Pokémon Go Team Rocket Leaders rewards and counters for September 2025

Arlo counters and line-up in Pokémon Go

Below you'll find the line up for Arlo in Pokémon Go currently running in September 2025.

Remember - the first Pokémon is always the same, and is the one you'll be given the chance to catch if you win. The rest are randomly selected from a pool of three:

Here's who we recommend to counter each of Arlo's Pokémon:

• Slot 1: Reshiram, Blacephalon, Volcarona, Moltres (Shadow) or your strongest Fire-type.
• Slot 2: Either Bug or Electric-type. For Bug, Genesect, Vikavolt, Volcarona or your strongest Bug-types. For Electric, Zekrom, Xurkitree, Raikou, Zapdos or your strongest Electric-type.
• Slot 3: Either Dark or Ground-type. For Dark, Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Darkrai or your strongest Dark-type. For Ground, Therian Forme Landorus, Groudon, Garchomp or your strongest Ground-type.

Keep in mind that you may need to refine this lineup - picking one type over the other, for example - depending on the Pokémon Arlo has. Our example above is designed to counter as many of the Pokémon you can encounter as possible.

A Fire-type is the best choice for Slot 1 as it's a perfect counter for Chikorita, Steelix and Scizor. This means you can use it to quickly deal with Chikorita at the beginning of the battle, then keep it in the fight for Steelix. If, however, Alro has a different second Pokémon, you can bring it back if he's chosen Scizor for his last choice.

For Slot 2, you should pick either an Electric or Bug-type Pokémon. Electric will have an advantage over Slowbro and Crobat, while Bug will be a strong counter against Slowbro and Alakazam. While you might be tempted to use a Dark-type Pokémon, keep in mind that it will be weak against Scizor if Alro has chosen that his final slot.

While there is some weakness overlap, the exact line up of your team really comes down to Alro's final Pokémon. Scizor is only weak to Fire-types, Alolan Muk is only weak to Ground-types and Alakazam is weak to Dark, Bug and Ghost. Like we said, you may get lucky but be ready to battle Arlo at least twice before tasting success.

Cliff counters and line-up in Pokémon Go

Below you'll find the line up for Cliff in Pokémon Go currently running in September 2025.

Remember - the first Pokémon is always the same, and is the one you'll be given the chance to catch if you win. The rest are randomly selected from a pool of three:

Here's who we recommend to counter each of Cliff's Pokémon:

• Slot 1: Rhyperior (Shadow), Mega Tyranitar or your strongest Rock-type. Possible change to strongest Water or Ground-type Pokémon (ideally Swampert) depending on full lineup.
• Slot 2: Primarina, Gardevoir or your strongest Fairy-type. Mewtwo is also a Psychic-type option or your strongest Electric-type.
• Slot 3: Primal Groudon, Garchomp, Excadrill, Rhyperior or your strongest Ground-type.

Cliff starting the battle off with Cyndaquil actually gives you an advantage, because it means you can tailor Slot 1 easily to fit whichever Pokémon he has coming up in either Slot 2 or 3. This is because all of Cyndaquil's weaknesses - Ground, Rock, Water - are shared with other possible Pokémon in his lineup. Tyranitar and Luxray are both weak to Ground, while Honchkrow is weak to Rock and Tyranitar is also weak to Water.

To begin with, I recommend using your strongest Rock-type Pokémon in Slot 1. If you need to rebattle Cliff, you can then change your Slot 1 Pokémon whichever other weaknesses - Water or Ground - will give you the best advantage.

I recommend having a Fairy-type as your Slot 2 Pokémon. This Fairy-type will have an advantage over Annihilape, Honchkrow, Machamp and Tyranitar. This means it can easily be used against either Cliff's second or third Pokémon. When it comes to the counter in question we recommend Primarina as it can use both Fairy and Water-type moves, which can come in handy. If you don't have any strong Fairy-types, then consider using Psychic instead as it will have an advantage against Annihilape and Machamp.

Just keep in mind that Skarmory is only weak to Electric and Fire-type Pokémon, so, if you're having trouble against this Pokémon, you may need to adjust your team.

Slot 3 should be a Ground-type Pokémon. Skarmory, Luxray and Tyranitar are all weak to Ground-types. Yet, Luxray is the troublesome Pokémon due to it only being weak to Ground-types. Thanks to this, you must use a Ground-type Pokémon against Luxray. We recommend using either Primal Groudon, Rhyperior or Garchomp. You could also bring back your Mamoswine against these Pokémon if it knows a strong Ground-type move.

Sierra counters and line-up in Pokémon Go

Below you'll find the line up for Sierra in Pokémon Go currently running in September 2025.

