How To Defeat Team Go Rocket Boss Sierra In Pokemon Go

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First Round: Squirtle

Second Round: Blaziken, Lapras, Blastoise

Third Round: Houndoom, Nidoqueen, Drapion

Rewards

Pokemon Go’s villainous Team Go Rocket has apparently failed at their diabolical plan to steal free items from Pokestops using grunts alone, because now they have sent in the team leaders. In addition to the big boss Giovanni, three other leaders have invaded Pokemon Go.

One of these leaders is Sierra, a mini-boss who can be quite tough for the unprepared player. Below is a list of the possible Pokemon that might appear in Sierra’s repertoire, and how to counter them effectively.

Updated August 20, 2022, by Gabrielle Huston: To make sure you're prepared to take on this dangerous leader, we've updated this guide with all the new information.

First Round: Squirtle

Squirtle
Type	Water
Weak To...	Electric Grass	Resistant To...	Fire Ice Steel Water

Sierra's first Pokemon is always Squirtle. This little guy shouldn't pose much of a problem for a trainer like you, but focus on Grass- or Electric-type Pokemon.

Suggested Counters: Squirtle

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Victreebel	Grass Poison	Fast Attack: Razor Leaf Charged Attack: Leaf Blade
Roserade	Grass Poison	Fast Attack: Razor Leaf Charged Attack: Grass Knot
Zarude	Dark Grass	Fast Attack: Vine Whip Charged Attack: Power Whip

Second Round: Blaziken, Lapras, Blastoise

Pokemon - Lapras, Blastoise, and Blaziken (from the anime)

Blastoise				Blaziken				Lapras
Type	Water			Type	Fire Fighting			Type	Water Ice
Weak To...	Electric Grass	Resistant To...	Fire Ice Steel Water	Weak To...	Ground Flying Psychic Water	Resistant To...	Dark Fire Grass Ice Steel Bug	Weak To...	Electric Fighting Grass Rock	Resistant To...	Water Ice

Sierra's second Pokemon may be a Blastoise, Blaziken, or Lapras. These Pokemon aren't uncommon - you may even have them in your own roster. As a result, you're probably familiar with the ideal counters for them. We've given a few of our best recommendations below.

If you're trying to prepare in advance for fighting Sierra, you can train up an Electric-type Pokemon like Raikou, since two out of Sierra's three choices in this round are Water-types. A reliable Pokemon like Roserade or Leafeon would also be good, since two of them are weak to Grass-types.

Suggested Counters: Blastoise

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Leafeon	Grass	Fast Attack: Razor Leaf Charged Attack: Leaf Blade
Magnezone	Electric Steel	Fast Attack: Spark Charged Attack: Wild Charge
Zarude	Dark Grass	Fast Attack: Vine Whip Charged Attack: Power Whip

Suggested Counters: Blaziken

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Tapu Lele	Psychic Fairy	Fast Attack: Confusion Charged Attack: Psyshock
Mewtwo	Psychic	Fast Attack: Confusion Charged Attack: Psystrike
Kingler	Water	Fast Attack: Bubble Charged Attack: Crabhammer

Suggested Counters: Lapras

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Raikou	Electric	Fast Attack: Thunder Shock Charged Attack: Wild Charge
Roserade	Grass Poison	Fast Attack: Razor Leaf Charged Attack: Grass Knot
Machamp	Fighting	Fast Attack: Counter Charged Attack: Cross Chop

RELATED: Pokemon Go: TM Guide

Third Round: Houndoom, Nidoqueen, Drapion

Pokemon - Houndoom, Drapion, and Nidoqueen

Houndoom				Nidoqueen				Drapion
Type	Dark Fire			Type	Poison Ground			Type	Poison Dark
Weak To...	Fighting Ground Rock Water	Resistant To...	Dark Fire Ghost Grass Ice Steel Psychic	Weak To...	Ground Ice Psychic Water	Resistant To...	Bug Fairy Fighting Rock Electric Poison	Weak To...	Ground	Resistant To...	Dark Ghost Grass Poison Psychic

During the third round, Sierra has a chance to throw out Houndoom, Nidoqueen, or Drapion. These are more challenging foes, with better moves and higher CP. You'll want to choose a good, reliable counter; we've suggested some below.

All three of Sierra's possible choices are weak to Ground-type Pokemon, so a strong one, like Groudon, is great to build up in advance.

Suggested Counters: Houndoom

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Groudon	Ground	Fast Attack: Mud Shot Charged Attack: Earthquake
Kyogre	Water	Fast Attack: Waterfall Charged Attack: Hydro Pump
Lucario	Fighting Steel	Fast Attack: Counter Charged Attack: Aura Sphere

Suggested Counters: Drapion

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Landorus	Ground Flying	Fast Attack: Mud Shot Charged Attack: Bulldoze
Mamoswine	Ground Ice	Fast Attack: Mud Shot Charged Attack: Sand Tomb
Garchomp	Dragon Ground	Fast Attack: Mud Shot Charged Attack: Sand Tomb

Suggested Counters: Nidoqueen

Pokemon	Type	Recommended Moves
Empoleon	Water Steel	Fast Attack: Waterfall Charged Attack: Hydro Cannon
Hoopa	Psychic Ghost	Fast Attack: Confusion Charged Attack: Psychic
Espeon	Psychic	Fast Attack: Confusion Charged Attack: Psychic