Learn how to defeat Rocket Leader Sierra and which Pokémon they have during the month of September 2025 in Pokémon GO. Includes current Sierra’s Pokémon line-up, best counters to use, and rewards for defeating Sierra.
Fully updated with the start of Psychic Spectacular: Taken Over 
Other GO Rocket guides: Giovanni lineup and counters, Arlo lineup and counters, Cliff lineup and counters, Team GO Rocket Grunt lineups
Sierra’s Pokémon Line-up
Sierra is one of the Team GO Rocket Leaders in Pokémon GO, alongside Arlo, Cliff, and Giovanni. Rocket Leader Sierra is currently using the following Shadow Pokémon:
| Slot | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| #1 | |
| #2 | |
| #3 |
- Sierra’s first Pokémon is always Shadow Feebas.
- Sierra’s second Pokémon is Shadow Staraptor, Mismagius, or Ferrothorn.
- Sierra’s third Pokémon is Shadow Houndoom, Camerupt, or Drapion.
Best team to defeat Rocket Leader Sierra’s Pokémon
Here are some of the best Pokémon you can use against Sierra in Pokémon GO:
- Regieleki and Kartana can easily take out Shadow Feebas.
- Groudon is a menace against Ferrothorn, Houndoom, Camerupt, and Drapion.
- Terrakion provides invaluable coverage against Staraptor, Ferrothorn, Houndoom, Camerupt, and Drapion.
- While you can go with a Dark or Ghost type, Mismagius can be beaten using high neutral damage from the counters stated above.
Note: In Trainer Battles, counters need not always be Pokémon that do super-effective damage. We include Pokémon that are more viable to defeat Sierra, rather than those who do maximum damage. Defeating Sierra rewards 3× Shadow Shards.
Shadow Totodile Counters
Feebas is a Water-type Pokémon. It is weak to Electric and Grass type moves, and takes reduced damage from Fire, Ice, Steel and Water-type moves.
You should always start with a strong Pokémon that can burn Sierra’s shields fast, while still having utility after rotation. Spam charge moves and burn shields whenever possible. Here is our recommendation:
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Regieleki |
Lock-On, Thunder Cage |
 Kartana |
Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade |
 Therian Thundurus |
Volt Switch, Wildbolt Storm |
 Xurkitree |
Thunder Shock, Discharge |
 Zekrom |
Charge Beam, Fusion Bolt |
 Roserade |
Magical Leaf, Grass Knot |
Shadow Staraptor counters
Shadow Staraptor is a Normal/-type Pokémon. It is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock type moves. However, be wary when using Ice and Rock types since Staraptor also learns the dreaded Close Combat. Staraptor resists Ghost, Ground, Bug, and Grass moves.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Mamoswine |
Powder Snow, Icicle Spear |
 Terrakion |
Double Kick, Sacred Sword |
Therian Thundurus |
Volt Switch, Wildbolt Storm |
 Zapdos |
Thunder Shock, Thunderbolt |
 Electivire |
Thunder Shock, Wild Charge |
 White Kyurem |
Ice Fang, Ice Burn |
Shadow Mismagius counters
Shadow Mismagius is a pure Ghost-type Pokémon. It is weak to Dark and Ghost type moves, and takes reduced damage from Fighting, Normal, Bug, and Poison moves.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Dawn Wings Necrozma |
Shadow Claw, Moongeist Beam |
 Darkrai |
Snarl, Shadow Ball |
 Tyranitar |
Bite, Brutal Swing |
 Hydreigon |
Bite, Brutal Swing |
 Black Kyurem |
Shadow Claw, Freeze Shock |
Shadow Ferrothorn counters
Ferrothorn is a Steel and Grass-type Pokémon, making it only weak to Fire attacks, although it’s a double weakness. Pick strong Fire-types and no problems here.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Reshiram |
Fire Fang, Fusion Flare |
 Blacephalon |
Incinerate, Mystical Fire |
 Heatran |
Fire Spin, Magma Storm |
 Chandelure |
Fire Spin, Overheat |
 Darmanitan |
Fire Fang, Overheat |
Shadow Camerupt counters
Shadow Camerupt is a Fire and Ground-type Pokémon. So, it is weak to Waterx2 and Ground moves. It resists Electric, Bug, Fairy, Fire, Poison, and Steel moves.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Kyogre |
Waterfall, Origin Pulse |
 Swampert |
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
 Gyarados |
Waterfall, Aqua Tail |
 Primarina |
Waterfall, Hydro Cannon |
 Golisopod |
Waterfall, Razor Shell |
 Kingler |
Bubble, Crabhammer |
Shadow Drapion counters
Drapion is a Poison and Dark-type Pokémon. It is weak only to Ground type attacks and it is not a double weakness. Chose your counters wisely, otherwise this fight can go wrong!
