Challenging a Team GO Rocket Leader or Boss might sound a lot more challenging than taking on a Team GO Rocket Grunt. But with some key knowledge and a little strategy, you can clobber Cliff, surpass Sierra, annihilate Arlo, and gain victory over Giovanni. Then you’ll have the opportunity to rescue Cliff’s Shadow Dratini, Sierra’s Shadow Sableye, Arlo’s Shadow Bellsprout, and Giovanni’s Shadow Regigigas. Most of these Shadow Pokémon have the potential to be extremely powerful, making it well worth your time to find and battle the head honchos of Team GO Rocket.

A large part of the strategy you’ll need to consider is in selecting your Pokémon and their attacks. Unlike a GO Battle League battle with a live human Trainer who will carefully consider the best time to use Protect Shields, the Team GO Rocket Leaders and Boss will usually use those shields against whatever your first two Charged Attacks are. That means it’s often best to fire off those first two Charged Attacks as quickly as possible, making it important to have a lead Pokémon with a Charged Attack that doesn’t require much energy to use.

For all three Team GO Rocket Leaders, prioritize Pokémon with two Charged Attacks (ideally of different types), which gives you more opportunity to exploit a wider variety of Pokémon type weaknesses.

If you’re just looking for a list of which Pokémon to use to win these battles, check out the “Recommended Pokémon to Defeat” sections. And if you’re interested in the strategy behind these choices, read the “Strategy for Defeating” section.

(An asterisk means you’ll generally need an Elite Charged TM to teach the Pokémon that move.)

---

Cliff’s Potential Pokémon

• Pokémon 1

  • Dratini (Dragon)

• Pokémon 2

  • Slowking (Water/Psychic)

  • Cradily (Rock/Grass)

  • Gallade (Psychic/Fighting)

• Pokémon 3

  • Tyranitar (Dark/Rock)

  • Mamoswine (Ice/Ground)

  • Dusknoir (Ghost)

Recommended Pokémon to Defeat Cliff

• Granbull / Shadow Granbull (Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Play Rough (Fairy)

  • Second Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Crunch (Dark)

• Tyranitar / Shadow Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)

  • Fast Attack: Bite (Dark)

  • Charged Attack: Crunch (Dark)

• Metagross / Shadow Metagross (Steel/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel), Meteor Mash (Steel)*

  • Second Charged Attack: Earthquake (Ground)

• Togekiss (Fairy/Flying)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Dazzling Gleam (Fairy)

  • Second Charged Attack: Aura Sphere (Fighting)*, Flamethrower (Fire)

• Origin Forme Giratina (Ghost/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Shadow Claw (Ghost)

  • Charged Attack: Ominous Wind (Ghost), Shadow Ball (Ghost), Shadow Force (Ghost)*

  • Second Charged Attack: Dragon Pulse (Dragon)

• Chandelure (Ghost/Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Hex (Ghost)

  • Charged Attack: Shadow Ball (Ghost), Poltergeist (Ghost)*

  • Second Charged Attack: Flame Charge (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Dialga (Steel/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Metal Claw (Steel)

  • Charged Attack: Iron Head (Steel)

Strategy for Defeating Cliff

The payoff for defeating Cliff is significant: Shadow Dratini, which can be evolved into GO Battle League powerhouses. Shadow Dragonair is reasonably effective in the Great League, while Shadow Dragonite is considered effective in all three primary leagues. It’s also a powerful attacker in raids. This makes it well worth powering up your Pokémon and devising your strategy against Cliff in advance.

Defeating Cliff is pretty straightforward. Create a team with your most powerful Fairy-type Pokémon, Ghost-type Pokémon, and Steel-type Pokémon. Remember that each member of your team needs a Fast Attack and Charged Attack of one of those types (preferably matching the Pokémon’s own type). A Dark-type Pokémon instead of a Ghost type can also be highly effective, but you would need to switch it out for your Fairy type against Gallade. The Team GO Rocket Leader’s Shadow Pokémon will be strong, so don’t rely solely on a type advantage.

While it’s important to have a Fast Attack and Charged Attack matching the Pokémon’s type, teaching them a second Charged Attack of a different type can also be useful. It broadens your Pokémon’s utility, allowing them to pose a threat to more of Cliff’s lineup.

Kick off the battle with your Fairy-type Pokémon to defeat Shadow Dratini. From there, if Cliff chose Gallade as his second Pokémon, keep your Fairy-type Pokémon in play or swap in your Ghost-type Pokémon. If Cliff chose Slowking, bring in your Ghost-type Pokémon, and if he opted for Cradily, swap in your Steel-type Pokémon.

