Pokemon Go: Defeating Sierra, Arlo and Cliff – Counter Guide (February 2023)

February 3, 2023 update: With the new Team Rocket takeover in February 2023, the Pokémon with which you face Cliff, Arlo and Sierra in a duel will change again. We’ve updated our counter tips for combat accordingly. Counter tips for Giovanni can be found in a separate guide.

---

The time has come: Team GO Rocket has returned and is preparing to take over the world of Pokémon once and for all. The task of the trainers is now to prevent the villains from carrying out their plan. To do this, they must assemble a special radar and track down the leaders of Team GO Rocket and defeat them in battle as part of a special quest line.

So that you can go into battle against Team GO Rocket with maximum chances of success, we have put together the currently best counters for all three boss fights for you. You can also find alternative counter-type Pokémon for each individual Rocket type Pokémon in our guide.

Pokémon GO: Team GO Rocket – General Tips

Before you jump into the fight against the three Rocket team leaders, note the following:

• You must first assemble the radar to locate the team leaders. If you activate the radar, a customized map will show you the way to the nearest team leader.
• The radar is considered used up once you’ve defeated the boss.
• You can only challenge Team GO Rocket to battle between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m.
• The fights against the team leaders are similar to those against the normal villains, except that the team leaders use shields in combat.
• The team leader’s Pokémon that you can catch and free have a low chance of the Shiny version.
• Try to destroy the trainers’ shields as quickly as possible and use your first Pokémon directly for it.
• Favors Pokemon that resist fast attacks over Pokemon that deal a lot of damage.
• Uses shields against charge attacks.
• You can replay the fight against a team leader as many times as you want – until you defeat him. However, you have limited attempts on the balloon.

Pokemon GO: Team GO Rocket – Cliff

Pokémon GO: The Best Counters Against Team GO Rocket Bosses (Guide) (3)
Source: Niantic


Cliff can attack with the following Pokémon

• Pokemon #1: Always magnetile
• Pokemon #2: Pinsir, Bisaflor or Amoroso
• Pokemon #3: Tyranitar, Tohaido or Camerupt

Regardless of which team you face Cliff, you can handle the following counterattacks. Remember that if you lose, you can replay the battle. In this respect, you can first take a look at which Pokémon Cliff sends into battle and then prepare for it.

• Magnetile: The three most sensible counterattacks against the weakest fighter in Cliff’s team have a good use later – depending on which other Mon Cliff sends into battle. You are definitely with us Lucario with counterattack, escalation and spook ball, Sumpex with Clay Shot, Aqua Howitzer and Earthquake, or with torture terrarar well advised with razor blade, flora statue and stone edge. When in doubt, remember to delay the end of the Magnetilo fight a few more moments to use up Cliff’s team’s second shield.
• Pinsir or Venusaur: You want to defeat Cliff’s second Pokémon as quickly as possible; either by using your first mon until it falls unconscious, or by switching to a suitable counter. For Pinsir and Bisaflor are worthwhile Lavados with flapping wings, sky sweeper and heat fever, dragonite with fire breath, dragon claw and power colossus, or Charizard with Fire Whirl, Blaze Cannonade and Dragon Claw.
• amoroso: If Cliff chooses Amoroso as a second fighter, then you better land Venusaur with tendril slash, flora statue and mud bomb, Katagami with razor blade, leaf blade and night slash, or on torture terrarar with razor blade, flora statue and stone edge – in other words: against Amoroso the Magnetilo counter Torterrar is doubly useful.
• despotary or toaido: In the fight against the third Pokémon of the battle, you most likely want to rely on very effective attacks. If you chose against Magnetilo Lucario, it can once again show its strength against Tyranitar and Raging Throne. Attack against these two opponents Lucario with counterattack, escalation and spook ball, mahomey with counter, melee and stone edge, or to Mostagrif with counterattack, balancing blow and stone edge.
• Camerarupt: Against Camerupt you should use other counters that are better suited for combat. It offers itself Kyogre with Kaskade, Surfer and Blizzard mentioned at Magnetilo Sumpex with clay shot, aqua howitzer and earthquake as well impergator with Aqua Gun, Aqua Howitzer and Cruncher.

