Team Go Rocket Grunts battles in Pokemon Go can be quite difficult and tricky. You need to have a team that is a good counter to the type of Pokemon those grunts will use in the battle.
Pokemon uses by grunts can be identified by the dialogue they use before the battle. Grunts taunting you with”this buff physique isn’t just for show” will always use Fighting-type Pokemon.
Team Go Rocket randomly and independently selects one Pokemon from each of the lists below to build a team, which are sent in the same order.
Pokemon in Green Box has a chance of being captured after the battle.
Addition Info:
- Grunts never use their Protect Sheild but leaders will always try to use their Protect Shields.
- Pokemon dropped by leaders can be shiny.
The Team Go Rocket grunts dialogue indicates the strongest Pokemon, not the one you can catch.
As of August 2021, there are 20 different Grunts that you can encounter.
Team Go Rocket Grunts Dialogues
Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
Grunts who taunt you with “Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?” will use Psychic-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Ghost, Dark, and Bug-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Exeggcute | Drowzee | Exeggutor |
| Slowpoke | Kadabra | Hypno |
| Wobbuffet | Kirlia |
Possible counters:
- Tyranitar
- Weavile
- Houndoom
- Haunter
Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!
Grunts who taunt you with “Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!?” will use Flying-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Rock, Electric, or Ice-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Starly | Golbat | Crobat |
| Zubat | Staravia | Dragonite |
| Gyarados |
Possible counters:
- Tyranitar
- Electivire
- Abomasnow
Check out my cute Pokemon!
Grunts who taunt you with “Check out my cute Pokemon!?” will use Fairy-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Poison and Steel-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Snubbull | Granbull | Granbull |
| Snubbull |
Possible counters:
- Matagross
- Roserade
- Gengar
- Victreebel
Coiled and ready to strike!
Grunts who taunt you with “Coiled and ready to strike!” will use Poison-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Psychic and Ground-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Nidoran ♂ | Nidorina | Muk |
| Nidoran ♀ | Nidorino | Nidorina |
| Skorupi | Weezing |
Possible counters:
- Espeon
- Mewtwo
- Tyranitar
- Groundon
Don’t tangle with us!
Grunts who taunt you with “Don’t tangle with us!” will use Grass-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fire-types. Bug, Ice, Flying, and Poison-types are solid backups.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Hoppip | Gloom | Shiftry |
| Oddish | Skiploom | Victreebel |
| Tangela | Tangela | Vileplume |
Possible counters:
- Charizard
- Moltres
- Entei
- Pyroar
Get ready to be shocked!
Grunts who taunt you with “Get ready to be shocked!” will use Electric-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Ground-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Electabuzz | Electabuzz | Ampharos |
| Electrike | Flaaffy | Electabuzz |
| Mareep |
Possible counters:
- Groundon
- Rhyperior
- Hippowdon
- Golem
Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?
Grunts who taunt you with “Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?” will use Fire-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Water, Rock, and Ground-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Houndour | Houndoom | Arcanine |
| Vulpix | Magmar | Charmeleon |
| Ninetales | Ninetails |
Possible counters:
- Tyranitar
- Blastoise
- Vaporeon
- Rhydon
Go, my super bug Pokemon!
Grunts who taunt you with the “Go, my super bug Pokemon!” will use Bug-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fire-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Anorith | Pinsir | Beedril |
| Shuckle | Scizor | Scizor |
| Skorupi | Venomoth | Scyther |
Possible counters:
- Charizard
- Moltres
- Entei
- Pyroar
Ke… ke… ke… ke… ke… ke…
Grunts who taunt you with the “Ke… ke… ke… ke… ke… ke…” will use Ghost-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Dark and Ghost-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Duskull | Banette | Banette |
| Misdreavus | Dusclops | Dusknoir |
| Shuppet | Sableye |
Possible counters:
- Weavile
- Gengar
- Haunter
- Darkrai
Let’s rock and roll!
Grunts who taunt you with the “Let’s rock and roll!” will use Rock-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fighting and Water, Grass, Ground, and Steel-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Aron | Lairon | Pupitar |
| Nosepass | Larvitar | Tyranitar |
| Pupitar |
Possible counters:
- Machamp
- Blastoise
Normal doesn’t mean weak.
Grunts who taunt you with the “Normal doesn’t mean weak” will use Normal-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fighting-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Teddiursa | Porygon2 | Porygon-Z |
| Raticate | Snorlax |
Possible counters:
- Machamp
- Conkeldurr
- Sirfetch’d
- Sawk
ROAR! … How’d that sound?
