Team Go Rocket Leaders: Lineups & Counters

Team Go Rocket Leaders are the three mid-tier bosses in Pokémon GO—Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra—who appear in Rocket Balloons and at PokéStops, and beating them earns you a Super Rocket Radar to find Giovanni. To beat a Leader, you need to know their current Pokémon lineup, since it rotates each season, and build a team that counters each of their three Pokémon. This guide explains how the Leaders work, how to find them, and what to use against them.

Formula

This is a simple CP comparison: CP Ratio = Your Pokémon CP ÷ Opponent Pokémon CP. It gives a rough idea of whether your Pokémon is in the right power range for a Leader battle, but it does not account for type advantage, movesets, or shields, so treat it as a rough gauge only.

Worked Example

Using the defaults: 2500 ÷ 3000 = 0.83. That means your Pokémon has about 83% of the opponent’s CP—a sign you may need type advantages or a higher level to win comfortably.

Who Are the Team Go Rocket Leaders?

Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra are the three named commanders under Giovanni, the leader of Team Go Rocket. Each has a distinct personality and a themed team of three Pokémon. They are significantly stronger than regular Rocket Grunts—their Pokémon have higher CP, better IVs, and they use shields strategically. Defeating all three Leaders is a required step in the “A Troubling Situation” special research, which ultimately leads to a showdown with Giovanni and a chance to catch a Legendary Shadow Pokémon.

How to Find Them

• Rocket Balloons: Leaders occasionally appear in the black Team Go Rocket balloons that float across the map. You need a Rocket Radar (not a Super Rocket Radar) equipped to see them.
• PokéStops: When you have a Rocket Radar active, a Leader will sometimes be hiding at a PokéStop that shows the Rocket logo. The stop will have a different colored aura (red for Grunts, but Leaders have a distinct dark purple/black glow).
• After defeating 6 Grunts: You get a Rocket Radar by defeating six regular Grunts and collecting their mysterious components. This radar is consumed when you battle a Leader.

Current Lineups (Season Rotation)

Lineups change roughly every 2–3 months with each new season. As of the current season, the Leaders use the following Pokémon (note that the first Pokémon is always the same, but the second and third are randomly chosen from a pool):

• Arlo: Beldum (first), then either Charizard, Dragonite, or Salamence (second), then either Scizor, Gardevoir, or Snorlax (third).
• Cliff: Aerodactyl (first), then either Crobat, Gallade, or Electivire (second), then either Tyranitar, Swampert, or Dusknoir (third).
• Sierra: Carvanha (first), then either Sharpedo, Lapras, or Houndoom (second), then either Alakazam, Nidoqueen, or Sableye (third).

Always check the in-game news or a reliable community source for the exact current rotation, because the pools change without in-game notice.

How to Beat Them: Counters and Strategy

Leader battles have two key mechanics that differ from Grunts: they use shields (two each) and they have a short delay after your Charged Attack, but they also pause for a few seconds when you switch Pokémon or use a Charged Move. Exploit this by:

• Lead with a fast-charging Pokémon: Use a Pokémon with a cheap Charged Attack (like Mud Shot + Rock Slide) to burn their shields quickly.
• Type matchups: For Arlo’s Beldum, use Fire, Ground, or Dark types (e.g., Machamp, Excadrill, or Blaziken). For Cliff’s Aerodactyl, use Rock, Electric, or Water (e.g., Rhyperior, Magnezone, or Swampert). For Sierra’s Carvanha, use Electric, Grass, or Fighting (e.g., Raikou, Roserade, or Lucario).
• Have a backup for the second and third Pokémon: Since those are random, bring a generalist like a high-CP Dragonite or Metagross that covers multiple types.
• Use the switch trick: When the battle starts, immediately switch to your intended lead—this causes the Leader to pause for about 2 seconds, giving you free fast moves.

Rewards for Defeating Leaders

Winning against a Leader gives you:

• 500 Stardust and 2 Revives (or Hyper Potions).
• A chance to catch the Leader’s first Pokémon (the one they always lead with) as a Shadow Pokémon. You can use a regular Poké Ball, and it has a low catch rate, so use Golden Razz Berries and aim for Great or Excellent throws.
• A Super Rocket Radar component (after beating all three Leaders in the research quest), which lets you find Giovanni.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

• Using the wrong radar: A normal Rocket Radar will not show Giovanni; you need the Super Rocket Radar. Also, a Super Rocket Radar will not reveal normal Leaders—only Giovanni.
• Not powering up to the right level: Leaders have Pokémon around Level 30–35 with high IVs. Your counters should be at least Level 30 (around 2500 CP) to have a fair chance.
• Ignoring the second and third Pokémon: Many players build a team for the first Pokémon and then get swept by the random second or third. Always bring a flexible team that can handle multiple types.
• Forgetting to use shields: Leaders will use shields on your first Charged Attack, so don’t waste your strongest move early unless you want to burn their shields.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I battle a Leader more than once?

Yes, you can battle a Leader as many times as you have Rocket Radars. Each radar is consumed when you win, but you can get more by defeating Grunts. If you lose, you can retry the same Leader without losing the radar.

Do Leader lineups change often?

Yes, they rotate with each new season (every 2–3 months). The first Pokémon usually stays the same for the season, but the second and third are randomly selected from a small pool, which also changes.

What is the best team against all three Leaders?

There is no single team that works for all, because the second and third Pokémon vary. A solid core is a Fighting type (Lucario or Machamp), a Water/Ground type (Swampert), and a Dark type (Tyranitar or Weavile) to cover common options.

Can I catch the Leader’s second or third Pokémon?

No, you only get to catch the first Pokémon they use. The second and third are not catchable after the battle.

Do Leaders drop rare items?

Besides Stardust and healing items, Leaders do not drop rare items. The main reward is the Shadow Pokémon encounter and progress toward the Giovanni research.

Why can’t I see a Leader at a PokéStop?

You must have a Rocket Radar equipped and active. If you have one, look for a PokéStop with a black/purple aura instead of the usual red. If you still don’t see one, try restarting the app or moving to a different area.

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in cp1 | Your Pokémon CP | - | 2500 | 0 | 5000
in cp2 | Opponent CP | - | 3000 | 0 | 5000
out ratio | CP ratio | - | cp1 / cp2 | 2