Pokémon GO Grunts Counters and Lineups (June 2023)

Go, my super bug Pokémon!

Team GO Rocket Grunts using this taunt use mostly Bug type Pokémon, which are weak to Fire and Flying-type attackers.

Best counter: Fire types and Flying types

Charizard / Moltres with Fire type moves resists most moves from all Pokémon and deal 2x  Super Effective Damage to Scizor and Forretress. Bug types are easily defeated by Fire and Flying types, but Fire types have the advantage against Bug/Steel Pokémon.

Shuckle is the tricky Pokémon in this line up because of their dual typing of Bug and Rock, so make sure you have something that can take them down easily too, like Kyogre or Rampardos.

Catchable in this encounter is Shadow Skorupi, Shuckle, Joltik, Beedrill, Weedle and Kakuna.

Coiled and ready to strike!

Rocket Grunts using this taunt use Poison type Pokémon, which are weak to Ground and Psychic-type moves.

Best counters: Mud-Slap Rhyperior / Mamoswine / Excadrill / Groudon / Dragon Tail Garchomp 

Our recommended strategy for this Grunt encounter is to use Ground and Psychic type attackers. Foongus isn’t weak to Ground, but shouldn’t give you any issues regardless – it doesn’t have Grass-type fast moves. Pokémon like Garchomp, Landorus, Rhyperior, Excadrill and Groudon will make light work of this fight.

Catchable Pokémon in this encounter: Shadow Foongus and Grimer.

Normal doesn’t mean weak.

Grunts that use this taunt line will primarily use Normal type Pokémon from Teddiursa, Bidoof, Patrat, Rattata and Whismur family lines. All are weak to Fighting types.

Best counters: Machamp, Breloom, and Power-Up Punch Lucario

Recommended Pokémon for this encounter are Machamp (or your strongest Counter user), Lucario and Breloom. All of these Pokémon take super-effective damage from Fighting moves, so you will only need your best fighting types here.

Catchable Pokémon in this encounter: Shadow Pidove, Whismur, Patrat and Loudred.

ROAR! … How’d that sound?

Grunts using this taunt have Dragon type Pokémon in their lineup, featuring Dratini, Alola Exeggutor, and Flygon. The best Pokémon to use against this Dragon-type Grunt are Mamoswine, Glaceon, Walrein, Gardevoir, and Togekiss.

Catchable Pokémon: Shadow Dratini and Alolan Exeggutor.

These waters are treacherous

GO Rocket Grunts using this taunt use Water type Pokémon. In this line-up, there are no Water/Ground types so you are free to bring your Electric types. We suggest using Grass or Electric type counters like Alolan Exeggutor, Sceptile, Venusaur, Roserade, Raikou, Magnezone, Electivire or Zapdos.

Female Grunt

The following encounters are from the female grunt encounter.

Male grunt

The following encounters are from the male grunt encounter.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Mudkip, Psyduck, Wailmer, and Magikarp.

Don’t tangle with us!

Grunts that boast this taunt use Grass type Pokémon from a wide variety of Grass Pokémon families. This encounter is easily defeated if you have Moltres, Charizard, Entei, Talonflame, or even a Heatran. Fire types are your best option, with Fire and Flying being the best.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Treecko, Oddish, and Cacturne.

Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!

Grunts using this taunt use primarily Flying type Pokémon.  That includes Zubat, Natu, and Ducklett, but also Dragonite and Gyarados, which are both Flying-types. You best counter options are Rock and Electric-type Pokémon like Smack Down Tyranitar, Rhyperior, Magnezone, Raikou.

Note: Gyarados can do a lot of damage to Rock types, so you June want to bring a solid Electric type like Xurkitree or Electivire to make sure you are covered.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Natu, Ducklett, and Zubat.

Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?

Grunts using this taunt will use Fire type Pokémon. Bring your best Rock, Ground, and Water types. It’s advised to use Water types like Kyogre or Swampert, Rock types like Smack Down Tyranitar, and Ground types like Garchomp and Rhyperior. All of them resist Fire type attacks.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Torchic, Numel, and Vulpix.

You’ll be defeated into the ground!

Team GO Rocket Grunts using this taunt use Ground type Pokémon, which are weak to Grass and Water-type attacks. We recommend using Pokémon like Kyogre, Swampert, and Torterra to defeat the Ground-type Grunt.

Catchable in this encounter are: Shadow Hippopotas and Phanpy.

Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?

