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

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

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

How to find Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo in Pokémon Go

Team Go Rocket members can be found in hot air balloons flying above you or from glitchy, black PokéStops. Each time you defeat one, you’ll get a Mysterious Component. After you get 6 Mysterious Components, they’ll combine into a 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 Rocket Radar, allowing you to find the boss, Giovanni. Beating Giovanni will net you a Legendary Shadow Pokémon.

Team Go Rocket leader Sierra counters

Image: Niantic

Sierra’s team can be the following:

• Murkrow (dark/flying)
• Steelix (steel/ground)
  Swampert (water/ground)
  Staraptor (normal/flying)
• Charizard (fire/flying)
  Dragonite (dragon/flying)
  Houndoom (dark/fire)

Though coming in to scope out her team first is recommended, if you come equipped with electric-, fighting-, and ice-types, that will cover you in pretty much every possibility. If you are struggling, then targeting a possible double weakness for any troubling Pokémon can help bring 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 the following:

• Teddiursa (normal)
• Blaziken (fire/fighting)
  Hypno (psychic)
  Golurk (ground/ghost)
• Banette (ghost)
  Scizor (bug/steel)
  Luxray (electric)

If you come with ghost-, dark-, or ground-type moves, you’ll take down every possible encounter in the second and third line-ups in Arlo’s party. 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 it, otherwise if you are struggling, bring out a fighting-type heavy hitter such as Machamp or Lucario, then switch.

We recommend using any of the following:

• Giratina with Shadow Claw and Shadow Force
• Gengar with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
• Hydreigon 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 the following:

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

The weaknesses to Cliff’s team is a broad mix, but there are few types that should cover you in most eventualities. Grass is a cert for the opener against Larvitar, and for two of the possible final line-up outcomes, including an electric- and fairy-type should otherwise cover you. The exception is if Sceptile appears in second — in which case, come with an fire- or ice-type.

We recommend using any 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
• Magnezone with Spark and Wild Charge
• Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam

Team Go Rocket leader tips

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

• They will use their shields on the first two Charge Attacks you use. Using a Pokémon that can charge and use Charge Attacks quickly will help you get rid of their shields, allowing you to freely damage them.
• You should be prepared for the first Pokémon you use to get knocked out. If you use a Pokémon that gets through shields easily, that’s fine, but your other Pokémon will need to have decent type advantages to defeat any remaining Pokémon.
• Remember, you can attempt the battle many times using one Rocket Radar, so you can queue up your strongest Pokémon just to see what the leader is carrying. If you defeat them on the first try, great! If not, you can swap your party around for some type-effective counters.
• The team leaders have high CP Pokémon, so you should definitely be using the highest CP Pokémon you have if you’re struggling.