Team Plasma Grunt (Trainer class)

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. 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, , , , and 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 Pokémon. They share a majority of their non-Unova Pokémon with s.

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 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 Mae at. 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.

In the main series
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 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 and the  and, as of Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!, retconned from continuity.

Unlike previous villainous teams in the, 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. 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

 * See also: Aldith → Pokémon, Schwarz and Weiss → Pokémon, and Barret → Pokémon

In the Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 Animated Trailer
In the Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2 Animated Trailer, several Team Plasma Grunts appeared aboard the Plasma Frigate, where they surrounded, Hugh, and Cheren before they started battling.

In Pokémon Generations
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 🇺🇳.

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 uniforms.

In the Pokémon Adventures manga
Team Plasma Grunts debuted in the. Each of the Seven Sages has several Grunts working as their subordinates. The only exception is Ghetsis, who has the Shadow Triad as his subordinates.

Team Plasma Grunts debuted in An Odd Speech, where two prepared a stage for Team Plasma to use with a group of. The act of creating the stage disturbed and, who had been camping there for the night. After Black had stopped the Timburr, the Grunts revealed themselves and apologized for the inconvenience. After showing they have the proper permit to build the stage, Black and White apologized for the trouble and moved their camp to sleep elsewhere.

Multiple Team Plasma Grunts, including Gorm's subordinates appeared in Museum Showdown. They were tasked with finding the Dark Stone at the Nacrene Museum. They were stopped by Black, who attacked the Grunts while the Unova Gym Leaders were busy with the Shadow Triad. In Finding Truth, one Grunt disguised himself as Brycen to trick Black into revealing the location where the Dark Stone was kept. After opening the lock to the Dark Stone's safe, Ghetsis revealed himself and knocked Black unconscious. The Grunt then took the Dark Stone and presented it to Ghetsis, who later gave it to N.

When Team Plasma attacked the 🇺🇳 in Cold Hard Truth, several Team Plasma Grunts emerged from N's Castle and surrounded everyone inside the area. The Grunts, including Giallo's subordinates, proclaimed that the day would mark a new day for Team Plasma, as they are aided by N, the King of Team Plasma, who is aided by the power of. After the captured Gym Leaders were freed from Team Plasma's grasp, they and several other Trainers battled against the Grunts to save the League spectators.

After Team Plasma's defeat, several Team Plasma Grunts, including and her, escaped from N's Castle to avoid being arrested. Whitley would later become a Pokédex holder in the.

In Unforgettable Memories, two Team Plasma Grunts show Colress the new Team Plasma Grunt uniform.

In New Sword Player, Giallo was attacked by. After managed to  Tornadus, the Grunts controlling it recalled it and escaped.

In Angry Boy, Blake, Whitley, Hugh, and Roxie entered the Castelia Sewers after finding a man whose Pokémon was liberated by Team Plasma. After exploring the area, they found a room of Team Plasma Grunts, along with Bronius and Ryoku. Out of anger from his sister's Purrloin being stolen, Hugh rashly attacked the Grunts, leaving him open to be swarmed by the Grunts' Pokémon forcing to the group to scatter. Later, Whitley and Roxie were cornered by the Grunts, forcing Roxie to fight them off. Whitley managed to easily defeat the Grunts' Pokémon forcing them to release their liberated Pokémon and escape.

Gorm's subordinates
In Battle at the Dreamyard, Gorm's subordinates captured Black's Musha after it was lured to the Dreamyard by the lingering dreams of the people who once worked there. The three Grunts battled against Black in order to liberate Musha back into the wild, but Musha's love of Black's dreams caused it to run back to its Trainer. After being defeated, the Grunts ran away, leaving behind the they used to battle Black.

In The Mystery of the Missing Fossil, Gorm and his subordinates steal the Dragon Fossil from the. Using Gorm's to manipulate the skeleton, they were able to make it walk around as if it was alive. Black managed to track the thieves down with the help of Musha. They were defeated when Black and Burgh defeated Cofagrigus, preventing Gorm and the Grunts from controlling the skeleton. Afterward, Gorm and the Grunts escaped

Gorm's subordinates appeared in Museum Showdown, where they were tasked with finding the Dark Stone at the Nacrene Museum. They were stopped by Black, who attacked the Grunts while the Unova Gym Leaders were busy with the Shadow Triad. After the Gym Leaders were captured by Team Plasma, Gorm's subordinates and the other Grunts retreated.

