A new season is here and there is a lot to be excited about in the world of Pokemon GO. Players have no shortage of activities to stay busy with this month between a massive list of special events and the December 2022 Legendary and Mega Battle Raid schedule. Players who want more than just Battle Raid fights can also decide to face off against Team GO Rocket and its leaders once again this month.
Pokemon GO players should keep an eye out for Grunts at Pokestops or floating around in hot air balloons this month as they work their way towards encounters against Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra. Players will need to prove themselves against all of the fierce gym leaders if they want to earn an encounter with Giovanni and secure that Shadow Legendary encounter reward once again.
Giovanni will be the toughest of the Team Rocket Leaders to defeat, but that doesn't mean that the other three are easy targets. Trainers who want to soundly beat Sierra will need to prepare carefully for the big fight and strategize quickly once the adversary starts throwing her Pokemon into the ring. Sierra's lineup is shifting around once again this month (just like Cliff's lineup), so be sure to carefully study the lineup possibilities when forming a counter roster for this battle.
Sierra's December 2022 Lineup
- Sableye
- Honchkrow or Flygon or Cacturne
- Houndoom or Snorlax or Cradily
Sableye Counters
Xurkitree - Thunder Shock/Dazzling Gleam
Granbull - Charm/Play Rough
Gardevoir - Charm/Dazzling Gleam
Honchkrow Counters
Xurkitree - Thunder Shock/Thunder
Mamoswine - Powder Snow/Avalanche
Electivire - Thunder Shock/Wild Charge
Flygon Counters
Mamoswine - Powder Snow/Avalanche
Weavile - Ice Shard/Avalanche
Glaceon - Ice Shard/Avalanche
Cacturne Counters
Nihilego - Poison Jab/Sludge Bomb
Scizor - Fury Cutter/X-Scissor
Lucario - Counter/Power-Up Punch
Houndoom Counters
Swampert - Mud Shot/Hydro Cannon
Poliwrath - Mud Shot/Power Up Punch
Machamp - Counter/Cross Chop
Snorlax Counters
Terrakion - Double Kick/Sacred Sword
Lucario - Counter/Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr - Counter/Dynamic Punch
Cradily Counters
Zamazenta (Hero) - Snarl/Close Combat
Sneasler - Shadow Claw/Close Combat
Cobalion - Double Kick/Sacred Sword
Many of the best counters for this battle are relevant to the current Pokemon GO PvE and PvP metagame, so it's worth investing in them beyond this fight for most players. Use TMs and Rare Candy to power up a roster enough so that this challenger can be successfully defeated.
Pokemon GO players should keep an eye out for more activities and opportunities to battle as December continues and the holiday season approaches. Be sure to check back in the near future for more Pokemon GO strategy guides, news, and updates. Until then, good luck out there, trainers!
Pokemon GO is available now on mobile devices.