In Pokémon GO, the Rocket bosses Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra are now fighting with new Pokémon. Accordingly, they are bringing 3 new Crypto-Pokémon that can be shiny.
What has changed? So far, the Rocket bosses composed their battle teams from a pool of 7 different Pokémon. This team has been completely changed. Each of the 3 bosses now has new Pokémon to battle against you.
This means you will need to take completely different counters to face Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra.
These battle teams are used by the bosses now
This is how Arlo fights: While Arlo previously always had Scyther as his first Pokémon, he now consistently uses Bagon first. Then he chooses again from 3 Pokémon. His team looks as follows:
| 1. Pokémon | 2. Pokémon | 3. Pokémon |
| Bagon | Steelix | Scizor |
| Charizard | Salamence | |
| Blastoise | Dragonite |
Arlo primarily brings a team of Dragon Pokémon. You can mainly counter them with Ice or Dragon types. The fight against Scizor is already known from him, as he has previously also battled with Scizor.
After the battle, you may encounter a shiny Crypto-Bagon.
This is how Sierra fights: Until now, Sierra had a Sneasel as her first Pokémon. This has also changed, as she now fights with Absol. Her complete team looks as follows:
| 1. Pokémon | 2. Pokémon | 3. Pokémon |
| Absol | Alakazam | Houndoom |
| Lapras | Masquerain | |
| Shuckle | Gallade |
The fight against Lapras, Alakazam, and Houndoom is already known from Sierra. She had these Pokémon in her team before as well. Fighting Pokémon are effective against many of these Pokémon. However, it is also the hour for Bug Pokémon. Scizor or Pinsir have quick charge attacks and are, for example, doubly effective against Masquerain and Shuckle.
After the battle, you have a chance to catch a shiny Crypto-Absol.
This is how Cliff fights: The Rocket boss previously had a Meowth as his first Pokémon. This time he fights first with a Stantler. His team is as follows:
| 1. Pokémon | 2. Pokémon | 3. Pokémon |
| Stantler | Electivire | Swampert |
| Onix | Empoleon | |
| Marowak | Tyranitar |
Empoleon is already known from the fight against Cliff. However, all other Pokémon are new. You can still use Lucario against Stantler. Fighting is effective against this Pokémon.
In the end, with a bit of luck, you can encounter a shiny Crypto-Stantler.
When will the exact counters be available? After the Christmas holidays, we will inform you in detail about the effective counters. Until then, you can try it without assistance and perhaps master it on your own.
The Christmas event in Pokémon GO is currently ongoing. We will show you the quests and spawns:
