How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phrases, best counters, and more | Esports News
Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO remains one of the toughest opponents. Defeating his shadow squad requires careful team preparation. Winning these battles gives you a chance to capture his shadow Pokemon, which can be purified for a CP boost or kept as powerful attackers for raids and PvP.
Below is Leader Arlo’s current lineup, their weaknesses, and the best counters to defeat them.
Pokemon GO Leader Arlo lineup (May 2025)
Arlo has been challenging trainers since 2019 and always starts with Shadow Alolan Grimer, followed by two of six possible options. His current lineup is:
Leader Arlo Phase 1:
– Shadow Alolan Grimer
Phase 2 (one of the following):
– Shadow Slowbro
– Shadow Gyarados
– Shadow Dugtrio
Phase 3 (one of the following):
– Shadow Alolan Muk
– Shadow Scizor
– Shadow Metagross
How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO
To find Arlo, defeat Team Go Rocket Grunts at PokeStops to assemble a Rocket Radar. This will randomly lead you to Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra. Below are the best counters for each of Arlo’s possible Pokemon.
Counter for Phase 1 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO
Arlo always starts with Shadow Alolan Grimer, a Poison/Dark-type.
Weaknesses:
– Ground
Resistances:
– Poison, Ghost, Grass, Dark, Psychic
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot | Precipice Blades |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot | Earth Power |
| Mamoswine | Mud-Slap | High Horsepower |
| Excadrill | Mud-Slap | Scorching Sands |
| Mega Lucario | Force Palm | Aura Sphere |
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap | Earthquake |
Counter for Phase 2 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO
Arlo’s second phase can feature Gyarados, Slowbro, or Dugtrio.
Gyarados counters (Water/Flying)
Weaknesses:
– Electric, Rock
Resistances:
– Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Steel, Water
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Raikou | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock | Discharge |
| Mega Manectric | Thunder Fang | Wild Charge |
| Magnezone | Spark | Wild Charge |
| Rampardos | Smack Down | Rock Slide |
| Rhyperior | Smack Down | Rock Wrecker |
Slowbro counters (Water/Psychic)
Weaknesses:
– Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass
Resistances:
– Fighting, Fire, Ice, Steel, Water, Psychic
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn Wings Necrozma | Shadow Claw | Moongeist Beam |
| Mega Gengar | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball |
| Mega Banette | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball |
| Tyranitar | Bite | Brutal Swing |
| Raikou | Thunder Shock | Wild Charge |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock | Discharge |
Dugtrio counters (Ground)
Weaknesses:
– Grass, Ice, Water
Resistances:
– Poison, Rock, Electric
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter | Frenzy Plant |
| Mega Swampert | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Shaymin (Sky) | Magical Leaf | Grass Knot |
| Mega Blastoise | Water Gun | Hydro Cannon |
| Zarude | Vine Whip | Power Whip |
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall | Origin Pulse |
Counter for Phase 3 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO
Leader Arlo’s final phase can feature Alolan Muk, Scizor, or Metagross.
Alolan muk counters (Poison/Dark)
Weaknesses:
– Ground
Resistances:
– Dark, Ghost, Grass, Poison, Psychic
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot | Precipice Blades |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot | Earth Power |
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap | Earthquake |
| Excadrill | Mud-Slap | Scorching Sands |
| Mamoswine | Mud-Slap | High Horsepower |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot | Earthquake |
Scizor counters (Bug/Steel)
Weaknesses:
– Fire
Resistances:
– Grass, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Steel
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Blaziken | Fire Spin | Blast Burn |
| Mega Charizard Y | Fire Spin | Blast Burn |
| Reshiram | Fire Fang | Fusion Flare |
| Darmanitan | Fire Fang | Overheat |
| Moltres | Fire Spin | Overheat |
| Chandelure | Fire Spin | Overheat |
Metagross counters (Steel/Psychic)
Weaknesses:
– Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground
Resistances:
– Poison, Psychic, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel
Best counters:
| Pokemon | Fast Move | Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
| Dawn Wings Necrozma | Shadow Claw | Moongeist Beam |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot | Precipice Blades |
| Mega Gengar | Shadow Claw | Shadow Ball |
| Mega Blaziken | Fire Spin | Blaze Kick |
| Mega Charizard Y | Fire Spin | Blast Burn |
| Chandelure | Fire Spin | Shadow Ball |
Best team to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May
A strong team to counter Leader Arlo’s lineup includes:
1. Mamoswine (for Alolan Grimer & Alolan Muk)
2. Mega Blaziken (for Scizor & Metagross)
3. Xurkitree (for Gyarados & Slowbro)
If you encounter Dugtrio, replace Xurkitree with Mega Sceptile or Mega Swampert. Since you can rematch Arlo until you win, adjust your team if needed before trying again.
Also read: Pokemon GO Shadow Raid boss schedule (May 2025)
Stay updated for changes after the May 14, 2025 event!
