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Pokemon Go Rocket Grunt Guide – Lineups & Counters

<Insert Appropriate Counter>, I choose you!

Battling Team Go Rocket Grunts is part of the day-to-day life in Pokemon Go. Each month will see a slight variation in their battle tactics. The key is to know what their phrases are as these give away the type of Pokemon being used. This will then inform your decision for potential counters. So, keep this guide handy to make short work of the grunts and nab all of those Shadow Pokemon!

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Possible Team Go Rocket Encounters

Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?

Uses: Psychic-type Pokemon

Counter: Bug, Dark, and Ghost-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Girafarig
    • Ralts
  • Pokemon 2
    • Girafarig
    • Kadabra
  • Pokemon 3
    • Alakazam
    • Hypno

Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!

Uses: Flying-type Pokemon

Counter: Electric, Ice, and Rock-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Murkrow
    • Starly
    • Zubat
  • Pokemon 2
    • Golbat
    • Staravia
  • Pokemon 3
    • Crobat
    • Staraptor

Check out my cute Pokemon!

Uses: Fairy-type Pokemon

Counter: Poison and Steel-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Ralts
    • Snubbull
  • Pokemon 2
    • Granbull
    • Kirlia
    • Snubbull
  • Pokemon 3
    • Granbull
    • Kirlia

Coiled and ready to strike!

Uses: Poison-type Pokemon

Counter: Ground and Psychic-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Nidoran (Male)
    • Zubat
    • Nidorina
  • Pokemon 2
    • Nidorino
    • Weezing
  • Pokemon 3
    • Muk
    • Weezing

Don't tangle with us!

Uses: Grass-type Pokemon

Counter: Fire and Poison-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Cacnea
    • Chikorita
  • Pokemon 2
    • Cacturne
  • Pokemon 3
    • Meganium

Related: What is Pokémon Air Adventures? Pokémon Go Mega Latios & Mega Latias Event Details

Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?

Uses: Fire-type Pokemon

Counter: Ground, Rock, and Water-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Charmander
    • Cyndaquil
    • Numel
  • Pokemon 2
    • Camerupt
    • Quilava
  • Pokemon 3
    • Cameruypt
    • Ninetales
    • Typhlosion

Get ready to be shocked!

Uses: Electric-type Pokemon

Counter: Ground-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Mareep
    • Voltorb
  • Pokemon 2
    • Electrode
    • Flaaffy
    • Voltorb
  • Pokemon 3
    • Ampharos
    • Electabuzz
    • Electrode

Go, my super bug Pokemon!

Uses: Bug-type Pokemon

Counter: Fire, Flying, and Rock-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Venomoth
    • Weedle
  • Pokemon 2
    • Beedrill
    • Skorupi
  • Pokemon 3
    • Forretress
    • Pinsir
    • Scizor

Ke... ke... ke... ke... ke... ke...

Uses: Ghost-type Pokemon

Counter: Dark and Ghost-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Misdreavus
    • Sableye
  • Pokemon 2
    • Banette
    • Sableye
  • Pokemon 3
    • Banette
    • Dusknoir
    • Sableye

Let's rock and roll!

Uses: Rock-type Pokemon

Counter: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Shuckle
    • Sudowoodo
  • Pokemon 2
    • Anorith
    • Larvitar
    • Lileep
  • Pokemon 3
    • Pupitar
    • Tyranitar

Normal doesn't mean weak

Uses: Normal-type Pokemon

Counter: Fighting-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Bidoof
    • Rattata
  • Pokemon 2
    • Bibarel
    • Loudred
    • Raticate
  • Pokemon 3
    • Bibarel
    • Exploud

ROAR! ... How'd that sound?

Uses: Dragon-type Pokemon

Counter: Fairy and Ice-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Dratini
  • Pokemon 2
    • Alolan Exeggutor
  • Pokemon 3
    • Dragonair
    • Dragonite
    • Flygon

These waters are treacherous (Female)

Uses: Water-type Pokemon

Counter: Grass and Electric-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Mudkip
    • Totodile
  • Pokemon 2
    • Croconaw
    • Marshtomp
  • Pokemon 3
    • Feraligatr
    • Swampert

These waters are treacherous (Male)

Uses: Water-type Pokemon

Counter: Grass and Electric-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Magikarp
  • Pokemon 2
    • Magikarp
  • Pokemon 3
    • Magikarp
    • Gyarados

This buff physique isn't just for show!

Uses: Fighting-type Pokemon

Counter: BFairy, Flying, and Psychic-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Machop
    • Makuhita
  • Pokemon 2
    • Hitmonchan
    • Hitmonlee
  • Pokemon 3
    • Hitmonchan
    • Hitmonlee
    • Machoke

You'll be defeated into the ground!

Uses: Ground-type Pokemon

Counter: Grass, Ice, and Water-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Hippopotas
  • Pokemon 2
    • Camerupt
    • Hippopotas
  • Pokemon 3
    • Camerupt
    • Hippowdon

You're gonna be frozen in your tracks

Uses: PIce-type Pokemon

Counter: Fighting, Fire, and Rock-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Alolan Sandshrew
    • Swinub
  • Pokemon 2
    • Alolan Sandslash
    • Snover
  • Pokemon 3
    • Abomasnow
    • Cloyster
    • Lapras

Wherever there is light, there is also shadow

Uses: PDark-type Pokemon

Counter: Fairy-types

  • Pokemon 1
    • Alolan Rattata
    • Stunky
  • Pokemon 2
    • Alolan Raticate
    • Skuntank
  • Pokemon 3
    • Alolan Raticate
    • Cacturne
    • Honchkrow

Don't bother, I've already won / Get ready to be defeated! / Winning is for winners (Female)

Uses: Mix

Counter: Grab Bag

  • Pokemon 1
    • Snorlax
  • Pokemon 2
    • Gardevoir
    • Poliwrath
    • Snorlax
  • Pokemon 3
    • Dragonite
    • Gyrados
    • Snorlax

For more Pokemon goodies, check out Pokémon Go: A Mega Moment – All Quest Steps & Rewards on Pro Game Guides.


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Author
Image of Christian Dawson
Christian Dawson
Christian has been playing games since he could hold a controller in the late 80s. He's been writing about them for nearly 15 years for both personal and professional outlets. Now he calls Pro Game Guides home where he worships at the altar of Destiny 2.