Learn how to defeat Arlo in Pokémon GO during September 2026. This guide includes Arlo’s current Shadow Pokémon lineup, the best counters for every possible opponent, recommended teams, and the rewards for defeating him.
- Current lineup: Shadow Tyrunt, followed by Shadow Slowbro, Golurk, or Steelix, then Shadow Scizor, Alakazam, or Charizard.
- Best general team: Swampert, Yveltal or Hydreigon, and Charizard.
- 🔔 Updated for September 2026: Shadow Tyrunt, which can be Shiny.
- 🔗 Other GO Rocket guides: Giovanni, Sierra, Cliff, GO Rocket Grunt
Arlo’s current Pokémon lineup
Arlo is currently available and uses the following Shadow Pokémon. His first Pokémon is always Tyrunt, while his second and third Pokémon are selected from three possible options.
Slot 1
Best team to defeat Arlo
One of the safest teams against Arlo is:
Swampert is the recommended lead. Mud Shot charges Hydro Cannon quickly, allowing Swampert to remove Arlo’s two shields while dealing with Tyrunt. It can also handle Steelix, Golurk, and Charizard.
Yveltal covers Slowbro, Golurk, and Alakazam. Hydreigon is a strong replacement if you do not have Yveltal. Charizard is included primarily for Scizor, but it can also help against Steelix when Steelix is not using Thunder Fang.
No single team is completely safe against every possible moveset. If you lose the first battle, Arlo keeps the same lineup at that encounter, so you can rematch with a more specific counter.
Battle tip: Team GO Rocket Leaders use shields against your first two Charged Attacks. Start with a Pokémon that reaches inexpensive Charged Attacks quickly. Arlo’s Pokémon also pause briefly after a Charged Attack or switch, giving you a few free Fast Attacks.
Shadow Tyrunt counters
Shadow Tyrunt
Shadow Tyrunt is a Rock and Dragon type. It is weak to Dragon, Fairy, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel type attacks.
Steel Pokémon are particularly reliable because they resist both of Tyrunt’s possible Fast Attacks. Swampert, Cobalion, and Lucario are also useful because they reach Charged Attacks quickly and can remove Arlo’s shields.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Swampert
|
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
Cobalion
|
Double Kick, Sacred Sword |
Lucario
|
Force Palm, Power-Up Punch |
Melmetal
|
Thunder Shock, Double Iron Bash |
Metagross
|
Bullet Punch, Meteor Mash |
Dusk Mane Necrozma
|
Metal Claw, Sunsteel Strike |
Shadow Slowbro counters
Shadow Slowbro
Shadow Slowbro is a Water and Psychic type. It is weak to Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, and Grass type attacks. Dark Pokémon work well here and can also cover Golurk and Alakazam elsewhere in Arlo’s lineup.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Yveltal
|
Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse |
Hydreigon
|
Bite, Brutal Swing |
Darkrai
|
Snarl, Dark Pulse |
Zarude
|
Vine Whip, Power Whip |
Origin Giratina
|
Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball |
Magnezone
|
Volt Switch, Wild Charge |
Shadow Golurk counters
Shadow Golurk
Shadow Golurk is a Ground and Ghost type. It is weak to Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Water type attacks. Flying Pokémon such as Yveltal and Gyarados are useful because they resist Golurk’s Ground-type attacks.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Yveltal
|
Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse |
Gyarados
|
Waterfall, Aqua Tail |
Greninja
|
Water Shuriken, Hydro Cannon |
|
Hydreigon
|
Bite, Brutal Swing |
|
Zarude
|
Vine Whip, Power Whip |
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Surf |
Shadow Steelix counters
Shadow Steelix
Shadow Steelix is a Steel and Ground type. It is weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Water type attacks. Swampert is the safest general option because it charges Hydro Cannon quickly and can also cover Golurk or Charizard.
Charizard is effective against Steelix and Scizor, but it can take heavy damage if Steelix is using Thunder Fang.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Swampert
|
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
Groudon
|
Mud Shot, Precipice Blades |
|
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Surf |
Excadrill
|
Mud Shot, Drill Run |
Charizard
|
Fire Spin, Dragon Claw, Blast Burn |
Blaziken
|
Counter, Blaze Kick |
Shadow Scizor counters
Shadow Scizor
Shadow Scizor is a Bug and Steel type with a double weakness to Fire. A strong Fire-type Pokémon should defeat it quickly.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Charizard
|
Fire Spin, Dragon Claw, Blast Burn |
Talonflame
|
Incinerate, Flame Charge |
|
Blaziken
|
Fire Spin, Blaze Kick |
Heatran
|
Fire Spin, Magma Storm |
Reshiram
|
Fire Fang, Fusion Flare |
Incineroar
|
Fire Fang, Blast Burn |
Shadow Alakazam counters
Shadow Alakazam
Shadow Alakazam is a Psychic type. It is weak to Bug, Dark, and Ghost type attacks. Dark Pokémon resist Psychic-type damage, but Alakazam may carry Focus Blast, so keep a shield available if possible.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Yveltal
|
Sucker Punch, Dark Pulse |
Tyranitar
|
Bite, Brutal Swing |
|
Hydreigon
|
Bite, Brutal Swing |
|
Origin Giratina
|
Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball |
Gholdengo
|
Hex, Shadow Ball |
|
Scizor
|
Fury Cutter, X-Scissor |
Shadow Charizard counters
Shadow Charizard
Shadow Charizard is a Fire and type. It has a double weakness to Rock attacks and is also weak to Electric and Water. Rock-type Pokémon are the fastest answer, while Swampert offers more coverage across Arlo’s complete lineup.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Rhyperior
|
Smack Down, Rock Wrecker |
|
Tyranitar
|
Smack Down, Stone Edge |
Gigalith
|
Smack Down, Meteor Beam |
|
Swampert
|
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
|
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Surf |
|
Melmetal
|
Thunder Shock, Rock Slide |
How to find and battle Arlo
Defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect six Mysterious Components and assemble a Rocket Radar. Equip the Radar to find Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra at invaded PokéStops and in Team GO Rocket balloons.
The Radar does not guarantee Arlo, so you may need to check several Leader encounters. You can leave an unwanted encounter without consuming the Radar and continue searching.
If you lose, you can challenge the same Arlo encounter again with a different team. Your Rocket Radar is only consumed after you win.
Rewards for defeating Arlo
Defeating Arlo gives you the following rewards:
- 1,000 Stardust
- Three Shadow Shards
- An encounter with Shadow Tyrunt, with a chance for it to be Shiny
- Two random item bundles
- One 12 km Strange Egg if you have enough space in your Egg inventory, Pokémon Storage, and Item Bag
The Strange Egg is awarded separately from the two random item bundles. Make sure you have the required storage space before starting the battle.
Possible item bundles
-
4×
Revive
-
2×
Max Revive
-
4×
Hyper Potion
-
2×
Max Potion
-
1×
Unova Stone
Shadow Tyrunt’s Shiny rate is not officially published. Community research generally estimates the Shiny rate for eligible Team GO Rocket Leader encounters at approximately 1 in 64.
