Team GO Rocket and Shadow Pokémon

In July 2019, a new evil force Team GO Rocket arrived in Pokémon GO, based on Team Rocket from the original Gen 1 games. Team GO Rocket have captured Pokémon and overpowered them by unnatural means, turning them into Shadow Pokémon. Rocket Grunts hide out at Poké Stops, causing them to turn dark and pulsate; however they disappear after 30 minutes. The Grunts steal resources from the stops and you must battle them to obtain the remaining items and save the Shadow Pokémon.

Once defeated, the Grunts abandon one of their Shadow Pokémon and it can be caught. Shadow Pokémon are initially low-level and the only charge move they can have is Frustration. However, through a process called Purification they can be saved. Purified Pokémon increase to level 25, gain 2 IVs in each stat (so a 13/13/13 Pokémon will become perfect), and will know the move Return instead of Frustration.

An additional facet to GO Rocket began in November 2019. After battling Rocket Grunts, a Mysterious Component is obtained; combining six of them creates a Rocket Radar which provides an encounter Team GO Rocket Leaders: Arlo, Cliff and Sierra. Through various Special Research the big boss of Team Rocket, Giovanni, can also be battled.

 

Team GO Rocket lineups

Each Rocket Grunt specializes in one Pokémon type - prior to the battle they give a message that hints at what type they will use. Battles are in the PvP format, however the Shadow Pokémon they use have massive CP - much higher than their usual maximum - so come prepared!

Possible reward Pokémon from each Grunt are highlighted in blue below.

Type Hint quote First Pokémon Second Pokémon Third Pokémon
Normal Normal does not mean weak.
Teddiursa Teddiursa
Stantler Stantler
Glameow Glameow
Rattata Rattata
Meowth Meowth
Purugly Purugly
Ursaring Ursaring
Stantler Stantler
Bibarel Bibarel
Fire Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?
Darumaka Darumaka
Chimchar Chimchar
Houndoom Houndoom
Monferno Monferno
Houndoom Houndoom
Infernape Infernape
Darmanitan (Standard Mode) Darmanitan
Standard Mode

Water These waters are treacherous!
Totodile Totodile
Piplup Piplup
Crawdaunt Crawdaunt
Prinplup Prinplup
Wailord Wailord
Whiscash Whiscash
Empoleon Empoleon
Water These waters are treacherous!
Magikarp Magikarp
Magikarp Magikarp
Magikarp Magikarp
Gyarados Gyarados
Electric Get ready to be shocked!
Mareep Mareep
Blitzle Blitzle
Joltik Joltik
Alolan Geodude Geodude
Alolan Geodude

Voltorb Voltorb
Electabuzz Electabuzz
Ampharos Ampharos
Luxray Luxray
Galvantula Galvantula
Grass Don't tangle with us!
Turtwig Turtwig
Snover Snover
Grotle Grotle
Ferrothorn Ferrothorn
Meganium Meganium
Cacturne Cacturne
Torterra Torterra
Ice You're gonna be frozen in your tracks.
Swinub Swinub
Snorunt Snorunt
Alolan Ninetales Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales

Glalie Glalie
Froslass Froslass
Glalie Glalie
Abomasnow Abomasnow
Froslass Froslass
Fighting This buff physique isn't just for show!
Machop Machop
Hisuian Sneasel Sneasel
Hisuian Sneasel

Makuhita Makuhita
Hitmonlee Hitmonlee
Hitmonchan Hitmonchan
Hitmontop Hitmontop
Machamp Machamp
Infernape Infernape
Toxicroak Toxicroak
Poison Coiled and ready to strike!
Hisuian Sneasel Sneasel
Hisuian Sneasel

Foongus Foongus
Nidorina Nidorina
Nidorino Nidorino
Weezing Weezing
Toxicroak Toxicroak
Amoonguss Amoonguss
Ground You'll be defeated into the ground!
Alolan Diglett Diglett
Alolan Diglett

