In Pokémon GO, facing off against Team GO Rocket Leaders—Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, and the notorious Giovanni—is a significant challenge. These battles can be tricky, as their Pokémon have varying strengths and weaknesses, requiring players to carefully strategize and prepare to secure a victory. This guide will walk you through each leader’s team composition, offer the best counter Pokémon, and provide tips on how to beat them easily.
Let’s break down the battle strategies for each Team Rocket Leader and finish with Giovanni, the ultimate challenge in Pokémon GO.
How to Beat Arlo in Pokémon GO
Arlo’s team can be a tough one to handle due to its diversity and powerful Pokémon. However, with the right counters, you can defeat him with ease.
Arlo’s Team Composition (October 2024)
- First Pokémon: His first Pokémon is Venonat.
- Second Pokémon: This can be one of three possible choices: Crobat, Magneton, or Umbreon.
- Third Pokémon: He will finish with either Scizor, Snorlax, or Salamence.
Best Counters for Arlo’s Pokémon
- Venonat (Bug/Poison-type):
Counter this Pokémon with Fire, Flying, Psychic, or Rock types.- Best Counters: Mewtwo (Psystrike), Moltres (Wing Attack + Sky Attack), Charizard (Fire Spin + Blast Burn).
- Crobat (Poison/Flying-type):
Use Electric, Psychic, Ice, or Rock-type Pokémon.- Best Counters: Raikou (Thunder Shock + Wild Charge), Magnezone (Spark + Wild Charge), Mewtwo (Psystrike).
- Magneton (Electric/Steel-type):
Magneton is weak to Fighting, Fire, and Ground.- Best Counters: Rhyperior (Mud-Slap + Earthquake), Groudon (Mud Shot + Earthquake), Machamp (Counter + Dynamic Punch).
- Umbreon (Dark-type):
Use Fighting, Fairy, or Bug-type Pokémon to counter Umbreon’s defenses.- Best Counters: Togekiss (Charm + Ancient Power), Sylveon (Charm + Moonblast), Machamp (Counter + Dynamic Punch).
- Scizor (Bug/Steel-type):
Scizor is highly susceptible to Fire-type attacks.- Best Counters: Charizard (Fire Spin + Blast Burn), Heatran (Fire Spin + Flamethrower), Moltres (Fire Spin + Overheat).
- Snorlax (Normal-type):
Take down Snorlax with Fighting-type moves.- Best Counters: Machamp (Counter + Dynamic Punch), Conkeldurr (Counter + Dynamic Punch), Lucario (Counter + Aura Sphere).
- Salamence (Dragon/Flying-type):
Use Ice, Dragon, Fairy, or Rock-type Pokémon to exploit Salamence’s weaknesses.- Best Counters: Garchomp (Dragon Tail + Outrage), Mamoswine (Powder Snow + Avalanche), Togekiss (Charm + Dazzling Gleam).
Strategy to Defeat Arlo
Start the battle with a Fire-type Pokémon like Charizard or Moltres to take down Venonat and Scizor. Switch to a Fighting-type like Machamp for heavier hitters like Umbreon or Snorlax. Use Electric or Ice-types for Crobat or Salamence to finish off the battle.
How to Beat Cliff in Pokémon GO
Cliff’s team focuses on bulky, powerful Pokémon. Here’s how you can counter his team effectively.
Cliff’s Team Composition (October 2024)
- First Pokémon: Grimer is Cliff’s starter.
- Second Pokémon: This can be Venusaur, Machamp, or Crobat.
- Third Pokémon: He will end with Tyranitar, Swampert, or Mamoswine.
Best Counters for Cliff’s Pokémon
- Grimer (Poison-type):
Grimer is weak to Ground and Psychic-type attacks.- Best Counters: Mewtwo (Confusion + Psystrike), Groudon (Mud Shot + Earthquake), Garchomp (Mud Shot + Earth Power).
- Venusaur (Grass/Poison-type):
Use Fire, Flying, Ice, or Psychic-types.- Best Counters: Charizard (Fire Spin + Blast Burn), Moltres (Wing Attack + Sky Attack), Mewtwo (Psystrike).
- Machamp (Fighting-type):
Machamp is vulnerable to Psychic, Flying, and Fairy attacks.- Best Counters: Togekiss (Charm + Ancient Power), Mewtwo (Psystrike), Sylveon (Charm + Moonblast).
- Crobat (Poison/Flying-type):
As previously mentioned, Electric, Ice, Rock, and Psychic-type Pokémon work best.- Best Counters: Raikou, Magnezone, Mewtwo.
- Tyranitar (Rock/Dark-type):
Counter with Fighting, Fairy, Ground, or Bug-types.- Best Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Groudon.
- Swampert (Water/Ground-type):
Use Grass-type Pokémon to easily counter Swampert.- Best Counters: Roserade (Razor Leaf + Grass Knot), Venusaur (Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant), Torterra (Razor Leaf + Frenzy Plant).
