Pokémon GO Sierra Lineup and Counters (October 2026)

Learn how to defeat Rocket Leader Sierra and which Pokémon they have during October 2026 in Pokémon GO. Includes Sierra’s current Pokémon lineup, best counters to use, and rewards for defeating Sierra.

• 🔔 Fully updated with the start of Harvest Festival: Taken Over
• 🔗 Other GO Rocket guides: Giovanni, Arlo, Cliff, GO Rocket Grunt

Sierra’s Pokémon Line-up

Sierra is one of the Team GO Rocket Leaders in Pokémon GO, alongside Arlo, Cliff, and Giovanni. Rocket Leader Sierra is currently using the following Shadow Pokémon:

Best Pokémon to defeat Sierra

Here are some of the best Pokémon you can use against Sierra in Pokémon GO:

• A strong Fairy type like Togekiss is good for Pancham and Flygon. Peck and Aura Sphere let it work through Sierra’s shields, while Dazzling Gleam hits Flygon hard. Aura Sphere also gives it coverage against Ferrothorn, Houndoom, and Steelix.
• Primarina is another excellent option for Pancham and Flygon with Charm and Disarming Voice. Add Hydro Cannon and it can also help against Houndoom and Steelix.
• Magnezone with Volt Switch and Wild Charge takes care of the two Water types, Blastoise and Milotic. Save it for those matchups, as Flygon and Steelix resist its Electric moves.
• Lucario does a lot of work here, hitting Ferrothorn, Houndoom, and Steelix super effectively with Force Palm and Aura Sphere. Watch out for Houndoom’s Fire moves, though!
• Charizard makes short work of Ferrothorn thanks to its double weakness to Fire. Fire Spin and Blast Burn also give it a strong matchup against Steelix.

A good team to start with is Togekiss, Lucario, and Magnezone. Lead with Togekiss for Pancham and keep it for Flygon if needed. Lucario covers Ferrothorn, Houndoom, and Steelix, while Magnezone handles Blastoise and Milotic.

Shadow Pancham Counters

Shadow Pancham

Pancham is a pure Fighting-type Pokémon with weaknesses to Fairy, Flying, and Psychic.

You should always start with a strong Pokémon that can burn Sierra’s shields fast, while still having utility after rotation. Spam charge moves and burn shields whenever possible. Here is our recommendation:

Shadow Pancham Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Togekiss	Peck, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere*
Primarina	Charm, Disarming Voice, Hydro Cannon*
Rayquaza	Air Slash, Dragon Ascent
Moltres	Wing Attack, Fly
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut, Psystrike*
Alakazam	Psycho Cut, Psychic*

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Ferrothorn counters

Shadow Ferrothorn

Shadow Ferrothorn is a Grass/Steel-type Pokémon. It is double weak to Fire and also weak to Fighting. Ground-type moves deal neutral damage here, but Fire and Fighting moves are stronger choices.

Shadow Ferrothorn Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Groudon	Mud Shot, Fire Punch*
Terrakion	Double Kick, Sacred Sword*
Charizard	Fire Spin, Blast Burn*
Blacephalon	Incinerate, Mind Blown*
Lucario	Force Palm*, Aura Sphere
Blaziken	Fire Spin, Blaze Kick

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Flygon counters

Shadow Flygon

Shadow Flygon is a Ground/Dragon-type Pokémon. It is double weak to Ice, while also being weak to Dragon and Fairy type moves.

Shadow Flygon Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Togekiss	Peck, Dazzling Gleam, Aura Sphere*
Mamoswine	Powder Snow, Icicle Spear
Walrein	Powder Snow*, Icicle Spear*
Weavile	Ice Shard, Triple Axel
Gardevoir	Charm, Triple Axel
Garchomp	Dragon Tail, Breaking Swipe

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Blastoise counters

Shadow Blastoise

Shadow Blastoise is a Water-type which means it is weak to Grass and Electric type moves. It takes reduced damage from Fire, Ice, Steel and Water type moves.

