Pokemon Go Rocket Grunt Guide: Counters and Lineups (March 2022)

To get Shadow ‘mon in Pokemon Go, the Trainer needs to defeat Team Go Rocket Grunts. Each of these villains has their own unique lineup, meaning you’ll need to know the right measures to join the battle in March 2022.
Since their launch in 2019, Team Go Rocket Grunts have taken over PokeStops to steal items and battle Trainers who talk to them. Sometimes you’ll even see them fly through the sky in a Team Go Rocket hot air balloon.
The Grunts may be the lowest ranked member of the nefarious Go Rocket Team, but they can still prove an uphill battle. The key to success is knowing what type they use and preparing a team that takes advantage of their weaknesses.
Fortunately, every Go Rocket Grunt Team in game will taunt you with a dialogue before each battle, and this dialogue will give you a hint as to what kind of Pokemon they will use, as well as the potential group of Pokemon they will choose.
The Grunt lineup shown below is correct as of February 28, 2022.
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Team GO Rocket is taking over Pokemon GO.
Pokemon Go Grunt Counter (March 2022)
There are plenty of reasons to beat these Grunts in Pokemon Go. In addition to giving you the chance to capture and purify Shadow Pokemon, you’ll also receive a Mysterious Component that will allow you to battle one of Team Go Rocket’s Leaders: Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra.
For the Alola Season in March, all Grunt lineups remain the same as in the Power Plant event, and now have 20 different Grunts encountered. The newest addition is the Fairy-type Grunt, who will taunt, ‘Check out my cute Pokemon!’.
Below you’ll find every type of Team Go Rocket Grunt based on their taunts, as well as information on what their lineup will be like and the best counters you can use to beat they.
Are you afraid of psychics using invisible powers?
This grunt will use Pokemon are telepathic, so the best counters are strong Ghost, Dark, and Bug types like Tyranitar, Weavile, Houndoom, and Haunter.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Abra | Metang | Alakazam |
Ralts | Hypno | |
Metang |
Battle against my flying-type Pokemon!
As the mockery suggests, this Grunt will use Flying-type Pokemonso the best counter is strong, electric or ice rocks like Tyranitar, Electivire and Abomasnow.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Murkrow | Golbat | Crobat |
Starly | Staravia | Staraptor |
Zubat |
Check out my cute Pokemon!
If you find yourself against this Grunt, they will use Fairy-type Pokemonso the best counters are Poison and Steel types like Metagross, Roserade, Gengar and Victreebel.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Ralts | Kirlia | Granbull |
Snubbull | Snubbull | Kirlia |
Coil and get ready to attack!
This grunt will use Poison-type Pokemonso the best counters are strong Psychic and Ground types like Espeon, Mewtwo, Tyranitar and Groudon.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Nidoran | Nidorino | Muk |
Zubat | Wheeze | Wheeze |
Nidorina |
Don’t bother us!
This grunt will use Grass-type Pokemon, which means the best countermeasures are strong Fire types like Charizard, Moltres, Entei or Pyroar. The Bug, Ice, Flying, and Poison types are solid backups.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Bulbasaur | Bayleef | Venusaur |
Chikorita |
Do you know how hot breath Pokemon can breathe?
As you might have guessed, this Grunt will use Fire-type Pokemon. This means that the best counters will be Strong Water, Rock, and Ground types like Tyranitar, Blastoise, Vaporeon, and Rhydon.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Charmander | Quilava | Charizard |
Cyndaquil |
Get ready to be shocked!
This grunt will use Electric Pokemon, so the best counters are definitely strong Ground types like Groudon, Rhyperior, Hippowdon, and Golem.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Voltorb | Electrode | Electrode |
Voltorb |
Go away, my super buggy Pokemon!
As their mocking suggestion, this Grunt will use Bug-type Pokemon. The best counters here are strong Fire types including Charizard, Moltres, Entei or Pyroar. The Flying and Rock styles are suitable backups.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Venomoth | Beedril | Forretress |
Weed | Skorupi | Pinsir |
Scissors |
Ke… ke… ke… ke… ke… ke…
This grunt will use Ghost-type Pokemonso the best counters are strong Shadows and Ghosts like Weavile, Gengar, Haunter and Darkrai.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Misdreavus | Sableye | Banette |
Sableye | Shuppet | Sableye |
Let’s Rock!