If Cliffs brings Tyranitar as his third Pokémon, either your Fairy-type Pokémon or Steel-type Pokémon should be effective. For mighty Mamoswine, utilize your Steel-type Pokémon. And for Dusknoir, bust out your Ghost-type Pokémon.

---

Sierra’s Potential Pokémon

• Pokémon 1

  • Sableye (Dark/Ghost)

• Pokémon 2

  • Muk (Poison)

  • Skarmory (Steel/Flying)

  • Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy)

• Pokémon 3

  • Victreebel (Grass/Poison)

  • Gyarados (Water/Flying)

  • Kingdra (Water/Dragon)

Recommended Pokémon to Defeat Sierra

• Alolan Ninetales / Shadow Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Charm (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Dazzling Gleam (Fairy), Psyshock (Psychic)

• Mawile (Steel/Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Fairy Wind (Fairy)

  • Charged Attack: Iron Head (Steel), Play Rough (Fairy)

• Metagross (Steel/Psychic)

  • Fast Attack: Bullet Punch (Steel), Zen Headbutt (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel), Meteor Mash (Steel)*, Psychic (Psychic)

• Magnezone (Electric/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Charge Beam (Electric), Spark (Electric)

  • Charged Attack: Flash Cannon (Steel), Mirror Shot (Steel), Wild Charge (Electric), Zap Cannon (Electric)

• Tapu Koko (Electric/Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Volt Switch (Electric)

  • Charged Attack: Dazzling Gleam (Fairy), Thunder (Electric), Thunderbolt (Electric)

• Tapu Lele (Psychic/Fairy)

  • Fast Attack: Confusion (Psychic)

  • Charged Attack: Future Sight (Psychic), Moonblast (Fairy), Psyshock (Psychic)

Strategy for Defeating Sierra

If you enjoy competing in the GO Battle League, Sierra has a very useful Pokémon—Shadow Sableye. A purified Sableye can learn the Charged Attack Return, which is incredibly powerful. Unfortunately, Sierra isn’t going to make it easy for you to defeat her and rescue her Shadow Sableye.

To maximize your chances of defeating Sierra, your team should have four different types of Charged Attacks at their disposal: a Fairy-type Charged Attack, an Electric-type Charged Attack, a Steel-type Charged Attack, and a Psychic-type Charged Attack. Of course, this means you’ll need at least one Pokémon that knows two Charged Attacks. If your resources or options are limited, the following Pokémon are all viable: Alolan Ninetales, Mawile, Metagross, Magnezone, Tapu Koko, and Tapu Lele.

If you can, try to have each Pokémon on your team know two Charged Attacks, preferably of different types. And as always, don’t forget to power them up as much as possible.

Sableye has a single weakness, so it will help to lead with your Fairy-type Pokémon. Remember that Sierra will block your first two Charged Attacks, so use the one that becomes available quickest, regardless of type. If she sends out Muk as her second Pokémon, counter with Psychic-type attacks. Use Electric-type attacks for Skarmory and Steel-type attacks for Gardevoir. For her third Pokémon, Psychic-type attacks are effective against Victreebel, Electric-type attacks are extremely effective against Gyarados, and Fairy-type attacks work well against Kingdra.

Remember, if you purify Shadow Sableye after rescuing it, make sure to keep the Charged Attack Return; it’s extremely powerful in Trainer battles.

---

Arlo’s Potential Pokémon

• Pokémon 1

  • Bellsprout (Grass/Poison)

• Pokémon 2

  • Alakazam (Psychic)

  • Sharpedo (Water/Dark)

  • Mismagius (Ghost)

• Pokémon 3

  • Snorlax (Normal)

  • Scizor (Bug/Steel)

  • Magnezone (Electric/Steel)

Recommended Pokémon to Defeat Arlo

• Machamp / Shadow Machamp (Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Counter (Fighting), Karate Chop (Fighting)*

  • Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Cross Chop (Fighting), Dynamic Punch (Fighting), Submission (Fighting)*

• Blaziken (Fire/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Spin (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Blast Burn (Fire)*, Blaze Fick (Fire), Overheat (Fire)

• Tyranitar / Shadow Tyranitar (Rock/Dark)

  • Fast Attack: Bite (Dark)

  • Charged Attack: Crunch (Dark)

• Origin Forme Giratina (Ghost/Dragon)

