Grubbin
Grubbin is a Bug-type Pokémon, the Larva Pokémon, number 736 (#0736) in the National Pokédex. It was introduced in Generation 7 and comes from the Alola region. It is 0.4 m tall and weighs 4.4 kg.
Grubbin is the Larva Pokémon, a small Bug type with jaws powerful enough to break thick tree limbs. It spits sticky thread to swing between trees and to pin down opponents, and it is the first stage of a line that picks up the Electric type.
How to pronounce Grubbin
Grubbin is pronounced GRUB-in. The capital letters show the stressed syllable.
Listen to Grubbin said out loud:
In Japanese it is アゴジムシ (Agojimushi).
Hear every other name on the Pokémon pronunciation guide.
Lore
Biology
Grubbin is 0.4 m tall and weighs 4.4 kg, a white, grub-like larva with three leg-like nubs down each side and two big yellow mandibles tipped with orange. Those jaws serve as a weapon, a shovel and a straw: it digs nests, snaps branches and scrapes bark for sap. Sticky thread from its mouth lets it swing from branches and stops opponents so it can seize them.
Behaviour
Grubbin normally lives underground, and the Pokédex warns that putting a hand into its nest earns you a bite. It gathers near Electric Pokémon, which the Pokédex says helps it avoid attacks from birds, and natural enemies such as Rookidee may flee rather than risk its jaws.
Habitat
It nests in forest soil. In Alola it is found on Routes 1, 4, 5 and 6, and in Scarlet and Violet it is wild only in Kitakami, in The Teal Mask. It is not available in Legends: Z-A.
Diet
It loves sweet tree sap, which it scrapes from bark with its jaws.
Powers
Its Ability is Swarm, which strengthens its Bug moves when its HP runs low. It bites with Vise Grip, Bug Bite and Crunch, slows foes with String Shot and Sticky Web, and learns the Electric move Spark at level 21.
Name origin
Grubbin may combine 'grub' with 'grubbing' (to dig or scavenge), and its plug-like shape may add a pun on 'plug in'. The Japanese name is Agojimushi (アゴジムシ), which may combine ago ('jaw') and jimushi ('grub').
Design inspiration
Hitoshi Ariga designed Grubbin and its evolutions. It appears to be based on a beetle grub, and it resembles a two-pronged electrical plug, which fits the Electric type it gains when it evolves. These are fan readings.
Evolution notes
Grubbin evolves into Charjabug at level 20.
In the games
Grubbin is an early find on Alola's routes in Sun and Moon, where it first appeared, and it also appears in Sword and Shield. In Scarlet and Violet it arrives with The Teal Mask, in 1-star Tera Raid Battles as well as the wild.
In the anime
A wild Grubbin debuted in 'Alola to New Adventure!', when Ash chased it underground and lost it. In 'First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!' another one escaped his Poké Ball and burrowed away.
Fun facts
- It shares the category Larva Pokémon only with Blipbug, and each is the only pure Bug type of its generation (VII and VIII).
- Bulbapedia says Grubbin was made into a wind-back toy in McDonald's 2017 Pokémon promotion.
- Its only Egg Moves are Harden and Discharge, and Joltik can pass Discharge down to it.
Base stats
- HP: 47
- Attack: 62
- Defense: 45
- Sp. Atk: 55
- Sp. Def: 45
- Speed: 46
Grubbin’s base stat total is 300. Its highest stat is Attack.
Type matchups
What is Grubbin weak to?
Grubbin takes extra damage from Fire (2×), Flying (2×), Rock (2×) moves.
It resists Grass (½×), Fighting (½×), Ground (½×).
Evolution
How does Grubbin evolve?
Grubbin evolves into Charjabug at level 20.
The whole family: Grubbin, Charjabug, Vikavolt.
Abilities
- Swarm: Strengthens Bug moves to inflict 1.5× damage at 1/3 max HP or less.
