Update, October 12, 2026: the August 2026 Team GO Rocket lineups in the original article are outdated. This page was rewritten with the lineups confirmed on October 2-4, 2026 and a corrected explanation of the Rocket Radar and Super Rocket Radar. Always check the in-game preview before battling.
Recap: What Happened
Team GO Rocket’s Leaders (Arlo, Cliff and Sierra) and boss Giovanni change their Shadow Pokémon lineups from time to time, so any lineup list is only accurate for the date it was checked. The most recent change we could confirm came with Harvest Festival: Taken Over, which Pokémon GO Hub lists as running from Friday, October 2, 2026 to Monday, October 5, 2026 (8:00 p.m. local time). That update refreshed all three Leaders and added Shadow Zekrom as Giovanni’s final Pokémon. Lineups from earlier in the summer, including the ones in the original version of this article, should not be treated as current.
Lineups as last confirmed (October 2-4, 2026)
Leek Duck’s lineup page (updated October 2, 2026) and Pokémon GO Hub’s per-boss guides (updated October 4, 2026) agree on the following. Each Leader’s first Pokémon is fixed; the second and third slots are drawn from the options listed.
| Boss | Slot 1 (fixed) | Slot 2 (one of) | Slot 3 (one of) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlo | Shadow Alolan Grimer | Slowbro, Golurk, Steelix | Scizor, Alakazam, Charizard |
| Cliff | Shadow Cubone | Snorlax, Golurk, Galarian Weezing | Tyranitar, Gallade, Camerupt |
| Sierra | Shadow Pancham | Flygon, Blastoise, Ferrothorn | Houndoom, Steelix, Milotic |
| Giovanni | Shadow Persian | Kangaskhan, Rhyperior, Machamp | Shadow Zekrom |
These lineups were valid on the dates above. Always check the in-game battle preview and a live lineup tracker before choosing your team.
What To Do Now / Evergreen Guidance
Finding the Leaders: Rocket Radar
Defeat Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect Mysterious Components. Six of them assemble a Rocket Radar. Equip it from your Item Bag and it points you to an invaded PokéStop where a Leader is waiting. Bulbapedia notes that it only works between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time, that it is used up only when you win against a Leader (lose and you can try again), and that holding one in your Bag stops you receiving new Components from Grunts. Pokémon GO Hub adds that it does not guarantee a specific Leader.
Finding Giovanni: Super Rocket Radar
Giovanni cannot be found with a regular Rocket Radar. The Super Rocket Radar reveals marked PokéStops that may hold Giovanni’s hideout, or a Decoy Grunt in his place. Defeating a Decoy Grunt can still drop a Mysterious Component. The radar is consumed only after you beat the real Giovanni. How the item is obtained has changed over the years; Pokémon GO Hub states that during Harvest Festival: Taken Over it was available only through the GO Pass, with rewards claimable until October 7, 2026. After that date, check the current events page to see how it is being offered.
Rewards
According to Pokémon GO Hub’s October 2026 guides, a Leader victory gives 1,000 Stardust, 3 Shadow Shards, two random item bundles (Revives, Max Revives, Hyper or Max Potions, a Unova Stone, or a 12 km Egg) and a chance to catch the Shadow Pokémon that Leader opened with. A 12 km Strange Egg can replace one bundle if you have space. Giovanni gives 5,000 Stardust, three bundles, 4 Shadow Shards and a chance at his Shadow Zekrom. Rescued Leader Pokémon can be shiny when they are shiny-eligible.
Shadow Pokémon and Purification
- Shadow Pokémon deal more damage and take more damage: Bulbapedia lists a 6/5 Attack and 5/6 Defense modifier. They know Frustration and cost 6/5 as much Stardust and Candy to power up.
- Shadows cannot be traded or Mega Evolved.
- Purifying permanently removes the Shadow status: each IV rises by 2 (capped at 15), the Pokémon is powered up to your Trainer level (up to level 25), Frustration becomes Return, and power-ups and second charged moves get cheaper.
- Per Bulbapedia, Shadows rescued from Grunts or Leaders are caught at level 8 (level 13 with Weather Boost).
As a rule of thumb, keep Shadows for raids and gym attacking, and purify those you want for trading, Mega Evolution or as Lucky candidates. See our trading guide for the Lucky side of that decision.
General counter strategy
Check the type of each Pokémon in the preview, pick a counter that resists its likely attacks and hits its weakness, and keep your strongest answer for the biggest threat. Because Leader lineups do not change between attempts, a loss is free information: swap in a better matchup and retry. Our type chart guide and type chart tool take care of the maths.
Will It Return?
Niantic announces Team GO Rocket changes on its own schedule. What is documented: lineups have been refreshed repeatedly, and “Taken Over” events have appeared more than once, including Galarian Expedition: Taken Over (October 2024) and the Precious Pals Taken Over event earlier in 2026. No announcement says that the earlier lineups will come back, so treat any specific past roster as unconfirmed.
Related Guides
- Pokémon GO events in October 2026
- Live now in Pokémon GO
- Pokémon GO type chart
- Best attackers by type
- Shiny Pokémon odds guide
- Trading guide
- Pokémon GO guides hub
Sources: Leek Duck: Team GO Rocket Lineups; Pokémon GO Hub: Giovanni; Arlo; Cliff; Sierra; Pokémon GO Hub: Harvest Festival: Taken Over; Bulbapedia: Rocket Radar; Super Rocket Radar; Shadow Pokémon (GO).
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