The Team GO Rocket takeover event is back, which means the Team Go Rocket Leaders Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra are invading PokéStops in Pokémon Go with a whole new line-up of Shadow Pokémon.
It's your mission to hunt down Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra by collecting Mysterious Components and a Rocket Radar in Pokémon Go.
Defeating each leader will give you a chance to encounter a rare Shadow Pokémon! In January 2026, Sierra has Feebas, Arlo has Wobbuffet, and Cliff has Larvitar.
Defeating all three will lead you to a battle against the formidable Giovanni himself, along with his powerful Shadow Giratina as part of the Team GO Rocket quest.
Strategies for Arlo
In January 2026, Arlo has the following Pokémon lineup:
First Pokémon: Wobbuffet
Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Slowbro, Scizor, Crobat, Steelix, and Alakazam.
Recommended counters for Arlo's Pokémon include strong Bug, Dark, or Ghost-types like Tyranitar, Genesect, or your strongest Pokémon of these types. Mamoswine is a solid pick for Slot 2, while either Fire or Ground-types work for Slot 3.
Wobbuffet is particularly vulnerable to Bug, Ghost, and Dark-types, making it easier to dismantle Arlo's defenses.
Strategies for Cliff
Cliff's current lineup for January 2026 includes:
First Pokémon: Larvitar
Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Skarmory, Honchkrow, Machamp, Annihilape, and Luxray.
Counter strategies suggest using a strong Ice-type like White Kyurem or Mamoswine, followed by a Fairy-type for powerful attacks against Annihilape. Slot 3 should ideally contain a strong Ground-type Pokémon to deal with Skarmory and Luxray.
Strategies for Sierra
Sierra's lineup this January consists of:
First Pokémon: Feebas
Second Pokémon: Randomly selected from Staraptor, Houndoom, Mismagius, Camerupt, Ferrothorn, and Drapion.
To counter Sierra, deploy a strong Electric-type first, followed by powerful Ground-types like Primal Groudon. Keep a Dark or Ghost-type ready in Slot 3 to tackle Mismagius if she uses it.
Team Rocket Leader Rewards
Defeating a Team Go Rocket Leader grants:
- 1,000 Stardust
- One red 'strange' 12km egg
- One Max Revive, Revive, Max Potion, or an evolution stone
- An encounter with a Shadow Pokémon
Currently, players can catch Totodile by defeating Sierra, Chikorita by beating Arlo, and Cyndaquil from Cliff, with a chance for shiny variants!
The Pinch Perfect event has brought Klawf to Pokémon Go! Don’t miss out on exciting raid schedules and new events! Engage with features like Remote Trading, the Go Battle League, and more!
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