The Team Go Rocket Grunts in Pokemon Go are up to no good with their Shadow Pokemon teams, and trainers must prepare to defeat them. Here’s all you need to know about the current Team Go Rocket Grunt lineups, how to identify them, and the best counters to beat them in January 2024.
Team Go Rocket Grunts feature some of the most difficult challenges for Pokemon Go players. These villainous trainers usually appear around PokeStops or fly in hot air balloons and give a tough time to even the strongest battlers in the mobile game.
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However, beating these Grunts lets you catch powerful Shadow Pokemon that can grant you a competitive edge in PvP and PvE battles. Thankfully, you can guess the Pokemon type and team they’ll use from the taunt given by them before the battle, helping you choose the best counters to beat them quickly.
So, without further ado, here are all the details on the Team Go Rocket Grunts’ taunts, teams, and best counters to use in Pokemon Go.
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Pokemon Go Rocket Grunt taunts, lineups & counters
Below is every Team Go Rocket Grunt taunt alongside their main type, possible team, and best counters in Pokemon Go updated after the Taken Treasures event.
Players can face Team Go Rocket Grunts to get a piece of the Rocket Radar.
“Normal does not mean weak”
- Type: Normal
- Weaknesses: Fighting
- Counters: Lucario, Terrakion, Conkeldurr, Machamp, Sirfetch’d, Kommo-o
This Grunt shouldn’t be too tough since Ursaring is the only Pokemon that could be somewhat challenging. With the right Fighting-type counters, there’s no way to lose.
Victory reward: Shadow Meowth, Teddiursa, or Stantler encounter.
“Go, my super bug Pokémon!”
- Type: Bug
- Weaknesses: Fire, Rock, Flying
- Counters: Reshiram, Moltres, Entei, Ho-Oh, Heatran, Darmanitan
While Bug-type Pokemon have three different weaknesses, this Grunt’s lineup calls mostly for Fire-type Pokemon.
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Victory reward: Shadow Pineco, Dwebble, or Shuckle encounter.
“Wherever there is light, there is also shadow”
- Type: Dark
- Weaknesses: Fairy, Fighting, Bug
- Counters: Gardevoir, Togekiss, Terrakion, Lucario, Conkeldurr
Fairy-type Pokemon are ideal for taking on this Team Go Rocket Grunt, but Fighting and Bug-type Pokemon will also work well. Make sure you shield Poison-type attacks from Alolan Grimer, Mul, and Alolan Muk if you’re using Fairy types.
Victory reward: Shadow Alolan Rattata, Houndour, or Stunky encounter.
“ROAR! …How’d that sound?”
- Type: Dragon
- Weaknesses: Fairy, Dragon, Ice
- Counters: Rayquaza, Haxorus, Mamoswine, Baxcalibur, Gardevoir, Togekiss
Fairy-type Pokemon are perfect for this as well as Ice-type Pokemon. Using Dragon-type Pokemon to take down other Dragon-type Pokemon is always risky so Breaking Swipe users like Rayquaza and Haxorus are the ideal picks as they nerf the opponent’s Attack stat.
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Victory reward: Shadow Gible, Dratini, or Alolan Exeggutor encounter.
“Get ready to be shocked!”
- Type: Electric
- Weaknesses: Ground
- Counters: Garchomp, Groudon, Rhyperior, Excadrill, Mamoswine
Since Electric-type Pokemon’s only weakness is Ground-type moves, there isn’t much to think about here. Being a dual Ground and Dragon-type Pokemon, Garchomp is ideal for this battle as it also triple resists Electric-type attacks.
Victory reward: Shadow Joltik, Mareep, or Blitzle encounter.
“Check out my cute Pokémon!”
- Type: Fairy
- Weaknesses: Poison, Steel
- Counters: Metagross, Roserade, Dialga, Gengar
While this is a tough Grunt to beat, any Poison or Steel-type Pokemon should work well. The only thing to keep in mind is that Mawile isn’t weak against either Poison or Steel-type moves, so you should bring a Fire or Ground-type Pokemon just in case.
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Victory reward: Shadow Alolan Vulpix, Mawile, or Ralts encounter.
“This buff physique isn’t just for show!”
- Type: Fighting
- Weaknesses: Flying, Psychic, Fairy
- Counters: Sylveon, Gardevoir, Togekiss, Alakazam, Mewtwo
Flying, Psychic, and Fairy-type Pokemon are super-effective against Fighting types and also resist damage from Fighting-type moves, so any pick should be fine against these heavy hitters.
Victory reward: Shadow Hisuian Sneasel, Makuhita, or Machop encounter.
NianticTrainers can find Team Go Rocket Grunts in black PokeStops.
“Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?”
- Type: Fire
- Weaknesses: Water, Rock, Ground
- Counters: Gyarados, Swampert, Rhyperior, Garchomp, Kyogre
While some of these Team GO Rocket Grunt picks can be tough opponents, exploiting Fire-type Pokemon weaknesses will lead you to victory.
Victory reward: Shadow Growlithe, Houndour, or Chimchar encounter.
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“Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!”
- Type: Flying
- Weaknesses: Rock, Electric, Ice
- Counters: Magnezone, Raikou, Rhyperior, Tyranitar, Glaceon, Mamoswine
Since Gyarados could decimate any Rock-type Pokemon you bring into battle, Electric-type Pokemon are your best option for this Grunt in Pokemon Go. That said, Dragonite can throw you off-guard so it’s good to pack in an Ice-type like Glaceon or Mamoswine as well.
Victory reward: Shadow Gligar, Murkrow, or Starly encounter.
“Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke!”
