Pokemon GO is the ARPG that defined the genre, building up a huge fanbase over the past six years. The game combines a unique and imaginative gameplay loop with the legendary Pokemon series to create a world that players just want to get out and explore. Not everywhere is safe in Pokemon GO, however, as the nefarious Team GO Rocket are always on the prowl.
Arlo is one of Team GO Rocket's youngest leaders, and in September 2022, players can challenge his team of mostly Fairy, Steel, and Fire-type Pokemon. Like any Team GO Rocket leader, beating Arlo won't be easy, and players will need to bring just the right Pokemon to defeat his team.
Arlo's First Pokemon
Like the rest of the Team GO Rocket leaders, Arlo always begins a battle with the same starting Pokemon. Arlo's opening choice in September 2022 is Charmander, the first-generation Fire-type starter that shouldn't be much of a challenge.
As a pure Fire-type, Charmander is weak to Ground, Rock, and Water; it's also resistant to Bug, Fairy, Fire, Grass, Ice, and Steel.
Charmander Counters
- Rampardos - Smack Down/Rockslide
- Rhyperior - Mud-Slap/Rock Wrecker
- Omastar - Rock Throw/Rock Slide
- Golem - Rock Throw/Rock Blast
- Tyranitar - Smack Down/Stone Edge
Arlo's Second Pokemon
Arlo made very minor changes to his Pokemon team in August 2022, swapping the positions of Charizard and Scizor in the lineup. If anything, this change has made it easier for players, as both Charizard and Salamence share Charmander's weakness to Rock. Unfortunately, Mawile is resistant to Rock-types, meaning that players will still be gambling by bringing one.
Salamence Counters
Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon and therefore is weak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy, and Rock. It is resistant to Fighting, Fire, Grass, Bug, and Water and is completely immune to Ground attacks.
- Golem - Rock Throw/Rock Blast
- Tyranitar - Smack Down/Stone Edge
- Mamoswine - Powder Snow/Avalanche
- Regice - Lock On/Blizzard
- Togekiss - Charm/Dazzling Gleam
Mawile Counters
Mawile is a Steel/Fairy-type and therefore is weak to Fire and Ground. Like Salamence and Scizor, it also comes with a huge list of resistances. Mawile is resistant to Dragon, Bug, Dark, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic, and Rock.
- Reshiram - Fire Fang/Overheat
- Darmanitan - Fire Fang/Overheat
- Charizard - Fire Spin/Blast Burn
- Ho-Oh - Incinerate/Earthquake
- Blaziken - Fire Spin/Blast Burn
Charizard Counters
Ever-popular Pokemon Charizard is a Fire/Flying-type, weak to Electric, Rock, and Water. It is resistant to Bug, Grass, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Steel.
- Rampardos - Smack Down/Rock Slide
- Tyranitar - Smack Down/Stone Edge
- Terrakion - Smack Down/Rock Slide
- Swampert - Mud Shot/Hydro Cannon
- Omastar - Rock Throw/Rock Slide
Arlo's Third Pokemon
With Scizor now joining Gardevoir and Steelix as Arlo's potential third Pokemon, players will find their options have changed a little since August 2022.
Both Steelix and Scizor are weak to Fire, while Gardevoir has no special resistance to it. This makes Fire-type Pokemon the safest pick to take on Arlo's third Pokemon.
Scizor Counters
Scizor is a Bug/Steel-type and is therefore extremely weak to Fire, but only to Fire. It's also resistant to Grass, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Normal, Psychic, and Steel.
- Heatran - Fire Spin/Flamethrower
- Darmanitan - Fire Fang/Overheat
- Charizard - Fire Spin/Blast Burn
- Blaziken - Fire Spin/Blast Burn
- Ho-Oh - Incinerate/Earthquake
Gardevoir Counters
Gardevoir is a Fairy/Psychic-type Pokemon and therefore is weak to Poison, Steel, and Ghost. It is resistant to Fighting and Psychic and immune to Dragon.
- Metagross – Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash
- Gengar – Shadow Claw/Sludge Bomb
- Chandelure – Hex/Shadow Ball
- Dialga – Metal Claw/Iron Head
- Zarude - Vine Whip/Power Whip
Steelix Counters
Steelix is a Ground/Steel-type Pokemon and therefore is weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Water. It is resistant to Normal, Rock, Steel, Dragon, Flying, Bug, Psychic, and Fairy and immune to Poison and Electric.
- Zacian (Hero) - Snarl/Close Combat
- Excadrill - Mud Shot/Drill Run
- Groudon - Mud Shot/Earthquake
- Blaziken - Fire Spin/Blast Burn
- Darmanitan - Fire Fang/Overheat
Pokemon GO is available now on mobile devices.