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 with the Team GO Rocket Leaders: Arlo, Cliff and Sierra. Through various Special Research the big boss of Team Rocket, Giovanni, can also be battled which rewards a legendary Pokémon.

 

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.
Meowth Meowth
Teddiursa Teddiursa
Swablu Swablu
Rattata Rattata
Loudred Loudred
Starly Starly
Kangaskhan Kangaskhan
Ursaring Ursaring
Swellow Swellow
Fire Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?
Vulpix Vulpix
Litwick Litwick
Fennekin Fennekin
Magmar Magmar
Camerupt Camerupt
Braixen Braixen
Magmortar Magmortar
Darmanitan (Standard Mode) Darmanitan
Standard Mode

Delphox Delphox
Water These waters are treacherous!
Krabby Krabby
Tentacool Tentacool
Froakie Froakie
Tentacruel Tentacruel
Sharpedo Sharpedo
Frogadier Frogadier
Tentacruel Tentacruel
Walrein Walrein
Greninja Greninja
Water These waters are treacherous!
Magikarp Magikarp
Feebas Feebas
Magikarp Magikarp
Magikarp Magikarp
Gyarados Gyarados
Electric Get ready to be shocked!
Magnemite Magnemite
Voltorb Voltorb
Shinx Shinx
Alolan Geodude Geodude
Alolan Geodude

Voltorb Voltorb
Electabuzz Electabuzz
Ampharos Ampharos
Luxray Luxray
Galvantula Galvantula
Grass Don't tangle with us!
Cacnea Cacnea
Chespin Chespin
Phantump Phantump
Lileep Lileep
Ferrothorn Ferrothorn
Quilladin Quilladin
Cradily Cradily
Chesnaught Chesnaught
Trevenant Trevenant
Ice You're gonna be frozen in your tracks.
Sneasel Sneasel
Swinub Swinub
Spheal Spheal
Alolan Ninetales Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales

Sealeo Sealeo
Froslass Froslass
Glalie Glalie
Froslass Froslass
Aurorus Aurorus
Fighting This buff physique isn't just for show!
Machop Machop
Mankey Mankey
Timburr Timburr
Hitmonlee Hitmonlee
Hitmonchan Hitmonchan
Hitmontop Hitmontop
Infernape Infernape
Conkeldurr Conkeldurr
Annihilape Annihilape
Poison Coiled and ready to strike!
Zubat Zubat
Oddish Oddish
Qwilfish Qwilfish
Nidorina Nidorina
Nidorino Nidorino
Galarian Weezing Weezing
Galarian Weezing

Weezing Weezing
Toxicroak Toxicroak
Amoonguss Amoonguss
Ground You'll be defeated into the ground!
Sandshrew Sandshrew
Gligar Gligar
Trapinch Trapinch
Gligar Gligar
Claydol Claydol
Vibrava Vibrava
Flygon Flygon
Hippowdon Hippowdon
Golurk Golurk
Flying Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!
Pidgey Pidgey
Taillow Taillow
Swablu Swablu
Zubat Zubat
Gligar Gligar
Scyther Scyther
Dragonite Dragonite
Swanna Swanna
Toucannon Toucannon
Psychic Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
Drowzee Drowzee
Wobbuffet Wobbuffet
Ralts Ralts
Drowzee Drowzee
Wobbuffet Wobbuffet
Duosion Duosion
Gallade Gallade
Reuniclus Reuniclus
Malamar Malamar
Bug Go, my super bug Pokémon!
Venonat Venonat
Shelmet Shelmet
Karrablast Karrablast
Pinsir Pinsir
Shuckle Shuckle
Anorith Anorith
Scizor Scizor
Scolipede Scolipede
Vikavolt Vikavolt
Rock Let's rock and roll!
Omanyte Omanyte
Shuckle Shuckle
Cranidos Cranidos
Graveler Graveler
Cranidos Cranidos
Shieldon Shieldon
Golem Golem
Tyrantrum Tyrantrum
Aurorus Aurorus
Ghost Ke...ke...ke...ke...ke...ke!
Gastly Gastly
Duskull Duskull
Yamask Yamask
Sableye Sableye
Dusclops Dusclops
Cofagrigus Cofagrigus
Gengar Gengar
Froslass Froslass
Cofagrigus Cofagrigus
Dragon ROAR! ...How'd that sound?
Dratini Dratini
Bagon Bagon
Deino Deino
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

Poochyena Poochyena
Carvanha Carvanha
Alolan Raticate Raticate
Alolan Raticate

Mightyena Mightyena
Liepard Liepard
Hydreigon Hydreigon
Steel You're no match for my iron will!
Alolan Sandshrew Sandshrew
Alolan Sandshrew

Aron Aron
Beldum Beldum
Skarmory Skarmory
Lairon Lairon
Metang Metang
Alolan Sandslash Sandslash
Alolan Sandslash

Aggron Aggron
Probopass Probopass
Fairy Check out my cute Pokémon!
Alolan Vulpix Vulpix
Alolan Vulpix

Snubbull Snubbull
Ralts Ralts
Galarian Weezing Weezing
Galarian Weezing

Snubbull Snubbull
Kirlia Kirlia
Alolan Ninetales Ninetales
Alolan Ninetales

Galarian Weezing Weezing
Galarian Weezing

Granbull Granbull
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.
Bulbasaur Bulbasaur
Charmander Charmander
Squirtle Squirtle
Ivysaur Ivysaur
Charmeleon Charmeleon
Wartortle Wartortle
Venusaur Venusaur
Charizard Charizard
Blastoise Blastoise

 

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.