Shadow Blastoise Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Magnezone	Volt Switch, Wild Charge
Electivire	Thunder Shock, Wild Charge
Kartana	Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade
Therian Shadow Thundurus	Volt Switch, Wildbolt Storm*
Decidueye	Magical Leaf, Frenzy Plant*
Xurkitree	Thunder Shock, Discharge
Regieleki	Lock-On, Thunder Cage*
Zekrom	Charge Beam, Fusion Bolt*

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Steelix counters

Shadow Steelix

Steelix is a Steel/Ground-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fighting, Fire, Ground, and Water type attacks. Choose your counters wisely, otherwise this fight can go wrong!

Shadow Steelix Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Lucario	Force Palm*, Aura Sphere
Groudon	Mud Shot, Precipice Blades*
Charizard	Fire Spin, Blast Burn*
Blacephalon	Incinerate, Mind Blown*
Excadrill	Mud-Slap, Scorching Sands
Kyogre	Waterfall, Origin Pulse*

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Houndoom counters

Shadow Houndoom

Houndoom is a Dark and Fire-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water type moves. It takes reduced damage from Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Steel, and Psychic-type moves.

Houndoom Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Lucario	Force Palm*, Aura Sphere
Blaziken	Counter, Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr	Counter, Dynamic Punch
Kyogre	Waterfall, Origin Pulse*
Rhyperior	Mud-Slap, Rock Wrecker*
Terrakion	Double Kick, Sacred Sword*
Primarina	Waterfall, Hydro Cannon*

* Represents Legacy Moves

Shadow Milotic counters

Shadow Milotic

Shadow Milotic is a Water-type Pokémon which means it is weak to Grass and Electric type moves. It takes reduced damage from Fire, Ice, Steel and Water type moves.

Milotic Counters

Pokémon	Moves
Electivire	Thunder Shock, Wild Charge
Decidueye	Magical Leaf, Frenzy Plant*
Rillaboom	Razor Leaf, Frenzy Plant*
Magnezone	Volt Switch, Wild Charge
Xurkitree	Thunder Shock, Discharge
Regieleki	Lock-On, Thunder Cage*
Zekrom	Charge Beam, Fusion Bolt*

* Represents Legacy Moves

How to battle Sierra in Pokémon GO?

To fight with Sierra in Pokémon GO, you need to first defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect enough Mysterious Components to build a Rocket Radar.

Activate the Rocket Radar and you will be able to see the location of a Rocket Leader. The game will not tell you which Leader you are facing, but you have a 33% chance for it to be Sierra.

Fighting Sierra is more difficult than fighting Grunts, as Leaders use higher level Pokémon than Grunts. In order to defeat Sierra, we consider using good counters mandatory.

You can rematch if you lose, and your Rocket Radar will be consumed if you win.

Rewards for defeating Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra

Trainers who manage to defeat Sierra – or any other Team GO Rocket Leader – will get a selection of rare rewards, including the chance to get a Team GO Rocket exclusive 12 km Strange Egg.

• Trainers receive 1,000 Stardust when defeating a Rocket Leader.
• Trainers will receive two of the item bundles listed below when they defeat a Team GO Rocket Leader like Sierra.
• Trainers have the opportunity to catch a Shadow Pokémon used by the Leader. It is always the first Pokémon used by the Leader.
• Shadow Pokémon from Rocket Leaders have a shiny chance of 1 in 64, if they are shiny eligible at the moment of defeating the Leader

Reward mechanics

Defeating one of the Team GO Rocket Leader trio earns you two item bundles. If at least one of your Egg inventory slots is open, a 12km Strange Egg is guaranteed to replace one of those two bundles.

Receiving a Strange Egg does not have an effect on which item bundle drops alongside the egg.

A Strange Egg can be deposited into your regular egg storage, or in the extra egg space if you already have 9 eggs.

Guaranteed

1000× Stardust

Random drop of two of these

As an example, a typical reward drop might contain 4 Revives and 4 Hyper Potions. Similarly, a reward drop might contain 1 Strange Egg and 2 Max Revives, or 1 Unova Stone and 1 Strange Egg.