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Pokemon GO Team Rocket Grunt guide (April 2025): Lineups, taunts, and best counters

Pokemon GO Team Rocket Grunt guide (April 2025): Lineups, taunts, and best counters

Raunak Bose / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 3, 2025, 13:36 IST

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Team GO Rocket Grunts are still a challenge in Pokemon GO as of April 2025. Players need to use specific Pokemon to counter Grunts effectively. Defeating them provides Shadow Pokemon and Mysterious Components for battling Rocket Leaders like Arlo, Cliff, Giovanni, and Sierra. Knowing Grunt taunts and their Pokemon lineups is essential for victory.

Pokemon GO Team Rocket Grunt guide (April 2025): Lineups, taunts, and best counters

Pokemon GO Team Rocket grunts lineup, chants, and weaknesses (Image via Niantic).

Team GO Rocket Grunts have been disrupting Pokemon GO since 2019, and in April 2025, they’re still going strong. While they may be the lowest on the Rocket hierarchy, these encounters shouldn’t be taken lightly. Each Grunt brings a unique lineup of Pokemon based on their taunts — and knowing the right counters is crucial if you want to win easily and stock up on Shadow Pokemon.
Defeating Grunts also rewards Mysterious Components, which you’ll need to challenge Team Rocket Leaders like Arlo, Cliff, Giovanni, and Sierra. Here’s a full breakdown of every Rocket Grunt you can encounter this month, along with their taunts, Pokemon lineups, and the best counters to use.
(Note: Pokemon marked with * can be shiny if you are lucky)

Why it’s important to defeat Rocket Grunts in Pokemon GO

- Earn Mysterious Components to build a Rocket Radar
- Encounter and purify Shadow Pokemon
- Progress toward research tasks and medals
- Prepare for tougher battles against Rocket Leaders and Giovanni

All Team GO Rocket Grunt taunts, lineups, and counters in Pokemon GO (April 2025)

Each Grunt opens with a taunt that hints at their team’s type. Here’s a detailed breakdown of every taunt and how to counter them effectively.

1. Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?

Type: Psychic
Best counters: Tyranitar, Weavile, Houndoom, Haunter (Ghost, Dark, Bug)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Gothita	Gothorita	Gallade
Solosis	Duosion	Reuniclus
Wobbuffet	-	Metagross

2. Battle against my Flying-type Pokemon!

Type: Flying
Best counters: Tyranitar, Electivire, Abomasnow (Rock, Electric, Ice)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Pidgey	Gligar*	Dragonite
Taillow	Swellow	Pidgeot
Zubat*	Zubat*	Archeops

3. Check out my cute Pokemon!

Type: Fairy
Best counters: Metagross, Gengar, Victreebel, Roserade (Poison, Steel)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Snubull	Snubull	Granbull
Mawile*	Granbull	Gardevoir
Alolan Vulpix	Kirlia	Alolan Ninetales

4. Coiled and ready to strike!

Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket grunt (Image via Niantic)

Type: Poison
Best counters: Mewtwo, Espeon, Groudon, Tyranitar (Psychic, Ground)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Snubull	Snubull	Granbull
Mawile*	Granbull	Gardevoir
Alolan Vulpix	Kirlia	Alolan Ninetales

5. Don’t tangle with us!

Type: Grass
Best counters: Charizard, Moltres, Pyroar, Entei (Fire). Flying, Ice, Bug also effective.

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Snivy	Servine	Serperior
Hoppip	Ferrothorn	Cacturne
Snover	Lileep*	Vileplume

6. Do you know how hot Pokemon fire breath can get?

Type: Fire
Best counters: Blastoise, Rhydon, Vaporeon, Tyranitar (Water, Rock, Ground)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Tepig	Pignite	Emboar
Vulpix	-	Houndoom
Darumaka	-	Darmanitan

7. Get ready to be shocked!

Type: Electric
Best counters: Rhyperior, Groudon, Golem, Hippowdon (Ground)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Joltik	Alolan Geodude	Ampharos
Blitzle	Voltorb	Luxray
Magnemite*	Electabuzz	Galvantula

8. Go, my super bug Pokemon!

Type: Bug
Best counters: Moltres, Pyroar, Charizard (Fire). Flying and Rock are backups.

