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Pokemon GOhas grown steadily since its 2016 launch, with a constant stream of events and updates keeping Niantic’s genre-defining ARPG fresh for over half a decade. One of the game’s most popular additions are the Team GO Rocket leaders, boss trainers thatPokemon GOplayers can take on to earn rare Shadow Pokemon.
Team GO Rocket leaders change their teams often, meaning players will have to keep switching their counters. In July 2022,Team GO Rocketleader Arlo is fielding a team of mostly Fairy, Steel, and Fire-type Pokemon, a tough line-up to beat without a good squad.
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Arlo’s First Pokemon
All of the Team GO Rocket leadersbegin each battle with the same Pokemon, rather than a choice of three. Arlo’s new first pick in July 2022 isCharmander, the original Fire-type starter with some fairly exploitable weaknesses.
As a pure Fire-type, Charmander isweak to Ground, Rock,andWater, it’s alsoresistant to Bug, Fairy, Fire, Grass, Ice,andSteel.
Charmander Counters
Arlo’s Second Pokemon
Arlo’s second Pokemon can be eitherScizor,Salamence, orMawile, meaning that players will have to think carefully about their counters. While Scizor and Mawile are both weak to Fire, Salamence is actually resistant to it, making bringing a Fire-type Pokemon a real gamble.
Scizor Counters
Scizor is a Bug/Steel-type, and is therefore extremelyweak to Fire, but only to Fire. It’s alsoresistant to Grass, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Normal, Psychic,andSteel.
Salamence Counters
Salamence is a Dragon/Flying-type Pokemon, and therefore isweak to Ice, Dragon, Fairy,andRock.It isresistant to Fighting, Fire, Grass, Bug,andWater,and completelyimmune to Ground attacks.
Mawile Counters
Mawile is a Steel/Fairy-type, and therefore isweak to Fire and Ground.Like Salamence and Scizor, it also comes with a huge list of resistances. Mawile isresistant to Dragon, Bug, Dark, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Poison, Psychic,andRock.
Arlo’s Third Pokemon
Arlo’s third Pokemon will be eitherCharizard,Gardevoir, orSteelix. ThisPokemon will be the toughest challengefor most players, particularly because the three don’t share any weaknesses.
Water is probably the best choice as both Charizard and Steelix are weak to it, and Gardevoir has no resistance.
Charizard Counters
Fan-favorite Pokemon Charizard is a Fire/Flying-typeweak to Electric, Rock,andWater.It isresistant to Bug, Grass, Fairy, Fighting, Fire, Ground,andSteel.
Gardevoir Counters
Gardevoir is a Fairy/Psychic-type Pokemonand therefore isweak to Poison, Steel,andGhost.It isresistant to FightingandPsychicandimmune to Dragon.
Steelix Counters
Steelix is a Ground/Steel-type Pokemonand therefore isweak to Fighting, Fire, Ground,andWater.It isresistant to Normal, Rock, Steel, Dragon, Flying, Bug, Psychic,andFairy,andimmune to PoisonandElectric.
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