Grunts who taunt you with the “ROAR! … How’d that sound?” will use Dragon-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Ice and Fairy-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Dratini | Dragonair | Dragonite |
| Flygon | Flygon | |
| Gyarados |
Possible counters:
- Weavile
- Glaceon
- Sylveon
- Electabuzz
These waters are treacherous
Grunts who taunt you with the “These waters are treacherous” will use Water-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Grass or Electric-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Horsea | Quagsire | Politoed |
| Poliwag | Marshtomp | Poliwrath |
| Spheal |
Possible counters:
- Sceptile
- Leafeon
- Raikou
- Magnezone
This buff physique isn’t just for show!
Grunts who taunt you with the “This buff physique isn’t just for show!” will use Fighting-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Psychic, Flying, and Fairy-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Machop | Machoke | Hitmonchan |
| Makuhita | Hitmonlee | |
| Hariyama |
Possible counters:
- Alakazam
- Gardevoir
- Togekiss
- Lugia
You’ll be defeated into the ground!
Grunts who taunt you with the “You’ll be defeated into the ground!” will use Ground-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Water, Grass, and Ice-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Diglett | Marowak | Flygon |
| Swinub | Pupitar | Gliscor |
| Vibrava |
Possible counters:
- Gyarados
- Venusaur
- Mamoswine
- Weavile
You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.
Grunts who taunt you with the “You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.” will use Ice-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fire, Steel, Fighting, and Rock-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Snover | Cloyster | Abomasnow |
| Spheal | Sealeo | Cloyster |
| Swinub | Lapras |
Possible counters:
- Charizard
- Aggron
- Machamp
- Tyranitar
Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.
Grunts who taunt you with the “Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.” will use Dark-type Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using strong Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-types.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Murkrow | Mightyena | Cacturne |
Possible counters:
- Rhyperior
- Lucario
- Heracross
- Gardevoir
Don’t bother, I’ve already won / Get ready to be defeated! / Winning is for winners
Grunts who taunt you with the “Don’t bother, I’ve already won / Get ready to be defeated! / Winning is for winners” will use a mix of different types of Pokemon. So it’s best to counter by using Fighting-type like Machamp, an Electric-type like Raikou, and an Ice-type like Abomasnow.
Possible Encounters:
| Phase 1 | Phase 2 | Phase 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Snorlax | Gardevoir | Dragonite |
| Poliwrath | Gyarados | |
| Snorlax | Snorlax |
Pokemon Go Grunt Counters
| Type | Counters |
|---|---|
| Bug | Charizard, Moltres, Entei, Rampardos |
| Dragon | Gardevoir, Metagross, Togekiss, Dialga |
| Normal | Machamp, Tyranitar, Metagross, Dialga |
| Fire | Gyarados, Tyranitar, Swampert, Kyogre |
| Water | Venusaur, Raikou, Roserade, Palkia |
| Grass | Charizard, Moltres, Mewtwo, Rayquaza |
| Poison | Mewtwo, Tyranitar, Groudon, Garchomp |
| Ground | Gyarados, Sceptile, Swampert, Kyogre |
| Flying | Raikou, Tyranitar, Magnezone, Dialga |
| Psychic | Mewtwo, Scizor, Tyranitar, Metagross |
Team GO Rocket Leader Counters
You can find the detailed guide here.
Rocket Leader Cliff
| Lucario | Regice | Swampert |
|---|---|---|
| Meowth, Snorlax, and Tyranitar | Flygon, Sandslash, and Torterra | Sandslash, Infernape, and Tyranitar |
| Counter | Lock On | Mud Shot |
| Power Up Punch | Blizzard | Hydro Cannon |
| Shadow Ball | Focus Blast | Earthquake |
Rocket Leader Sierra
| Lucario | Melmetal | Tyranitar |
|---|---|---|
| Sneasel, Lapras and Hypno / Alakazam (Shadow Ball) | Gardevoir, Lapras, Hypno, and Alakazam | Hypno, Sableye, Houndoom, and Alakazam |
| Counter | Thunder Shock | Bite |
| Power Up Punch | Rock Slide | Crunch |
| Shadow Ball | Flash Cannon | Stone Edge |
Rocket Leader Arlo
| Melmetal | Mewtwo | Blaziken |
|---|---|---|
| Scyther, Gyarados, Crobat, and Dragonite | Crobat and Dragonite (Ice Beam) | Magnezone and Scizor |
| Thunder Shock | Psycho Cut | Counter |
| Rock Slide | Psytrike | Blaze Kick |
| ThunderBolt | Ice Beam | Focus Blast |
