 1 counters
You 0 shields, Rocket 0. Averaged over every Pokemon this slot can hold and every moveset it can roll.
Shadow Alolan SandshrewCP 2,765 · Atk 238 · Def 147 · HP 916 movesets
Shadow AronCP 2,805 · Atk 232 · Def 159 · HP 919 movesets
Shadow BeldumCP 2,088 · Atk 189 · Def 150 · HP 811 movesets
| # | Pokemon | Moves | Power | Wins | Time | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Melmetal | electricThunder Shock fightingSuperpowersteelDouble Iron Bash | 9.479 | 100% | 4.8 s 1.0 charged | |
| 2 | Cobalion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 9.264 | 100% | 5.0 s 1.0 charged | |
| 3 | Doublade | bugFury Cutter fightingSacred SwordsteelIron Head | 8.777 | 100% | 5.2 s 1.0 charged | |
| 4 | Kingambit | fightingLow Kick fightingFocus BlastdarkFoul Play | 7.811 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.1 charged | |
| 5 |  Aegislash (Shield) | psychicPsycho Cut ghostShadow BallsteelFlash Cannon | 7.418 | 100% | 6.5 s 1.2 charged | |
| 6 |  Annihilape | fightingCounter fightingClose CombatfightingLow Sweep | 7.388 | 100% | 5.2 s 0.3 charged | |
| 7 |  Marshadow | fightingCounter fightingClose CombatfireFire Punch | 7.321 | 100% | 5.0 s 0.0 charged | |
| 8 |  Empoleon | steelMetal Sound waterHydro CannonwaterHydro Pump | 7.123 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.1 charged | |
| 9 |  Giratina (Altered) | dragonDragon Breath ghostShadow ForceghostShadow Sneak | 7.015 | 100% | 7.1 s 1.2 charged | |
| 10 |  Gholdengo | ghostHex fightingFocus BlastghostShadow Ball | 7.002 | 100% | 6.5 s 1.2 charged | |
| 11 | Shadow Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 6.895 | 100% | 5.3 s 0.5 charged | |
| 12 | Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 6.782 | 100% | 6.3 s 0.5 charged |
Best for each Pokemon this slot can roll
vs Shadow Alolan Sandshrew- 1
Shadow Entei Fire Fang / Overheat, Fire Blast10.00100% - 2Shadow Heatran Fire Spin / Fire Blast, Flamethrower10.00100%
- 3Heatran Fire Spin / Fire Blast, Flamethrower10.00100%
vs Shadow Aron- 1Cobalion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword9.94100%
- 2Melmetal Thunder Shock / Superpower, Double Iron Bash9.72100%
- 3Doublade Fury Cutter / Sacred Sword, Iron Head8.83100%
vs Shadow Beldum- 1Gholdengo Astonish / Shadow Ball, Focus Blast10.00100%
- 2
Lunala Shadow Claw / Shadow Ball, Moonblast10.00100% - 3Doublade Shadow Claw / Sacred Sword, Iron Head10.00100%
Power = share of the Rocket Pokemon's HP you remove per share of your own HP lost (2 = you win with half your HP left; under 1 = you faint first; capped at 10), to three decimals so near-ties show. Wins = share of fights won over every Pokemon and moveset counted. Time = fast-attack time (turns x 0.5 s) and the charged attacks thrown by both sides. Each charged attack also pauses the battle for its minigame, so a counter that needs three charged attacks takes longer in real time than one that wins on fast attacks alone, even when its seconds look similar.
Slot 2 counters
You 0 shields, Rocket 0. Averaged over every Pokemon this slot can hold and every moveset it can roll.
Shadow LaironCP 4,416 · Atk 295 · Def 218 · HP 10212 movesets
Shadow SkarmoryCP 4,546 · Atk 279 · Def 247 · HP 1078 movesets
Shadow MetangCP 3,699 · Atk 261 · Def 195 · HP 1029 movesets
| # | Pokemon | Moves | Power | Wins | Time | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingambit | fightingLow Kick fightingFocus BlastdarkFoul Play | 5.145 | 92% | 7.0 s 1.2 charged | |
| 2 | Victini | normalQuick Attack fireV-createfireOverheat | 5.135 | 92% | 6.1 s 1.2 charged | |
| 3 | Magnezone | electricVolt Switch electricWild ChargeelectricZap Cannon | 4.899 | 100% | 6.6 s 1.2 charged | |
| 4 | Cobalion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 4.798 | 75% | 7.4 s 1.5 charged | |
| 5 | Melmetal | electricThunder Shock fightingDynamic PunchelectricThunderbolt | 4.685 | 100% | 7.7 s 1.3 charged | |
| 6 | Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 4.583 | 96% | 8.1 s 1.3 charged | |
| 7 | Keldeo | fightingLow Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSecret Sword | 4.483 | 100% | 5.8 s 1.0 charged | |
| 8 |  Necrozma (Dusk Mane) | psychicPsycho Cut darkDark PulsesteelIron Head | 4.156 | 83% | 7.6 s 1.5 charged | |
| 9 |  Metagross | ghostShadow Claw steelMeteor MashsteelFlash Cannon | 4.033 | 88% | 7.7 s 1.4 charged | |
| 10 |  Solgaleo | fireFire Spin fireFlamethrowersteelIron Head | 3.799 | 100% | 8.6 s 1.4 charged | |
| 11 | Shadow Heatran | fireFire Spin fireFire BlastgroundEarth Power | 3.647 | 96% | 7.9 s 1.0 charged | |
