Pokemon Go Team Rocket Grunt counters and lineups in August 2024

Understanding Team Go Rocket Grunts in Pokémon Go: Strategies and Tips

In the dynamic universe of Pokémon Go, Team Go Rocket Grunts have become a familiar adversary. While the label of “villains” may seem a bit intense, it’s more accurate to view them as minor annoyances that can be tackled to enhance gameplay. They slow down specific activities but also provide players with engaging tasks multiple times a day, thanks to Team Go Rocket Balloons.

Confronting these Grunts is essential as it opens the door to collecting Shadow Pokémon, the second strongest category in Pokémon Go, surpassed only by Mega Pokémon. To truly progress, players must first defeat the Team Go Rocket Leaders—Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff—before ultimately taking on the iconic Giovanni.

In this article, we will guide you through the various Grunts available (there are many, each utilizing different Pokémon), alongside valuable general strategies, tips, and tricks that will aid you in becoming a top-tier trainer—unlike Arlo.

Team Go Rocket Grunt Lineups and Counters

The Team Go Rocket Grunts frequently update their Pokémon lineups, so if you haven’t logged on for a while, be prepared to encounter a new array of opponents. This fresh selection not only requires players to stay vigilant but also adds a thrilling element, as the rewards for beating these Grunts are constantly evolving.

Below, you’ll find an overview of the distinct types of Grunts and the recommended counters to emerge victorious against them, as of August 2024. An all-purpose team suggestion is included for those who prefer simplicity.

All-Purpose Counter Team

For those seeking a versatile lineup to face many situations, consider our all-around recommendation. However, there are some considerations to keep in mind before you commit to this approach.

This strategy necessitates finding a perfect 15/15/15 Rhyperior, Lucario, and Charizard. Along with powering them up and teaching them a second Charged move, you’ll maximize damage potential and effectively counter anything Team Go Rocket throws your way.

The advantage of this method is that you only need to manage three Pokémon rather than nearly sixty! You also won’t need to reference the listing every time you stumble upon a new Grunt.

On the downside, this method is resource-heavy. If any of your selected Pokémon receive a move change that significantly reduces their effectiveness, or if a better option emerges, you’ll simply need to regroup and create a new Pokémon team.

Recommended Team:

1. Rhyperior with Mud Slap (Ground, Fast), Rock Wrecker (Rock, Charged), and Surf (Water, Charged)
2. Mega Charizard with Fire Spin (Fire, Fast), Blast Burn (Fire, Charged), and Dragon Claw (Dragon, Charged)
3. Lucario with Counter (Fighting, Fast), Shadow Ball (Ghost, Charged), and Power-Up Punch (Fighting, Charged).

Leading with Rhyperior allows you to consistently unleash Mud Slap unless it’s advantageous to swap to either Charizard or Lucario, based on the matchup. When swapping, keep in mind that you’ll create a brief pause during which the Grunt will momentarily reconsider their strategy.

Lucario’s Power-Up Punch becomes advantageous because it’s a swift attack that increases in effectiveness as Lucario grows stronger. Shadow Ball serves as an extra layer of coverage. Charizard adds diversity to the strategy, and its ability to Mega Evolve offers a notable increase in attack power.

If you seek tailored strategies, here’s the lineup as of August 2024 for Grunt types.

Bug Grunt Counters and Lineups

Weaknesses of Bug Types: Vulnerable to Fire, Flying, and Rock-type attacks.
Resistances of Bug Types: Resistant to Ground, Grass, and Fighting-type attacks.

Typical Pokémon Lineup:

1. Shadow Scyther, Shadow Shuckle, or Shadow Scizor
2. Shadow Dwebble, Shadow Anorith, or Shadow Beedrill
3. Shadow Scyther, Shadow Skorupi, or Shadow Forretress

Catchable Pokémon: Shadow Scyther, Shadow Anorith, Shadow Shuckle, or Shadow Dwebble.

