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Pokemon GO has experienced tons of updates and additions during its life, and we can barely keep up with it all: PvP battles, field research, and new generations of Pokemon are being added to the game! As if all of that wasn't enough, Team Rocket and Shadow Pokemon have now shown up in-game.

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Team Rocket and its Shadow Pokemon have been taking over PokeStops, and that's exactly where you need to go to find them. This article will detail everything you need to know about Team Rocket Go Grunts and how to beat them to rescue Shadow Pokemon!

Updated on March 6, 2023, by Gabrielle Huston: This guide has been refreshed updated with new information, as mechanics have changed over time in Pokemon Go.

Where To Find Team Rocket Go Grunts

Pokemon Go - Team Rocket grunt locations

Once you're level 8, Team Rocket Go Grunts appear in-game in two places:

  1. Pokestops, which will turn black when they are being blocked by a Team Rocket Go Grunt (they stay for 30 minutes)
  2. Air Balloons, which appear on occasion above the player in the map view (once every six hours)

Tips For Battling Team Rocket Go Grunts

Pokemon Go - players facing off against team rocket go grunts
  • Almost all Grunts will prefer a particular type of Pokemon. You can figure out which type they're using with the charts below and use Pokemon that have strong moves against them.
  • Do some research on the most powerful attacks for your best Pokemon! Some will just suck up your energy without doing significant damage, or take so long to recharge that they aren't really worth it.
  • The AI will pause attacking momentarily whenever you or they switch in a new Pokemon, but you don't have to! Just keep tapping, and you'll continue doing damage even if you can't see your Pokemon yet. It's a fair tactic to switch out your Pokemon even if you don't need to, just because the Grunt will stop attacking temporarily.
  • You don't need to stand next to the PokeStop while you battle with the Grunt. You won't get kicked out of the fight if you walk away, and you'll still be able to catch the Shadow Pokemon. That makes these fights good for when you're the passenger in a car or bus!

For more advice on team-building, check out our detailed guide!

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List Of Team Rocket Go Grunts And Their Pokemon

Pokemon Go - Team Rocket grunts with snorlax

Below, we've identified each Grunt by type, which you'll be able to figure out by what their opening line is when they challenge you. Each Grunt of a given type will have a few Pokemon to choose from, randomly selected.

Poison: "Coiled and ready to strike!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Zubat (Poison/Flying)

Nidorina (Poison)

Weezing (Poison)

Foongus (Grass/Poison)

Nidorino (Poison)

Muk (Poison)

Types It's Weak To: Ground, Psychic

Normal: "Normal doesn't mean weak."

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Pidove (Normal/Flying)

Rattata (Normal)

Ursaring (Normal)

Patat (Normal)

Raticate (Normal)

Raticate (Normal)

Whismur (Normal)

Loudred (Normal)

Bibarel (Normal/Water)

Types It's Weak To: Fighting

Dragon: "ROAR! ... How'd that sound?"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Dratini (Dragon)

Alolan Exeggutor (Grass/Dragon)

Dragonair (Dragon)

Flygon (Ground/Dragon)

Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)

Flygon (Ground/Dragon)

Types It's Weak To: Ice, Dragon, Fairy

Water: "These waters are treacherous."

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Female Grunt

Wailmer (Water)

Croconaw (Water)

Wailord (Water)

Totodile (Water)

Golduck (Water)

Feraligatr (Water)

Psyduck (Water)

Golduck (Water)

Male Grunt

Magikarp (Water)

Magikarp (Water)

Magikarp (Water)

Gyarados (Water/Flying)

Types It's Weak To: Electric, Grass

Grass: "Don't tangle with us!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Cacnea (Grass)

Bayleef (Grass)

Cacturne (Grass/Dark)

Chikorita (Grass)

Gloom (Grass/Poison)

Meganium (Grass)

Oddish (Grass/Poison)

Amoongus (Grass/Poison)

Types It's Weak To: Fire, Ice, Flying, Poison, Bug

Flying: "Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Natu (Psychic/Flying)

Xatu (Psychic/Flying)

Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)

Ducklett (Water/Flying)

Staravia (Normal/Flying)

Gyarados (Water/Flying)

Zubat (Poison/Flying)

Golbat (Poison/Flying)

Crobat (Poison/Flying)

Types It's Weak To: Electric, Ice, Rock

Fire: "Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Cyndaquil (Fire)

Quilava (Fire)

Typhlosion(Fire)

Numel (Fire/Ground)

Magmar (Fire)

Camerupt (Fire/Ground)

Vulpix (Fire)

Ninetales (Fire)

Types It's Weak To: Water, Ground, Rock

Bug: "Go, my super bug Pokemon!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Skorupi (Poison/Bug)

Weedle (Bug/Poison)

Forretress (Bug/Steel)

Shuckle (Bug/Rock)

Kakuna (Bug/Poison)

Scizor (Bug/Steel)

Joltik (Bug/Electric)

Beedrill (Bug/Poison)

Beedrill (Bug/Poison)

Types It's Weak To: Fire, Flying, Rock

Ground: "You'll be defeated into the ground!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Hippopotas (Ground)

Hippopotas (Ground)

Hippowdon (Ground)

Geodude (Rock/Ground)

Alolan Diglett (Ground/Steel)

Golem (Rock/Ground)

Alolan Diglett (Ground/Steel)

Camerupt (Fire/Ground)

Types It's Weak To: Water, Grass, Ice

Psychic: "Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Natu (Psychic/Flying)

Ralts (Psychic/Fairy)

