Team GO Rocket Grunts: Full lineups and counters (April 2024) cover image

Team GO Rocket Grunts: Full lineups and counters (April 2024)

Take on the Team GO Rocket Grunts.

Team GO Rocket grunts are everywhere in Pokémon GO. Any time you see a Black coloured Pokéstop or a ominous Hot Air Balloon flying above chances are there is a Team GO Rocket Grunt, or a Team GO Leader, contained within.

Each of the Team GO Rocket Grunts has a different lineup. You can work out which sort of Pokémon you are about to face based on the taunt each Grunt uses. Here are all the taunts, with the corresponding Pokémon that that Grunt can have as well as the counters to use for each.

Are you scared of Psychics that use unseen power? - Psychic-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Gothita
Wobbuffet
Gallade
Solosis
Gothorita
Metagross
-
Ralts
Reuniclus

The best counter for the Psychic-type Rocket Grunt will be a good Dark or Ghost-type Pokémon. Tyranitar is an excellent pick for this battle.

Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon! – Flying-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Pidgey
Gligar
Pidgeot
Starly
Staravia
Dragonite
-
-
Skarmory

Flying-type Pokémon are weak to Rock and Electric-types. That makes a Pokémon like Rhyperior, Raikou or Xurkitree good choices for this battle.

Check out my cute Pokémon! – Fairy-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Mawile
Kirlia
Ninetails
Ralts
Snubbul
Gardevoir
Vulpix
Granbull
Granbull

To take down the Fairy-type Team GO Rocket Grunt, you'll want Poison or Steel-type Pokémon. Nihilego, Roserade, Metagross or Melmetal are good choices.

Coiled and ready to strike! – Poison-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Sneasel
Nidorina
Toxicroak
Foongus
Nidorino
Weezing
-
-
Amoonguss

The Pokémon that the Poison-type Team GO Rocket Grunt are weak to Ground and Psychic-types. Groudon, Therian Landorus or Mewtwo are your top choices here.

Don’t tangle with us! – Grass-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Snover
Grotle
Cacturne
Turtwig
Ferrothorn
Amoonguss
-
-
Torterra

Grass-type Pokémon are weak to Fire-types. A Charizard, Heatran or Reshiram will tear through this battle in no time at all.

Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get? – Fire-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Darumaka
Houndoom
Houndoom
Chimchar
Monferno
Darmanitan
-
-
Infernape

Of course, the main weakness for the Pokémon that the Fire-type Team GO Rocket Grunt will use is Water-types. A Kyogre, Swampert or a Greninja is a great pick here.

Get ready to be shocked! – Electric-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Mareep
Geodude
Galvantula
Blitzle
Voltorb
Ampharos
Joltik
Electabuzz
Luxray

Electric-type Pokémon are weak to Ground-type Pokémon. The absolute best Pokémon to use here is Garchomp. With a 3x Resistance to Electric-type attacks, using Garchomp makes this Grunt battle about as easy as possible.

Go, my super bug Pokémon! – Bug-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Scyther
Weedle
Scizor
Shuckle
Skorupi
Forretress
Dwebble
Shuckle
Beedrill

You'll want a Fire-type Pokémon to take on this GO Rocket Grunt battle. But, to take down Shuckle, a Water or Rock-type Pokémon will be a must pick.

Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke! – Ghost-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Misdreavus
Dusclops
Froslass
Driftloon
Banette
Gengar
Golett
Golett
Marowak

Ghost-type Pokémon are weak to other Ghost-type Pokémon and Dark-type Pokémon. That makes good Dark-types like Tyranitar, Hydreigon and Darkrai good options here.

Let’s rock and roll! – Rock-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Cranidos
Lileep
Golem
Shieldon
Anorith
Rampardos
Onix
Graveler
Bastiodon

To take on the Rock-type GO Rocket Grunt you'll want either a Water or Fighting-type team of Pokémon. A Lucario, Terrakion or Kyogre are all top picks for this encounter.

