How to Beat Sierra in Pokemon GO: Counters and Weaknesses (June 2023)

As part of the Team GO Rocket Takeover event in Pokemon GO, all leaders had their Pokemon teams changed, including Sierra. As part of the event, you’ll need to defeat the three leaders: Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo to face off against Giovanni. Our guide tells you how to beat Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra. 

How to Defeat Sierra in Pokemon GO: Team Composition and Counters

Sierra starts off any battle with Shadow Geodude. As a Rock/Ground Pokemon, it’s weak to Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel moves. Overall, I think that Kingler, Swampert, or Zarude are good counters to start off the battle.

The second member of Sierra’s team will be Shadow Steelix, Shadow Gardevoir, or Shadow Sableye.

• Shadow Steelix is weak to Fire, Water, Fighting, and Ground due to being a Steel/Ground type Pokemon. To exploit those weaknesses, employ Reshiram, Blaziken, or Conkeldurr for this showdown.
• Shadow Gardevoir is a Psychic/Fairy Pokemon with weaknesses to Ghost, Steel, and Poison Attacks. Nihilego, Gengar, and Metagross are good counters.
• Shadow Sableye is only weak to Fairy Pokemon and moves. Togekiss, Gardevoir, and Primarina using Fairy moves will make quick work of this enemy.

The third and final Pokemon for Sierra will either be Shadow Houndoom, Shadow Victreebel, or Shadow Gyarados.

• Shadow Houndoom will have the roughest time against Fighting, Ground, Rock, or Water Pokemon. Conkeldurr, Primarina, or Lucario will do well against it.
• Shadow Victreebel is weak to Fire, Ice, Flying, and Psychic Pokemon due to it being a Grass/Poison Pokemon. Mewtwo, Reshiram, or Weavil will do well in this matchup.
• Shadow Gyarados is a Water/Flying Pokemon, making it especially weak to Electric Pokemon. It’s also weak to Rock moves. Mega Ampharos, Electivire, or Zekrom are solid choices here.

As with the other Team GO Rocket Leaders, you’ll want to look at what the most weaknesses are amongst the potential Pokemon Sierra could use. I’d suggest using Fire and Water Pokemon because they do well against multiple enemies, along with the potential Psychic/Fairy Pokemon for your third team member.

Rewards for Defeating Sierra

Once you beat Sierra, you will obtain 1,000 Stardust, your Hero Medal will level up, and you’ll  receive two of the following:

• 4x Revives
• 2x Max Revives
• 4x Hyper Potions
• 2x Max Potions
• 1x Unova Stone
• 1x 12km Egg

You’ll also get the chance to catch Shadow Geodude after the battle.

With this information in mind, you should be able to beat Sierra without too much trouble. For more on Pokemon GO, check out our ever-growing collection of Pokemon GO guides, including how to beat Cliff.

Featured image via Niantic