Team Plasma Grunt (Trainer class)

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Team Plasma Grunt
プラズマだんのしたっぱ Team Plasma Underling
Black 2 White 2 Team Plasma Grunts.png
Art from Black 2 and White 2
Other names
Introduced in Generation V
Appears in Black, White, Black 2, and White 2
Gender Both
Counterpart {{{counterpart}}}
Notable members Aldith, Schwarz, Weiss, Barret
Whitley and her mother* (Adventures)
Togari (PMBW:HFAT)
Animated debut BW112|Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!
TCG debut [[(TCG)|]]
TCG card {{{card}}}
Manga debut An Odd Speech (Adventures)
Justice Trainer Shin Appears! (PMBW:HFAT)

A Team Plasma Grunt (Japanese: プラズマだんのしたっぱ Team Plasma Underling) is a type of Pokémon Trainer that first debuted in the Generation V games. They are members of Team Plasma. There are male and female versions. In Black and White, they dress similarly to knights from the Middle Ages. In Black 2 and White 2, the new team switched over to a uniform that is darker and more militaristic in appearance and functionality. However, the older uniform still exists in those games as well.

They tend to usually use Patrat, Sandile, Scraggy, Purrloin, and Trubbish along with their respective evolutions. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, they are seen with a more diverse pool of Pokémon, using Pokémon from other regions, mainly consisting of Poison-, Steel-, and Dark-type Pokémon. They share a majority of their non-Unova Pokémon with Team Rocket Grunts.

In the games

In Pokémon Black and White, Team Plasma Grunts act hypocritically, as they fight for Pokémon liberation yet keep their own Pokémon to battle with. They defend themselves by claiming their purposes are different from those of regular Trainers, whereas N seems to catch nearby wild Pokémon for battle and release them after, and the Seven Sages refrain from battling and call upon grunts instead. In fact, N, Ghetsis, and the Team Plasma Grunts are the only Team Plasma members to even battle the player. Although they preach living in peace with Pokémon, some of them still abuse Pokémon, such as two grunts kicking a Munna for its Dream Mist. They also treat Pokémon as tools, such as when one grunt states that N's Castle was built by overworking the Pokémon they had captured.

In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Team Plasma is broken into two different factions, each with different intentions. One faction still vows loyalty to N. They have seen the error of their ways and have decided to do good in Unova by setting up a safehouse in Driftveil City under the head of Rood and returning the Pokémon they stole to their Trainers, as well as taking care of the ones that have not been reclaimed. Some individual former members have gone on their own journeys to prove themselves such as Backpacker Mae at Victory Road. Ghetsis is the leader of the newer faction, which intends to take over Unova. Many Team Plasma members sided with Ghetsis and hold a grudge against their former leader N for his betrayal, and they wear their new uniforms as a sign of rebellion. Some grunts are clueless about the events that took place two years ago, hoping that N will someday return or have joined for the sake of continuing their careers. After the defeat of Ghetsis, Colress disbands the new Team Plasma.

Appearance

Spr BW Plasma Grunt M.pngSpr BW Plasma Grunt F.png Spr B2W2 Plasma Grunt M.pngSpr B2W2 Plasma Grunt F.png
Sprites from
Black and White
Sprites from
Black 2 and White 2
Team Plasma M BW OD.pngTeam Plasma F BW OD.png Team Plasma M OD.pngTeam Plasma F OD.png
Overworld sprites from
Generation V
Overworld sprites from
Black 2 and White 2

Artwork

Black White Team Plasma Grunts.png
Official artwork from
Black and White

Trainer list

Pokémon Black and White


Pokémon Black 2 and White 2


In the anime

In the main series

Team Plasma Grunts (Aldith in the center) in the anime

Several Plasma Grunts made an appearance in Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!, debuting in their new outfits. They were protecting Colress while he was conducting his research of how to control wild Pokémon with special sonic devices. After Team Rocket had arrived and stolen his research data, Colress and the grunts left the location, destroying the place with a self-destruct mechanism as they did. They also served a payback for Team Rocket for their deeds by blowing up their balloon with a missile fired from their aircraft, sending the trio blasting off again.

