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Team GO Rocket Guides

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Strategies for Taking Down Team GO Rocket

Table of Contents

Team GO Rocket Leaders

Team GO Rocket Grunts

General Good Counters

 Team GO Rocket constitutes a relatively small part of Pokemon Go, but they are extremely important regardless, as the primary source of Shadow Pokemon. Despite being technically PvE battles, they utilize PvP gameplay, meaning many of the top Pokemon in our Master League PVP Tier List will do the trick, However, some of the stronger Rockets, in particular the team leaders and Giovanni, may take very specific counters to effectively take down in many cases. 
Team GO Rocket Leaders
Team Rocket Leader: Giovanni Guide
Strategies and counters for taking down Team Rocket Leader Giovanni
Team Rocket Leader: Arlo Guide
Strategies and counters for taking down Team Rocket Leader Arlo
Team Rocket Leader: Cliff Guide
Strategies and counters for taking down Team Rocket Leader Cliff
Team Rocket Leader: Sierra Guide
Strategies and counters for taking down Team Rocket Leader Sierra
Team Rocket Decoy Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Grass Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Bug Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Bug Type Team GO Rocket Grunts.
Team Rocket Dark Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Dark Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Dragon Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Dragon Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Electric Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Electric Type Team GO Rocket Grunts.
Team Rocket Fairy Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Fairy Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Fighting Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Fighting Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Fire Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Fire Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Flying Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Flying Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Ghost Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Fighting Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Grass Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Grass Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Ground Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Ground Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Ice Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Ice Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Normal Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Normal Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Poison Type Grunt Guide
Team Rocket Poison Type Grunt Guide
Team Rocket Psychic Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Ice Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
Team Rocket Rock Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Rock Type Team GO Rocket Grunts.
Team Rocket Steel Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Steel Type Team GO Rocket Grunts.
Team Rocket Water Type Grunt Guide
Strategies and Counters for Taking Down Fighting Type Team GO Rocket Grunts
General Good Counters
While we highly encourage you to look at the specific Rocket Guides, here are some general good options that have utility across multiple grunts and leaders. Investing in these Pokemon can pay dividends as they not only tend to destroy Rockets with ease, but most of them also have utility outside of Rocket battles too.
Palkia (Origin Forme)Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Spacial Rend* and Aqua Tail
Overview
A well known PvE monster, Palkia - Origin Forme can crush rockets with high energy generation alongside high damage output for relatively low energy
LucarioRecommended Moveset
Force Palm* or Counter + Power-Up Punch and Shadow Ball
Overview
Outstanding neutral typing + a GREAT Fast Move + great Charged Move options + the ability to buff Attack for low energy cost = a monster. Lucario is ESPECIALLY important for its ability to take down Giovanni's dreaded Persian, and has general utility to spare. And if you REALLY want to wreck some Rockets, Mega Evolve your Lucario and let it crush everything. Worth noting: Force Palm is literally Counter but better, but Counter is still okay if you don't want to drop an Elite TM.
KartanaRecommended Moveset
Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade   andNight Slash
Overview
This little piece of origami packs a MAJOR punch and has a solid set of resistances as well. It CAN utilize Night Slash for coverage and Attack boosts, but for the most part it REALLY only needs to spam Razor Leaf and throw out an occasional Leaf Blade to eviscerate the opposition.
DragoniteRecommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw and Superpower
Overview
High damage output and energy gains combined with low energy cost and good neutral coverage makes Dragonite a great rocket-wrecker.
Giratina (Altered Forme)Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath or Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw and/or Shadow Sneak
Overview
Giratina - Altered Forme is a VERY high-priority option for Rocket battles. Not only is it bulky and hard to take down, but its Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw moveset generates energy so quickly and is so low-cost that it can nearly stun-lock Rockets, giving many of them one to two Fast Move uses for each Dragon Claw that you fire off once you've got the initial energy built up.
HeatranRecommended Moveset
Fire Spin + Magma Storm*
Overview
If something has a weakness to Fire, then Heatran is likely to absolutely dominate. This thing's double-resistance to literally everything that is weak to Fire coupled with its high-performance Fire Type moveset makes it an option that isn't universally amazing, but downright outstanding when its skills are needed.
RhyperiorRecommended Moveset
Smack Down + Rock Wrecker* and Surf
Overview
Rock and Ground is a DANGEROUS typing due to its double-weaknesses to Grass and Water, but if you know that your opponent isn't packing any Grass or Water Type moves, then it's actually pretty safe. Add to that high bulk and a great moveset, and Rhyperior is a great generalist option depending on the opposition's moves. 
Zygarde (Complete Forme)Recommended Moveset
Dragon Tail + Earthquake & Crunch
OUTSTANDING bulk, high energy generation, a spamable Charged Move with good neutral coverage, and an okay nuke move all come together to make Zygarde an absolute tank of a Pokemon that can steamroll a lot of Rockets with ease... so long as it's not fighting something with Ice Type moves.
 