Best Counters: Mega Charizard and Moltres are prime choices due to their Fire/Flying-type advantage against Scizor and Forretress, which are double vulnerable to Fire-type moves.

Dark Grunt Counters and Lineups

Weaknesses of Dark Types: Vulnerable to Bug, Fairy, and Fighting-type attacks.
Resistances of Dark Types: Resistant to Psychic, Ghost, and Dark-type moves.

Typical Pokémon Lineup:

1. Shadow Alolan Rattata, Shadow Stunky, or Shadow Houndour
2. Shadow Houndour, Shadow Raticate, or Shadow Alolan Muk
3. Shadow Stunky, Shadow Alolan Muk, or Shadow Skuntank

Catchable Pokémon: Shadow Houndour, Shadow Stunky, or Shadow Alolan Rattata.

Best Counters: Ground-type Pokémon like Groudon and Garchomp work effectively, and it’s advantageous to bring a Fairy or Fighting-type for opposing Rattata.

Expert-Level Grunt Counters and Lineups

The Expert Grunts vary between Male and Female, presenting distinct challenges based on their Pokémon types. The Male Grunt emphasizes Grass, Fire, and Water-type Pokémon, while the Female Grunt often features formidable Shadow Snorlax teams.

For the Male Grunt, expect:

1. Shadow Chikorita, Shadow Cyndaquil, or Shadow Totodile.
2. Shadow Bayleaf, Shadow Quilava, or Shadow Croconaw.
3. Shadow Meganium, Shadow Typhlosion, or Shadow Feraligatr.

Counter Strategy: Choose powerful Grass, Water, and Fire-type Pokémon, adjusting your primary attacker as needed.

For the Female Grunt:

1. Shadow Snorlax.
2. Shadow Gardevoir or Shadow Poliwrath.
3. Another Shadow Snorlax.

Counter Strategy: Bring your strongest Fighting Types, ideally including Mega Lucario or Sacred Sword Terrakion, coupled with an Electric-type and an Ice-type for balanced versatility.

General Tips for Engaging Team Go Rocket Grunts

For those new to battling Team Go Rocket, don’t fret—victory is easily attainable most of the time. Identify the Grunt you’ll face, tailor your counters accordingly, and dominate the match.

Selecting Your Team

Locate a Grunt at any PokéStop shaded by the Team Rocket influence. Engage to receive a playful hint about their Pokémon type. For instance, if a Grunt mentions being “scared of psychics that use unseen power,” expect a Psychic type alignment.

As a convenient reference, here are the initial lines from the basic-level Grunts:

1. “Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?” – Psychic-type Grunt
2. “Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!” – Flying-type Grunt
3. “Check out my cute Pokémon!” – Fairy-type Grunt
4. “Coiled and ready to strike!” – Poison-type Grunt
5. “Don’t tangle with us!” – Grass-type Grunt
6. “Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?” – Fire-type Grunt
7. “Get ready to be shocked!” – Electric-type Grunt
8. “Go, my super bug Pokémon!” – Bug-type Grunt

…and so on for the others.

Battling Team Go Rocket

Engagement is straightforward: choose three Pokémon for a one-on-one contest. The battles operate at level match-ups where you don’t need to stress about maxed-out counters if you’re just starting out.

Simply tap the screen to attack and accumulate energy for your Charged moves at the bottom. After building your energy gauge, execute the Charged move and follow the on-screen instructions.

Both you and the Grunt begin with two shields. Remember, Team Go Rocket Grunts never utilize theirs, so shield usage on your end is crucial to avoid fainting your Pokémon.

After the battle, you may either win, resulting in rewards such as Stardust and Mysterious Components for crafting a Rocket Radar, or you’ll be offered a rematch to better strategize.

In summary, engaging with Team Go Rocket Grunts provides an exciting layer to Pokémon Go. Approach each battle with a solid strategy, and use these tips to become a truly formidable trainer. Happy battling!

FAQs regarding Pokémon GO and Team Rocket Grunts