They were originally supposed to appear in their older uniforms in BW023 (unaired) and BW024 (unaired) in a confrontation with Team Rocket, but the episode was postponed due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and, as of Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!, retconned from continuity.

Unlike previous villainous teams in the anime, some Plasma Grunts have been referred to by name. Aldith, a grunt based on the female Plasma Grunt design from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, has been assisting Colress and seems to have a slightly higher position amongst the grunts. Two male grunts, Schwarz and Weiss, served as antagonistic characters of the day, attacking N when he tried to free an injured Braviary. In Secrets From Out of the Fog!, Barret appeared, a grunt based on the male Plasma Grunt design from Pokémon Black 2 and White 2. He, with two other grunts, attacked the house where N, Anthea, and Concordia were hiding. Like Aldith, he seems to have a slightly higher position than the other grunts.

Multiple Team Plasma Grunts appeared in Genesect and the Legend Awakened, in a flashback explaining the origins of the Genesect Army.

Pokémon

Currently owned

This article is missing information on this character's Japanese voice actor and English voice actor.
You can help by adding this information.


Magnemite (×2)
Team Plasma's Magnemite

A Plasma Grunt used a Magnemite to slow Ash and his friends down, before retreating into the abandoned observatory Colress was using as the site of his research. It was later used again by the same grunt in Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!, in an attempt to fight off Team Rocket.

Another Plasma Grunt used a Magnemite in Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!, alongside Barret's Magnezone, during Team Plasma's assault on the White Ruins.

Magnemite's only known move is Sonic Boom.

Golbat (×2)
Team Plasma's Golbat
Debut Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!
Voice actors
Japanese Kensuke Sato
English Kensuke Sato

A Plasma Grunt used a Golbat to slow Ash and his friends down, before retreating into the abandoned observatory Colress was using as the site of his research. It was later used again by the same grunt in Meowth, Colress and Team Rivalry!, in an attempt to fight off Team Rocket.

Another Plasma Grunt used a Golbat in Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!, during Team Plasma's assault on the White Ruins.

Golbat's only known move is Shadow Ball.

Muk
Plasma Grunt's Muk
Debut Secrets From Out of the Fog!
Voice actors
Japanese
English Tom Wayland

The same Plasma Grunt who used Magnemite in Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot! used a Muk while battling against Ash and his friends, who were trying to stop the grunts from getting to N, Anthea, and Concordia. Muk battled against Iris's Excadrill and was finally defeated with a Focus Blast.

Muk's only known move is Sludge Bomb.

Liepard (multiple)
Team Plasma's Liepard
Debut Secrets From Out of the Fog!
Voice actors
Japanese
English Erica Schroeder

A Liepard was to have appeared in the second of the two skipped episodes, in which it would have attacked Team Rocket's masquerade party from a helicopter. It would also later be used to battle Jessie's Woobat.

The same Plasma Grunt who used Golbat in Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot! used a Liepard while battling against Ash and his friends, who were trying to stop the grunts from getting to N, Anthea, and Concordia. Liepard battled against Cilan's Pansage and was eventually defeated with a Bullet Seed.

Several Plasma Grunts used multiple Liepard in Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!, during Team Plasma's assault on the White Ruins.

Liepard's known moves are Hyper Beam and Shadow Ball.

Bisharp
Plasma Grunt's Bisharp
Debut Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!
Voice actors
Japanese
English Jason Griffith

A single Plasma Grunt used a Bisharp in Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!, during Team Plasma's assault on the White Ruins.

None of Bisharp's moves are known.

Zangoose (multiple)
Team Plasma's Zangoose

Several Plasma Grunts used multiple Zangoose in Ash and N: A Clash of Ideals!, during Team Plasma's assault on the White Ruins.

