The December 2022 Pokemon GO events calendar is jam-packed with exciting holiday activities for trainers to enjoy. While they are running around taking on Legendary Battle Raids and enjoying the Season of Mythical Wishes bonuses, they may occasionally have a run in with some Team GO Rocket trouble, as well.
Team Rocket Leaders will be available as player work their way towards a battle with Giovanni, but they are also going to have the chance to face off against some Team Rocket Grunts throughout December. Although these challengers aren't as tough to defeat as the Team Rocket Leaders, Pokemon GO trainers still need to prepare carefully for each battle or optimize their counter rosters.
Each GO Rocket grunt battle always kicks off with a bit of dialogue from the Grunt that gives players a hint about which type of Pokemon they're about to battle. Players who want to make sure they bring the perfect counter roster into each battle can use the following guide to match up the lines of dialogue with the possible enemy rosters to help avoid unnecessary wipes that can lead to blowing through valuable Revives and Potions...
Coiled and ready to strike! (Poison) - Counter with Ground-types
Nidoran or Zubat or Foongus
Nidorina or Nidorino
Weezing or Muk
Normal does not mean weak. (Normal) - Counter with Fighting-types
Rattata or Patrat or Whismur
Loudred or Raticate or Bidoof
Ursaring or Raticate
ROAR!…How’d that sound? (Dragon) - Counter with Ice- and Fairy-types
Dratini or Alola Exeggutor
Flygon
Dragonair or Dragonite or Flygon
These waters are treacherous! (Water) – Female Grunt - Counter with Grass- or Electric-types
Wailmer or Totodile
Croconaw
Fergaligatr or Wailord
These waters are treacherous! (Water) – Male Grunt - Counter with Grass- or Electric-types
Magikarp
Magikarp
Magikarp or Gyarados
Don’t tangle with us! (Grass) - Counter with Fire- or Flying-types
Cacnea or Chikorita
Bayleef
Amoonguss or Meganium or Cacturne
Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon! (Flying) - Counter with Rock- and Electric-types
Natu or Ducklett or Starly
Golbat or Staravia
Crobot or Dragonite or Gyarados
Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get? (Fire) - Counter with Water- and Ground-types
Cyndaquil or Numel
Quilava
Ninetales or Camerupt or Typhlosion
Go, my super bug Pokémon! (Bug) - Counter with Fire- and Flying-types
Shuckle or Weedle
Beedrill or Skorupi
Forretress or Pinsir or Scizor
You’ll be defeated into the ground! (Ground) - Counter with Ice-, Grass-, or Water-types
Diglett (Alola) or Hippopotas
Diglett (Alola) or Hippopotas
Onix or Golem or Hippowdon
Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power? (Psychic) - Counter with Dark- or Ghost-types
Natu
Ralts or Girafarig
Metang or Alakazam or Hypno
Let’s rock and roll! (Rock) - Counter with Fighting-types
Onix or Sudowoodo
Lileep or Anorith
Golem or Onix
Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke! (Ghost) - Counter with Dark-types
Golett
Banette or Dusclops
Dusknoir or Golruk or Banette
This buff physique isn’t just for show! (Fighting) - Counter with Psychic-, Fairy-, or Flying-types
Makuhita or Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee
Hitmonchan or Hitmonlee
Hitmonchan or Machamp or Hitmonlee
You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks. (Ice) - Counter with Fire- or Electric-types
Alola Sandshrew or Swinub
Snover or Alola Sandslash
Lapras or Abomasnow or Cloyster
Wherever there is light, there is also shadow. (Dark) - Counter with Fighting- and Fairy-types
Rattata (Alola) or Purrloin
Raticate (Alola) or Stunky
Cacturne or Honchkrow or Raticate (Alola)
Get ready to be shocked! (Electric) - Counter with Ground-types
Shinx or Mareep
Electabuzz or Voltorb
Electabuzz or Ampharos or Luxray
Don’t bother – I’ve already won! Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners! (No specific type) - Counter with Fighting- and Electric-types
Snorlax
Poliwrath or Gardevoir or Snorlax
Dragonite or Gyarados or Snorlax
Check out my cute Pokémon! (Fairy) - Counter with Steel- and Poison-types
Snubbull or Ralts
Kirlia or Snubbull or Granbull
Granbull or Kirlia
There are obviously a ton of different Grunts that players can run into and a lot of variety for how each of those encounters can play out, so trainers should be ready for anything when they challenge an enemy. Just be sure to take careful note of the dialogue that leads into the fight and try to optimize the counter roster to take advantage of the type weaknesses that could be exposed during the battle.
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 on Android and iOS.