Pokémon Go Leader counters: Arlo, Cliff, Sierra counters and strategies in Pokémon Go

The Team GO Rocket takeover event has returned, featuring the notorious Team GO Rocket Leaders Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra invading PokéStops in Pokémon Go with a fresh lineup of Shadow Pokémon. As trainers, your mission is to track down these leaders by gathering Mysterious Components and assembling a Rocket Radar, which allows you to face off against these formidable foes.

By defeating each leader, you will have the chance to catch a rare Shadow Pokémon. As of August 2024, Sierra utilizes Carvanha, Arlo employs Anorith, and Cliff has Lileep. All three Pokémon can also be shiny, offering an exciting opportunity to acquire ultra-rare shiny Shadow Pokémon!

Taking down all three leaders will pave the way for a showdown against the powerful Giovanni himself, who possesses the formidable Shadow Cresselia.

Team GO Rocket Leaders and Strategies Explained

Every Team GO Rocket takeover comes with a quest that allows you to challenge Giovanni and potentially capture a legendary Shadow Pokémon. The latest quest is part of the Adventure Week: Taken Over special research quest, which rewards you with a Super Rocket Radar—your ticket to face Giovanni. However, before you can confront him, you must first defeat his three Team GO Rocket leaders.

To find a leader, you will need to collect six Mysterious Components from Team GO Rocket Grunts. Combine these into a Rocket Radar, which reveals the location of a Team GO Rocket Leader. The leader you encounter will be randomly selected, so continue searching until you find the one you need.

These battles can be challenging, so a brute-force strategy may not be sufficient. Here are some effective strategies:

• Prepare a team with strong counters based on Pokémon types
• Each leader’s lineup varies, making it necessary to adapt your team based on the Pokémon you face
• Leaders will always use their shields for the first two charged moves, which can be exploited to deal damage efficiently
• You can challenge a leader multiple times, so don’t hesitate to adjust your strategy if you lose

Ultimately, success hinges on your ability to create a team that exploits the weaknesses of the Team GO Rocket Leaders. Maintaining a diverse roster of Pokémon will enhance your flexibility in battle.

Arlo Counters and Line-up

As of August 2024, Arlo’s lineup in Pokémon Go is as follows:

Remember, the first Pokémon is always the same and can be caught if you win:

• First Pokémon: Anorith
• Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Gyarados, Crobat, or Steelix
• Third Pokémon: Randomly selected from Gardevoir, Scizor, or Snorlax

To defeat Arlo, consider using Rock and Electric-types for your first two Pokémon, as these types are strong against both Anorith and Gyarados. For the third Pokémon, choose either a Fire, Steel, or Fighting-type based on Arlo’s selection.

Arlo’s second Pokémon can be countered with Rock, Electric, or Fire-types. For example, if you face Gyarados, a powerful Electric-type like Xurkitree or Zekrom will be beneficial, while Rock-types can be effective against Crobat. If Steelix appears, deploy a strong Fire-type Pokémon.

When it comes to Arlo’s third Pokémon, scouting ahead may be necessary, as Scizor and Snorlax have only one weakness each. Use a Fighting-type against Snorlax and a Fire-type against Scizor or Gardevoir.

Cliff Counters and Line-up

Cliff’s current lineup in Pokémon Go consists of:

• First Pokémon: Lileep
• Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Marowak, Kingdra, or Aerodactyl
• Third Pokémon: Randomly selected from Tyranitar, Cradily, or Crobat

For Cliff, a team of two Ice-types and either a Fairy or Steel-type can lead you to victory. Many of Cliff’s possible Pokémon are weak to Ice-type moves, so deploying strong Ice-types like Kyurem or Mamoswine will serve you well.

While Lileep is weak to Ice, it has Rock-type traits that provide a minor advantage. Therefore, consider using a Steel-type against it as well, which can also work against Cliff’s potential third Pokémon.

When facing Cliff’s second Pokémon, Ice-types will again be effective against Marowak and Aerodactyl. If Kingdra is chosen, switch to a Fairy-type Pokémon to capitalize on its weakness.

For Cliff’s third Pokémon, Ice-types can again be effective against Cradily and Crobat, while a Steel-type will work against both Tyranitar and Cradily.

Sierra Counters and Line-up

Sierra’s lineup in Pokémon Go includes:

• First Pokémon: Carvanha
• Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Milotic, Sableye, or Ampharos
• Third Pokémon: Randomly selected from Houndoom, Nidoqueen, or Alakazam

Sierra can be one of the toughest leaders to defeat. A solid strategy involves using a Ground, Water, and either a Grass or Electric-type Pokémon. For the first Pokémon, utilizing either an Electric or Grass-type against Carvanha will be advantageous, especially since Milotic shares weaknesses with these types.

When facing Sableye, deploy a Fairy-type Pokémon, as it is the only weakness Sableye possesses. If Sierra chooses Ampharos, switch to a Ground-type Pokémon to exploit its vulnerability.

Sierra’s third Pokémon can generally be countered effectively with Ground-types, as both Nidoqueen and Houndoom are weak to this type. If you encounter Alakazam, consider using Bug, Ghost, or Dark-type Pokémon to secure a victory.

Team GO Rocket Leader Rewards

Defeating a Team GO Rocket Leader will yield:

• 1,000 Stardust
• One red “strange” 12km egg (if you have space in your Egg inventory)
• One of the following items: Max Revive, Revive, Max Potion, Unova Stone, or Sinnoh Stone

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to catch one of the Team GO Rocket Leader’s Shadow Pokémon. Defeating Sierra grants you a chance to catch Sableye, Arlo for Bellsprout, and Cliff for Dratini. There’s even a chance these Shadow Pokémon could be shiny!

To catch these Shadow Pokémon, you will receive a base number of 5 Premier Balls, with additional Pokéballs awarded based on various factors such as your surviving Pokémon and your medal ranks.

Good luck as you hunt down the Team GO Rocket leaders!