Moves
Moves Grubbin learns by level up in Scarlet / Violet
| Level | Move | Type | Category | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vise Grip | Normal | Physical | 55 |
| 1 | Mud-Slap | Ground | Special | 20 |
| 5 | String Shot | Bug | Status | — |
| 10 | Bug Bite | Bug | Physical | 60 |
| 15 | Bite | Dark | Physical | 60 |
| 21 | Spark | Electric | Physical | 65 |
| 25 | Sticky Web | Bug | Status | — |
| 30 | X-Scissor | Bug | Physical | 80 |
| 35 | Crunch | Dark | Physical | 80 |
| 40 | Dig | Ground | Physical | 80 |
TM moves (30)
Grubbin can learn 30 moves from TMs in Scarlet / Violet: Take Down, Mud-Slap, Protect, Struggle Bug, Pounce, Charge Beam, Facade, Mud Shot, Endure, Volt Switch, Rain Dance, Dig, Sleep Talk, Light Screen, Thunder Wave, Poison Jab, Rest, Substitute, X-Scissor, Crunch, Thunderbolt, Baton Pass, Electric Terrain, Wild Charge, Tera Blast, Charge, Bug Bite, Lunge, Electroweb, Skitter Smack.
Egg moves (2):Discharge, Harden.
Breeding & training
- Gender: 50% male, 50% female.
- Egg groups: Bug.
- Egg cycles: 15 (steps to hatch, Scarlet/Violet: 1,920).
- Catch rate: 255 out of 255.
- Base friendship (Gen 8 onward): 50.
- Growth rate: Medium (1,000,000 experience points to reach level 100).
- Defeating it gives 1 Attack effort value.
- Base experience yield: 60.
Pokédex entries
It uses its big jaws to dig nests into the forest floor, and it loves to feed on sweet tree sap. (Shield)
Its natural enemies, like Rookidee, may flee rather than risk getting caught in its large mandibles that can snap thick tree branches. (Sword)
It spits a sticky thread to stop opponents in their tracks, and then it grabs them in its sharp, sturdy mandibles to take them down. (Ultra Moon)
If you find its nest, you shouldn't stick your hand inside. You'll get bitten by an irritated Grubbin. (Ultra Sun)
They often gather near places frequented by electric Pokémon in order to avoid being attacked by bird Pokémon. (Moon)
Its strong jaw enables it to scrape trees and slurp out the sap. It normally lives underground. (Sun)
Names around the world
| Japanese | アゴジムシ |
|---|---|
| Romaji | Agojimushi |
| French | Larvibule |
| German | Mabula |
| Spanish | Grubbin |
| Italian | Grubbin |
| Korean | 턱지충이 |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 强颚鸡母虫 |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 強顎雞母蟲 |
Trivia
- Taller than 11% of all Pokémon (0.4 m).
- Heavier than 14% of all Pokémon (4.4 kg).
- Base stat total 300, ranked #856 of 1,025.
- One of 92 Bug-type Pokémon (counting dual types).
- One of 107 gray Pokémon.
- Number 15 of 88 Pokémon introduced in Generation 7 (Alola).
- Part of an evolution family of 3 Pokémon.
- Can learn 37 different moves in Scarlet / Violet.
- Catch rate 255: about 33.3% per Poké Ball at full health.
- Appears in 6 distinct Pokédex entries.
Sources and fact-checking
- Stats, types, abilities, moves, evolutions, forms and Pokédex entries: PokéAPI open game data.
- Lore: written by pokee.si in our own words, researched from Bulbapedia: Grubbin (Pokémon), Serebii: Grubbin (Scarlet/Violet Pokédex).
- Pronunciation (GRUB-in): it follows how the English anime, games or official videos say it.
Last checked: . Every sentence of the lore was checked against Bulbapedia, Serebii and the game data.
Explore
Bug-type Pokémon · Alola region guide · Swarm ability · Compare Grubbin · Full Pokédex · Type chart · All moves
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