Trainers, there’s an exciting update in the world of Pokémon GO that will add extra layers of fun to your gaming experience. Team GO Rocket Grunts, the notorious antagonists known for hijacking PokéStops and battling with Shadow Pokémon, have undergone some changes. Now, as you journey through the game, you’ll find a variety of different Rocket Grunts to challenge.
These Grunts, who serve under the Team GO Rocket Leaders and Giovanni, are not just ordinary foes. When they take over a PokéStop, it turns black and is marked with the Team GO Rocket logo, signaling a potential battle. Approaching these PokéStops or tapping on Rocket Balloons that appear over your avatar in the Map View triggers an encounter with a Grunt. Note, if you’re equipped with a Super Rocket Radar, you might encounter a decoy Grunt, adding an element of surprise to your quest.
Battling these Grunts requires strategy and skill. Trainers need to assemble a team of three Pokémon, utilizing both Fast and Charged Attacks to take down the Grunt’s Shadow Pokémon. These Shadow Pokémon possess unusually high CP, leaning heavily towards offense, making them formidable opponents. However, their high CP doesn’t necessarily equate to unbreakable defense, which can be a key to your victory.
In these battles, both you and the Grunt have access to two Protect Shields, but it’s rare for Grunts to use theirs, giving you a tactical edge. Interestingly, when you encounter a Grunt at a specific PokéStop, other Trainers will face the same Shadow Pokémon, though the CP level adjusts according to each Trainer’s level, ensuring a fair challenge for everyone.
Each Rocket Grunt specializes in a specific Pokémon type, hinted at through their unique catchphrase before the battle. This catchphrase is crucial as it helps you predict the type of Pokémon you’ll be up against, allowing you to choose your battling roster wisely.
To help you navigate these encounters, we’ve compiled a list of catchphrases used by the Team GO Rocket Grunts. By matching these phrases with the Grunt you encounter, you can get a sneak peek into the type of Pokémon they’ll use, helping you prepare effectively for the battle ahead.
Rocket Grunts Lineups update
Normal doesn’t mean weak
Normal
1st Pokémon
- Meowth
- Glameow
2nd Pokémon
- Rattata
- Purugly
- Raticate
3rd Pokémon
- Raticate
- Ursaring
- Bibarel
Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!
Flying
1st Pokémon
- Zubat
- Natu
- Ducklett
2nd Pokémon
- Xatu
- Golbat
- Staravia
3rd Pokémon
- Dragonite
- Gyarados
- Crobat
Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?
Fire
1st Pokémon
- Vulpix
- Numel
- Litwick
2nd Pokémon
- Quilava
- Magmar
3rd Pokémon
- Ninetales
- Typhlosion
- Camerupt
Isn’t it time you wanted to take a bath in the sea breeze or water?
Water
1st Pokémon
- Psyduck
- Barboach
- Shellder
2nd Pokémon
- Golduk
- Croconaw
3rd Pokémon
- Golduck
- Feraligatr
- Wailord
Don’t tangle with us!
Grass-type
1st Pokémon
- Oddish
- Bellsprout
- Cacnea
2nd Pokémon
- Gloom
- Bayleef
3rd Pokémon
- Meganium
- Cacturne
- Amoongus
Get ready to be shocked!
Electric-type
1st Pokémon
- Magnemite
- Mareep
2nd Pokémon
- Alolan Geodude
- Voltorb
3rd Pokémon
- Zebstrika
- Luxray
- Ampharos
You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks
Ice-type
1st Pokémon
- Alolan Vulpix
- Alolan Sandshrew
- Swinub
2nd Pokémon
- Alolan Ninetales
- Alolan Sandslash
- Snover
3rd Pokémon
- Cloyster
- Lapras
- Abomasnow
This buff physique isn’t just for show!
Fight-type
1st Pokémon
- Hitmonlee
- Hitmonchan
- Hisuian Sneasel
2nd Pokémon
- Hitmonlee
- Hitmonchan
- Hitmontop
3rd Pokémon
- Hitmontop
Coiled and ready to strike!
Poison-type
1st Pokémon
- Grimer
- Foongus
2nd Pokémon
- Nidorina
- Nidorino
3rd Pokémon
- Muk
- Weezing
You’ll be defeated into the ground!
Ground-type
1st Pokémon
- Rhyhorn
- Drilbur
2nd Pokémon
- Rhyhorn
- Hippopotas
3rd Pokémon
- Quagsire
- Hippowdon
Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
Psychic-type
1st Pokémon
- Abra
- Natu
- Spoink
2nd Pokémon
- Girafarig
- Ralts
3rd Pokémon
- Alakazam
- Hypno
- Metang
Go, my super bug Pokémon!
Bug-type
1st Pokémon
- Joltik
- Ledyba
- Pineco
2nd Pokémon
- Weedle
- Kakuna
- Beedrill
3rd Pokémon
- Beedrill
- Forretress
- Scizor
Let’s rock and roll!
Rock-type
1st Pokémon
- Alolan Geodude
- Cranidos
- Shieldon
2nd Pokémon
- Graveler
- Lileep
- Anorith
3rd Pokémon
- Golem
- Alolan Golem
Ke… ke… ke… ke… ke… ke…
Ghost-type
1st Pokémon
- Shuppet
- Duskull
- Gastly
2nd Pokémon
- Banette
- Dusclops
- Golett
3rd Pokémon
- Dusknoir
- Gengar
- Golurk
Roar!… How’d that sound?
Dragon-type
1st Pokémon
- Alolan Exeggutor
- Gible
2nd Pokémon
- Dragonair
- Alolan Exeggutor
3rd Pokémon
- Dragonair
- Dragonite
- Gabite
Wherever there is light, there is also shadow
Dark-type
1st Pokémon
- Alolan Rattata
- Alolan Grimer
2nd Pokémon
- Alolan Raticate
- Alolan Muk
3rd Pokémon
- Alolan Muk
You’re no match for my iron will!
Steel-type
1st Pokémon
- Aron
- Alolan Sandshrew
- Alolan Diglett
2nd Pokémon
- Lairon
- Metang
- Alolan Sandshrew
3rd Pokémon
- Scizor
- Aggron
Check out my cute Pokémon!
Fairy-type
1st Pokémon
- Snubbull
- Ralts
- Mawile
2nd Pokémon
- Snubbull
- Granbull
- Kirlia
3rd Pokémon
- Granbull
- Kirlia
These waters are treacherous (Male)
1st Pokémon
- Magikarp
2nd Pokémon
- Magikarp
3rd Pokémon
- Magikarp
- Gyarados
Don’t bother, I’ve already won, Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners (Male)
1st Pokémon
- Bulbasaur
- Squirtle
- Charmander
2nd Pokémon
- Bayleef
- Quilava
- Croconaw
3rd Pokémon
- Sceptile
- Swampert
- Blaziken
Don’t bother, I’ve already won, Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners (Female)
1st Pokémon
- Snorlax
2nd Pokémon
- Snorlax
- Poliwrath
- Gardevoir
3rd Pokémon
- Gyrados
- Snorlax
- Dragonite
Stay alert, Trainers, and embrace these new challenges with confidence. Team GO Rocket Grunts may be upping their game, but with the right strategy and a keen eye for their catchphrases, you’re more than equipped to secure victory and protect the world of Pokémon GO from their shady schemes.