In Frozen World, it was revealed that one of Gorm's subordinates used to work at a Pokémon Center.

Bronius's subordinate
In Big City Battles, Bronius's subordinate knocked unconscious in order to liberate her. After tracking the Grunt's tracks with Musha, Black and his friends found Bronius and his subordinates with a group of Pokémon liberated from their Trainers. Bronius and his subordinates were eventually defeated, forcing them to escape while leaving the stolen Pokémon behind.

Rood's subordinates
Rood's subordinates appeared in At Liberty on Liberty Garden, where they were tasked with capturing at Liberty Garden. By using 's, the Grunts kept the people on the island at bay, preventing them from interfering with Victini's capture. Black and White arrived on Liberty Garden tasked with gathering information on Victini, only to find it injured, having avoided the Grunts' capture for three days. By being infused with Victini's power, Black's Brav defeated the Grunts' Pokémon, forcing the Grunts to flee.

In Cold Storage Battle, two Grunts were seen in a flashback of Whitley's time as a member of Team Plasma.

In Frozen World, two of Rood's subordinates appeared alongside Rood at Castelia City, which had just been frozen over by the Plasma Frigate. There, they met with, who revealed that Hugh, a classmate of hers, had found the pendant containing the microchip that could counteract the Colress Machine. After searching Hugh's person, the Grunts discovered that he did not actually have the microchip on hand, which makes Whitley realize it must still be back at the Trainers' School. Whitley is reluctant to leave her classmates behind due to the danger presented by the Plasma Frigate, so Rood commands his subordinates to stay behind to protect the class. Rood also reveals a that was friends with N and has it  into Whitley so that her classmates may be fooled into thinking she is still with them.

In PS541, the two subordinates assisted Whitley's classmates at the Marine Tube alongside N's Zorua, still disguised as Whitley. There, they helped the class warm themselves up from the cold created from Castelia's freezing.

Ryoku's subordinate
In Sandstorm, one of Ryoku's subordinates disguised himself as a to blend in with the people working at. After being outed by Grimsley, the Grunt battled the Elite Four member, but was defeated and his disguise destroyed. Grimsley discovered a paper on the Grunt's person revealing that he was on a mission with Ryoku, but decided not to act. The Grunt was later knocked out, tied up, and given to Black and White so that he may be sent to the proper authorities. While Black and White were away at the Pokémon Musical, the Grunt was found by his allies and freed.

In Frozen World, it was revealed Ryoku's subordinate used to be an.

Zinzolin's subordinates
In Fight in a Cold Climate, Zinzolin's subordinates attacked and stole his. They escaped to the Cold Storage with Black and Cheren following after them. With their Ice Pokémon, the Grunts had the advantage during the battle, but were defeated with a combination of and. Defeated, the Grunts released Tranquill back to Cheren and ran away.

In Cold Storage Battle, the Grunts were seen in a flashback of Whitley's time as a member of Team Plasma.

In Frozen World, it was revealed Zinzolin's subordinates used to be a Day-Care Couple who worked alongside. They joined Team Plasma after seeing many Pokémon that were abused by humans.

Giallo's subordinates
Giallo's subordinates were a part of the group of Team Plasma Grunts that emerged from N's Castle when When Team Plasma attacked the 🇺🇳 in Cold Hard Truth.

In Unforgettable Memories, Giallo's subordinates are revealed to have attacked Hugh as a child and stole the he gave to his younger sister. This was the very first liberation done by Team Plasma.

In the Pocket Monsters BW manga
The grunts made various appearances in.

In the Pocket Monsters BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder manga
The grunts have made some minor appearances. 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.

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

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

Trivia

 * The Team Plasma Grunt battled in the Relic Castle during the post-game has the highest-level Pokémon ever used by a villainous team Grunt, with his  being at level 64.

In other languages
Team Plasma Rüpel Sbire Plasma Seguace Plasma プラズマだんのしたっぱ 等离子队手下