Pokémon GO Guide: How to Defeat Sierra

2024-09-09 14:47:56Source:JuxiaAuthor:Juxia

Team GO Rocket leader Sierra has once again shuffled her Shadow Pokémon lineup for September 2024. To take her down, players need to be well-prepared with counters that can effectively exploit the weaknesses of her Shadow Pokémon. Sierra remains one of the toughest adversaries in Pokémon GO, and defeating her requires both strategy and knowledge of the best counters to her team.

Before facing Sierra, you’ll need to track her down by assembling a Rocket Radar. To do this, collect six Mysterious Components by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts. Once you have the Rocket Radar, it will reveal her location, and the real challenge begins. This guide will break down her Shadow Pokémon lineup and offer the best counters to defeat her in each phase.

Pokémon GO Guide: How to Defeat Sierra

Sierra Battle Overview: A 3-Phase Showdown

Phases

Pokémon

First Phase

Shadow Carvanha

Second Phase

Shadow Sableye

Shadow Ampharos

Shadow Milotic

Third Phase

Shadow Houndoom

Shadow Nidoqueen

Shadow Alakazam

Battling Sierra involves three challenging phases. While the first phase is predictable, the second and third introduce unpredictability with three different Pokémon Sierra can choose from, making it essential to have flexible counters ready.

First Phase: Sierra’s Shadow Carvanha

In the first phase, Sierra always leads with her Shadow Carvanha. This phase is the easiest to prepare for since her choice is fixed, allowing players to pick counters that can reliably handle the Water/Dark-type Pokémon.

Shadow Carvanha Counters  

Type: Water/Dark  

Weaknesses: Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Grass  

Resistances: Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ice, Steel, Water, Psychic  

Prepare a lineup of counters from the recommended list to quickly dispatch her Shadow Carvanha.

Regular Counters Against Shadow Carvanha

Shadow Carvanha Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Keldeo

Low Kick (Fighting-type)

Sacred Sword (Fighting-type)

Xurkitree

Spark (Electric-type)

Power Whip (Grass-type)

Terrakion

Double Kick (Fighting-type)

Sacred Sword (Fighting-type) (Legacy)

Zekrom

Charge Beam (Electric-type)

Fusion Bolt (Electric-type) (Legacy)

Zarude

Vine Whip (Grass-type)

Power Whip (Grass-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Carvanha

Shadow Carvanha Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Mega Lucario

Force Palm (Fighting-type) (Legacy)

Aura Sphere (Fighting-type)

Mega Sceptile

Bullet Seed (Grass-type)

Frenzy Plant (Grass-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Magnezone

Spark (Electric-type)

Wild Charge (Electric-type)

Shadow Raikou

Thunder Shock (Electric-type)

Wild Charge (Electric-type)

Mega Rayquaza

Air Slash (Flying-type)

Dragon Ascent (Flying-type)

Second Phase: Sierra’s Variable Pokémon

In the second phase, Sierra can send out one of three different Pokémon: Shadow Sableye, Shadow Ampharos, or Shadow Milotic. Each of these has distinct types and weaknesses, so it’s crucial to select counters that cover multiple options.

Pokémon GO Guide: How to Defeat Sierra

1. Shadow Sableye  

  Type: Dark/Ghost  

  Weakness: Fairy  

  Resistances: Normal, Psychic, Fighting, Poison 

Regular Counters Against Shadow Sableye

Shadow Sableye Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Incarnate Forme Enamorus

Fairy Wind (Fairy-type)

Dazzling Gleam (Fairy-type)

Xerneas

Geomancy (Fairy-type)

Moonblast (Fairy-type)

Tapu Koko

Volt Switch (Electric-type)

Nature's Madness (Fairy-type)

Tapu Bulu

Bullet Seed (Grass-type)

Nature's Madness (Fairy-type)

Xurkitree

Thunder Shock (Electric-type)

Dazzling Gleam (Fairy-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Sableye

Shadow Sableye Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Mega Gardevoir

Charm (Fairy-type)

Dazzling Gleam (Fairy-type)

Mega Rayquaza

Dragon Tail (Dragon-type)

Dragon Ascent (Flying-type)

Shadow Gardevoir

Charm (Fairy-type)

Dazzling Gleam (Fairy-type)

Shadow Granbull

Charm (Fairy-type)

Play Rough (Fairy-type)

Primal Groudon

Mud Shot (Ghost-type)

Precipice Blades (Ghost-type)

2. Shadow Ampharos  

  Type: Electric

  Weakness: Ground

  Resistances: Electric, Flying, Steel

Regular Counters Against Shadow Ampharos

Shadow Ampharos Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Therian Forme Landorus

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Sandsear Storm (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Garchomp

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Earth Power (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Shadow Claw (Ghost-type)

Moongeist Beam (Ghost-type)

Excadrill

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Scorching Sands (Ground-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Ampharos

Shadow Ampharos Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Primal Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Mega Garchomp

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Earth Power (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Garchomp

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Earth Power (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Excadrill

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Scorching Sands (Ground-type)

Mega Swampert

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Earthquake (Ground-type)

