Pokemon GO has grown steadily since its 2016 launch, with a constant stream of events and updates keeping Niantic's genre-defining ARPG fresh for over half a decade. One of the game's most popular additions are the Team GO Rocket leaders, boss trainers that Pokemon GO players can take on to earn rare Shadow Pokemon.
Team GO Rocket leaders change their teams often, meaning players will have to keep switching their counters. In July 2022, Team GO Rocket leader Arlo is fielding a team of mostly Fairy, Steel, and Fire-type Pokemon, a tough line-up to beat without a good squad.
Arlo's First Pokemon
All of the Team GO Rocket leaders begin each battle with the same Pokemon, rather than a choice of three. Arlo's new first pick in July 2022 is Charmander, the original Fire-type starter with some fairly exploitable weaknesses.
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
- Swampert - Mud Shot/Hydro Cannon
- 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's second Pokemon can be either Scizor, Salamence, or Mawile, meaning that players will have to think carefully about their counters. While Scizor and Mawile are both weak to Fire, Salamence is actually resistant to it, making bringing a Fire-type Pokemon a real gamble.
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
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 completely immune to Ground attacks.
- Palkia - Dragon Breath/Draco Meteor
- Giratina - Dragon Breath/Dragon Claw
- 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
Arlo's Third Pokemon
Arlo's third Pokemon will be either Charizard, Gardevoir, or Steelix. This Pokemon will be the toughest challenge for most players, particularly because the three don't share any weaknesses.
Water is probably the best choice as both Charizard and Steelix are weak to it, and Gardevoir has no resistance.
Charizard Counters
Fan-favorite 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
- Kingler - Bubble/Crabhammer
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
- Conkeldurr - Counter/Dynamic Punch
- Darmanitan - Fire Fang/Overheat
Pokemon GO is available now on mobile devices.