Pokemon GO: Team GO Rocket – Arlo

Pokémon GO: The Best Counters Against Team GO Rocket Bosses (Guide) (2)
Source: Niantic


Arlo can go into battle with the following Pokémon:

• Pokemon #1: Always Nidoran (m)
• Pokemon #2: Iksbat, Steelix or Wielie
• Pokemon #3: Charizard, Scherox or Armaldo

The following counters are guaranteed to help, no matter what Pokémon Arlo’s team is made up of. Remember that if you lose, you can replay the battle. In this respect, you can first take a look at which Pokémon Arlo sends into battle and then prepare for it.

• Nidoran (m): Arlo is rather uncomfortable this time in terms of Pokémon that you can use multiple times as an effective counter; there is hardly any overlap. To get Nidoran (m) small and use up the shields, it’s best to use it rhyperior with clay clamp, power colossus or rock thrower and surfer, Sumpex with clay shot, aqua howitzer and earthquake, or Golgantes with clay shackle, black fist and bludgeoning blow.

• Steelix: Did you in the first fight rhyperior selected, then you can keep the Pokémon now. Otherwise grab it Kyogre with Kaskade, Surfer and Blizzard or Charizard with Fire Whirl, Blaze Cannonade and Dragon Claw. In general, your tactic is to defeat the second Mon in Arlo’s group with very effective attacks.
• Wielie: This Pokémon goes with her in the best mahomey with counter, cross cut and stone edge, with Charizard with Fire Whirl, Blaze Cannonade and Dragon Claw, or with Sherox with Rage Blade, Night Slash and Cross Scissors.
• Iksbat: The Flattermann should also be defeated as quickly and effectively as possible. Grab it cleat with catapult, meteor beam and stone edge, despotary with catapult, grinder and stone edge, or – oh ha! – to volume with spark jump, stone hail and magnetic bomb.
• Charizard and Armaldo: Also in the third fight you want to end the battle quickly with very effective attacks. If you already had Kyogre, Tyranitar or Aggron in action in the second round, then using them against Charizard or Armaldo is also worthwhile. So: Kyogre with Kaskade, Surfer and Blizzard, despotary with catapult, cruncher and stone edge, or cleat with catapult, meteor beam and stone edge.
• Sherox: Was Steelix the second mon of the match? has yours Charizard still breathless with Fire Whirl, Blaze Cannonade and Dragon Claw? use it Otherwise you grab it Ho Oh with Incinerate, Dive, and Purifier, or to Panferno with fire whirl, melee and blaze cannonade.

Pokemon GO: Team GO Rocket – Sierra

Pokémon GO: The Best Counters Against Team GO Rocket Bosses (Guide) (1)
Source: Niantic


Sierra can have the following Pokemon on the team:

• Pokemon #1: Always Tanhel
• Pokemon #2: Libelldra, Tohaido or Lapras
• Pokemon #3: Simsala, Houndemon or Tengulist

To survive against Sierra, use the following counterattacks. Remember that if you lose, you can replay the battle. In this respect, you can first take a look at which Pokémon Sierra is sending into battle and then prepare for it.

• Tanhel: Even when confronting Sierra, the pick of the effective attackers is not the easiest. But to defeat Tanhel and consume shields, you should Lucario with counterattack, escalation and spook ball, Charizard with Fire Whirl, Blaze Cannonade and Dragon Claw, or Blair with fire whirl or counter as well as tan cannonade or fire brush. Lucario and Lohgock can be useful to you later.
• lapras and toaido: Use combat counters, such as yours Lucario with counter, escalation and haunted ball from the previous fight, mahomey with counter, melee and stone edge or Mostagrif with counterattack, balancing blow and stone edge. However, Grass-types can be more worthwhile if Lapras and Sharpedo have Water-type instant attacks.
• Libelldra: Better grab it when fighting Libelldra arctic with Ice Shards, Ice Storm and Antikkraft, too mamuttel with powder snow, avalanche and horsepower, or Alolan Vulnona with Powder Snow, Meteorologist (Ice) and Psychoshock.
• dogmon, Tengulist and Simsala: Your best choice for the third round is despotary with catapult, cruncher and stone edge. Against Hundemon and Tengulist you can also go to the mahomey Grab (Counter, Melee, and Stone Edge) from turn 2 if it’s still running. A more specific counter against Houndemon is yet to come Kyogre with cascade, surfer and blizzard. You can also call against Tengulist Blair with fire whirl or counter as well as tan cannonade or fire sweeper from round 1. And you can also join Simsala tricephalo with fire breath and swirler, or with barricadex defeat with counterattack and night slash.