3. Shadow Milotic

  Type: Water  

  Weaknesses: Electric, Grass  

  Resistances: Fire, Ice, Steel, Water

Regular Counters Against Shadow Milotic

Shadow Milotic Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Kartana

Razor Leaf (Grass-type)

Leaf Blade (Grass-type)

Xurkitree

Thunder Shock (Electric-type)

Discharge (Electric-type)

Zekrom

Charge Beam (Electric-type)

Fusion Bolt (Electric-type)

Sky Forme Shaymin

Magical Leaf (Grass-type)

Grass Knot (Grass-type)

Zarude

Vine Whip (Grass-type)

Power Whip (Grass-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Milotic

Shadow Milotic Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Mega Sceptile

Fury Cutter (Grass-type)

Frenzy Plant (Grass-type)

Mega Rayquaza

Dragon Tail (Dragon-type)

Dragon Ascent (Flying-type)

Shadow Raikou

Thunder Shock (Electric-type)

Wild Charge (Electric-type)

Shadow Electivire

Thunder Shock (Electric-type)

Wild Charge (Electric-type)

Shadow Magnezone

Spark (Electric-type)

Wild Charge (Electric-type)

Building a versatile team to handle these Pokémon will ensure a smoother battle. Ground and Fairy-type moves work particularly well against this phase.

Third Phase: Sierra’s Final Challenge

Sierra’s final phase brings the toughest fight, with her choosing between Shadow Houndoom, Shadow Nidoqueen, or Shadow Alakazam. Each Pokémon presents its own set of challenges, making the final phase a true test of your roster’s flexibility.

Pokémon GO Guide: How to Defeat Sierra

1. Shadow Houndoom  

  Type: Dark/Fire  

  Weaknesses: Rock, Fighting, Ground, Water  

  Resistances: Psychic, Fire, Dark, Steel, Ghost, Ice, Grass  

Regular Counters Against Shadow Houndoom

Shadow Houndoom Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Terrakion

Double Kick (Fighting-type)

Sacred Sword (Fighting-type)

Keldeo

Low Kick (Fighting-type)

Sacred Sword (Fighting-type)

Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type)

Therian Forme Landorus

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Sandsear Storm (Ground-type)

Rampardos

Smack Down (Rock-type)

Rock Slide (Rock-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Houndoom

Shadow Houndoom Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Primal Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type)

Primal Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type)

Mega Swampert

Water Gun (Water-type)

Hydro Cannon (Water-type)

Mega Garchomp

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Earth Power (Ground-type)

Shadow Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type)

2. Shadow Nidoqueen  

  Type: Poison/Ground  

  Weaknesses: Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water  

  Resistances: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Rock, Electric, Poison

Regular Counters Against Shadow Nidoqueen

Shadow Nidoqueen Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Mewtwo

Psycho Cut (Psychic-type)

Psystrike (Psychic-type) (Legacy)

Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Therian Forme Landorus

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Sandsear Storm (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type) (Legacy)

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Psycho Cut (Psychic-type)

Moongeist Beam (Ghost-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Nidoqueen

Shadow Nidoqueen Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Primal Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type) (Legacy)

Primal Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Mewtwo

Psycho Cut (Psychic-type)

Psystrike (Psychic-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Groudon

Mud Shot (Ground-type)

Precipice Blades (Ground-type) (Legacy)

Shadow Kyogre

Waterfall (Water-type)

Origin Pulse (Water-type) (Legacy)

3. Shadow Alakazam 

  Type: Psychic  

  Weaknesses: Bug, Dark, Ghost  

  Resistances: Fighting, Psychic

Regular Counters Against Shadow Alakazam

Shadow Alakazam Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Pheromosa

Bug Bite (Bug-type)

Bug Buzz (Bug-type)

Hydreigon

Bite (Dark-type)

Brutal Swing (Dark-type)

Tyranitar

Bite (Dark-type)

Brutal Swing (Dark-type)

Blacephalon

Astonish (Ghost-type)

Shadow Ball (Ghost-type)

Origin Forme Giratina

Shadow Claw (Ghost-type)

Shadow Force (Ghost-type)

Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Alakazam

Shadow Alakazam Counters

Fast Moves

Charged Moves

Mega Tyranitar

Bite (Dark-type)

Brutal Swing (Dark-type)

Mega Gengar

Lick (Ghost-type)

Shadow Ball (Ghost-type)

Shadow Tyranitar

Bite (Dark-type)

Brutal Swing (Dark-type)

Mega Banette

Shadow Claw (Ghost-type)

Shadow Ball (Ghost-type)

Shadow Chandelure

Hex (Ghost-type)

Shadow Ball (Ghost-type)

Utilizing type-advantageous moves like Ground, Water, and Bug can give you the upper hand in the final phase, helping you close out the battle with a win.

Conclusion: Strategy and Preparation Are Key

Defeating Sierra in Pokémon GO takes more than just a strong team—it requires an understanding of her lineup and selecting the right counters for each phase. By using the recommended counters for her Shadow Pokémon, you'll stand a good chance of overcoming one of the game's most formidable Team GO Rocket leaders.

Prepare your Rocket Radar, assemble a powerful counter team, and take on Sierra with confidence this September!

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