Rocket Leaders & Giovanni

Live lineup UI: **[/card-nexus/go/rocket](/card-nexus/go/rocket)** (source of truth). Shadow bonuses: +20% ATK, −20% DEF. Lineups verified **2026-08-09** from Pokémon GO Hub (Flying Taxi: Taken Over). Takeovers change Slot 1 — update `rocket-leaders.json` after each takeover.

How leader fights work

1. **Slot 1 is fixed** — also the Shadow you catch from Cliff / Arlo / Sierra (Giovanni’s catch is the featured Slot 3 legendary). 2. **Slot 2 and Slot 3** are random picks from a short pool (usually three options). 3. Leaders use **two shields** — spam cheap charged moves first. 4. **Rematch is free** until you win (radar consumed on victory). Scout once if needed.

Current lineups (August 2026)

Cliff

| Slot | Pool | |------|------| | 1 (catch) | **Axew** (Dragon) | | 2 | Snorlax · Weezing | | 3 | Tyranitar · Gallade · Camerupt |

**Suggested team:** Mamoswine (Powder Snow / Icicle Spear) · Lucario (Force Palm / Aura Sphere) · Primarina (Charm / Disarming Voice)

Open Ice/Fairy on Axew. Fighting for Snorlax; Ground for Weezing. Primarina covers most Slot 3 options.

Arlo

| Slot | Pool | |------|------| | 1 (catch) | **Tyrunt** (Rock / Dragon) | | 2 | Slowbro · Golurk · Steelix | | 3 | Scizor · Alakazam · Charizard |

**Suggested team:** Swampert (Water Gun / Hydro Cannon) · Charizard (Fire Spin / Blast Burn) · Hydreigon (Bite / Brutal Swing)

Steel/Water leads help Tyrunt. Fire for Steelix/Scizor. Dark/Ghost for Slowbro/Alakazam.

Sierra

| Slot | Pool | |------|------| | 1 (catch) | **Amaura** (Rock / Ice) | | 2 | Flygon · Blastoise · Ferrothorn | | 3 | Houndoom · Steelix · Milotic |

**Suggested team:** Lucario (Force Palm / Aura Sphere) · Mamoswine (Powder Snow / Icicle Spear) · Charizard (Ember / Blast Burn)

Fighting/Steel crush Amaura. Ice answers Flygon. Keep Electric/Grass for Water branches.

Giovanni

| Slot | Pool | |------|------| | 1 | **Persian** (Normal) | | 2 | Rhyperior · Machamp · Kangaskhan | | 3 (catch) | **Reshiram** (Dragon / Fire) |

**Suggested team:** Lucario · Poliwrath · Swampert

Always lead Fighting vs Persian. Need **Super Rocket Radar** (event / GO Pass). Decoy Giovanni grunts appear first — keep searching PokéStops.

Per-Pokémon counters

Expand each Shadow on **[/card-nexus/go/rocket#leaders](/card-nexus/go/rocket#leaders)** for weaknesses and 4–5 named counters with fast/charged moves. Species pages have type charts and more attackers.

After the battle

• **Purify?** Usually **no** for raid/PvP attackers — keep Shadow unless the Shadow chapter says otherwise.
• **Second charged move?** Only if you will use the Shadow in raids — see **Elite TM & Second Charged Moves**.

Ops note

After each **Team GO Rocket Takeover**, update Slot 1 (and any pool changes) in `content/go-guide/rocket-leaders.json` before other content. Primary source: Pokémon GO Hub leader guides; cross-check Polygon.

Family co-op tip

Leaders are easier with **two accounts** in the same cell — one taps, one picks counters. Share the `/rocket` link in Family Trades chat so everyone uses the same lineup.