In January 2025, Arlo is back in Pokémon GO, ready to be challenged as a leader of Team Rocket. Defeating him will grant you access to valuable rewards. Arlo will use the same Pokémon team from the previous Galarian Expedition: Taken Over event, so you might already have strategies to beat them. If you employ some new counters, you can make this battle even smoother and get to Giovanni more quickly.
To take on Arlo, you’ll first need to collect Mysterious Components to craft the Rocket Radar by defeating six different Team Rocket Grunts. A good example is the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt in Pokémon GO, which drops one of the components you need. Keep in mind that you only have a 33% chance of facing Arlo—the Radar could also lead you to Sierra or Cliff, other members of Team Rocket.
Arlo’s Pokémon Team & Counters (January 2025)
Learn Different Types to Discover the Best Counters
Arlo’s Pokémon are Shadow Pokémon, which are upgraded versions of the regular types you might be familiar with. His team is split into three waves; the first wave always consists of the same Pokémon. The second and third waves, however, include one of three possible Pokémon, which can make planning your strategy a bit tricky.
Below is a table showing the Pokémon Arlo might use, along with the best counters to bring for each possible matchup:
|
Wave |
Pokémon |
Type |
Weaknesses |
Best Counters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
(Shadow) Beldum |
Steel/Psychic |
Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Hypno |
Psychic |
Bug, Dark, Ghost |
No specific great counters listed |
|
2 |
(Shadow) Charizard |
Fire/Flying |
Rock, Electric, Water |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Gyarados |
Water/Flying |
Rock, Electric |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Scizor |
Steel/Bug |
Fire |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Snorlax |
Normal |
Fighting |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Metagross |
Steel/Psychic |
Dark, Fire, Ghost, Ground |
|
One effective team for facing Arlo includes:
- Chandelure
- Lucario
- Electivire
Chandelure is particularly strong against Arlo’s Shadow Beldum, Scizor, Metagross, and Hypno, thanks to its Ghost and Fire types. Using Chandelure’s super-effective moves can quickly eliminate your opponents, especially with a Shadow variant. Electivire is an excellent choice against Shadow Gyarados, as its Electric-type moves hit hard on Gyarados’ vulnerabilities.
Another strong Pokémon to include is Tyranitar, as it can target Charizard, Beldum, and Metagross with its Rock and Dark-type moves.
Lucario is a key member of your team that can take down Shadow Snorlax in the final wave. Thanks to its Steel-type defenses, Lucario can also endure other attackers if Snorlax doesn’t show up. Don’t hesitate to try out different lineups, especially if you have higher-level Pokémon that can exploit specific weaknesses in Arlo’s roster.
Rewards for Defeating Arlo (January 2025)
Earn Various Items in Multiple Bundles
After successfully overcoming all of Arlo’s Pokémon waves, you will receive 1,000 Stardust as a reward. You also get a chance to catch Arlo’s Shadow Beldum, with a slim chance of encountering its Shiny variant in Pokémon GO. Note that there is only a 1 in 64 chance of Arlo’s Beldum being Shiny, so manage your expectations.
Taking down one of Team Rocket’s powerful leaders also earns you two separate item bundles from your victory, packed with valuable resources such as Max Revives or Hyper Potions. However, the contents of these bundles are randomized, so you won’t know which rewards you’ll get until after you defeat Arlo.
Possible rewards include:
- 1x Unova Stone
- 4x Revives
- 2x Max Revives
- 4x Hyper Potions
- 2x Max Potions
- 1x 12km Strange Egg
Hatching Eggs in Pokémon GO can lead to strong Pokémon, making them a highly sought-after reward for defeating Arlo. Each item bundle is delivered alongside the Stardust right after your encounter with Shadow Beldum concludes. Successfully defeating Arlo in Pokémon GO this January sets you up for a shot at challenging Giovanni for even better rewards.