  • Fast Attack: Dragon Tail (Dragon), Shadow Claw (Ghost)

  • Charged Attack: Dragon Pulse (Dragon), Ominous Wind (Ghost), Shadow Ball (Ghost), Shadow Force (Ghost)*

• Terrakion (Rock/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Double Kick (Fighting)

  • Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Sacred Sword (Fighting)*

• Reshiram (Dragon/Fire)

  • Fast Attack: Fire Fang (Fire)

  • Charged Attack: Fusion Flare (Fire)*, Overheat (Fire)

Strategy for Defeating Arlo

Shadow Victreebel is a powerhouse in the GO Battle League’s Great League, and if you defeat Arlo, you can catch a Shadow Bellsprout of your very own to evolve into Shadow Victreebel. To take on Arlo, choose one Fire-type Pokémon, one Fighting-type Pokémon, and either a Ghost-type Pokémon or Dark-type Pokémon. As always, make sure each of your Pokémon has a Fast Attack and Charged Attack matching the Pokémon’s type. It also never hurts to have a second Charged Attack of a different type available.

When it comes to choosing the best Charged Attack for your Pokémon, take into account how quickly your options will become available to use. A Charged Attack can’t do much if the Pokémon gets knocked out before it can be unleashed. Many of the Pokémon on this list have multiple Charged Attacks available, so take your time choosing the best one for your Pokémon.

Start off with your Fire-type Pokémon against Bellsprout. Remember that Arlo will use a Protect Shield against your first two Charged Attacks, so use them as soon as possible to leave his team defenseless. From there, you’ll most likely be using your Ghost- or Dark-type Pokémon against Alakazam or Mismagius. But if Arlo chooses Sharpedo, switch to your Fighting-type Pokémon.

Arlo’s third Pokémon will be either Snorlax, Scizor, or Magnezone. Fighting-type attacks will be effective against Snorlax or Magnezone, and Fire-type attacks are effective against Scizor or Magnezone.

---

Giovanni’s Potential Pokémon

• Pokémon 1

  • Persian (Normal)

• Pokémon 2

  • Rhyperior (Ground/Rock)

  • Nidoking (Poison/Ground)

  • Garchomp (Dragon/Ground)

• Pokémon 3

  • Regigigas (Normal)

Recommended Pokémon to Defeat Giovanni

• Machamp / Shadow Machamp (Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Counter (Fighting), Karate Chop (Fighting)*

  • Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Cross Chop (Fighting), Dynamic Punch (Fighting), Submission (Fighting)*

• Hariyama / Shadow Hariyama (Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Counter (Fighting)

  • Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Dynamic Punch (Fighting), Superpower (Fighting)

• Lucario (Fighting/Steel)

  • Fast Attack: Counter (Fighting)

  • Charged Attack: Aura Sphere (Fighting), Close Combat (Fighting), Power-Up Punch (Fighting)

• Weavile / Shadow Weavile (Dark/Ice)

  • Fast Attack: Ice Shard (Ice)

  • Charged Attack: Avalanche (Ice)

• Mamoswine / Shadow Mamoswine (Ice/Ground)

  • Fast Attack: Powder Snow (Ice)

  • Charged Attack: Avalanche (Ice)

• Terrakion (Rock/Fighting)

  • Fast Attack: Double Kick (Fighting)

  • Charged Attack: Close Combat (Fighting), Sacred Sword (Fighting)*

Strategy for Defeating Giovanni

Compared to his GO Rocket Leaders, defeating Giovanni is more straightforward thanks to the fact that we know exactly what his first and third Pokémon will be—and they’re both vulnerable to Fighting-type attacks. Even better, so is one of Giovanni’s possible second Pokémon! With that knowledge, it’s a good idea to bring two strong Fighting-type Pokémon to this battle. For your third Pokémon, a solid Ice-type Pokémon like Mamoswine or Weavile will provide coverage against Nidoking and Garchomp.

Since you’ll be starting with one of your Fighting-type Pokémon and you need to get through Giovanni’s two Protect Shields, it doesn’t hurt to choose a Pokémon with a Charged Attack that doesn’t take much energy to use. Machamp’s Cross Chop Charged Attack is a good choice against Persian. And if Giovanni chooses Rhyperior as his second Pokémon, you can sweep all three members of his team with your Fighting types. Once you are victorious in battle, you’ll have an opportunity to catch Shadow Regigigas.

May your strategies lead you to victory, Trainers!