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
 Groudon |
Mud Shot, Precipice Blades |
 Garchomp |
Mud Shot, Earth Power |
 Therian Landorus |
Mud Shot, Sandsear Storm |
 Excadrill |
Mud Slap, Scorching Sands |
 Incarnate Landorus |
Mud Shot, Sandsear Storm |
Shadow Houndoom counters
Houndoom is a Dark and Fire-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water type moves. It takes reduced damage from Dark, Fire, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Steel, and Psychic type moves.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Terrakion |
Double Kick, Sacred Sword |
Therian Landorus |
Mud Shot, Sandsear Storm |
Kyogre |
Waterfall, Origin Pulse |
 Rhyperior |
Mud-Slap, Rock Wrecker |
 Urshifu |
Counter, Dynamic Punch |
 Quaquaval |
Water Gun, Hydro Cannon |
How to battle Sierra in Pokémon GO?
To fight with Sierra in Pokémon GO, you need to first defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect enough Mysterious Components to build a Rocket Radar.
Activate the Rocket Radar and you will be able to see the location of a Rocket Leader. The game will not tell you which Leader you are facing, but you have a 33% chance for it to be Sierra.
Fighting Sierra is more difficult than fighting Grunts, as Leaders use higher level Pokémon than Grunts. In order to defeat Sierra, we consider using good counters mandatory.
You can rematch if you lose, and your Rocket Radar will be consumed if you win.
Rewards for defeating Team GO Rocket Leader Sierra
Trainers who manage to defeat Sierra – or any other Team GO Rocket Leader – will get a selection of rare rewards, including the chance to get a Team GO Rocket exclusive 12 km Strange Egg.
- Trainers receive 1,000 Stardust when defeating a Rocket Leaders,
- Trainers will receive two of the item bundles listed below when they defeat Team GO Rocket Leader like Sierra.
- Trainers have the opportunity to catch a Shadow Pokémon used by the Leader. It is always the first Pokémon used by the Leader.
- Shadow Pokémon from Rocket Leaders have a shiny chance of 1 in 64, if they are shiny eligible at the moment of defeating the Leader
Reward mechanics
Defeating one of the Team GO Rocket Leader trio earns you two item bundles. If at least one of your Egg inventory slots is open, a 12km Strange Egg is guaranteed to replace one of those two bundles.
Receiving a Strange Egg does not have an effect on which item bundle drops alongside the egg.
A Strange Egg can be deposited into your regular egg storage, or in the extra egg space if you already have 9 eggs.
Guaranteed
1000×
Stardust
Random drop of two of these
4×
Revive
2×
Max Revive
4×
Hyper Potion
2×
Max Potion
1×
Unova Stone
1×
Egg 12 km
As an example, a typical reward drop might contain 4 Revives and 4 Hyper Potions. Similarly, a reward drop might contain 1 Strange Egg and 2 Max Revives, or 1 Unova Stone and 1 Strange Egg.
The post Pokémon GO Sierra Lineup and Counters (September 2025) appeared first on Pokémon GO Hub.
