Team GO Rocket Lineups & Counters
Every Leader's and Giovanni's current Shadow Pokémon lineup, slot by slot, with the best counters for each possible combination.
Giovanni
Team GO Rocket BossRequires a Super Rocket Radar. Always opens with Persian, always closes with Reshiram.
Slot 1 (always)
Shadow Persian Weak to: Fighting
Slot 2 (rotates)
Shadow Rhyperior
Shadow Nidoking
Shadow Kangaskhan Weak to: varies — see guide
Slot 3 (always)
Shadow Reshiram Weak to: Dragon, Ground, Rock
Recommended team
Lucario
Poliwrath
Swampert
Mewtwo
Primal Groudon
GarchompArlo
Team GO Rocket LeaderAlways opens with Tyrunt.
Slot 1 (always)
Shadow Tyrunt Weak to: Dragon, Fairy, Fighting, Ground, Ice, Steel
Slot 2
Shadow Slowbro
Shadow Golurk
Shadow Steelix Weak to: Dark / Ghost recommended
Slot 3
Shadow Scizor
Shadow Alakazam
Shadow Charizard Weak to: Rock hits Charizard for 2x
Recommended team
TyranitarRock-type reserveCliff
Team GO Rocket LeaderAlways opens with Axew.
Slot 1 (always)
Shadow Axew Weak to: Dragon, Fairy, Ice
Slot 2
Shadow Snorlax
Shadow Weezing Weak to: Fighting (Snorlax) / Ground, Psychic (Weezing)
Slot 3
Shadow Tyranitar
Shadow Gallade
Shadow Camerupt Weak to: Fighting / Ground recommended
Recommended team
Dragonite
MachampLucario
ExcadrillSierra
Team GO Rocket LeaderAlways opens with Amaura.
Slot 1 (always)
Shadow Amaura Weak to: Fighting
Slot 2
Shadow Flygon
Shadow Blastoise
Shadow Ferrothorn Weak to: Ice / Dragon recommended
Slot 3
Shadow HoundoomShadow Steelix
Shadow Milotic Weak to: Fighting / Water recommended
Recommended team
Lucario
Terrakion
Conkeldurr
MamoswineHow Rocket lineups work
Grunts and Leaders always send out a fixed first Pokémon, then choose randomly from a short pool for their second and third slots. Since you can't see slots two and three until you've already committed your first two Pokémon, the safest approach is a team that covers every possible option rather than betting on one.
Giovanni requires a Super Rocket Radar (built from six Mysterious Components) and only appears after you've defeated all three Leaders during his current window. Every fight — Grunt, Leader, or Giovanni — gives a chance to catch the Shadow Pokémon you just defeated, so bring enough Poké Balls, especially for a Giovanni encounter with Shadow Reshiram on the line.