To get Dark Pokémon on Pokémon Go, there is no miracle, you have to beat the different Minions that appear in PokéStops and Hot Air Balloons. Each of them has its own team that it is good to know to counter it effectively.
The Minions of Team Go Rocket may be the scum of this evil organization, but their ubiquity can gradually undermine your best Pokémon. The key to success in continually beating them is to constantly optimize your teams so that they don’t stand a chance.
Fortunately, despite their resemblance, each Minion Rocket gives you a hint before your fight begins through a specific phrase. A line of dialogue that warns you of the main type they will use as well as the different Pokémon that will make up their team.
The Minions make up the ranks of Team Go Rocket and beg to be defeated!
There are plenty of reasons to beat Team Go Rocket’s many minions. In addition to allowing you to catch and purify a dark Pokémon, you also get a mysterious item to assemble after each fight. Once the 6 parts in your possession, this gives you access during your next meeting with Team Go Rocket, to one of the leaders of the organization, Arlo, Cliff Where Sierra.
In this month of January 2022, there is a total of just under 20 different minions to meet. Note the recent addition of the Fairy type among the obscure Pokémon available.
Below is the full and potential list of each Minion following their phrase as well as the best counters to use to easily defeat them. Also be aware that minions, unlike leaders, do not have shields and are therefore in the vast majority of cases very easy to beat with a minimum of preparation.
Are you afraid of physiotherapists who have occult powers?
This Minion will use Psychic-type Pokémon. The best counter is therefore the Specter type to oppose it, as well as Darkness and Insect such as Tyranitar, Dimoret, Demolossus or even Scarabrute.
| First | Second | Third |
| Abra | Metang | Alakazam |
| Tarsal | Hypnomad | |
| Metang |
Fight against my Flying-type Pokémon!
As we can easily guess, these will be Pokémon of the type… Flying which will be present. The best counters are therefore the Electric, Rock or Ice types. Think of Tyranitar, Elekable or even Blizzaroi.
| First | Second | Third |
| Stunned | Nosferalto | Nostenfer |
| Nosférapti | Etourvol | Etouraptor |
| Cornebra |
Look at my adorable Pokémon
This Minion has Fairy-type Pokémon, a type that it is not necessarily easy to defeat, unless you oppose it with terrible Poison or Steel Pokémon like, Metagross, Roserade, Ectoplasma or Empiflor.
| First | Second | Third |
| Snubbull | Snubbull | Granbull |
| Tarsal | Kirlia | Kirlia |
Ready to pounce on the opponent!
This Minion will use Poison-type Pokémon, so choose powerful Psy or Ground Pokémon like Mentali, Mewtwo, Tyranitar or Groudon.
| First | Second | Third |
| Nidorina | Nidorino | Grotadmorv |
| Nidoran ♀ | Smogogo | Smogogo |
| Nosferapti |
Stay away from us!
With this sentence, the Minion tells you that his team will be made up of Plant Pokémon. The most effective counters will therefore be of the Fire type such as Charizard, Sulfura, Entei, and other Pyroli but also the Insect, Ice, Flight and Poison types.
| First | Second | Third |
| Cacnea | Herbizarre | Joliflor |
| Tortipouss | Saquedeneu | Rafflesia |
Did you know that some Pokémon blow fire?
Do we really need to explain it to you? With this “clue” you will understand that you are about to fight against a specialist of the Fire type. So think of Water, Rock and Ground types like Tortank, Tyranitar, Aquali and Rhinoferos.
| First | Second | Third |
| Charmander | Reptincel | Arcanine |
| Magmar | Strip | |
| Goupix |
Ready for a shock!
No real surprise here since Team Go Rocket’s Minion will use Electric Pokémon. The most effective Pokémon will be of the Ground type like Groudon, Rhinastoc, Hippodocus, and Grolem.
| First | Second | Third |
| Dynavolt | Elektek | Pharamp |
| Magneti | Magneton | Magneton |
Show him what Insect Pokémon have in their stomachs!
New very cryptic sentence, the Minion Rocket will therefore have Pokémon, of the Insect type! The best counters are Fire, Flight, and Rock types. It’s up to you to choose between Pokémon like Charizard, Sulfura, Grolem, etc.
| First | Second | Third |
| Aeromite | Dardagnan | Forestress |
| Aspicot | Rapion | Cizayox |
| Scarabrute |
Ke… ke… ke… ke… ke… ke…
This Minion will use Specter-type Pokémon and the best types to oppose him are Dark and Specter with Pokémon like Dimoret, Ectoplasma, Spectrum and Darkrai.
| First | Second | Third |
| Benefix | Benefix | Handjob |
| Feuforêve | Polichombr | Benefix |
| Polichombr |
I’m going to throw a punch!