Grunts using this taunt use Psychic type Pokémon, which are weak to Dark and Ghost-type attacks. Origin Forme Giratina, Tyranitar, Gengar, and Hydreigon are great at defeating the Psychic-type Grunt’s entire roster.

Catchable in this encounter: Natu, Spoink, Abra, Girafarig, and Ralts.

Let’s rock and roll!

Catchable in this encounter are Shadow Onix, Graveler, Lileep and Anorith.

Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke…ke!

Grunts using this taunt will use Pokémon with Ghost typing. Ghost-type Pokémon are weak to Ghost and Dark types. Best Pokémon to counter Ghost Grunt are strong Dark type Pokémon like Darkrai, Weavile, Hydreigon, Tyranitar, and Yveltal.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Shuppet, Drifloon and Duskull.

This buff physique isn’t just for show!

Grunts using this taunt use Fighting type Pokémon. Grunts using this taunt will use strong fighters like Hitmonchan and hard hitting Hariyama. Make it easier by using Psychic, Fairy and Flying type Pokémon.

Counters: Alakazam, Gardevoir, and Mewtwo.

We have listed the best Psychic types because they are most likely to be powered up, but you can bring your best of any of the 3 types listed above. All of them resist Fighting type attacks.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Makuhita, Hitmonchan, or Hitmonlee.

You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.

Grunts using this taunt use Ice type Pokémon. Easily defeated by using Fighting or Rock type attacks. Lapras can be trickier for your Rock types. You can bring an Electric type in the back just in case.

Counters: Strong fighters and Fire or Electric friends.

Fire types are extremely good against the Snover family line and Arcanine features Wild Charge which could prove useful against Lapras. This encounter could prove tricky, so bring a variety to deal with your possible options.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Swinub, Shadow Alolan Vulpix, and Shadow Alolan Sandshrew.

Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.

Grunts using this taunt use Dark type Pokémon. Dark-types are weak to Fighting and Fairy type moves. Best counters for Dark-type Grunts are Sylveon, Gardevoir, Togekiss, Machamp, and Lucario. You can also bring strong Bug types to deal double damage to the Dark and Grass types.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Alolan Grimer and Shadow Rattata.

Get ready to be shocked!

Grunts using this taunt use Electric type Pokémon, and feature a mix of different Electric-type Pokémon families. We recommend countering the Electric-type Grunt with Garchomp (3x resistance to Electric attacks makes it a solo cakewalk) or other strong Ground-types.

Catchable in this encounter: Shadow Shinx, Mareep, Blitzle, Electabuzz and Voltorb.

Don’t bother – I’ve already won. 
Get ready to be defeated!
Winning is for winners!

Female Grunts using any of these taunts use a difficult lineup that starts with Snorlax. Male Grunts using these taunts use different stages of Starter Pokémon from Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn region.

Counters: Machamp,  Lucario, Metagross, Magnezone, Electivire

Snorlax is always tough and Fighting types like Machamp or Lucario are the way to go. Bring a Metagross to deal with Gardevoir which is also solid for Snorlax.

Having an Electric type like Magnezone or Electivire (with added Ice Punch) can also help you arrest the incoming Dragonite or Gyarados in the last slot.

This is definitely the most tricky of all the grunts, so be prepared!

Catchable at the end of this encounter: Shadow Snorlax (female grunt), and Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur (male grunt).

Check out my cute Pokémon!

Grunts using this taunt use Fairy type Pokémon, which are weak to Poison and Steel-type attacks. The only difference is Mawile, which is weak to Fire-type moves.

Counters: Steel, Poison, and Fire type attackers

To deal with Snubbull and Ralts families, take your best Poison and Steel types. Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash, Roserade with poison moves, or Dialga with Steel moves will all make light work of this encounter.

This can be one of the harder grunts to deal with, so make sure you have the correct movesets for your counters, and be prepared to power some up.

Catchable at the end of this encounter: Shadow Snubbull, Mawile, Ralts, and Kirlia.

You’re no match for my iron will!

Grunts using this taunt use Steel type Pokémon. With only Steel-type families to deal with, take your best Fire and Ground types. Charizard, Moltres, Entei, Blaziken, Swampert, Rhyperior, and the rest of the familiar meta-relevant squad are your go-to counters for the Steel Grunt.

Counters: Strong Fire and Ground types

Catchable at the end of this encounter: Shadow Alolan Sandshrew, Aron, Alolan Diglett.