None of Zangoose's moves are known.

Escaped
Genesect Army
Genesect Army
Debut Genesect and the Legend Awakened
Voice actors
Japanese See main page
English See main page
Main article: Genesect Army

These five Genesect were recreated by Team Plasma from fossils, but rebelled against the grunts observing their awakening and escaped.

In Pokémon Generations

Team Plasma Grunts in Pokémon Generations
Team Plasma Grunts in their new uniforms

The Team Plasma Grunts first appeared in The Uprising, in which they battled the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle when it was rising from the ground and surrounding the Pokémon League.

They reappeared in The Frozen World, in which they attacked Opelucid City. Multiple Grunts fought Drayden while others were seen aboard the Plasma Frigate. In this episode, the Grunts were wearing their Black 2 and White 2 uniforms.

Pokémon

Gigalith (multiple)
Team Plasma's Gigalith
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Gigalith were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Gigalith's moves are known.

Scolipede & Whirlipede (multiple)
Team Plasma's Scolipede and Whirlipede
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Scolipede and Whirlipede were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Scolipede's are known. Whirlipede's only known move is Rollout.

Sigilyph (multiple)
Team Plasma's Sigilyph
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Sigilyph were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Sigilyph's moves are known.

Liepard (multiple)
Team Plasma's Liepard
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Liepard were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle. They reappeared in The Frozen World, in which they fought Drayden's Haxorus during Team Plasma's attack on Opelucid City.

Liepard's only known move is Hyper Beam.

Mandibuzz (multiple)
Team Plasma's Mandibuzz
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Mandibuzz were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Mandibuzz's moves are known.

Krokorok (multiple)
Team Plasma's Krokorok
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Krokorok were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Krokorok's moves are known.

Seismitoad (multiple)
Team Plasma's Seismitoad
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Seismitoad were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Seismitoad's moves are known.

Amoonguss (multiple)
Team Plasma's Amoonguss
Debut The Uprising

Multiple Amoonguss were used to battle against Iris and the Unova Gym Leaders at N's Castle.

None of Amoonguss's moves are known.

In the manga

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

Team Plasma Grunts in the Black & White arc
Team Plasma Grunts in the Black 2 & White 2 arc

Two Team Plasma Grunts made their first appearance in An Odd Speech, where they accidentally disturbed the camping site of Black and White while they were building a stage. After showing them that they have the proper permit to build the stage, Black and White apologized for sleeping there and moved to another location to let them finish building.

Three female Plasma Grunts made an appearance at the Dreamyard in Battle at the Dreamyard, where they captured Black's Munna, Musha. After tracking them down, Black faced the grunts in battle and defeated them, retrieving his Musha in the process.

The same three Grunts return in The Mystery of the Missing Fossil, where they steal the Dragon Fossil held in the Nacrene Museum. Using a Cofagrigus to manipulate the skeleton, they were able to make it walk around as if it was alive. They were stopped when Black and Burgh defeated the Cofagrigus.

A Plasma Grunt took Bianca's Litwick in Big City Battles with the help of his Amoonguss. Black, Iris, White, and Burgh help Bianca retrieved her missing Pokémon by defeating the Amoonguss with the help of Black's Nite.

Three other Plasma Grunts appeared in At Liberty on Liberty Garden at Liberty Garden, trying to capture the Victini living there. However, the Grunts were stopped thanks to Black and his team.

Multiple Plasma Grunts appeared during the team's invasion of Nacrene Museum, and after N's Castle emerged around the Unova Pokémon League complex. Whitley, who debuted in A Difficult Parting, as well as her mother, are two of the Team Plasma Grunts who subsequently escape capture. Whitley would later become a Pokédex holder in the Black 2 & White 2 arc.

In Unforgettable Memories, it was revealed that Colress designed the new Team Plasma uniform.

