How To Get Grip Claws in Pokémon ORAS

by Jon Soluna

The Grip Claw is a held item that can only be obtained from wild Sandshrew. You can find this Pokémon in the Route 111 Desert and on Route 113. There is a 5% chance that each wild Sandshrew is holding a Grip Claw, so you can either capture it or steal the item from it.

The Route 111 Desert is only accessible once you get the Go-Goggles, which allows you to pass through the harsh sandstorm.

Alternatively, you can encounter a wild Sandshrew on Route 113 anywhere in the grass.

Getting Grip Claws

Before you begin your search for a wild Sandshrew, make sure to bring a Pokémon that knows the move Thief.

There is only a 5% chance that a Sandshrew is holding a Grip Claw, and with Thief, you don’t have to capture each Sandshrew just to check.

Tip: You can get TM46 Thief from a Team Magma/Aqua Grunt inside the Oceanic Museum in Slateport City.

Using the move Thief on a Sandshrew.

Just keep farming wild Sandshrew until you find one with the item, then you’ll be good to go.

Sandshrew Locations

Encountering a wild Sandshrew.

In the Hoenn region, you can encounter a wild Sandshrew from two locations: the Route 111 Desert and Route 113. See the table below for more details.

SCROLL

Sandshrew Locations
Location	Method	Encounter Rate
Route 111 – Desert	Walking	40%
Route 111 – Desert	Horde	100%
Route 113	Walking	35%

Route 111 – Desert

Route 111 is in central Hoenn, located north of Mauville City. To access the desert area of this route, you’ll need the Go-Goggles, a key item you can obtain after earning the Heat Badge from Gym Leader Flannery in Lavaridge Town.

The Lavaridge Town Pokémon Gym.

You have a 40% chance of encountering a wild Sandshrew in the Route 111 Desert, so it’s the best place to hunt for a Grip Claw.

Note: You’ll have access to Route 113 much earlier in the game before the Route 111 Desert.

Once you have the Go-Goggles, here’s where to go:

Step 1: Fly to Route 111. From the signboard, head northeast until you reach the corner. You’ll find the path that leads to the desert.

The Route 111 signboard.

Step 2: Once you’re in the desert, walk around in the darker sand until you encounter a wild Sandshrew.

Finding a Sandshrew in the Route 111 desert.

Route 113

Route 113 connects Route 111 and Fallarbor Town. From here, you can find a Sandshrew anywhere in the tall grass – but you only have a 35% chance of encountering one.

So the desert may be an easier location to farm for Sandshrew spawns.

Running around in the tall grass on Route 113.

What Does the Grip Claw Do?

The Grip Claw extends the duration of its holder’s binding moves.

Normally, binding moves last between 2 to 5 turns. But with the Grip Claw, they are guaranteed to last for 7 turns.

Pinsir using Bind on Machop.

Binding moves trap its target partially (it can still attack but it can’t be switched out, and the player can’t flee) while also dealing damage to it every turn.

In Gen VI, the following moves will benefit from the Grip Claw:

Bind
Clamp
Fire Spin
Infestation
Magma Storm
Sand Tomb
Whirlpool
Wrap

Note: If the targeted Pokémon has the ability Run Away or holds the item Smoke Ball, the trapping effect of binding moves is negated.

Zubat takes damage from Escavalier’s Infestation.

Another held item that buffs binding moves is the Binding Band.

While the Grip Claw increases the duration of these moves, the Binding Band boosts the damage taken by the constricted opponent every turn.

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Jon Soluna

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Jon is a game development student pursuing a career in video game writing. When he’s not working on his thesis, you could often find him playing open-world games, reading classic novels, rewatching Game of Thrones, or on occasion, playing Pokémon Alpha Sapphire on his old 3DS.

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