Team GO Rocket has invaded Pokémon GO and is wreaking havoc on the game worldwide. Not only are their grunts trying to steal items from players at Pokéstops, but they’ve used unnatural means on certain monsters to try and make them stronger.
Fortunately, with the right knowledge and resources they can be stopped!
Ready to take action? Here’s what you’ll need to know.
Basics
These are the main steps you’ll take when dealing with a Team GO Rocket invasion.
1. First, you’ll need to find the location of a Team GO Rocket invaded Pokéstop. To do this, look on your screen for a spinner that glitches a bit and shows to be a darker blue than all the rest.
2. Once you’ve walked (or driven) to the Rocket invaded stop, you can either give the spinner a whirl like usual or just tap on the grunt that’s standing guard.
3. The Team GO Rocket member will then challenge you to a fight.
4. After accepting the challenge, you’ll go into a PvP type showdown using 3 of your monsters against 3 Shadow Pokémon of the grunt’s choice.
Here’s a list of the Pokémon that you might encounter:
– Zubat
– Golbat
– Crobat
– Rattata
– Raticate
-Bulbasaur
– Ivysaur
– Venusaur
– Charmander
– Charmeleon
– Charizard
– Squirtle
– Wartortle
– Blastoise
– Snorlax
– Dratini
– Dragonair
– Dragonite
– Mudkip
– Marshtomp
– Swampert
– Poliwag
– Poliwhirl
– Poliwrath
– Politoed
-Magikarp
– Gyarados
– Grimer
– Muk
– Drowzee
– Hypno
– Scyther
– Scizor
– Houndour
– Houndoom
– Ralts
– Kirlia
– Gardevoir/Gallade
– Venonat
– Venomoth
– Oddish
– Gloom
– Vileplume
– Psyduck
– Golduck
– Growlithe
– Abra
– Kadabra
– Hitmonchan
– Larvitar
– Pupitar
– Tyranitar
– Turtwig
– Torterra
– Bellsprout
– Weepinbell
– Victreebell
– Wobbuffet
– Shuppet
– Banette
– Sableye
– Sandshrew
– Sandslash
– Trapinch
– Vibrava
– Flygon
– Duskull
– Dusclops
– Dusknoir
– Sneasel
– Weavile
– Lapras
– Porygon
– Porygon2
– Porygon-Z
– Mareep
– Flaaffy
– Ampharos
– Electabuzz
– Delibird
– Snover
– Carvanha
– Misdreavus
– Nidoran (male, female)
– Nidorina
– Nidorino
– Machop
– Machoke
– Gligar
– Gliscor
– Shuckle
– Stunky
– Skuntank
5. After a successful defeat, you’ll receive 500 Stardust and have the opportunity to capture a Shadow Pokémon.
6. Once you’ve caught the monster, you can purify it to take away the “shadow” effect and make it a bit stronger. Once this is done, you can either keep it in your collection or trade it to someone else. (You can also choose to leave the monster unpurified and/or transfer it if it has lousy stats).
7. Lastly, after your encounter, defeat, and capture are over, you’ll need to use the necessary resources to revive the monsters you used in the fight. As always, if you’re low on resources you can acquire more by spinning Pokéstops or opening gifts from friends.
Counters:
The effected monsters you’ll go against in battle are no joke. Although they may not look like much, they are seriously hard to defeat.
Unlike participating in a raid where you might have others who can help you out, you’re on your own in this fight. This means it’s crucial to use the right counters rather than just accept what the game gives you for a team.
The great news is that the grunt will always give you a hint as to what type of monsters you’re about to encounter. Pay close attention to what he/she says in order to determine which monsters to put on your team.
Here’s a quick guide to help.
Grunt Duo: Jessie & James
Jessie Encounter:
Counters:
Rhyperior: Smack Down/Rock Wrecker
Tyranitar: Smack Down/Stone Edge
James Encounter:
Counters:
Lucario: Counter/Power-Up Punch
Machamp w/ Dynamic Punch
Grunt: Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.
Encounter Type: Dark (Stunky/Skuntank, Sableye)
Counters:
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Lucario: Counter/Power-Up Punch
Grunt: You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.
