Whether you’re trying to complete research tasks or want to add powerful Shadow Pokemon to your roster, finding and defeatingPokemon GO‘s Team GO Rocket Leaders can be a pain. With the boosted power of shadow Pokemon and ever-changing teams, it’s hard to know what to expect from Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff.
Of course, we have done our research and have provided you with everything you need to know about the Team GO Rocket leaders. Additionally, you can find a list of counter-picks to help deal with those pesky leaders, regardless of which one flies to your neighborhood.
Pokemon GO‘sTeam Rocket Leadersare elusive, and finding them isn’t as easy as stumbling upon a Team Rocket Grunt. In fact, to spawn a Team GO Rocket Leader, players mustfirst defeat six Rocket Grunts.
Every time you defeat a Rocket Grunt, they will drop a Mysterious Components. Collecting six of these and putting them together will create a Rocket Radar. Grunts will spawn randomly at PokeStops, and a hot air balloon with a Grunt will spawn every six hours, following the player for 20 minutes before it disappears.
Once you have a Rocket Radar equipped, Team GO Rocket Leaders will replace grunts at black PokeStops and in the hot air balloons.
Team GO Rocket’s devilish member,Sierra, is as sly on the battlefield as she looks. Her team for January 2025 is as follows:
First Pokemon | Second Pokemon | Third Pokemon |
---|---|---|
Skorupi Bug/Poison | Sableye Dark/Ghost | Houndoom Dark/Fire |
Steelix Ground/Steel | Nidoqueen Ground/Poison | |
Milotic Water | Gardevoir Fairy/Psychic |
Sierrais currently rocking a diverse team, but you will likely face at least a fewDark-type and Pyschic-type Pokemon, with the wrinkle of Skorupi as her Bug/Poison starter. Here is a list of some optimal choices when facing theTeam Rocket Leader:
Pokemon | Moves |
---|---|
Terrakion | Smack Down Rock Slide |
Gengar | Shadow Claw Shadow Ball |
Excadrill | Metal Claw Iron Head |
Arlois the scorned anime rival of Team GO Rocket, and his powerful Pokemon team proves he can roll with the punches. Aside from the first Pokemon, Arlo isn’t mixing it up too much for January 2025. Here is Arlo’s current team:
First Pokemon | Second Pokemon | Third Pokemon |
---|---|---|
Alolan Grimer Poison/Dark | Hypno Psychic | Metagross Psychic/Steel |
Charizard Flying/Fire | Scizor Bug/Steel | |
Gyarados Flying/Water | Snorlax Normal |
Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo has a mixed team for the month of January with plenty of different types. While his team may seem unpredictable, prepping for Flying, Psychic, and Poison types will help you be ready for Arlo. Here are a few of the best counters you should put on your team:
Pokemon | Moves |
---|---|
Tyranitar | Bite Brutal Swing |
Blaziken | Fire Spin Blast Burn |
Excadrill | Mud Slap Drill Run |
The brawn of Team GO Rocket is none other thanCliff. And to match his chiseled jawline and rock-hard abs, here is his team of tough Pokemon featured during January 2025:
First Pokemon | Second Pokemon | Third Pokemon |
---|---|---|
Cubone Ground | Venusaur Grass/Poison | Tyranitar Dark/Rock |
Marowak Ground | Obstagoon Dark/Normal | |
Aerodactyl Flying/Rock | Crobat Flying/Poison |
Cliff’s January 2025 team inPokemon GOfeatures quite a fewDark-type Pokemon, so make sure you’re equipped to take ’em out. You’re guaranteed to face off against at least one Ground type thanks to the addition of Cubone as his starter, and there are a few potential Flying and Poison types to contend with as well.
To ensure you have your best foot forward, here is a list of the best counters to take into battle:
Pokemon | Moves |
---|---|
Mamoswine | Powder Snow Avalanche |
Lucario | Force Palm Aura Sphere |
Blaziken | Counter Blast Burn |
And that’s everything you need to know about how to beat and counter the Team GO Rocket Leaders for January 2025 inPokemon GO. We will continue to update this article as their teams change to make sure you’re always prepared for whatPokemon GOthrows at you next!
Pokemon GOis available now on mobile devices.
The above article was updated on 1/14/2025 by Amanda Kay Oaks to reflect the current Team Go Rocket Leader line-ups and best counters for January 2025.