Pokémon Go leader counters for Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff in late March 2023

pokemon go has its own version of the infamous Team Rocket, called Team Go Rocket. In this pokemon To go guide, we’ll break down how to find it leaders Sierra, Cliff and Arlo and take them down.

Below we list their parties and strategies that are effective March 25, 2023 after the Team Go Rocket Takeover event triggered as part of the Let’s Go event and From the Shadows quest.

Find Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo in Pokémon Go

Members of Team Go Rocket can be found in hot air balloons flying above you or from glitchy, black PokéStops. Every time you beat one, you get one Mysterious component. After you have 6 Mysterious components, they combine into one Rocket Radar, which allows you to find a random leader. The three leaders are Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff.

Some Timed Research and Team Go Rocket Special Research tasks require you to beat all three leaders. Completing the Team Go Rocket Special Research will reward you with a Super Missile Radar, so you can find the boss, Giovanni. If you defeat Giovanni, you will get a legendary shadow Pokémon.

Team Go Rocket leader Sierra responds

Sierra’s team can be:

• Murkrow (dark/flying)
• Steelix (steel/soil)
  Swampert (water/soil)
  Staraptor (normal/flying)
• charizard (fire/fly)
  Dragonite (dragon/flying)
  Houndoom (dark fire)

Though it’s recommended to check out her squad first, if you’re equipped with that electric, fighting and ice types, that will cover you in just about every possibility. If you’re struggling, targeting a possible Double Weakness to a troubling Pokémon can help pull you over the line.

We recommend using the following:

• Raikou with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Magnezone with Spark and Wild Charge
• Lucario with Counter and Aura Sphere
• Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Glaceon with Ice Shard and Avalanche
• Avalugg with Ice Fang and Avalanche

Team Go Rocket leader Arlo counters

Image: Niantic

Arlo’s team can be:

• Teddiursa (normal)
• Blaziken (To extinguish a fire)
  Hypno (psychic)
  Golurk (ground/ghost)
• banette (ghost)
  pair of scissors (insect/steel)
  Lux beam (electric)

If you come ghost, dark or ground type move, you eliminate every possible encounter in the second and third lineup in Arlo’s group. The exception is the opener, Teddiursa, which, as a normal-type Pokémon, has a fighting-type weakness. Our suggestion is to use one of the others to hopefully brute force past them, otherwise if you’re struggling bring out a fighting type heavy hitter like Machamp or Lucario and then switch.

We recommend using one of the following:

• Giratina with Shadow Claw and Shadow Force
• Gengar with shadow claw and shadow ball
• hydrigon with Bite and Brutal Swing
• Tyranitar with Bite and Crunch
• Groudon with mud shot and earthquake
• Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power

Team Go Rocket leader Cliff counters

Image: Niantic

Cliff’s team can be:

• Larvitar (rock/ground)
• Kingdra (water dragon)
  Skeptical (grass)
  Skamory (steel/flying)
• Gyrados (water/flies)
  Swampert (water/soil)
  Tyranitar (rock/dark)

Cliff’s team weaknesses are a wide mix, but there are few types that should cover you in most cases. Grass is a certificate for the opener against Larvitar, and for two of the possible final lineup results, including one electric and fairytale you should cover otherwise. The exception is if Sceptile appears second – in which case you have a fire or ice type.

We recommend using one of the following – again, if Sceptile appears, bring a fire or ice type:

• Venusaur with Razor Leaf and Frenzy Plant
• Torterra with Razor Leaf and Frenzy Plant
• Raikou with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Magne zone with Spark and Wild Charge
• Togekiss with charm and dazzling shine
• Gardevoir with charm and dazzling shine

Team Go Rocket leader tips

If you’re struggling with the leaders, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• They will use their shields on the first two Charge Attacks you use. If you use a Pokémon that can charge and use Charge Attacks quickly, you can lose their shields, allowing you to damage them freely.
• You should be prepared for the first Pokémon you use to be knocked out. If you’re using a Pokémon that easily breaks through shields, that’s fine, but your other Pokémon must have decent type advantages to beat any remaining Pokémon.
• Remember that you can try the battle many times with one Rocket Radar, so you can line up your strongest Pokémon to see what the leader has with him. If you beat them on the first try, great! If not, you can trade your party for some type-effective counters.
• The squad leaders have high CP Pokémon, so if you’re having a hard time, be sure to use the highest CP Pokémon you have.