| 12 |  Kartana | bugFury Cutter fightingSacred SworddarkNight Slash | 3.530 | 88% | 6.7 s 1.3 charged |
Best for each Pokemon this slot can roll
vs Shadow Lairon- 1Cobalion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword8.09100%
- 2
Palkia Dragon Breath / Hydro Pump, Aqua Tail7.16100% - 3
Palkia (Origin) Dragon Breath / Hydro Pump, Aqua Tail7.16100%
vs Shadow Skarmory- 1Heatran Fire Spin / Fire Blast, Magma Storm6.15100%
- 2Raikou Thunder Shock / Wild Charge, Thunder5.74100%
- 3Magnezone Volt Switch / Wild Charge, Zap Cannon5.51100%
vs Shadow Metang- 1Kingambit Low Kick / Dark Pulse, Foul Play7.23100%
- 2Victini Quick Attack / V-create, Overheat6.78100%
- 3Necrozma (Dusk Mane) Psycho Cut / Dark Pulse, Sunsteel Strike6.77100%
Power = share of the Rocket Pokemon's HP you remove per share of your own HP lost (2 = you win with half your HP left; under 1 = you faint first; capped at 10), to three decimals so near-ties show. Wins = share of fights won over every Pokemon and moveset counted. Time = fast-attack time (turns x 0.5 s) and the charged attacks thrown by both sides. Each charged attack also pauses the battle for its minigame, so a counter that needs three charged attacks takes longer in real time than one that wins on fast attacks alone, even when its seconds look similar.
Slot 3 counters
You 0 shields, Rocket 0. Averaged over every Pokemon this slot can hold and every moveset it can roll.
Shadow AggronCP 6,459 · Atk 364 · Def 279 · HP 11324 movesets
Shadow Alolan SandslashCP 5,226 · Atk 328 · Def 215 · HP 11812 movesets
Shadow ProbopassCP 4,473 · Atk 256 · Def 297 · HP 1028 movesets
| # | Pokemon | Moves | Power | Wins | Time | Against |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cobalion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 7.785 | 100% | 5.0 s 1.0 charged | |
| 2 | Melmetal | electricThunder Shock fightingSuperpowerfightingDynamic Punch | 5.935 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged | |
| 3 | Virizion | fightingDouble Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSacred Sword | 5.515 | 100% | 5.0 s 1.0 charged | |
| 4 | Excadrill | groundMud Shot groundEarthquakegroundDrill Run | 5.137 | 96% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged | |
| 5 | Raikou | electricThunder Shock fightingAura SphereelectricWild Charge | 4.630 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged | |
| 6 |  Chesnaught | fightingLow Kick fightingSuperpowergrassFrenzy Plant | 4.360 | 96% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged | |
| 7 | Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) | steelMetal Claw fightingClose CombatsteelBehemoth Bash | 4.357 | 96% | 7.6 s 1.3 charged | |
| 8 | Jirachi | psychicConfusion fightingAura SpheresteelDoom Desire | 4.349 | 100% | 6.5 s 1.1 charged | |
| 9 | Zygarde (Complete) | darkBite groundBulldozedarkCrunch | 4.338 | 88% | 7.5 s 1.2 charged | |
| 10 | Keldeo | fightingLow Kick fightingClose CombatfightingSecret Sword | 4.338 | 100% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged | |
| 11 |  Snorlax | psychicPsywave fightingSuperpowergroundEarthquake | 4.294 | 96% | 6.2 s 1.1 charged | |
| 12 | Shadow Excadrill | groundMud Shot groundEarthquakegroundDrill Run | 4.290 | 96% | 5.5 s 1.0 charged |
Best for each Pokemon this slot can roll
vs Shadow Aggron- 1Cobalion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword6.56100%
- 2Melmetal Thunder Shock / Superpower, Dynamic Punch5.73100%
- 3Zamazenta (Crowned Shield) Metal Claw / Close Combat, Behemoth Bash4.53100%
vs Shadow Alolan Sandslash- 1Cobalion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword8.11100%
- 2Shadow Heatran Fire Spin / Fire Blast, Flamethrower5.9292%
- 3Melmetal Thunder Shock / Superpower, Dynamic Punch5.75100%
vs Shadow Probopass- 1Cobalion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword8.69100%
- 2Virizion Double Kick / Close Combat, Sacred Sword8.16100%
- 3Excadrill Mud Shot / Earthquake, Drill Run7.90100%
Power = share of the Rocket Pokemon's HP you remove per share of your own HP lost (2 = you win with half your HP left; under 1 = you faint first; capped at 10), to three decimals so near-ties show. Wins = share of fights won over every Pokemon and moveset counted. Time = fast-attack time (turns x 0.5 s) and the charged attacks thrown by both sides. Each charged attack also pauses the battle for its minigame, so a counter that needs three charged attacks takes longer in real time than one that wins on fast attacks alone, even when its seconds look similar.