- Type: Ghost
- Weaknesses: Ghost, Dark
- Counters: Darkrai, Weavile, Hydreigon, Gengar, Tyranitar, Absol
As with Dragon-type Pokemon, Ghost types are a risky choice to take down other Ghost-type Pokemon, so we recommend using Dark-type Pokemon for this battle. Keep in mind that a lot of other Pokemon can also learn useful Dark-type moves like Bite and Crunch.
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Victory reward: Shadow Drifloon, Golett, or Misdreavus encounter.
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“Don’t tangle with us!”
- Type: Grass
- Weaknesses: Fire, Bug, Poison, Flying, Ice
- Counters: Charizard, Moltres, Ho-Oh, Gengar, Reshiram, Heatran
Since there are many dual Fire and Flying-type Pokemon you can pick, we recommend this approach. These Pokemon will not only be super-effective against this Grunt’s Shadow Pokemon, but they’ll also resist most of the damage coming their way.
Victory reward: Shadow Hoppip, Turtwig, or Seedot encounter.
“You’ll be defeated into the ground!”
- Type: Ground
- Weaknesses: Water, Grass, Ice
- Counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Gyarados, Venusaur, Glaceon, Alolan Exeggutor
Any Grass or Water-type Pokemon should be able to take this Grunt without much trouble.
Victory reward: Shadow Drilbur, Wooper, or Alolan Diglett encounter.
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“You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks”
- Type: Ice
- Weaknesses: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel
- Counters: Heatran, Blaziken, Lucario, Terrakion, Tyranitar
Fire-type Pokemon can wipe most of this Grunt’s Pokemon, but Lapras can complicate things. The same goes for Rock types. So Fighting-type Pokemon can really shine here against Lapras and the rest of this lineup.
Victory reward: Shadow Swinub, Snover, or Snorunt encounter.
“Coiled and ready to strike!”
- Type: Poison
- Weaknesses: Psychic, Ground
- Counters: Groudon, Garchomp, Excadrill, Rhyperior, Mewtwo, Alakazam
Ground-type Pokemon can take care of most of this Grunt’s picks, except for Foongus. Either way, you shouldn’t have much trouble if you face this Grunt in Pokemon Go.
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Victory reward: Shadow Foongus, Croagunk, or Koffing encounter.
“Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?”
- Type: Psychic
- Weaknesses: Dark, Bug, Ghost
- Counters: Tyranitar, Gengar, Hydreigon, Darkrai
Dark-type Pokemon are best suited for this battle because they can resist Psychic-type damage in Pokemon Go.
Victory reward: Shadow Slowpoke or Wobbuffet encounter.
NianticAfter beating the Grunts, you will be able to find Team Go Rocket Leaders.
“Let’s rock and roll!”
- Type: Rock
- Weaknesses: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel
- Counters: Kyogre, Lucario, Swampert, Garchomp, Excadrill
While Rock-type Pokemon have five weaknesses players can exploit, Water, Ground, and Fighting-type Pokemon are the safest bets here, especially against Alolan Golem.
Victory reward: Shadow Onix, Cranidos, or Shieldon encounter.
“You’re no match for my iron will!”
- Type: Steel
- Weaknesses: Fire, Ground, Fighting
- Counters: Charizard, Moltres, Entei, Blaziken, Swampert, Garchomp
Pokemon Go players shouldn’t have any trouble facing this Team Go Rocket Grunt with Fire-type or Ground-type Pokemon.
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Victory reward: Shadow Alolan Sandshrew, Ferroseed, or Skarmory encounter.
“These waters are treacherous!” (Female)
- Type: Water
- Weaknesses: Grass, Electric
- Counters: Sceptile, Torterra, Venusaur, Magnezone, Raikou, Electivire
The Water-type specialist Grunt can be male or female. While the female will have the Pokemon listed above, the male one specializes in Magikarps and will only face you with Magikarp and maybe a closer Gyarados. So you shouldn’t have any kind of trouble using Grass-type Pokemon.
Victory reward: Shadow Piplup, Barboach, or Corphish encounter.
“Don’t bother – I’ve already won! Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners!” (Female)
- Type: Typeless
- Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Magnezone, Electivire, Gengar, Mamoswine, Glaceon
These last two are the toughest challenges Team Go Rocket Grunts can offer. The female one faces players with very powerful Pokemon and demands a balanced team to beat her.
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Fighting-type Pokemon are the safest bet against Snorlax so that’s a must. The other two Pokemon should include Electric, Ice, and Poison-type attacks if possible.
Victory reward: Shadow Snorlax encounter.
Don’t bother – I’ve already won! Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners!” (Male)
- Type: Starters
- Counters: Sceptile, Kyogre, Charizard, Magnezone, Raikou, Ho-Oh,
This male Grunt will attack trainers with different starter Pokemon from different regions. While some of them can be really powerful, it’s easy to pick counters that exploit each Pokemon’s weakness.
The tricky part is that you never know what Pokemon you’re going to face, so players should bring a balanced team to battle.
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Victory reward: Shadow Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip encounter.
Now you can face any Team Go Rocket Grunt without much trouble, knowing what you might get. Keep in mind that some Grunts have lower chances of appearing in PokeStops and air balloons.
That’s all you need to know to beat Team Go Rocket Grunts in Pokemon Go. If you’re looking for more content on Pokemon Go, be sure to check out our other guides:
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Maria Malik is your guide to the immersive world of Virtual Reality (VR). With a passion for VR technology, she explores the latest VR headsets, applications, and experiences, providing readers with in-depth reviews, industry insights, and a glimpse into the future of virtual experiences.