Wooper Wooper
Drilbur Drilbur
Rhyhorn Rhyhorn
Quagsire Quagsire
Whiscash Whiscash
Torterra Torterra
Flying Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!
Pidgey Pidgey
Starly Starly
Gligar Gligar
Staravia Staravia
Pidgeot Pidgeot
Dragonite Dragonite
Skarmory Skarmory
Psychic Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
Gothita Gothita
Solosis Solosis
Wobbuffet Wobbuffet
Ralts Ralts
Gothorita Gothorita
Metagross Metagross
Gallade Gallade
Reuniclus Reuniclus
Bug Go, my super bug Pokémon!
Scyther Scyther
Shuckle Shuckle
Dwebble Dwebble
Weedle Weedle
Shuckle Shuckle
Skorupi Skorupi
Beedrill Beedrill
Forretress Forretress
Scizor Scizor
Rock Let's rock and roll!
Onix Onix
Cranidos Cranidos
Shieldon Shieldon
Graveler Graveler
Lileep Lileep
Anorith Anorith
Golem Golem
Rampardos Rampardos
Bastiodon Bastiodon
Ghost Ke...ke...ke...ke...ke...ke!
Misdreavus Misdreavus
Drifloon Drifloon
Golett Golett
Banette Banette
Dusclops Dusclops
Golett Golett
Gengar Gengar
Froslass Froslass
Alolan Marowak Marowak
Alolan Marowak

Dragon ROAR! ...How'd that sound?
Dratini Dratini
Bagon Bagon
Gible Gible
Alolan Exeggutor Exeggutor
Alolan Exeggutor

Dragonair Dragonair
Gabite Gabite
Dragonite Dragonite
Salamence Salamence
Garchomp Garchomp
Dark Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.
Alolan Rattata Rattata
Alolan Rattata

Houndour Houndour
Stunky Stunky
Alolan Raticate Raticate
Alolan Raticate

Alolan Muk Muk
Alolan Muk

Alolan Muk Muk
Alolan Muk

Skuntank Skuntank
Steel You're no match for my iron will!
Alolan Sandshrew Sandshrew
Alolan Sandshrew

Skarmory Skarmory
Ferroseed Ferroseed
Skarmory Skarmory
Lairon Lairon
Metang Metang
Alolan Sandslash Sandslash
Alolan Sandslash

Scizor Scizor
Empoleon Empoleon
Fairy Check out my cute Pokémon!
Alolan Vulpix Vulpix
Alolan Vulpix

Ralts Ralts
Mawile Mawile
Snubbull Snubbull
Granbull Granbull
Kirlia Kirlia
Alolan Ninetales Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales

Granbull Granbull
Gardevoir Gardevoir
Misc Don't bother—I've already won.
Get ready to be defeated!
Winning is for winners.
Snorlax Snorlax
Poliwrath Poliwrath
Snorlax Snorlax
Gardevoir Gardevoir
Gyarados Gyarados
Snorlax Snorlax
Dragonite Dragonite
Misc Don't bother—I've already won.
Get ready to be defeated!
Winning is for winners.
Treecko Treecko
Torchic Torchic
Mudkip Mudkip
Grovyle Grovyle
Combusken Combusken
Marshtomp Marshtomp
Sceptile Sceptile
Blaziken Blaziken
Swampert Swampert

 

Team GO Rocket Leaders

After combining the Mysterious Components into the Rocket Radar, the Rocket Leaders can be seen at certain stops. Unlike Grunt takeovers, the Leaders stay at the same stop all day (8am-10pm), then will rotate to different stops the next day. No Grunt takeovers will happen at that stop, while a Leader is there. Their first Pokémon has a chance to be shiny.

Jessie & James started appearing in July 2020, when a new Rocket Balloon feature was added. If a Meowth balloon appears you battle each of them in succession. Their first Pokémon has a chance to be shiny. Jessie & James left in February 2021.

Giovanni can only be encountered by obtaining the Super Rocket Radar via Special or Timed Research, and will reward a shadow Legendary. Sometimes a Decoy Grunt will appear instead of Giovanni.

 

Shadow Pokémon

All the Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO are listed below, with the Stardust and Candy required to purify them. Not all are currently available as the team rosters for Rocket Grunts change regularly, and some are only used as second/third Pokémon so are not obtainable.