How to beat Rocket Grunts in Pokemon GO? (December 2022)

Team GO Rocket is a constant recurring threat that players will face during their time in Pokemon GO. The villainous organization comprises low-level grunts, a trio of leaders, and the boss. While dealing with the pesky Rocket Grunts can often become annoying, knowing the type advantages will go a long way in quickly dispatching off their threats.

In Pokemon GO, Rocket Grunts can be found at times at PokeStops, with a darker color shade than normal that turns black when approached when Team GO Rocket has taken over the location. To dislodge them from the PokeStop, players will have to interact and defeat them. Rocket Grunts can also be encountered in Team GO Rocket hot air balloons that spawn overhead the character on the map from time to time.

Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

Team GO Rocket Grunts in Pokemon GO (December 2022): Weaknesses and best counters

Players can encounter several Rocket Grunts in Pokemon GO, and the types of shadow pocket monsters they use vary. The primary reason for battling them is because they drop the Mysterious Component. When enough of this is collected, you can be used to make a Rocket Radar, which can then be used to fight Cliff, Arlo, or Sierra in Pokemon GO.

Type hints can be found in the line the grunt says before engaging in battle in Pokemon GO. The lineups and counters for Rocket Grunts are as follows:

Go, my super bug Pokemon!

This grunt will use Bug-type pocket monsters, which Fire can counter, Flying-, and Rock-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Weedle, Shuckle
Second Pokemon: Beedril, Skorupi
Third Pokemon: Pinsir, Forretress, Scizor

Wherever there is light, there is also shadow

This grunt will use Dark-type pocket monsters, which Bug can counter, Fighting-, and Fairy-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Alolan Rattata, Purrloin
Second Pokemon: Alolan Raticate, Stunky
Third Pokemon: Alolan Raticate, Cacturne, Honchkrow

ROAR! ... How'd that sound?

This grunt will use Dragon-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Ice-, Dragon-, and Fairy-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Dratini, Alolan Exeggutor
Second Pokemon: Alolan Exeggutor, Flygon
Third Pokemon: Dragonair, Dragonite, Flygon

Get ready to be shocked!

This grunt will use Electric-type pocket monsters that Ground-type can counter. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Mareep, Shinx
Second Pokemon: Voltorb, Electabuzz
Third Pokemon: Electabuzz, Ampharos, Luxray

Check out my cute Pokemon!

This grunt will use Fairy-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Poison- and Steel-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Snubbull, Ralts
Second Pokemon: Subbull, Granbull, Kirlia
Third Pokemon: Granbull, Kirlia

This buff physique isn't just for show!

This grunt will use Fighting-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Flying-, Psychic- and Fairy-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Makuhita, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan
Second Pokemon: Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan
Third Pokemon: Machamp, Hitmonlee, Hitmonchan

Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?

This grunt will use Fire-type pocket monsters, which Water can counter-, Ground-, and Rock-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Cyndaquil, Numel
Second Pokemon: Quilava
Third Pokemon: Ninetales, Typhlosion, Camerupt

Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!

This grunt will use Flying-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Electric-, Ice-, and Rock-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Natu, Starly, Ducklett
Second Pokemon: Golbat, Staravia
Third Pokemon: Gyarados, Dragonite, Crobat

Ke...ke...ke...ke...ke...ke!

This grunt will use Ghost-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Ghost- and Dark-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Golett
Second Pokemon: Banette, Dusclops
Third Pokemon: Banette, Dusknoir, Golunk

Don't tangle with us!

This grunt will use Grass-type pocket monsters: Fire can counter-, Ice-, Poison-, Flying-, and Bug-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Chikorita, Cacnea
Second Pokemon: Bayleef
Third Pokemon: Meganium, Cacturne, Amoonguss

You'll be defeated into the ground

This grunt will use Ground-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Water-, Grass-, and Ice-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Alolan Diglett, Hippopotas
Second Pokemon: Alolan Diglett, Hippopotas
Third Pokemon: Hippowdon

You're going to be frozen in your tracks.

This grunt will use Ice-type pocket monsters, which Fire can counter, Fighting-, Rock- and Steel-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Alolan Sandshrew, Swinub
Second Pokemon: Alolan Sandslash, Snover
Third Pokemon: Cloyster, Lapras, Abomasnow

Normal does not mean weak.

This grunt will use Normal-type pocket monsters, which Fighting-type can counter. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Rattata, Whismur, Patrat
Second Pokemon: Raticate, Loudred, Bidoof
Third Pokemon: Raticate, Ursaring, Bibarel

Coiled and ready to strike!

This grunt will use Poison-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Ground- and Psychic-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Nidoran (male), Zubat, Foongus
Second Pokemon: Nidorina, Nidorino
Third Pokemon: Muk, Weezing

Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?

This grunt will use Psychic-type pocket monsters, which can be countered by Bug-, Ghost-, and Dark-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Natu
Second Pokemon: Girafarig, Ralts
Third Pokemon: Alakazam, Hypno, Metang

Let's rock and roll!

This grunt will use Rock-type pocket monsters, which Water can counter, Grass-, Fighting-, Ground-, and Steel-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Onix, Sudowoodo
Second Pokemon: Lileep, Anorith
Third Pokemon: Golem, Onix

These waters are treacherous!

This grunt will use Water-type pocket monsters, which Electric and Grass-types can counter. The possible lineup for the male grunt is as follows:

First Pokemon: Magikarp
Second Pokemon: Magikarp
Third Pokemon: Magikarp, Gyarados

The possible lineup for the female grunt is as follows:

First Pokemon: Totodile, Wailmer
Second Pokemon: Croconaw
Third Pokemon: Feraligatr, Wailord

Winning is for winners./Don't bother. I've already won./Get ready to be defeated

This grunt sports a battle party with various types of pocket monsters. The best counters for players to use are Fighting- and Ice-types. Their possible lineup in Pokemon GO is as follows:

First Pokemon: Snorlax
Second Pokemon: Poliwrath, Snorlax, Gardevoir
Third Pokemon: Gyarados, Snorlax, Dragonite

Looking for the boss? HA. Try again!

This is the decoy grunt for Giovanni. They will use various types of pocket monsters. The best counters for players to use are Fighting- and Fire-types. Their possible lineup is as follows:

First Pokemon: Bellsprout
Second Pokemon: Raticate, Weepinbell
Third Pokemon: Raticate, Snorlax

Pokemon GO players who wish to learn how to defeat Team GO Rocket boss Giovanni can check out this article. The Mythic Blade event is live in Pokemon GO; readers can find out more details about it here.

About the author

Angshuman is an Assistant Content Manager, Gaming, at Sportskeeda with a specialized focus on Pokemon. While completing his Master's degree in English Literature, Angshuman's research topics primarily included the many facets of game studies. That, along with his love for the medium which he believes to be the pinnacle of storytelling, led him to become a writer in the genre.

Angshuman prefers both solo and multiplayer titles on PC and PS5. His love for gaming stemmed from playing Bounce and God of War on mobile phones, and on to Age of Empires and Zoo Tycoon on PC. If he ever wished to convert a gaming cynic into a admirer, he would recommend indie games because of their versatility and their ability to be unaffected by genre-stifling publisher expectations.

Angshuman has interviewed several indie game developers in his career, spoken at many conferences, and contributed to book chapters. In his capacity to create highly accurate content, he thoroughly researches a topic, tracks citations until he finds the original source, and ensures his content doesn't misrepresent, misquote, or appropriate information.

In his spare time, Angshuman enjoys story writing, shooting landscapes and short films, reading, and painting.

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Edited by Srijan Sen