Pokémon GO Raid Leaders and Counters for January 2025

Conquering Team GO Rocket Leaders in Pokémon GO: A January 2025 Guide

Tracking down and defeating Pokémon GO's Team GO Rocket Leaders – Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff – is crucial for research tasks and acquiring powerful Shadow Pokémon. Their ever-shifting lineups and Shadow Pokémon's boosted power make preparation essential. This guide provides the January 2025 team compositions and optimal counters for each leader.

Quick Links:

• Locating Team GO Rocket Leaders
• Sierra's Current Team & Counters
• Arlo's Current Team & Counters
• Cliff's Current Team & Counters

Locating Team GO Rocket Leaders: Sierra, Arlo, & Cliff

Unlike regular Team Rocket Grunts, Leaders require strategic effort to find. Defeating six Grunts yields six Mysterious Components, which combine to create a Rocket Radar. Grunts appear randomly at PokéStops, and a hot air balloon containing a Grunt spawns every six hours, following the player for 20 minutes. Once you have a Rocket Radar, Leaders replace Grunts at darkened PokéStops and in hot air balloons.

Sierra's Current Team (January 2025)

Sierra's January 2025 team presents a tricky challenge:

Pokémon 1	Pokémon 2	Pokémon 3
Skorupi (Bug/Poison)	Sableye (Dark/Ghost)	Houndoom (Dark/Fire)
	Steelix (Ground/Steel)	Nidoqueen (Ground/Poison)
	Milotic (Water)	Gardevoir (Fairy/Psychic)

Best Counters for Sierra

Expect Dark, Psychic, and Poison types. These Pokémon provide strong counter options:

Pokémon	Moves
Terrakion	Smack Down, Rock Slide
Gengar	Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball
Excadrill	Metal Claw, Iron Head

Arlo's Current Team (January 2025)

Arlo's January 2025 team is a varied mix:

Pokémon 1	Pokémon 2	Pokémon 3
Alolan Grimer (Poison/Dark)	Hypno (Psychic)	Metagross (Psychic/Steel)
	Charizard (Flying/Fire)	Scizor (Bug/Steel)
	Gyarados (Flying/Water)	Snorlax (Normal)

Best Counters for Arlo

Prepare for Flying, Psychic, and Poison types. These are effective counters:

Pokémon	Moves
Tyranitar	Bite, Brutal Swing
Blaziken	Fire Spin, Blast Burn
Excadrill	Mud Slap, Drill Run

Cliff's Current Team (January 2025)

Cliff's January 2025 team emphasizes strength:

Pokémon 1	Pokémon 2	Pokémon 3
Cubone (Ground)	Venusaur (Grass/Poison)	Tyranitar (Dark/Rock)
	Marowak (Ground)	Obstagoon (Dark/Normal)
	Aerodactyl (Flying/Rock)	Crobat (Flying/Poison)

Best Counters for Cliff

Cliff's team features several Dark-types and at least one Ground type. These Pokémon are highly effective:

Pokémon	Moves
Mamoswine	Powder Snow, Avalanche
Lucario	Force Palm, Aura Sphere
Blaziken	Counter, Blast Burn

This guide will be updated as Team GO Rocket Leader lineups change. Stay prepared for whatever Pokémon GO throws your way!

Pokémon GO is available now on mobile devices.

Updated 1/14/2025 by Amanda Kay Oaks