Normal doesn’t mean weak. – Normal-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Glameow
Rattata
Ursaring
Teddirusa
Meowth
Bibarel
Stantler
Purugly
Stantler

A good Fighting-type Pokémon is your friend to take on this Rocket Grunt. Machamp, Lucario or even a Terrakion will serve you well. Conkeldurr is also a strong option, after the Timburr Community Day.

ROAR! … How’d that sound? – Dragon-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Bagon
Dragonair
Salamence
Gible
Gabite
Dragonite
Dratini
Exeggutor
Garchomp

Ice or Fairy-type Pokémon will make light work of the Dragon-type Team GO Rocket Grunt's lineup. Pokémon like Mamoswine, Glaceon, Gardevoir, Togekiss and Tapu Lele will be strong choices.

These waters are treacherous – Water-type Team GO Rocket Grunts

Female Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Piplup
Crawdaunt
Whiscash
Totodile
Prinplup
Wailord
-
-
Empoleon

Male Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Magikarp
Magikarp
Magikarp
-
-
Gyarados

For either of these Grunt battles, a Grass-type Pokémon will serve you well. Kartana is an exceptional choice, but other strong options include Sceptile and Roserade.

This buff physique isn’t just for show! – Fighting-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Sneasel
Hitmontop
Machamp
Makuhita
Hitmonlee
Toxicroak
Machop
Hitmonchan
Infernape

To take down the Fighting-type Team GO Rocket Grunt, Psychic, Fairy and Flying-type Pokémon are your best choice. Mewtwo, Lunala, Togekiss and Yveltal will be good choices. Any Rayquaza with Dragon Ascent is also a good counter.

You’ll be defeated into the ground! – Ground-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Diglett
Rhyhorn
Whishcash
Wooper
-
Quagsire
Drilbur
-
Torterra

For the Ground-type grunt, a good Water-type Pokémon will run through the first two slots. However, Quagsire will need a Grass-type Pokémon and Torterra will need an Ice-type to be taken down.

You’re no match for my iron will! – Steel-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Ferroseed
Lairon
Sandslash
Skarmory
Metang
Scizor
Sandshrew
Skarmory
Empoleon

Steel-type Pokémon are weak to Fire-types, which makes Pokémon like Reshiram, Entei, Darmanitan and Heatran good options to fight this Grunt. You'll need a Ground or Electric-type to fight Empoleon easily though.

You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks. – Ice-type Team GO Rocket Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Snorunt
Froslass
Glalie
Swinub
Ninetales
Froslass
-
Glalie
Abomasnow

Ice-type Pokémon have several weaknesses. Kyogre, Swampert, Blaziken, Metagross or Kartana will all be good options to take on this GO Rocket Grunt.

Wherever there is light, there is also shadow. – Dark-type Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Houndour
Muk
Muk
Stunky
Raticate
Skuntank
Rattata
-
-

Dark-type Pokémon are weak to Fighting and Fairy-type Pokémon. Sylveon, Togekiss, Lucario and Terrakion are good choices. However, Alolan Muk is a Poison and Dark-type, giving is a single weakness to Ground-types. Use a Groudon, Therian Landorus or a Garchomp for this Pokémon.

Don’t bother – I’ve already won. Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners! – Mixed Team GO Rocket Grunts

Female Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Snorlax
Snorlax
Snorlax
-
Poliwrath
Gyrados
-
Gardevoir
Dragonite

The Female Winning is for Winners Team GO Rocket Grunt is one of the hardest to beat. Shadow Snorlax is a tank of a Pokémon. Snorlax is weak to Fighting-type Pokémon, so bring a Machamp, Lucario or a Terrakion. A Metagross will also be okay against Snorlax, but also counters Gardevoir.

You might have to see what team this GO Rocket Grunt has before you can take it on.

Male Grunt

Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Treecko
Grovyle
Sceptile
Torchic
Combusken
Blaziken
Mudkip
Marshtomp
Swampert

The Male Grunt is easier, the counter for the Grass, Fire or Water-type team that this GO Rocket Grunt can have is simple. For Grass, use Fire. For Fire, use Water. Finally, for Water, use Grass.

That is all of the current teams that Team GO Rocket Grunts can have in Pokémon GO. Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest esports news and more Pokémon guides.