Sutikkun first appeared in the Sword & Shield arc, where it got its stick repaired by Sōdo. Later that day, it was used in a mock Raid Battle to help teach Marvin about battling. Grookey attacked a holographic Dynamaxed Pangoro with Leafage alongside Shirudomiria's Scorbunny's Ember. This showed Marvin how to look for openings in battles.
While traveling, the group's truck accidentally run over a group of Drednaw, resulting in a flat tire. While trying to find the cause of it, the Drednaw attacked. Scorbunny was able to distract two of them, though one chomped down on Grookey's stick. Grookey refused to let go, resulting in a tug of war. Grookey eventually won when another Drednaw charged into the one holding Grookey's stick, allowing the Chimp Pokémon to knock them both out.
Later, Sōdo decided to give his team nicknames in order to distinguish them from other Pokémon of the same species. Choosing to name them after the gear they used, Grookey was called Sutikkun. Later during the day, a pair of Team Yell Grunts tried to destroy the new uniforms that Sōdo and Shirudomiria received. While Ransun and Scorbunny distracted them, Sutikkun snuck behind the fight and directly attacked the grunts, driving them towards a Pokémon Den. This allowed its Trainer to push the grunts into it and force them into a Max Raid Battle against a wild Gurdurr.