Remember - the first Pokémon is always the same, and is the one you'll be given the chance to catch if you win. The rest are randomly selected from a pool of three:

Here's who we recommend to counter each of Sierra's Pokémon:

• Slot 1: Regieleki, Xurkitree, Zekrom or strongest Electric-type.
• Slot 2: Primal Groudon, Terrakion, Tyranitar or strongest Ground-type.
• Slot 3: Tyranitar, Dawn Wings Necrozma or Hydreigon if facing Mismagius. If not facing Mismagius than a counter from Slot 2.

For Slot 1, you'll want to go with your strongest Electric-type Pokémon. This is because it's the only weakness Totodile has which has the possibility of overlapping with another of Sierra's choices, with Staraptor being weak to Electric-types. While Totodile is also weak to Grass-type Pokémon, nobody else in Sierra's lineup shares this weakness. Due to this, you'll be left at a small disadvantage after Totodile is defeated.

Slot 2 should idealy contain Primal Groudon. This Pokémon has an advantage over Ferrothorn, Houndoom, Camerupt and Drapion. It's Fire-type attacks take care of Ferrothorn, which is weak to Fire, while it's Ground-type attacks are perfect for the other three. Especially if you're facing Drapion, which is only weak to Ground.

If you don't have a Primal Groudon, then Terrakion is an excellent alternative as its dual Ground and Fighting-type gives it an advantage over Ferrothron, Camerupt and Drapion. Tyranitar is also a good option, because it's Ground and Dark-typing ensures it has an advantage over Mismagius.

When it comes to Slot 3, we recommend having a Dark or Ghost-type during your first battle with Sierra. This is to ensure you have a counter prepared for Mismagius if Sierra has chosen it. Mismagius has barely any weakness crossovers with the other Pokémon, so it's best to be prepared. Ideal Mismagius counters include Dawn Wings Necrozma, Tyranitar, Hydreigon and Darkrai.

If Sierra hasn't chosen Mismagius, then feel free to put either Primal Groudon, Terrakion or your strongest Ground-type in this slot.

September in Pokémon Go has started with the new Keldeo seasonal quest! The Pokémon Concierge Celebration Event is currently running. There's also levelling changes coming soon. You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.

Team Go Rocket Leader rewards in Pokémon Go

Defeating a Team Go Rocket Leader will grant you:

• 1,000 Stardust.
• x1 red 'strange' 12km egg (if you have an open space in your Egg inventory).
• x1 Max Revive, Revive, Max Potion, Unova Stone, or Sinnoh Stone.
• Encounter with one of the leader's Shadow Pokémon.

Currently, you get the chance to catch Totodile if you beat Sierra, Chikorita for beating Arlo, and Cyndaquil for besting Cliff. There's also a chance that these Shadow Pokémon could be shiny!

To catch these Shadow Pokémon, you'll receive a base number of five Premier Balls. Bonus Poké Balls are rewarded depending on several factors, including:

• How many of your Pokémon survive the Trainer Battle
• Your Purify Pokémon (Purifier) medal rank
• Your Defeat Team Rocket (Hero) medal rank

Team Go Rocket Leaders and strategies explained in Pokémon Go

With each Team GO Rocket takeover event comes a quest that gives you a chance to take down Giovanni and catch a legendary Shadow Pokémon. As of August 2025, the latest chance to defeat Giovanni is included within the Delightful Days: Taken Over special research quest, which earns you a Super Rocket Radar, which is effectively your ticket to take on the head of Team GO Rocket, Giovanni. But, to do that, you first need to defeat his three Team GO Rocket leaders, as part of the aforementioned quest.

This requires you collect Mysterious Components from Grunts along the way to completing it, which you combine into a Rocket Radar that reveals the location of a Team GO Rocket Leader. The choice given to you is random, so if you are after a specific Leader, keep checking until the one you need appears.

These will be tough battles, so a brute force strategy will not always work. Instead, consider the following strategies:

• Since you need to lean on countering with types, it's best to go in with a prepared team with strong counters.
• A Leader's line-up will be somewhat unique for that encounter - it's made of a small selection of creatures, so you can't exactly be sure which Pokémon you'll be facing. You might have to face them once to learn their line-up, then change yours to counter it.
• Leaders will always use their two shields for your first two Charged moves, which will be followed by a two-second delay before they can attack. This same delay occurs when you switch Pokémon. Ideally, this means your lead Pokémon must be strong enough to survive long enough to deliver two Charged moves, and do so as fast as possible, so you can then deal out damage properly. For example, Melmetal is a good candidate for this.
• You can face a Leader as many times as you like, so don't worry if you lose the first time!

Ultimately, victory depends on your ability to create a team that takes advantage of as many of the Team GO Rocket Leader's team's weaknesses as possible, so having a wide roster of Pokémon available will help you form flexible teams.

Pokémon Go Mysterious Components Gameplay - How to create a Rocket Radar

Good luck hunting down those evil Team GO Rocket leaders!