Team Rocket

With stories about how Team Rocket's Pokemon have extremely high attack, with their Snorlax killing our Machamp (Zen Headbutt) and Metagross (Lick), various players have advocated to exploit type resistances to win the battle.

So, I've analysed the moves of all current Team Rocket Pokemon, in a bid to recommend good counters. Fast move types will be written outside brackets, and charged move types will be written inside brackets. Counters will be recommeded based on resisting fast moves, as you can use shields against their charged moves.

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If the strongest Pokémon is from this family, you’ll see

• Bulbasaur - Grass / Normal / (Poison)
• Ivysaur - Grass / (Poison)
• Venusaur - Grass / (Poison)

Counters: Metagross, Dialga and Scizor resist all moves as Steel types. Double resists of Grass exist such as Charizard, Moltres, and to a lesser extent Flying attacker Scyther. Other double resists Dragonite, Salamence do not hit super effectively.

• Dratini - Dragon / Steel / (Normal / Water)
• Dragonair - Dragon / Steel / (Normal / Water)
• Dragonite - Dragon / Steel / (Flying / Normal)

Counters: Metagross resists all fast moves, and against Dragonite, all charged moves too. Aggron is the B-tier option. Dialga resists Steel, but not Dragon.

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• Charmander - Fire / Normal
• Charmeleon - Fire
• Charizard - Fire / Flying / (Dragon)

Counters: Tyranitar resists all fast moves. Best with Smack Down / Stone Edge. Rhyperior with Rock moves will do fine, not sure if Rampardos is too frail. Rock attacker Golems are B tier.

• Rattata - Normal
• Raticate - Normal / Dark

Counters: Tyranitar resist all moves. Metagross resists Normal but is weak to Dark.

• Zubat - Normal / Dark / (Flying / Poison)
• Golbat - Flying / Dark / (Poison / Ghost)
• Crobat - Flying / Dark / (Poison / Ghost)

Counters: Tyranitar resists all fast moves. Best with Smack Down / Stone Edge. Metagross resists Flying but is weak to Dark.

• Snorlax - Ghost / Psychic / (Normal / Ground / Steel)

Counters: Tyranitar resists all fast moves. Use shields against the charged moves. Metagross resists Psychic but is weak to Ghost.

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• Squirtle - Water / Normal
• Wartortle - Water / Dark / (Ice)
• Blastoise - Water / Dark / (Steel / Normal / Ice)

Counters: Grass attackers with Grass moves (Alolan Exeggutor, Ludicolo, Meganium, Venusaur, Sceptile, Kanto Exeggutor, Tangrowth, Roserade, Leafeon) and Dragon attackers (Dragonite, Salamence, Rayquaza, Kingdra, Dialga, Palkia) resist Water fast moves. Be ready to use shields in case of a Ice typed charged attack. Fighting attacker Poliwrath and Breloom resist both Water and Dark fast moves, but Breloom is frail.

• Mudkip - Water / Normal / (Ground / Poison)
• Marshtomp - Water / Ground / (Poison)
• Swampert - Water / Ground / (Poison)

Counters: Grass attackers with Grass moves (Alolan Exeggutor, Ludicolo, Meganium, Sceptile, Kanto Exeggutor, Tangrowth, Leafeon) and Dragon/Flying types (Dragonite, Salamence, Rayquaza) resist both Ground and Water fast moves. Be ready to use shields in case of a Poison typed charged attack.

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However, you can only run counters if you know the opponent's team. So, you will need to scout first. If your scouting team wins, awesome, your job is done. If it doesn't, bring the proper counters. You can scout by sending in a team of Tyranitar, Metagross and Dragonite (or Salamence). (1) Tyranitar takes care of the Fire / Flying / Normal types, (2) Metagross takes care of the Dragon / Grass types and sometimes resists the Flying and Normal types. (3) Dragonite or Salamence covers the Grass / Fire / Water types.

The purpose of scouting is not necessarily to win, but to see your opponent's Pokémon. If your opponent has Snorlax / Snorlax / Snorlax against your Tyranitar / Metagross / Dragonite, you would first use Tyranitar to beat the first Snorlax. Let's say Tyranitar falls to the second Snorlax, then all you need to do is beat the second Snorlax with your two remaining Pokémon, to reveal the third Snorlax for a successful scouting. In the second battle, you bring Tyranitar / Tyranitar / Tyranitar.

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Scouting Part 2 (dialogues)

• DRAGON - ROAR! ... How'd that sound? (Strongest Pokémon is from the Dragonite family) - you’ll need Metagross
• FIRE - Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get? (Strongest Pokemon is from the Charizard family) - you’ll need Tyranitar
• FLYING - My bird Pokémon wants to battle with you! (Strongest Pokémon is Dragonite, Charizard, or the Crobat family) - you’ll need Tyranitar
• GRASS - Don't tangle with us! (Strongest Pokémon from the Venusaur family) - you’ll need Metagross or Charizard
• POISON - Coiled and ready to strike! (Strongest Pokémon is from the Venusaur or Crobat family) - you’ll need Metagross
• WATER - These waters are treacherous! (Strongest Pokémon is from the Blastoise or Swampert family) - you’ll need a Grass type
• GROUND - You'll be defeated into the ground! (Strongest Pokémon is from the Swampert family) - you’ll need a Grass type
• NORMAL - Normal doesn't mean weak. (Strongest Pokémon is Snorlax or the Raticate family) - you’ll need Tyranitar
• RANDOM - Don't bother, I've already won. (random? to be confirmed)