Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Team GO Rocket Grunt Guide (July 2025 Update)
A complete and updated guide to defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts in Pokémon GO – including lineups, best counters, and shiny Shadow Pokémon you can catch.
Last updated: July 2025
📢 What’s New This Month
Team GO Rocket is back in full force with fresh Shadow Pokémon and new taunts! This guide is fully updated for the Crown Clash: Taken Over event in July 2025.
🧠 How Grunts Work
- Grunts are found at PokéStops and in Rocket Balloons.
- Each Grunt has a taunt hinting at their team type.
- Their teams consist of 3 Pokémon chosen from preset pools.
- Grunts don’t use shields, so aggressive Charge Moves help.
- You’ll always catch either the 1st or 2nd Pokémon from their team.
- Use the Grunt’s taunt to determine the best counters.
- Losing costs you nothing—retry as needed.
📋 Contents
🚀 Leader Lineups
Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo are using new Shadow Pokémon this month, including:
- Shadow Horsea
- Shadow Slowbro
- Shadow Crobat
- Shadow Steelix
- Shadow Scizor
- Shadow Alakazam
- Alolan Shadow Muk
- Shadow Gible
- Shadow Annihilape
- Shadow Tyranitar
And many more!
💥 Grunt Lineups
Each Grunt gives a taunt that hints at their type. Here are all Grunt types, their possible Pokémon, and best counters:
Normal-type
Taunt: “Normal doesn’t mean weak.”
Catchable Pokémon: Bunnelby, Bidoof, Slakoth (✨), etc.
Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr
Flying-type
Taunt: “Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!”
Catchable Pokémon: Pidgey, Zubat (✨), Gligar (✨), etc.
Counters: Raikou, Baxcalibur, Rhyperior
Fire-type
Taunt: “Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?”
Catchable Pokémon: Tepig, Numel, Darumaka
Counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Garchomp
Water-type
Taunt: “These waters are treacherous.”
Catchable Pokémon: Oshawott, Spheal, Magikarp
Counters: Venusaur, Zarude, Raikou
Grass-type
Taunt: “Don’t tangle with us!”
Catchable Pokémon: Snivy, Hoppip (✨), Seedot (✨)
Counters: Charizard, Pinsir, Heatran
Electric-type
Taunt: “Get ready to be shocked!”
Catchable Pokémon: Joltik, Mareep, Magnemite (✨)
Counters: Garchomp, Groudon, Excadrill
Ice-type
Taunt: “You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.”
Catchable Pokémon: Swinub, Amaura, Sneasel (✨)
Counters: Heatran, Mamoswine, Metagross
Fighting-type
Taunt: “This buff physique isn’t just for show!”
Catchable Pokémon: Mankey, Machop (✨), Makuhita
Counters: Gardevoir, Mewtwo, Staraptor
Poison-type
Taunt: “Coiled and ready to strike!”
Catchable Pokémon: Trubbish, Tentacool (✨), Skorupi (✨)
Counters: Mewtwo, Garchomp, Alakazam
Ground-type
Taunt: “You’ll be defeated into the ground!”
Catchable Pokémon: Sandshrew, Drilbur, Gligar
Counters: Venusaur, Mamoswine, Kyurem
Psychic-type
Taunt: “Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?”
Catchable Pokémon: Inkay, Ralts (✨)
Counters: Hydreigon, Scizor, Tyranitar
Bug-type
Taunt: “Go, my super bug Pokémon!”
Catchable Pokémon: Scyther (✨), Pineco (✨), Anorith (✨)
Counters: Charizard, Rampardos, Darmanitan
Rock-type
Taunt: “Let’s rock and roll!”
Catchable Pokémon: Tyrunt, Amaura, Roggenrola
Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Swampert
Ghost-type
Taunt: “Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke!”
Catchable Pokémon: Gastly, Duskull, Sableye (✨)
Counters: Tyranitar, Hydreigon, Gengar
Dragon-type
Taunt: “ROAR! … How’d that sound?”
Catchable Pokémon: Dratini (✨), Bagon (✨), Tyrunt
Counters: Mamoswine, Gardevoir, Kyurem
Dark-type
Taunt: “Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.”
Catchable Pokémon: Cacnea (✨), Alolan Rattata, Carvanha (✨)
Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Ground-types
Steel-type
Taunt: “You’re no match for my iron will!”
Catchable Pokémon: Beldum (✨), Skarmory, Metang
Counters: Entei, Charizard, Reshiram
Fairy-type
Taunt: “Check out my cute Pokémon!”
Catchable Pokémon: Snubbull, Mawile (✨), Alolan Vulpix
Counters: Metagross, Nihilego, Heatran
Very Difficult Grunts
Taunts:
- “Don’t bother – I’ve already won.”
- “Get ready to be defeated!”
- “Winning is for winners!”
Female Grunt
Features Snorlax, Poliwrath, Dragonite, etc.
Catchable: Shadow Snorlax
Counters: Lucario, Metagross, Magnezone
Male Grunt
Features Kanto starters
Catchable: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle
Counters: Gardevoir, Raikou, Venusaur
Decoy Grunt
Taunt: “Fooled ya, twerp.”
Catchable: Shadow Bellsprout (✨)
✅ Recommended Team for All Grunts
Tired of memorizing each counter? Try this all-purpose team by 3kkoIogy.
| Pokémon | Fast Move | Charge Moves |
|---|---|---|
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap | Rock Wrecker, Surf |
| Charizard | Fire Spin | Blast Burn, Dragon Claw |
| Lucario | Counter | Power-Up Punch, Shadow Ball |
- Lucario delays grunt attacks with Power-Up Punch.
- Charizard covers Bug, Grass, Ice, and more.
- Rhyperior crushes Flying, Fire, and Electric types.
This setup has proven effective in nearly every Grunt encounter.
✨ Shiny Shadow Pokémon
Thanks to the Team GO Rocket Takeover event, some Shadow Pokémon are now shiny eligible, including:
- Slakoth (✨)
- Gligar (✨)
- Zubat (✨)
- Sableye (✨)
- Dratini (✨)
- Beldum (✨)
- And more!
Be sure to check for sparkles when catching!
🔬 Tips & Mechanics
- Grunts never shield.
- You can walk away from a PokéStop once the battle begins.
- Grunts pick 1 Pokémon per slot (not all fixed).
- Fewer fainted Pokémon = more Premier Balls.
- There’s a delay in Grunt attacks after you switch or use Charge Moves—exploit it!
🙌 Credits
Huge thanks to the Pokémon GO community for submitting lineup data. This guide would not be possible without your contributions!
Join our Discord for future Rocket research projects and real-time updates.
Good luck, Trainer. May your catches be shiny and your battles swift!