Metang (Steel/Psychic)

Spoink (Psychic)

Girafarig (Normal/Psychic)

Hypno (Psychic)

Abra (Psychic)

Alakazam (Psychic)

Types It's Weak To: Bug, Ghost, Dark

Rock: "Let's rock and roll!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Onix (Rock/Ground)

Graveler (Rock/Ground)

Golem (Rock/Ground)

Lileep (Rock/Grass)

Lileep (Rock/Grass)

Onix (Rock/Ground)

Anorith (Rock/Bug)

Anorith (Rock/Bug)

Steelix (Steel/Ground)

Types It's Weak To: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel

Ghost: "Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Duskull (Ghost)

Dusclops (Ghost)

Dusknoir (Ghost)

Golett (Ground/Ghost)

Banette (Ghost)

Golurk (Ground/Ghost)

Banette (Ghost)

Types It's Weak To: Ghost, Dark

Fighting: "This buff physique isn’t just for show!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Duskull (Fighting)

Hitmonlee (Fighting)

Machamp (Fighting)

Hitmonlee (Fighting)

Hitmonchan (Fighting)

Hitmonlee (Fighting)

Hitmonchan (Fighting)

Hitmonchan (Fighting)

Types It's Weak To: Flying, Psychic, Fairy

Ice: "You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks."

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Alolan Sandshrew (Ice/Steel)

Alolan Sandslash (Ice/Steel)

Lapras (Water/Ice)

Vulpix (Ice)

Alolan Ninetales (Ice/Fairy)

Cloyster (Water/Ice)

Swinub (Ice/Ground)

Snover (Grass/Ice)

Abomasnow (Grass/Ice)

Types It's Weak To: Fire, Fighting, Rock, Steel

Dark: "Wherever there is light, there is also shadow."

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Alolan Rattata (Dark/Normal)

Alolan Raticate (Dark/Normal)

Alolan Raticate (Dark/Normal)

Purloin (Dark)

Stunky (Poison/Dark)

Cacturne (Grass/Dark)

Murkrow (Dark/Flying)

Murkrow (Dark/Flying)

Honchkrow (Dark/Flying)

Types It's Weak To: Fighting, Bug, Fairy

Electric: "Get ready to be shocked!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Shinx (Electric)

Voltorb (Electric)

Luxray (Electric)

Mareep (Electric)

Electabuzz (Electric)

Ampharos (Electric)

Blitzle (Electric)

Zebstrika (Electric)

Types It's Weak To: Ground

Fairy: "Check out my cute Pokemon!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Ralts (Psychic/Fairy)

Kirlia (Psychic/Fairy)

Kirlia (Psychic/Fairy)

Snubbull (Fairy)

Snubbull (Fairy)

Granbull (Fairy)

Granbull (Fairy)

Types It's Weak To: Poison, Steel

Steel: "You’re no match for my iron will!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Aron (Steel/Rock)

Lairon (Steel/Rock)

Aggron (Steel/Rock)

Alolan Diglett (Ground/Steel)

Metang (Steel/Psychic)

Scizor(Bug/Steel)

Alolan Sandshrew (Ice/Steel)

Alolan Sandshrew (Ice/Steel)

Types It's Weak To: Fire, Fighting, Ground

No Type: "Don’t bother – I’ve already won./Get ready to be defeated!/Winning is for winners!"

Possible First Pokemon

Possible Second Pokemon

Possible Third Pokemon

Snorlax (Normal)

Snorlax (Normal)

Snorlax (Normal)

Poliwrath (Water/Fighting)

Gyarados (Water/Flying)

Gardevoir (Psychic/Fairy)

Dragonite (Dragon/Flying)

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What Are Shadow Pokemon?

Pokemon Go - shadow Pokemon (fighting on left, catching on right)

If you have never played Pokemon Colosseum on the GameCube, you might be a little lost as to what exactly a Shadow Pokemon is. In Colosseum, Shadow Pokemon were corrupted creatures captured by Team Cipher and ordered to do their bidding. Once battled against and rescued from the bad guys, trainers were able to purify the Pokemon, rescuing them from the dark powers which had previously possessed them.

In Pokemon Go, the story is much the same, except they've been corrupted by Team Go Rocket! It's been established that, in their shadowy form, these Pokemon are in a lot of pain, but they get a "Shadow Bonus" that increases their attack while decreasing their defense. Purifying them alleviates that pain, and has the effect of boosting their stats, but removes the Shadow Bonus.

How To Catch And Purify Shadow Pokemon

Pokemon Go - shadow pokemon (in inventory on left, promo image on right)

After you defeat a Team Go Rocket Grunt or Leader, Arlo, Sierra, or Cliff, you'll get a chance to save one of the Pokemon they used against you.

After the fight, you're brought to a catch screen where you have to use a special Pokeball known as a Premier Ball. You only get a finite number of Premier Balls to use, and you don't get access to your regular Pokeballs. You'll get more Premier Balls if your Hero and Purifier medals are at high ranks, and if not many of your Pokemon died in the battle you just had. You can still use Berries as normal. Nanab Berries are especially helpful, because Shadow Pokemon are more likely than others to move around and attack you.

Once you've caught a Shadow Pokemon successfully, take a look at them in your inventory! You'll see a special "Purify" button. It costs you candy and stardust to purify the Pokemon, but they get a significant boost to their stats once you've done that, and they a beautiful shimmer instead of the oily purple shadows around them.

NEXT: Is Pokemon Go Worth Playing?