Pokémon

Currently owned
Timburr (multiple)
Team Plasma's Timburr

These Timburr were used to build a stage for an upcoming speech in Accumula Town. Mistaking them for attackers, Black stopped one of them but apologized once he realized his mistake.

None of Timburr's moves are known.

Gothorita (×2)
Team Plasma's Gothorita

Team Plasma has two Gothorita. They battled Black's Nite, Musha, and Tula as a way to occupy them so Team Plasma can capture Victini. The Gothorita end up being taken out by Black's Pokémon.

None of Gothorita's moves are known.

Gothitelle
Team Plasma's Gothitelle

While Team Plasma was at Liberty Garden to catch Victini, one of the grunts had Gothitelle create a psychic force field to prevent anyone from leaving the island. Later, it hypnotized the people (except for Black, White, and Team Plasma themselves) to drive them away. Afterwards, Gothitelle went after the Victini with Black's Brav on the trail. Gothitelle was able to dodge most of Brav's attacks and severely hurt him after he stood in front of Victini to protect it. However, Gothitelle ended up getting hit by Brav when he received a power-up from Victini earlier and finishes Gothitelle off with Brave Bird, defeating it. With Gothitelle defeated, both the psychic force field and the hypnosis wear off. With everything back to normal, Team Plasma withdraws from Liberty Garden.

Gothitelle's only known move is Hypnosis*.

Maractus
Team Plasma's Maractus
Debut Sandstorm

A Team Plasma Grunt in disguise used a Maractus after Elite Four member Grimsley discovered the grunt was not one of the actual workers. Grimsley took out Maractus using his Bisharp's Fury Cutter.

Maractus's known moves are Petal Dance and Cotton Guard.

Vanillite
Team Plasma's Vanillite

Vanillite was sent out to attack Black at the Cold Storage. By creating a wall of ice that acted like mirrors, Vanillite managed to confuse Black. By using Berries to focus Nite's flames, Black managed to melt the ice and quickly knocked Vanillite out.

None of Vanillite's moves are known.

Beartic (×2)
Team Plasma's Beartic

Two Beartic were sent out to attack Black at the Cold Storage after Vanillite was defeated. By using their ice attacks, they prevented Black's Nite from attacking. After Black and Cheren rescued Cheren's Snivy, the Beartic were defeated by a combination of Grass and Fire Pledge.

Beartic's only known move is Icicle Crash.

Purrloin
Team Plasma's Purrloin
Debut Homecoming

Team Plasma used this Purrloin during the battle at the Pokémon League.

None of Purrloin's moves are known.

Frillish
Team Plasma's Frillish

Frillish was used to battle against Hugh in order to liberate the Purrloin he had gotten for his sister. Frillish was able to attack Purrloin, forcing Hugh's sister to recall it back into its Poké Ball, allowing the Grunts to grab it before it could go back to her hand.

None of Frillish's moves are known.

Deino
Team Plasma's Deino

Deino was used to battle against Hugh in order to liberate the Purrloin he had gotten for his sister. It defeated Hugh by charging into him and knocking him to the ground.

None of Deino's are known.

Tornadus
Team Plasma's Tornadus
Team Plasma's Tornadus

Tornadus was used to attack Giallo on Route 20. With the Reveal Glass, Tornadus was able to turn into its Therian Forme, but was interrupted by Blake. With the combined might of Dewott and Keldemaru, Blake froze Tornadus, forcing the Grunts to recall it and escape.

Tornadus's only known move is Air Slash, and its Ability in its Incarnate Forme is Prankster.

Muk (multiple)
Team Plasma's Muk
Debut PS535

These Muk were used to break into the Castelia Sewers. When Blake, Whitley, Hugh, and Roxie broke into the sewers in order to take back the Karrablast they stole, the Muk were used to attack the group.

None of their moves are known.