- Mamoswine (Ice/Ground-type):
Mamoswine is weak to Fighting, Steel, Fire, and Water.- Best Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr, Kyogre.
Strategy to Defeat Cliff
Start by countering Grimer with Ground or Psychic-types. For the second phase, if Venusaur appears, switch to a Fire-type; for Machamp, bring in Psychic or Fairy-types. In the final round, a Fighting-type like Machamp works well against Tyranitar and Mamoswine, while Grass-types like Roserade easily defeat Swampert.
How to Beat Sierra in Pokémon GO
Sierra’s team can deal heavy damage but has specific weaknesses that you can exploit.
Sierra’s Team Composition (October 2024)
- First Pokémon: Poliwag.
- Second Pokémon: This can be Exeggutor, Lapras, or Houndoom.
- Third Pokémon: Her final Pokémon will be Dragonite, Gardevoir, or Victreebel.
Best Counters for Sierra’s Pokémon
- Poliwag (Water-type):
Use Electric or Grass-types.- Best Counters: Raikou, Zekrom (Charge Beam + Wild Charge), Roserade (Razor Leaf + Grass Knot).
- Exeggutor (Grass/Psychic-type):
Exeggutor is weak to Bug, Fire, Flying, Dark, and Ghost-types.- Best Counters: Charizard, Moltres, Tyranitar (Bite + Crunch).
- Lapras (Water/Ice-type):
Use Electric, Grass, or Fighting-types.- Best Counters: Magnezone, Machamp, Roserade.
- Houndoom (Dark/Fire-type):
Counter with Water, Fighting, or Rock-types.- Best Counters: Kyogre (Waterfall + Surf), Machamp, Conkeldurr.
- Dragonite (Dragon/Flying-type):
Use Ice, Dragon, Fairy, or Rock-types.- Best Counters: Mamoswine, Togekiss, Garchomp.
- Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy-type):
Counter Gardevoir with Steel, Ghost, or Poison-types.- Best Counters: Metagross (Bullet Punch + Meteor Mash), Gengar (Shadow Claw + Shadow Ball), Magnezone (Mirror Shot).
- Victreebel (Grass/Poison-type):
Weak to Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic-type moves.- Best Counters: Charizard, Mewtwo, Moltres.
Strategy to Defeat Sierra
For Poliwag, use Electric or Grass-type counters like Raikou or Roserade. If Exeggutor appears, switch to Fire or Dark-types. In the final round, Ice or Fairy-types like Mamoswine or Togekiss can effectively take down Dragonite or Victreebel.
How to Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO
Giovanni is by far the most formidable of the Team Rocket Leaders, often using Legendary Pokémon.
Giovanni’s Team Composition (October 2024)
- First Pokémon: Persian.
- Second Pokémon: He will choose from Kangaskhan, Nidoking, or Garchomp.
- Third Pokémon: His final Pokémon will always be a Shadow Regirock.
Best Counters for Giovanni’s Pokémon
- Persian (Normal-type):
Use Fighting-type Pokémon to easily defeat Persian.- Best Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr.
- Kangaskhan (Normal-type):
Once again, Fighting-types work well against Kangaskhan.- Best Counters: Machamp, Conkeldurr, Lucario.
- Nidoking (Poison/Ground-type):
Nidoking is vulnerable to Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic-types.- Best Counters: Mewtwo, Kyogre, Garchomp.
- Garchomp (Dragon/Ground-type):
Use Ice, Fairy, or Dragon-types to take down Garchomp.- Best Counters: Mamoswine, Togekiss, Garchomp.
- Shadow Regirock (Rock-type):
Counter Regirock with Fighting, Ground, Steel, and Water-types.- Best Counters: Machamp, Groudon, Kyogre.
Strategy to Defeat Giovanni
Start by using Fighting-types to defeat Persian and Kangaskhan. If Nidoking appears, switch to a Psychic-type like Mewtwo. Finally, for Shadow Regirock, bring in Kyogre or Machamp to deal heavy damage and finish the battle.
FAQs about Beating Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, & Giovanni in Pokémon Go
Ans. Mewtwo, Machamp, Kyogre, and Togekiss are some of the best Pokémon to consistently counter the different Pokémon used by Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, and Giovanni.
Ans. Yes, it’s highly recommended to optimize your Pokémon’s movesets using Charged TMs and Fast TMs to ensure you have the best counters.
Ans. The Pokémon used by Team Rocket Leaders change periodically, often in line with game events or new updates.
Ans. Yes, you can rematch Team Rocket Leaders as long as you still have a Rocket Radar equipped.
Ans. Yes, shields are crucial to blocking powerful Charged Attacks from the leaders’ Pokémon, giving you a tactical advantage in the battle.
Conclusion…
Defeating Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, and Giovanni in Pokémon GO requires a well-rounded strategy that combines using the best counters for each phase of their teams. With proper preparation, optimized Pokémon movesets, and careful shield management, these battles become much easier to handle. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to defeat these formidable foes and continue progressing in Pokémon GO. Good luck, Trainers!