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How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, best counters, and more

How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, best counters, and more

Raunak Bose / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: May 6, 2025, 01:34 IST

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Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo remains a formidable challenge in Pokemon GO, requiring strategic team preparation to defeat his Shadow Pokemon. Arlo's lineup includes Shadow Alolan Grimer, followed by potential encounters with Shadow Slowbro, Gyarados, or Dugtrio. The final phase features Shadow Alolan Muk, Scizor, or Metagross, demanding specific counters like Mamoswine, Mega Blaziken, and Xurkitree for victory.

How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, best counters, and more

Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (Image via Niantic)

Team GO Rocket Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO remains one of the toughest opponents. Defeating his shadow squad requires careful team preparation. Winning these battles gives you a chance to capture his shadow Pokemon, which can be purified for a CP boost or kept as powerful attackers for raids and PvP.
Below is Leader Arlo's current lineup, their weaknesses, and the best counters to defeat them.

Pokemon GO Leader Arlo lineup (May 2025)

Arlo has been challenging trainers since 2019 and always starts with Shadow Alolan Grimer, followed by two of six possible options. His current lineup is:

Leader Arlo Phase 1:

- Shadow Alolan Grimer

Phase 2 (one of the following):

- Shadow Slowbro
- Shadow Gyarados
- Shadow Dugtrio

Phase 3 (one of the following):

- Shadow Alolan Muk
- Shadow Scizor
- Shadow Metagross

How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO

To find Arlo, defeat Team Go Rocket Grunts at PokeStops to assemble a Rocket Radar. This will randomly lead you to Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra. Below are the best counters for each of Arlo’s possible Pokemon.

Counter for Phase 1 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO

Arlo always starts with Shadow Alolan Grimer, a Poison/Dark-type.
Weaknesses:
- Ground
Resistances:
- Poison, Ghost, Grass, Dark, Psychic
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Primal Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades
Mega Garchomp	Mud Shot	Earth Power
Mamoswine	Mud-Slap	High Horsepower
Excadrill	Mud-Slap	Scorching Sands
Mega Lucario	Force Palm	Aura Sphere
Rhyperior	Mud-Slap	Earthquake

Counter for Phase 2 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO

Arlo’s second phase can feature Gyarados, Slowbro, or Dugtrio.

Gyarados counters (Water/Flying)

Weaknesses:
- Electric, Rock
Resistances:
- Ground, Bug, Fighting, Fire, Steel, Water
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Raikou	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge
Xurkitree	Thunder Shock	Discharge
Mega Manectric	Thunder Fang	Wild Charge
Magnezone	Spark	Wild Charge
Rampardos	Smack Down	Rock Slide
Rhyperior	Smack Down	Rock Wrecker

Slowbro counters (Water/Psychic)

Weaknesses:
- Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass
Resistances:
- Fighting, Fire, Ice, Steel, Water, Psychic
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Dawn Wings Necrozma	Shadow Claw	Moongeist Beam
Mega Gengar	Shadow Claw	Shadow Ball
Mega Banette	Shadow Claw	Shadow Ball
Tyranitar	Bite	Brutal Swing
Raikou	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge
Xurkitree	Thunder Shock	Discharge

Dugtrio counters (Ground)

Weaknesses:
- Grass, Ice, Water
Resistances:
- Poison, Rock, Electric
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mega Sceptile	Fury Cutter	Frenzy Plant
Mega Swampert	Water Gun	Hydro Cannon
Shaymin (Sky)	Magical Leaf	Grass Knot
Mega Blastoise	Water Gun	Hydro Cannon
Zarude	Vine Whip	Power Whip
Primal Kyogre	Waterfall	Origin Pulse

Counter for Phase 3 of Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO

Leader Arlo’s final phase can feature Alolan Muk, Scizor, or Metagross.

Alolan muk counters (Poison/Dark)

Weaknesses:
- Ground
Resistances:
- Dark, Ghost, Grass, Poison, Psychic
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Primal Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades
Mega Garchomp	Mud Shot	Earth Power
Rhyperior	Mud-Slap	Earthquake
Excadrill	Mud-Slap	Scorching Sands
Mamoswine	Mud-Slap	High Horsepower
Mega Swampert	Mud Shot	Earthquake

Scizor counters (Bug/Steel)

Weaknesses:
- Fire
Resistances:
- Grass, Poison, Bug, Dragon, Fairy, Ice, Normal, Psychic, Steel
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mega Blaziken	Fire Spin	Blast Burn
Mega Charizard Y	Fire Spin	Blast Burn
Reshiram	Fire Fang	Fusion Flare
Darmanitan	Fire Fang	Overheat
Moltres	Fire Spin	Overheat
Chandelure	Fire Spin	Overheat

Metagross counters (Steel/Psychic)

Weaknesses:
- Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground
Resistances:
- Poison, Psychic, Dragon, Fairy, Flying, Grass, Ice, Normal, Rock, Steel
Best counters:

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Dawn Wings Necrozma	Shadow Claw	Moongeist Beam
Primal Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades
Mega Gengar	Shadow Claw	Shadow Ball
Mega Blaziken	Fire Spin	Blaze Kick
Mega Charizard Y	Fire Spin	Blast Burn
Chandelure	Fire Spin	Shadow Ball

Best team to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon GO (May

A strong team to counter Leader Arlo’s lineup includes:
1. Mamoswine (for Alolan Grimer & Alolan Muk)
2. Mega Blaziken (for Scizor & Metagross)
3. Xurkitree (for Gyarados & Slowbro)
If you encounter Dugtrio, replace Xurkitree with Mega Sceptile or Mega Swampert. Since you can rematch Arlo until you win, adjust your team if needed before trying again.
Also read: Pokemon GO Shadow Raid boss schedule (May 2025)
Stay updated for changes after the May 14, 2025 event!

About the Author

Raunak Bose

As a passionate WWE content writer, Raunak craft engaging narratives that bring the thrilling world of wrestling to life, capturing the drama, excitement, and heroism of the ring. His work fuels the imagination of WWE fans, making every match and storyline unforgettable.

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