Formerly owned
Watchog
Team Plasma's Watchog

Watchog was used to attack Black during its debut appearance so the three grunts could steal his Musha. Since Black only saw its striped pattern when he was attacked, he mistook the pattern as the face of a much larger Pokémon. Later, Watchog battled Black again, but it was defeated when Black exposed its true form which allowed him to know where to attack. Afterwards, it was adopted by Fennel and Amanita.

None of Watchog's moves are known.

In the Pocket Monsters BW manga

The grunts made various appearances in Pocket Monsters BW.

In the Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder manga

The grunts have made some minor appearances. Shin encountered Togari who was a recurring grunt.

In the Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~ manga

Arata first encountered the Team Plasma grunts in a forest near Aspertia City.

Pokémon

050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Images

Eelektross
Debut ANL1

While Cheren as looking for his friend in a forest that Arata was in, Eelektross appeared. It was able to defeat Cheren's Samurott, after the two jumped in the way of Eelektross's attack, and Keldeo.

Seviper
Debut ANL3

Seviper was sent out to battle Genesect. Seviper was unable to continue as it was trapped under fallen rocks and as Genesectt was about to finish it off, Arata prevented Seviper from getting hit by getting its Poké Ball and giving it to the shorter Team Plasma grunt who was able to recall Seviper.

In the Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends manga

Various Team Plasma grunts appeared in Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends.

Pokémon

050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Images

Woobat (×2)
Debut MWL1

One of the grunts sent out Woobat to battle Touya's Dewott. Woobat was beaten by Dewott which caused it to evolve into Samurott. Another Woobat reappeared later on.

Watchog
Debut MWL1

One of the grunts sent out Watchog to battle Touya's Dewott. Watchog was beaten by Dewott which caused it to evolve into Samurott.

Scraggy
Debut MWL1

Scraggy was with Team Plasma while they were at the Icirrus Gym.

Krookodile
Debut MWL1

Krookodile was with Team Plasma while they were at the Icirrus Gym.

Liepard
Debut MWL1

Liepard was with Team Plasma while they were at the Icirrus Gym.

Stolen
Minccino
Debut MWL1

A Minccino belonging to a little girl was stolen by Team Plasma. Touya went after the grunts who had the Minccino and battled the grunts. After defeating the grunts, Touya was able to retrieve Minccino and returned it to the little girl.

None of Minccino's moves are known.

In the TCG

This is a listing of cards mentioning or featuring Team Plasma Grunts in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Related cards
Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format.
Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats.
Card Type English
Expansion
Rarity # Japanese
Expansion
Rarity #
Team Plasma Grunt Su Plasma Storm Uncommon 125/135 Plasma Gale U 065/070
      Team Plasma's Powered Half Deck   015/017
      Team Plasma Battle Gift Set   014/016
      BW-P Promotional cards   176/BW-P
 


Trivia

In other languages

Language Title
France Flag.png French Sbire Plasma
Germany Flag.png German Team Plasma Rüpel
Italy Flag.png Italian Seguace Plasma
South Korea Flag.png Korean 플라스마단 조무래기 Peullaseuma-dan Jomuraegi
Brazil Flag.png Brazilian Portuguese Grunhido da Equipe Plasma
Spain Flag.png Spanish Eq. Plasma Recluta



Grunts
Team Rocket GruntTeam Aqua GruntTeam Magma Grunt
Team Galactic GruntTeam Plasma GruntTeam Flare Grunt
Team Skull GruntTeam Rainbow Rocket Grunt
Team GO Rocket GruntTeam Yell GruntTeam Star Grunt
Trainer classes in the Pokémon core series
Unova Ace TrainerArtistBackersBackpackerBakerBattle GirlBikerBlack BeltChampionClerk
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NurseNursery AideParasol LadyPilotPokéfanPKMN BreederPKMN RangerPokémon Trainer*Policeman
PreschoolerPsychicRich BoyRoughneckSchool KidScientistSmasherSocialiteStrikerSubway Boss
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Pokéstar Studios only:B2W2
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Project CharacterDex logo.png This Trainer Class article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games.