Pokemon GO: How to Beat Sierra (September 2022)

Pokemon GO continues to grow each year, with Niantic supplying a steady stream of events and updates to its genre-defining ARPG. One of the most popular features that has been added since the game’s 2016 launch are the Team GO Rocket leaders. Pokemon GO players can challenge these nefarious leaders for the chance to catch powerful Shadow Pokemon.

Like all the Team GO Rocket Leaders, Sierra often changes her lineup. In September, however, she maintains a theme of mostly Water, Poison, and Dark-types. Countering Sierra’s team will require players to bring their best Pokemon, but the rewards are worth it.

Sierra’s First Pokemon

Following the example of Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni, Sierra will open each battle with the same Pokemon in September 2022. That Pokemon is Squirtle, the original Water-type starter that is weak to Electric and Grass but resistant to Fire, Ice, Steel, and Water.

Squirtle Counters

• Zarude – Vine Whip/Power Whip
• Tangrowth – Vine Whip/Power Whip
• Melmetal – Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt
• Zekrom – Charge Beam/Wild Charge

Sierra’s Second Pokemon

Sierra’s second Pokemon in September 2022 can be either Blaziken, Lapras, or Blastoise. This combination of Fire and Water-types makes choosing a counter difficult, but players will probably find Electric the safest option. This is because Lapras and Blastoise and both weak to Electric, while Blaziken has no resistance to it.

Blaziken Counters

Blaziken is a Fire/Fighting-type, and therefore is weak to Flying, Ground, Water, and Psychic moves. It’s resistant to Steel, Fire, Grass, Ice, Dark, and Bug.

• Mewtwo – Confusion/Psystrike
• Moltres – Wing Attack/Sky Attack
• Kyogre – Waterfall/Surf
• Alakazam – Confusion/Psychic

Lapras Counters

Lapras is an Ice/Water-type Pokemon, and therefore is weak to Fighting, Rock, Grass, and Electric moves. It’s only resistant to Ice and Water.

• Zekrom – Charge Beam/Wild Charge
• Thundurus – Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt
• Lucario – Counter/Aura Sphere
• Magnezone – Spark/Wild Charge

Blastoise Counters

Blastoise is a pure Water-type Pokemon and therefore is weak to Electric and Grass, but resistant to Fire, Ice, Steel, and Water.

• Zarude – Vine Whip/Power Whip
• Tangrowth – Vine Whip/Power Whip
• Melmetal – Thunder Shock/Thunderbolt
• Zekrom – Charge Beam/Wild Charge

Sierra’s Third Pokemon

Sierra’s third and final Pokemon in September 2022 can either be Houndoom, Nidoqueen, or Drapion. All three of these Pokemon are weak to Ground, making a strong Ground-type the obvious pick to counter them.

Houndoom Counters

Houndoom is a Dark/Fire-type Pokemon, and therefore is weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type moves. It’s resistant to Ghost, Steel, Fire, Grass, Ice, Dark, and Psychic.

• Lucario – Counter/Aura Sphere
• Kingler – Bubble/Crabhammer
• Landorus – Mud Shot/Bulldoze
• Garchomp – Mud Shot/Sand Tomb

Nidoqueen Counters

Nidoqueen is a Poison/Ground-type Pokemon, and therefore is weak to Ice, Psychic, Water, and Ground-types. It’s resistant to Fighting, Rock, Bug, Fairy, Poison, and Electric.

• Groudon – Mud Shot/Earthquake
• Darmanitan – Ice Fang/Avalanche
• Garchomp – Mud Shot/Sand Tomb
• Alakazam – Confusion/Psychic

Drapion Counters

Drapion is a Dark/Poison-type Pokemon, and therefore is only weak to Ground. It is resistant to Dark, Ghost, Grass, Poison, and Psychic.

• Groudon – Mud Shot/Earthquake
• Landorus – Mud Shot/Bulldoze
• Garchomp – Mud Shot/Sand Tomb
• Excadrill Mud Shot/Drill Run

Pokemon GO is available now on mobile devices.