Shadow MewtwoRecommended Moveset
Confusion + (Any)
Overview
Shadow Mewtwo is a bit on the frail side, but it makes up for this fact with sheer power. Its main job is to raze everything that stands before it with huge damage from Confusion, and throw out a Charged Move or two if the need arises. 
 
Dialga (Origin Forme)Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Roar of Time* & Iron Head
Overview
Dialga has high bulk, solid Fast Move damage output, an outstanding typing that grants it resistances and double-resistances, a semi-reasonable spammable move in Iron Head, and an absolute nuke in Roar of Time.

Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Spacial Rend* and Aqua Tail
Overview
A well known PvE monster, Palkia - Origin Forme can crush rockets with high energy generation alongside high damage output for relatively low energy

Recommended Moveset
Force Palm* or Counter + Power-Up Punch and Shadow Ball
Overview
Outstanding neutral typing + a GREAT Fast Move + great Charged Move options + the ability to buff Attack for low energy cost = a monster. Lucario is ESPECIALLY important for its ability to take down Giovanni's dreaded Persian, and has general utility to spare. And if you REALLY want to wreck some Rockets, Mega Evolve your Lucario and let it crush everything. Worth noting: Force Palm is literally Counter but better, but Counter is still okay if you don't want to drop an Elite TM.

Recommended Moveset
Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade andNight Slash
Overview
This little piece of origami packs a MAJOR punch and has a solid set of resistances as well. It CAN utilize Night Slash for coverage and Attack boosts, but for the most part it REALLY only needs to spam Razor Leaf and throw out an occasional Leaf Blade to eviscerate the opposition.

Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Dragon Claw and Superpower
Overview
High damage output and energy gains combined with low energy cost and good neutral coverage makes Dragonite a great rocket-wrecker.

Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath or Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw and/or Shadow Sneak
Overview
Giratina - Altered Forme is a VERY high-priority option for Rocket battles. Not only is it bulky and hard to take down, but its Shadow Claw + Dragon Claw moveset generates energy so quickly and is so low-cost that it can nearly stun-lock Rockets, giving many of them one to two Fast Move uses for each Dragon Claw that you fire off once you've got the initial energy built up.

Recommended Moveset
Fire Spin + Magma Storm*
Overview
If something has a weakness to Fire, then Heatran is likely to absolutely dominate. This thing's double-resistance to literally everything that is weak to Fire coupled with its high-performance Fire Type moveset makes it an option that isn't universally amazing, but downright outstanding when its skills are needed.

Recommended Moveset
Smack Down + Rock Wrecker* and Surf
Overview
Rock and Ground is a DANGEROUS typing due to its double-weaknesses to Grass and Water, but if you know that your opponent isn't packing any Grass or Water Type moves, then it's actually pretty safe. Add to that high bulk and a great moveset, and Rhyperior is a great generalist option depending on the opposition's moves.

Recommended Moveset
Dragon Tail + Earthquake & Crunch

OUTSTANDING bulk, high energy generation, a spamable Charged Move with good neutral coverage, and an okay nuke move all come together to make Zygarde an absolute tank of a Pokemon that can steamroll a lot of Rockets with ease... so long as it's not fighting something with Ice Type moves.

Recommended Moveset
Confusion + (Any)
Overview
Shadow Mewtwo is a bit on the frail side, but it makes up for this fact with sheer power. Its main job is to raze everything that stands before it with huge damage from Confusion, and throw out a Charged Move or two if the need arises.

Recommended Moveset
Dragon Breath + Roar of Time* & Iron Head
Overview
Dialga has high bulk, solid Fast Move damage output, an outstanding typing that grants it resistances and double-resistances, a semi-reasonable spammable move in Iron Head, and an absolute nuke in Roar of Time.