Pokemon Go Sierra counters January 2024: Best Pokemon to use & weaknesses

One of the 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 January 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 lineup for January 2024, along with invaluable advice on the ideal counters to swiftly secure victory.

Update: Pokemon Go recently revealed a new event called Taken Treasures will go live on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 12:00 AM local time, until Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 11:59 PM local time. The event will feature plenty of Shadow Pokemon, so we can expect some changes in Sierra’s lineup. We will update this guide once they are confirmed.

Contents

Artwork of the Pokemon Team Go Rocket Leaders, Cliff, Arlo, and Sierra
Niantic

Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo make up the Team Go Rocket Leaders alongside Giovanni.

Sierra Pokemon Go counters & lineup (January 2024)

Sierra’s lineup changed as part of the Team Go Rocket Takeover event that launched in October 2023. Here is her current lineup in Pokemon Go:

  • Phase 1: Sableye
  • Phase 2: Gardevoir / Skarmory / Muk
  • Phase 3: Gyarados / Houndoom / Victreebel

Sierra’s lineup changes every time there’s a Team Go Rocket Takeover. We don’t know when the next one will occur, but we’ll update this page as soon as it happens.

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 take a look at the weaknesses of all the different 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

Sableye, Sierra's Phase 1 lineup in Pokemon Go
The Pokemon Company / Niantic

Sierra will always start with Sableye in Phase 1.

Sableye counters

Sableye is a dual Dark/Ghost-type Pokemon, which means it’s only weak to Fairy-type attacks. It’s also resistant to Normal, Psychic, Fighting, and Poison-type moves, so we must be very careful with our pick.

Here are some of the best counters to defeat Sableye:

Sableye Counters
Togekiss Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move)
Sylveon Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move)
Primarina Charm (Fast Move) & Moonblast (Charge Move)
Gardevoir Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move)
Granbull Charm (Fast Move) & Play Rough (Charge Move)
Galarian Rapidash Fairy Wind (Fast Move) & Play Rough (Charge Move)

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Sierra Pokemon Go phase 2

Sierra can send out Gardevoir, Skarmory, or Muk in Phase 2.

Skarmory in the Flying Cup

Gardevoir counters

Gardevoir is a dual Psychic/Fairy-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Ghost, Poison, and Steel-type attacks and resistant to Dragon, Fighting, and Psychic-type attacks.

Here are some of the best Gardevoir counters you can use:

Gardevoir Counters
Nihilego Poison Jab (Fast Move) & Sludge Bomb (Charge Move)
Chandelure Hex (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move)
Gengar Hex (Fast Move) & Shadow Ball (Charge Move)
Roserade Poison Jab (Fast Move) & Sludge Bomb (Charge Move)
Metagross Bullet Punch (Fast Move) & Meteor Mash (Charge Move)
Excadrill Metal Claw (Fast Move) & Iron Head (Charge Move)

Skarmory counters

Skarmory is a dual Steel/Flying-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Electric and Fire-type attacks and resistant to Bug, Grass, Poison, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Ground, Normal, Psychic, and Steel-type moves. So, almost everything.

Here are some of the best Skarmory counters you can use:

Skarmory Counters
Heatran Fire Spin (Fast Move) & Magma Storm (Charge Move)
Reshiram Fire Fang (Fast Move) & Fusion Flare (Charge Move)
Blaziken Fire Spin (Fast Move) & Blast Burn (Charge Move)
Darmanitan Fire Fang (Fast Move) & Overheat (Charge Move)
Electivire Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move)
Magnezone Spark (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move)

Muk counters

Muk is a Poison-type Pokemon, which means its only weaknesses are Ground and Psychic-type attacks and it’s resistant to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, and Poison-type attacks.

Here are some great counters to defeat Muk:

Muk Counters
Mewtwo Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Psystrike (Charge Move)
Alakazam Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charge Move)
Metagross Zen Headbutt (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charge Move)
Garchomp Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earth Power (Charge Move)
Groudon Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charge Move)
Excadrill Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Drill Run (Charge Move)

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Sierra Pokemon Go phase 3

Sierra can send out Gyarados, Houndoom, or Victreebel in Phase 3.

Gyarados in Pokemon Go

Gyarados counters

Gyarados is a Water/Flying-type Pokemon, so its major weakness is Electric-type moves, although it’s also vulnerable against Rock-type attacks.

Here are some of the best Gyarados counters you can use:

Gyarados Counters
Zekrom Charge Beam (Fast Move) & Fusion Bolt (Charge Move)
Electivire Thunder Shock (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move)
Magnezone Charge Beam (Fast Move) & Wild Charge (Charge Move)
Rhyperior Smack Down (Fast Move) & Rock Wrecker (Charge Move)
Rampardos Smack Down (Fast Move) & Rock Slide (Charge Move)
Tyranitar Smack Down (Fast Move) & Stone Edge (Charge Move)

Houndoom counters

Houndoom is a dual Dark/Fire-type which means it’s weak against Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type Pokemon. It’s resistant to Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Psychic, and Steel-type attacks.

These are some of the top counters for Houndoom:

Houndoom Counters
Terrakion Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charge Move)
Rampardos Smack Down (Fast Move) & Rock Slide (Charge Move)
Rhyperior Smack Down (Fast Move) & Rock Wrecker (Charge Move)
Conkeldurr Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)
Lucario Counter (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charge Move)
Machamp Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)

Victreebel counters

Victreebel is a Grass/Poison-type Pokemon, which means its weaknesses are Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic-type attacks, and it’s resistant to Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Water, and Grass-type moves.

Here are some of the best counters to defeat Victreebel:

Victreebel Counters
Rayquaza/Mega Rayquaza Air Strike (Fast Move) & Dragon Ascent (Charge Move)
Mewtwo/Shadow Mewtwo Confusion (Fast Move) & Psystrike (Charge Move)
Alakazam/Mega Alakazam Confusion (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charge Move)
Charizard/Mega Charizard Fire Spin (Fast Move) & Blast Burn (Charge Move)
Blaziken/Mega Blaziken Fire Spin (Fast Move) & Blast Burn (Charge Move)
Latios/Mega Latios Zen Headbutt (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charge Move)

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Best team to defeat Sierra in Pokemon Go

Having the right team is key to beating Sierra.

One of the best teams you can use when battling Sierra in Pokemon Go consists of Gardevoir, Primarina, and Electivire. 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 Fairy-type Pokemon like Gardevoir. It will help you get rid of Sableye fast, plus it also works nicely against Muk.

Then you must have a strong Water-type like Primarina, as this will be able to take down Sierra’s Gyarados and Houndoom, as well as her own Gardevoir.

Fighting Skarmory is the trickiest portion of the encounter, so you can go ahead with an Electric-type Pokemon like Electivire to take advantage of its weakness. A Fire-type Pokemon like Blaziken also works, as it’s strong against both Skarmory and Victreebel.

Our best advice is to take in two of 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 Leaders in Pokemon Go

So, there you have it. All you need to know about beating Leader Sierra in Pokemon Go in January 2024 and the best counters you need to use.

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