Encounter Type: Ice (Snover, Delibird)
Counters:
Charizard w/Blast Burn
Tyranitar w/Stone Edge
Grunt: Roar! How’d that sound?
Encounter Type: Dragon/Flying
Counters:
Metagross with Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash
Mamoswine: Powder Snow/Avalanche
Grunt: Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?
Encounter Type: Fire (& flying), Houndour/Houndoom, Growlithe/Arcanine
Fire/Flying Counters:
Tyranitar: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Rhyperior: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Rampardos: Smack Down/Rock Slide
Kyogre: Waterfall/Hydro Pump
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch (Growlithe/Arcanine)
Grunt: My bird Pokémon wants to battle with you.
Encounter Type: Flying (Dragonite, Charizard, & Crobat families)
Counters:
Tyranitar: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Rhyperior: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Grunt: Don’t tangle with us.
Encounter Type: Grass (Venusaur, Vileplume families, Turtwig/Torterra)
Counters:
Charizard with Blast Burn
Entei: Fire Spin/Overheat
Grunt: Coiled and ready to strike.
Encounter Type: Poison/Flying
(Crobat, Venusaur, & Muk families, Venonat/Venomoth, Nidoran & Family)
Crobat/Venusaur/Nidoran Family Counters:
Rhyperior: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Charizard with Blast Burn
Grimer/Muk Counters:
Mewtwo: Confusion/Psychic
Azelf: Confusion/Future Sight
Alakazam: Confusion/Future Sight
Grunt: These waters are treacherous.
Encounter Type: Water/Flying/Ground (Blastoise & Swampert families, Poliwag & its evolves, Magikarp/Gyarados, Psyduck/Golduck, Carvanha)
Blastoise/Swampert/Carvanha Counters:
Roserade: Razor Leaf/Grass Knot
Sceptile with Frenzy Plant
Poliwag/Magikarp/Gyarados Counters:
Electivire: Thunder Shock/Wild Charge
Raikou: Thunder Shock/Wild Charge
Psyduck/Golduck Counters:
Tyranitar: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Politoed Counters:
Roserade: Razor Leaf/Grass Knot
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Grunt: You’ll be defeated into the ground.
Encounter Type: Ground
(Swampert, Marowak, & Tyranitar families, Raticate, Trapinch family, Sandshrew family, Gligar/Gliscor)
Counters:
Kyogre with Surf
Kyogre with Hydro Pump
Sceptile with Frenzy Plant
Roserade: Razor Leaf/Grass Knot
Alolan Exeggutor with Solar Beam
Grunt: Normal doesn’t mean weak.
Encounter Type: Normal (Snorlax, Raticate family, Venusaur family, Porygon family)
Counters:
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch (especially good against the Porygon family)
Charizard with Blast Burn (if going against Venusaur family)
Grunt: Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
Encounter Type: Psychic (Hypno family, Ralts & its evolves, Abra family)
Drowzee/Hypno/Abra/Kadabra Counters:
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Gengar: Lick/Shadow Ball
Giratina Origin Forme: Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball
Mewtwo: Psycho Cut/Shadow Ball
Ralts Family Counters:
Gengar: Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball
Metagross: Bullet Punch/Meteor Mash
Dialga: Metal Claw/Iron Head
Grunt: Go, my super bug Pokémon.
Encounter Type: Bug/Flying (Scizor family)
Counters:
Moltres: Fire Spin/Overheat
Blaziken: Fire Spin/Blast Burn
Entei: Fire Spin/Overheat
Rhyperior: Smack Down/Stone Edge
(NOTE: If you capture a really good Scyther, you’ll need a Metal Coat to evolve it to Scizor)
Grunt: Let’s Rock and Roll.
Encounter Type: Tyranitar family, Shuckle
Counters:
Kyogre with Hydro Pump
Poliwrath: Rock Smash/Dynamic Punch
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Grunt: This buff physique isn’t just for show.
Encounter Type: Hitmonchan, Hitmonlee, Machoke, Machop
Counters:
Mewtwo:
Psycho Cut/Psystrike (powered up to 8,000 Stardust)
Confusion/Psychic (or Psystrike)
Espeon: Confusion/Future Sight
Metagross w/Meteor Mash
Grunt: Get ready to be shocked.
Encounter Type: Electric
Counters:
Roserade: Razor Leaf/Grass Knot
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Torterra: Razor Leaf/Frenzy Plant
Grunt: ke..ke..ke..ke
Encounter Type: Ghost
Counters:
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Mewtwo w/Shadow Ball
Grunt:
Don’t bother I’ve already won.
Winning is for winners.
Get ready to be defeated.
Encounter Type: Random (Can be any of the above mentioned types)
Counters:
Tyranitar: Smack Down/Stone Edge
Tyranitar: Bite/Crunch
Machamp: Counter/Dynamic Punch
Metagross with Meteor Mash (Especially great against Lapras)
Garchomp: Mud Shot/Earthquake
Raikou: Thunder Shock/Wild Charge (Gyarados opponent)
Charizard with Blast Burn (grass type opponents)
Roserade: Razor Leaf/Grass Knot (water type opponents, including Poliwrath)
Lucario w/Power Up Punch (especially good against Snorlax)
Note: Although we aren’t sure that the Stardust level of the monsters you use as counters will matter, it’s never a bad idea to take your best monsters and power them up to at least 5,000 Stardust.
3 Tips for a Successful Defeat:
Tip #1 – As mentioned before, the most important strategy for taking down an adversary is to have the right counters. To figure out which ones work best for you personally, will take time, patience, and practice. The above list is not an absolute, but rather a nice starting point to help.
Tip #2 – When in the fight, don’t stop tapping the screen even when the 1st or 2nd of the 3 monsters has been defeated. Doing this allows you to get a hit in on your next opponent even before it appears.
Tip #3 – Pay attention to the swiping pattern of the charge move for the counters you use most. Getting in a Great or an Excellent charge move can sometimes mean the difference in success or failure.
Tips to Maximize Your Pokéballs:
Tip #1 – As mentioned twice before, having the right counters is a must. The less Pokémon you use to defeat your 3 opponents, the more Pokéballs you’ll receive.
Defeat all 3 opponents without any Pokémon fainting = 5 balls
Defeat all 3 opponents with only 1 Pokémon fainting = 4 balls
Defeat all 3 opponents using 2 Pokémon = 3 balls
Tip #2 – Continue to take on the Rocket Stop challenges. If you defeat at least 10 Grunts, you’ll bronze the “Hero” medal and receive an extra ball each time you’re going for a capture. If you accomplish silver (100 Grunts), you’ll receive 2 extra balls each time. If you accomplish gold (1000 Grunts), you’ll receive 3 extra balls.
Tip #3 – Purify at least 5 Shadow Pokémon. This will allow you to bronze the “Purifier” medal which will increase your ball count by one. If you purify 50, you’ll receive 2 extra balls. If you go for the gold by purifying 500 Shadow Pokémon, you’ll receive 3 extra balls each time.
Some of the best Pokémon to purify (even if they don’t pass muster – see below) are ones that you probably have a lot of candy for such as Rattata, Zubat, and Golbat. You can certainly purify anything you want (even if it has lousy stats) just to get credit for it, but these 3 will only require 1 Candy and 1000 Stardust each.
Of course, if the monster isn’t worth keeping, you can toss it after your purify it. Or, if you want to try to make it better you can always trade it with a friend.
Purifying Pokémon to Keep:
If you’re looking for Shadow Pokémon to purify and keep as a permanent part of your collection, then you’ll want to check its stats to see if it’s worth your time/resources. This is where the new appraisal system can help you out.
If all 3 stats of the Shadow Pokémon don’t at least reach (or surpass) the line of the 3rd quadrant, then this monster is not worth purifying/keeping. (Below you can see that the Defense on this one doesn’t quite pass muster).
If, however, all 3 stats do pass the test, then you’re monster will be guaranteed to be at least 80% after it’s purified.
Good luck on taking down Team GO Rocket!
If you have questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below.
Sources: Niantic, Forbes
Editor: Stephanie Sanderson
Co-Authors: Lee & Stephanie Sanderson
