Guides Pokémon GO Edward Collins

Pokémon Go Team Rocket: How to find Team Rocket PokéStops and everything we know about Invasions

Team Go Rocket makes their presence felt in Pokémon Go through Invasions, introducing the fascinating concept of Shadow Pokémon. Their involvement was first hinted at during the 2019 Pokémon Go Fest in Chicago, where players noticed Grunts photobombing their pictures taken with the game’s AR mode. Later that year, the Dortmund festival featured a hot air balloon with Team Go Rocket branding, solidifying their entry into the game.

Now, Team Go Rocket is an integral part of the Pokémon Go experience, featuring regular invasion events, themed quests, Shadow Raids, various legendary Shadow Pokémon, unique Team Leaders, and the chance to battle Giovanni himself.

How to Find Team Rocket in Pokémon Go

To encounter Team Rocket, you must be at least Trainer Level 8. They can be found at PokéStops that have been invaded, which will appear slightly darker and twitching erratically compared to regular PokéStops.

These Team Rocket PokéStops can be elusive, typically appearing for about 30 minutes at a time without prior notice. It’s advisable to frequently check your map for any suspicious-looking PokéStops. These PokéStops are visible to all nearby players, so sharing their locations through group chats can be advantageous.

When you approach a Team Rocket PokéStop, the Team Rocket logo will become visible, along with a Grunt stationed there.

How Team Go Rocket Invasions and Battles Work

Here’s how interacting with Team Rocket PokéStops unfolds:

Team Go Rocket will occupy a PokéStop for 30 minutes.
Approach the PokéStop to initiate a Trainer Battle by tapping on the Grunt.
If you successfully defeat the Grunt’s team of Shadow Pokémon, one of the Pokémon will be abandoned.
You will have the chance to catch this Shadow Pokémon.
If captured, you can then Purify it.

Each Grunt battle resembles Trainer Battles, with each assigned a specific Pokémon type based on their dialogue. For example:

“These waters are treacherous!” indicates a Water-type encounter.
“Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?” signals a Fire-type encounter.
“Don’t tangle with us!” suggests a Grass-type encounter.

Catching Shadow Pokémon functions similarly to Raids, where you have a limited number of Premier Balls to use.

Pokémon Go Team Go Rocket Rewards

After defeating a Grunt, you will receive 500 Stardust, along with the chance to catch the Shadow Pokémon that you just battled against.

The number of Premier Balls you start with is 5, and you can earn additional Poké Balls based on:

The number of Pokémon you have that survived the Trainer Battle.
Your Purify Pokémon medal rank.
Your Defeat Team Rocket medal rank.

The catch rate is equivalent to those in Raid encounters, which means improving your medal ranks can help increase your chances of catching the Pokémon.

If you exhaust your Poké Balls, you will need to defeat the Grunt again for another chance to catch the Shadow Pokémon. Once caught, it will be added to your collection and come with unique stats and moves. Further details about Purifying Shadow Pokémon can be found in dedicated guides.

What Else You Need to Know About Team Go Rocket and Invasions

While the basics of Team Rocket Invasions are covered, there are some additional details worth noting:

Encountering Team Rocket

You can only battle a specific Grunt once per PokéStop, but there is no cap on the total number of Grunts you can face in a day.
Multiple nearby PokéStops can have Grunts at the same time, so stay vigilant for opportunities.
Team Rocket encounters can spawn any time of day, including at night.
If you back out of a Grunt encounter, that encounter will disappear, so be prepared to commit to the battle.