One of the more formidable Team Go Rocket Leaders in Pokemon Go, Sierra, presents a challenging battle for trainers seeking to prove their skills. So, to make things a little easier, here are all the details regarding her lineup, weaknesses, and the best counters to use in September 2024.
In the world of Pokemon Go, Trainers can grab Mysterious Components by defeating Team Go Rocket Grunts at invaded PokeStops. Once you have six of them, you’ll be able to construct a powerful Rocket Radar, leading you straight to the Team Go Rocket Leaders.
However, unlike the Grunts, who can be taken down with relative ease, the Team Go Rocket Leaders present a far more demanding challenge. There are three in total: Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra, each boasting their own arsenal of unique Pokemon to engage in combat.
This guide is dedicated to taking down Sierra, detailing her current line-up for September 2024, along with invaluable advice on the ideal counters to swiftly secure victory.
Sierra Pokemon Go lineup (September 2024)
Sierra’s lineup changes from time to time. Here is her current lineup in Pokemon Go:
- Phase 1: Shadow Carvanha
- Phase 2: Shadow Sableye/ Shadow Ampharos / Shadow Milotic
- Phase 3: Shadow Houndoom / Shadow Nidoqueen / Shadow Alakazam
Sierra’s line-up changes every time there’s a Team Go Rocket Takeover, like the recent Adventure Week: Taken Over event, which took place from August 8, 2024, up to August 12, 2024.
How to beat Sierra in Pokemon Go
To defeat Sierra in Pokemon Go, you’ll need to utilize a variety of different types to counter her. We’ve featured a mix of stronger Legendaries and more common alternatives, so there should be something here to meet every trainer’s needs, and all of them are solid choices.
Let’s look at the weaknesses of all the Pokemon that Sierra could choose to send out during your battle and which counters should be used to beat her.
Sierra Pokemon Go counters phase 1
Carvanha counters
Carvanha is a Water and Dark-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, and Grass-type attacks. It’s also resistant to Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ice, Steel, Water, and Psychic-type moves, so it’s important to pick your counters mindfully.
Here are some of the best counters to defeat Shadow Carvanha:
| Shadow Carvanha Counters | ||
| Mega Lucario | Force Palm (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Heracross | Counter (Fast Move) & Megahorn (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter (Fast Move) & Frenzy Plant (Charge Move) | |
| Terrakion | Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Gardevoir | Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move) | |
| Conkeldurr | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move) | |
Sierra Pokemon Go counters phase 2
Sableye counters
Sableye is a dual Dark/Ghost-type Pokemon, which means it’s only weak against Fairy-type attacks and is resistant to Poison and immune to Normal, Fighting, and Psychic-type moves.
Here are some of the best Shadow Sableye counters you can use:
| Shadow Sableye Counters | ||
| Mega Gardevoir | Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move) | |
| Xerneas | Geomancy (Fast Move) & Moonblast (Charge Move) | |
| Granbull | Charm (Fast Move) & Play Rough (Charge Move) | |
| Tapu Bulu | Bullet Seed (Fast Move) & Nature’s Madness (Charge Move) | |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move) | |
| Togekiss | Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move) | |
Ampharos counters
Ampharos is an Electric-type Pokemon, which means it’s only weak against Ground-type attacks while being resistant to Electric, Flying, and Steel-type moves.
Here are some great counters to defeat Shadow Ampharos:
| Shadow Ampharos Counters | ||
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earth Power (Charge Move) | |
| Excadrill | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Scorching Sands (Charge Move) | |
| Mamoswine | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & High Horsepower (Charge Move) | |
| Landorus Therian Forme | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Sandsear Storm Charge Move) | |
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Earthquake (Charge Move) | |
Milotic counters
Milotic is a Water-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Electric and Grass-type attacks and resistant to Steel, Fire, Water, and Ice-type moves.
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Here are some of the best Shadow Milotic counters you can use:
| Shadow Milotic Counters | ||
| Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter (Fast Move) & Frenzy Plant (Charge Move) | |
| Kartana | Razor Leaf (Fast Move) & Leaf Blade (Charge Move) | |
| Raikou | Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move) | |
| Xurkitree | Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Discharge (Charge Move) | |
| Electivire | Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move) | |
| Magnezone | Spark (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move) | |
Sierra Pokemon Go counters phase 3
Houndoom counters
Houndoom is a dual Dark/Fire-type which means it’s weak against Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type attacks. It’s resistant to Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Psychic, and Steel-type moves.
These are some of the top counters for Shadow Houndoom:
| Shadow Houndoom Counters | ||
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Origin Pulse (Charge Move) | |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Lucario | Force Palm (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charge Move) | |
| Rampardos | Smack Down (Fast Move) & Rock Slide (Charge Move) | |
| Terrakion | Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charge Move) | |
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Rock Wrecker (Charge Move) | |
Nidoqueen counters
Nidoqueen is a dual Poison/Ground-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water-type attacks, and it’s resistant to Electric, Poison, Bug, Fairy, Fighting, and Rock-type moves.
Here are some of the best counters to defeat Shadow Nidoqueen:
| Shadow Nidoqueen Counters | ||
| Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Psystrike (Charge Move) | |
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Origin Pulse (Charge Move) | |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Swampert | Water Gun (Fast Move) & Hydro Cannon (Charge Move) | |
| Mamoswine | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) | |
| Excadrill | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Scorching Sands (Charge Move) | |
Alakazam counters
Alakazam is a Psychic-type Pokemon, so its weaknesses are Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type attacks, although it’s also resistant against Fighting and Psychic-type moves.
Here are some of the best Shadow Alakazam counters you can use:
| Shadow Alakazam Counters | ||
| Dawn Wings Necrozma | Shadow Claw (Fast Move) & Moongeist Beam (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Tyranitar | Bite (Fast Move) & Brutal Swing (Charge Move) | |
| Mega Gengar | Lick (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move) | |
| Chandelure | Hex (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move) | |
| Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move) | |
| Cursola | Hex (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move) | |
Best team to beat Sierra in Pokemon Go
One of the best teams you can use when battling Sierra in Pokemon Go consists of Xurkitree, Mega Lucario, and Mewtwo. Be aware that this team isn’t going to work in every scenario, so it’s more of a general recommendation that you can shake up as needed.
The most important thing you can have on your team is an Electric-type Pokemon like Xurkitree as it will be a helpful counter to the second phase of Sierra’s battle with Electric and Fairy attacks that can take down Sableye and Milotic.
The addition of Mega Lucario to the team provides a strong cover for the stages involving Houndoom and Carvanha.
Mewtwo is a strong hard-hitter who will be in charge of taking down Nidoqueen and Alakazam, while also being able to stand its ground against Ampharos if required.
Our best advice is to take in your strongest Pokemon so you have a chance of winning through sheer force. Even if you lose, you’ll then know what Sierra’s lineup is so you can plan a better team using the counters in this guide ready for a rematch.
How to beat Team Go Rocket Leaders in Pokemon Go
As well as Sierra, you’ll need to go head to head with the other Team Go Rocket Leaders, so check out our guides to beat Arlo, defeat Cliff, and finally, take down Giovanni.
That’s everything you need to properly defeat Sierra in Pokemon Go. For additional help, make sure to check out the Spotlight Hour schedule and which Pokemon are the current Raid bosses.