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Scyther*	Anorith*	Forretress
Caterpie	Karrablast	Scizor
Venipede	Shelmet	Beedrill

9. Ke… ke… ke… ke…

Type: Ghost
Best counters: Gengar, Darkrai, Weavile, Haunter (Dark, Ghost)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Gastly	Haunter	Gengar
Golett	Dusclops	Froslass
Duskull	Sableye*	Alolan Marowak

10. Let’s rock and roll!

Type: Rock
Best counters: Machamp, Gyarados, Venusaur (Fighting, Water, Grass)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Archen	Cranidos	Archeops
Tirtouga	Shieldon	Carracosta
Roggenrola	Tirtouga	Golem

11. Normal doesn’t mean weak

Type: Normal
Best counters: Machamp, Conkeldurr, Sirfetch’d (Fighting)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Stantler*	Rattata	Raticate
Bidoof	Meowth*	Ursaring
Bunnelby	Diggersby	Exploud

12. ROAR! … How’d that sound?

Type: Dragon
Best counters: Weavile, Glaceon, Sylveon (Ice, Fairy)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Gible	Gabite	Salamence
Dratini*	Dragonair	Dragonite
Bagon*	Alolan Exeggutor	Garchomp

13. These waters are treacherous (female)

Type: Water
Best counters: Sceptile, Magnezone, Raikou, Leafeon (Grass, Electric)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Oshawott	Dewott	Samurott
Horsea	Seadra	Carracosta
Barboach	Cloyster	Whiscash

14. These waters are treacherous (male)

Type: Water
Best counters: Raikou, Electivire (Electric)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Magikarp	Magikarp	Magikarp or Gyarados

15. This buff physique isn’t just for show!

Type: Fighting
Best counters: Alakazam, Gardevoir, Togekiss (Psychic, Flying, Fairy)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Mankey	Hitmonchan	Infernape
Machop*	Hitmonlee	Toxicroak
Timburr	Gurdurr	Conkeldurr

16. You’ll be defeated into the ground!

Type: Ground
Best counters: Mamoswine, Weavile, Gyarados (Water, Ice, Grass)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Drilbur	Vibrava	Whiscash
Wooper	Donphan	Flygon
Rhyhorn	Rhyhorn	Torterra

17. You’re no match for my iron will!

Pokemon GO Team Rocket leaders (Image via Niantic)

Type: Steel
Best counters: Groudon, Charizard (Ground, Fire)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Alolan Diglett	Skarmory	Scizor
Alolan Sandshrew	Lairon	Aggron
Ferroseed	Metang	Alolan Sandslash

18. You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks

Type: Ice
Best counters: Aggron, Machamp, Tyranitar (Fighting, Rock, Fire)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Alolan Sandshrew	Alolan Ninetales	Glalie
Spheal	Froslass	Froslass
Sneasel*	Sealeo	Abomasnow

19. Wherever there is light, there is also shadow

Type: Dark
Best counters: Sylveon, Gardevoir, Togekiss (Fairy)

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Alolan Rattata	Alolan Muk	Alolan Muk
Cacnea*	Alolan Raticate	Skuntank
Stunky	-	-

20. Random mix (female): Don’t bother, I’ve already won / Get ready to be defeated!

Best counters: Machamp, Abomasnow, Raikou

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Snorlax	Snorlax	Snorlax
Poliwrath	Gyarados	-
Gardevoir	Dragonite	-

21. Random mix (male): Don’t bother, I’ve already won / Get ready to be defeated!

Best counters: Grass, Fire, and Water-type team

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Snivy	Servine	Serperior
Tepig	Pignite	Emboar
Oshawott	Dewott	Samurott

Also read: How to catch Ditto in Pokemon GO? All new disguises in April 2025

22. Fooled ya, twerp (decoy female)

Note: This is a decoy with no consistent type theme.

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Bellsprout*	Raticate	Raticate
Weepinbell	-	Snorlax

Learning each Rocket Grunt’s taunt and preparing your counters accordingly is the easiest way to breeze through battles and farm Shadow Pokemon. With the right team and a little pattern recognition, you can take down Grunts quickly and move on to the bigger threats.

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About the Author

Raunak Bose

As a passionate WWE content writer, Raunak craft engaging narratives that bring the thrilling world of wrestling to life, capturing the drama, excitement, and heroism of the ring. His work fuels the imagination of WWE fans, making every match and storyline unforgettable.

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