A little more technical than the others, this line of dialogue indicates that the Minion will have rock-type Pokémon! So plan a team made up of Fighting types such as Mackerel, Water, Plant, Ground and Steel.
| First | Second | Third |
| Embrylex | Anorith | Ymphect |
| Lilia | Tyranitar | |
Normal does not mean weak
Obviously enough once again, this Minion is going to make use of Normal-type Pokémon. Faced with that, only one solution, the Combat type, unique weakness of the Normal type with Mackogneur, Bétochef, Palarticho and other Karaclée.
| First | Second | Third |
| Keunotor | Castorno | Castorno |
| Rattata | Rattatac | Rattatac |
| Teddiursa | Ursaring |
Raaaahhh !!! … It was good ?
Behind this “roar” (?) Hides a Minion specialized in the Dragon type, not to be underestimated therefore. Luckily with good Ice or Fairy-type Pokémon like Dimoret, Frost, and Nymphali, you should be fine. Also remember to take an Electric Pokémon to grill its possible Leviator.
| First | Second | Third |
| Minidraco | Draco | Dragonite |
| Libégon | Leviator | |
These waters are dangerous
As you can imagine, you will have to face Pokémon of the Water type against these Minions. The best counters are therefore the Plants and Electric types like Jungko, Phyllali, Raikou and Magnézone.
Female minion
| First | Second | Third |
| Gobou | Carabaffe | Flagadoss |
| Psyduck | Kokyas | Roigada |
Male henchman
| First | Second | Third |
| Magikarp | Magikarp | Leviator |
| Magikarp | ||
My biscoteaux aren’t just there to look pretty!
The most muscular Pokémon are obviously those of the Fighting type and that’s what awaits you against this Minion. Take advantage of Psychic, Flying and Fairy-type Pokémon such as Alakazam, Gardevoir, Togekiss or Lugia.
| First | Second | Third |
| Tygnon | Makuhita | Tygnon |
| Kicklee | Machoc | Kicklee |
| Hariyama |
You will freeze in place
New clue difficult to understand, this Minion will have a team specializing in the type Ice. To beat him, nothing better than the Fire, Steel, Combat and Rock types like Charizard, Galeking, Mackerel or Tyranitar.
| First | Second | Third |
| Marcacrin | Crustabri | Blizzaroi |
| Obalie | Blizzi | Lokhlass |
As they say, where there is light, there is shade
Speaking of shadow, it is clearly the Dark type that will be in the spotlight with this Minion, so it’s up to you to oppose it with Fighting, Insect and Fairy type Pokémon. So think of Pokémon like Lucario, Scarabrute, Scarhino and Gardevoir.
| First | Second | Third |
| Malosse | Cacturne | Sharpedo |
| Medhyena | Pifeuil | Tengalice |
| Benefix |
You’ll bite the dust!
The Sol type awaits you through this Team Go Rocket Minion. You will therefore have to prepare yourself with Pokémon of the Water, Plant or Ice types. On the other hand, avoid the Poison, Rock or worse, Electric Pokémon.
| First | Second | Third |
| Osselait | Sand brush | Libégon |
| Sabelette | Bone | |
Don’t worry, I won in advance / Ready for defeat? / Winning is for the winners
This Minion is a bit special with its three lines of dialogue. It is indeed a Minion with more powerful Pokémon and representing a greater challenge. Arm yourself with a powerful Fighting Pokémon like Mackogneur, an Electric-type like Raikou, and an Ice-type like Blizzaroi to overcome it.
| First | Second | Third |
| Snorlax | Gardevoir | Dragonite |
| Tartard | Leviator | |
| Snorlax | Snorlax |
So you have the complete list of the various Pokémon Go Team Go Rocket Minions as of December 2021. If any changes are made by Niantic, we’ll be sure to update this article.
It’s not the Minions that scare you but rather the other leaders of Team Rocket? Check out our other Pokémon Go guides:
Featured Hours Program | Raid Calendar | Field Studies and Awards | Capture Metamorph | Defeat Giovanni | Beat Arlo | Beat Cliff | Defeat Sierra