Team Rocket Dark Type Grunt Guide

Dark Type Rocket - "Wherever there is light, there is also shadow"

Wherever there is light, there is also… Poison? Seriously, over half of the possible Pokémon a dark type grunt can carry are part poison type, which immediately neutralizes or even resists super effective damage from two of darks biggest weaknesses, being Fighting and Fairy. This can make for a very frustrating time fighting these grunts for an unprepared trainer. Below is an overview of all the potential Pokémon a dark type grunt carries:

First Slot - Catchable

Second Slot

Third Slot

As we can see above, you’re guaranteed to face a Dark/Poison type in the last slot. This combination makes for a very strong defensive typing, only being weak to Ground, eliminating its Fairy and Fighting type weaknesses.

Supreme Counters

Even though Lucario might not be doing a lot of super effective damage to a Dark/Poison backline, it can quickly stack a few attack boosts with Power-Up Punch and, Counter/Force Palm its way through this grunt!

With Mud Shot and Earth Power, Garchomp can make quick work of Dark/Poison types hiding in the backline.

Good Counters

Even though over half of the Pokémon take neutral damage from Fighting type damage, Conkeldurr can make quick work of Cacnea and Alolan Rattata in the first slot and Alolan Raticate in the second slot.

With Mud Slap and Drill Run, and a Steel sub typing, Excadrill will make quick work of those pesky Dark/Poison types. Though it has to watch out for Skuntanks Flamethrower.

Other Good Counters

In conjunction with the above counters, several other Pokemon do a great job here, including a number of generally great Pokemon in the Master League. Feel free to mix-and-match a bit, as any of these and beyond can do a great job as well!

Recommended strategy

Run a Fighting type in your first slot to make quick work of Cacnea or Rattata. If the grunt carries a Muk in the second slot swap to your ground type counter to make quick work of the last two remaining Pokémon. If the grunt throws out Raticate as its second Pokémon stay in with your Fighting and afterwards swap for the remaining Pokémon. Depending on what you are lacking a good counter for, carry an extra Pokémon of that type in your party.