This grunt will use a series Rock-type Pokemon, which means the best counters are powerful Combat types like Machamp. Water, Grass, Ground and Steel types can be used as a backup.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Larvitar | Lieep | Pupitar |
Anorith | Tyranitar |
Normal doesn’t mean weak
It goes without saying that this Grunt will use Normal type Pokemon. The best counters are powerful Combat types like Machamp, Conkeldurr, Sirfetch’d, and Sawk.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Whismur | Loud | Bibarel |
Explode |
GUARANTEE! … How does it sound?
This grunt will use Dragon-type Pokemon, so the best counters are Strong Ices like Weavile or Glaceon. Fairy types like Sylveon are also good backups.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Dratini | Dragonair | Dragonair |
Flygon | Dragonite | |
Flygon |
The waters are dangerous (Female)
This female version of Grunt will use Water-type Pokemon. The best counters you can use are strong Grass or Electric types like Sceptile, Leafeon, Raikou, and Magnezone.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Squirtle | Croconaw | Blastoise |
Totodile | Shellder | Ferraligatr |
This water is dangerous (South)
The male version of this Water-based Grunt will only use Magikarp, but there’s a very small chance he can send Gyarados as his final Pokemon. The electrics are the best counters here.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Magikarp | Magikarp | Magikarp |
Gyarados |
This adorable figure isn’t just for show!
This grunt will use Pokemon are of the fighting type, so the best counters you can use are strong Psychic, Flying and Fairy types like Alakazam, Gardevoir, Togekiss and Lugia.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Hitmonchan | Machop | Hariyama |
Hitmonlee | Makuhita | Hitmonchan |
Hitmonlee |
You will be defeated in the ground!
This grunt will use Ground-type Pokemonwhich means the best counters are strong Water, Grass and Ice types like Gyarados, Venusaur, Mamoswine and Weavile.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
hippo | hippo | Hippowdon |
Sandshrew | Sandslash |
You will be frozen on your way
This grunt will use Ice-type Pokemon. The best counters are strong Fight and Kick types like Aggron, Machamp, and Tyranitar. Keep a Fire type on your team for Snover and Abomansow, too.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Spheal | Revenue | Abomasnow |
Swinub | Lapras |
Wherever there is light, there is also darkness
This grunt will use Shadow-type Pokemonall are weak against Elf-type attacks, so the best counter-attacks are strong Elf-types like Sylveon, Togekiss, and Gardevoir.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Houndour | Carturne | Sharpedo |
Poochyena | Nuzleaf | Shiftry |
Sableye |
Never mind, I already won / Get ready to be defeated! / Winning for the winner (Female)
Grunt this is very difficult to predict, as it uses a Mixed types of Pokemon. We recommend a team with Combat like Machamp, Electric like Raikou, and Ice like Abomasnow.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Snorlax | Gardevoir | Dragonite |
Poliwrath | Gyarados | |
Snorlax | Snorlax |
Never mind, I already won / Get ready to be defeated! / Win for the winner (Male)
This Grunt male is very unpredictable, as he uses a mixture of Johto . starter families. You will need Fire for the Chikorita family, a Water type for the Cyndaquil family, and a Grass for the Totodile family.
Here are the possible encounters:
State 1 | Phase 2 | Stage 3 |
Chikorita | Bayleef | Feraligatr |
Cyndaquil | Croconaw | Meganium |
Totodile | Quilava | Typhlosion |
Those are all Team Go Rocket Grunt lineups since March 2022. If any changes are made by Niantic In future Go updates, we will update this page with the latest information.
If you’re used to each taunt, you’ll be able to defeat any of the Team Go Rocket Grunts and catch loads of Shadow Pokemon before you know it.
For more tips and tricks on all things Pokemon Go, be sure to check out our guide:
Spotlight Hour Guide | Current Raid Bosses | The best attacker and defender in Go | Pokemon Go Highlights | Arlo counter guide | Cliff counter guide | How to get free remote raid card. Sierra counter guide | How to catch Ditto | Pokemon Go Store: Item List, Price, Box Change | Giovanni counter guide
https://www.dexerto.com/pokemon/pokemon-go-rocket-grunt-guide-counters-and-lineups-1576357/ Pokemon Go Rocket Grunt Guide: Counters and Lineups (March 2022)