Pokémon Go Team Rocket leader counters for August 2026 cover the current parties used by Sierra, Arlo and Cliff, plus the best ways to build a winning team.
The latest line-ups follow the Team Go Rocket Takeover changes introduced with the “Flying Taxi: Taken Over” event in June. The leader teams were updated on June 25, including new opening Pokémon.
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How to find Sierra, Arlo and Cliff
Team Go Rocket leaders appear at black PokéStops and in Rocket hot-air balloons when you have a Rocket Radar equipped.
Building a Rocket Radar requires six Mysterious Components. Each standard Team Go Rocket encounter awards one component, so you need to defeat six grunts before the radar is ready.
Once equipped, the radar directs you to one of the three leaders at random: Sierra, Arlo or Cliff.
Earlier Timed Research and Team Go Rocket Special Research tasks sometimes required trainers to defeat all three leaders. Completing the relevant Special Research awarded a Super Rocket Radar, which could locate Giovanni and lead to a legendary Shadow Pokémon reward. Since the “Steeled Resolve” event in April 2026, no new Special Research is available for earning that radar. Trainers who want to battle Giovanni instead need to take part in the Go Pass before the event ends.
Sierra counters
Sierra’s current party begins with Amaura, followed by one of three possible second Pokémon and one of three possible final Pokémon:
- Amaura — rock/ice
- Flygon — ground/dragon, Ferrothorn — grass/steel, or Blastoise — water
- Houndoom — dark/fire, Steelix — steel/ground, or Milotic — water
Sierra’s party is otherwise unchanged in this rotation, with Amaura replacing the previous opening Pokémon. It is worth entering once to reveal the full party before committing to a final counter team.
Fighting- and fire-type attacks are useful starting points. Ground, rock, ice and water coverage can handle the other possibilities. Strong options include:
- Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
- Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
- Blacephalon with Incinerate and Mind Blown
- Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
- Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
- Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
- Galarian Darmanitan with Ice Fang and Avalanche
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse
Arlo counters
Arlo’s August 2026 line-up is built around these possibilities:
- Tyrunt — rock/dragon
- Steelix — steel/ground, Slowbro — water/psychic, or Golurk — ground/ghost
- Scizor — bug/steel, Charizard — fire/flying, or Alakazam — psychic
Tyrunt is Arlo’s new first Pokémon, while Golurk has been added as one of his second-slot choices. The rest of the recommended approach remains broadly familiar.
Fire attacks are especially valuable against his steel-heavy possibilities. Ghost, water and dark attacks provide useful alternatives when Steelix, Slowbro, Golurk or Alakazam appear.
- Blacephalon with Incinerate and Mind Blown
- Reshiram with Fire Fang and Fusion Flare
- Lunala with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
- Chandelure with Hex and Shadow Ball
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse
- Quaquaval with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
- Tyranitar with Bite and Brutal Swing
Cliff counters
Cliff opens with Axew, then selects from the following second- and third-slot Pokémon:
- Axew — dragon
- Snorlax — normal, Golurk — ground/ghost, or Galarian Weezing — poison/fairy
- Tyranitar — rock/dark, Camerupt — fire/ground, or Gallade — psychic/fighting
Cliff’s varied party makes scouting important. Fairy, ground and water attacks cover several threats, while a powerful fighting-type is particularly useful against Snorlax’s high durability.
- Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
- Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
- Tapu Lele with Astonish and Nature’s Madness
- Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
- Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
- Garchomp with Mud Shot and Earth Power
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse
- Quaquaval with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
Team Go Rocket leader battle tips
- Leaders automatically use shields against your first two Charge Attacks. A Pokémon with a fast-charging attack can remove those shields quickly.
- Expect your first Pokémon to be knocked out. Use it to pressure the shields, then bring counters with suitable type advantages for the remaining slots.
- You can retry a leader battle repeatedly with the same Rocket Radar. Use an initial attempt to identify the party, then adjust your team if necessary.
- Leaders use high-CP Pokémon, so bring your strongest available team when you are having trouble.
- Each leader victory awards three Shadow Shards, making these battles an efficient way to collect materials for Purified Gems.
Planning teams around flexible counters is much like choosing the right setup for an arcade machine buying guide: start with the requirements, then adapt once you know what you are facing. Trainers building a dedicated gaming space can also browse arcade machines or compact bartop arcades.
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