Pokemon Go Arlo counters - how to beat the Team Go Rocket leader

Pokemon Go Arlo counters
(Image credit: Niantic)

Pokemon Go Arlo counters will help when you eventually go up against one of the three Team GO Rocket Leaders and while they are all tough, Arlo is likely the easiest leader battle players will encounter. Just because Arlo is “easier,” doesn’t make him a cakewalk in Pokemon Go, especially if you’re not prepared. Here is everything you need to know about Arlo and his team, and which Pokemon counters to bring into battle against him.  

If you haven't taken down either of the other Team Go Rocket leaders yet, have a read of our Pokemon Go Cliff counters and Pokemon Go Sierra counters guides.

Pokemon Go Team Rocket | Pokemon Go Mysterious Components | How to purify shadow Pokemon in Pokemon Go | Pokemon Go Giovanni counters | Pokemon Go A Troubling Situation | Pokemon Go Looming in the Shadows | Pokemon Go Rocket Straight to Victory | Pokemon Go The Higher They Fly

Pokemon Go Arlo lineup

Pokemon Go Arlo counters

(Image credit: Niantic)
  1. Venonat
  2. Ursaring/Manectric/Magnezone
  3. Scizor/Crobat/Vileplume

Pokemon Go Arlo counters

Below you'll find all of Arlo's possible Pokemon, along with the four best counters and optimal moveset for taking down each one.

Venonat

 #1 Venonat Counters 

Venonat, like other first Pokemon the Leaders use, is a relatively easy Pokemon to defeat. It’s a Bug and Poison-type, and is weak to Flying, Fire and Psychic-type attacks. Consider bringing these Pokemon into battle against Venonat: 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
Mewtwo Confusion and Psystrike
DeoxysZen Headbutt and Psychic
ReshiramFire Fang and Overheat
Darmanitan Darmanitan Fire Fang and Overheat

Ursaring

 #2 Ursaring Counters 

Ursaring is a pure Normal-type Pokemon and is only weak to Fighting-type attacks. Luckily, there are plenty of those in Pokemon GO that can take out Ursaring as fast as possible. Here are our recommendations: 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
LucarioCounter and Aura Sphere
ConkeldurrCounter and Dynamic Punch
MachampCounter and Dynamic Punch
BreloomCounter and Dynamic Punch

Manectric

 #2 Manectric Counters 

Like Ursaring, Manectric has only one weakness and that’s to Ground-type attacks. The pure Electric-type can be a pain if you bring in the wrong Pokemon, but taking these counters into battle will nullify any issues Manectric may bring. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
GarchompMud Shot and Earth Power
GroudonMud Shot and Earthquake
LandorusMud Shot and Earth Power
MamoswineMud Slap and Bulldoze

Magnezone

 #2 Magnezone Counters 

Similar to Manectric, Arlo’s other option for a second Pokemon is an Electric-type. Magnezone is an Electric and Steel-type Pokemo and is weak to Fire, Fighting and especially Ground attacks, which it is four times weak to. That means bringing plenty of Ground-type Pokemon is key to taking down Magnezone.   

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
GarchompMud Shot and Earth Power
GroudonMud Shot and Earthquake
LandorusMud Shot and Earth Power
MamoswineMud Slap and Bulldoze

Scizor

 #3 Scizor Counters 

Arlo’s signature Pokemon is Scizor, the Bug and Steel-type Pokemon. While Scizor is a powerful Pokemon in its own right, it’s four times weak to Fire-type attacks making it easy to deal with.  

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
ReshiramFire Fang and Overheat
ChandelureFire Spin and Overheat
DarmanitanFire Fang and Overheat
MoltresFire Spin and Overheat

Crobat

 #3 Crobat Counters 

Crobat is a tricky Pokemon. It’s a Poison and Flying-type Pokemon and is weak to Electric, Rock, Ice and Psychic-type attacks. Rock is the only type that would resist its Poison and Flying-type attacks, but trainers are better off taking some powerful Psychic types into battle.  

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
MewtwoConfusion and Psystrike
DeoxysZen Headbutt and Psychic
ThundurusThunder Shock and Thunder Bolt
TyranitarSmackdown and Stone Edge

Vileplume

#3 Vileplume Counters

Vileplume is a bulky Pokemon and will take some time and powerful attacks to take it down. Its Grass and Poison typing make it weak to Fire, Flying, Ice and Psychic-type attacks. If you have powerful Psychic-type attackers bring them, but if you need expect a drawn-out fight bring a Fire-type that can resist Vileplume’s Grass attacks. 

Swipe to scroll horizontally
PokemonMoveset
MewtwoConfusion and Psystrike
DarmanitanFire Fang and Overheat
DeoxysZen Headbutt and Psychic
ChandelureFire Spin and Overheat

When you've beaten all three Team Rocket leaders, you can take on Giovanni! Click on the link in the intro at the top of the page for more details on how to take down the Team Rocket boss.

Phillip Martinez

I'm currently a GamesRadar guide contributor with a specialty in everything Pokemon GO. If you've wanted to know the best way to take down a Rayquaza, there's a good chance you read one of my guides. I previously have written for IBT Media, Newsweek and Screen Rant. I'm a huge fighting game fan and everything Pokemon, but I've grown to love RPGs.

Read more
Zoomed in art of the Sudowoodo illustration rare card in Pokemon TCG Pocket.
Pokemon's literal god of the universe is almost unstoppable in TCG Pocket – the only thing that can save us is a smiley tree and a concussed dinosaur
Palkia ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket, between Vaporeon and Manaphy
Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks tier list (March 2025)
Darkrai ex in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Best Pokemon TCG Pocket Darkrai and Weavile ex deck build
Lapras seen in the Pokemon anime.
Former Pokemon world champ uses a "stupid strategy" that "should never work" to transform a Lapras into an OHKO machine so powerful it can even take out enemies in alternate dimensions
Pokemon TCG Pocket Space-Time Smackdown expansion
All Secret Missions in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC artwork showing students on an exchange trip
The best Pokemon games, ranked from worst to best
Latest in Pokemon
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon Legends: Z-A screenshot
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer
Pokemon TCG Pocket
Pokemon TCG Pocket is getting yet another new expansion as the addition of shinies and Gen 9 Pokemon keep free-to-play players drowning in new cards to collect
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry release date and details
Pokemon GO
Despite new ownership's iffy history, Pokemon GO lead claims intrusive ads and playtime restrictions won't plague the game: "Not now, not ever"
Lego Pikachu tail over the top of the 'Who's that Pokemon?' anime screen
Lego Pokemon revealed for 2026 after 'shocking' Pikachu tease
Latest in Guides
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe "justice must be served" or "killing them isn't justice" Yaya and Mistumune choice
Should you side with Mitsumune or Yaya in Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny Cards
How to get Shiny Pokemon in Pokemon TCG Pocket
Assassin's Creed Shadows money naoe and merchant
How to get money in Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry
Pokemon TCG Pocket Shining Revelry release date and details
Assassin's Creed Shadows Naoe in outfit
Best Assassin’s Creed Shadows armor for Naoe and Yasuke
A player carrying a potion in horror game REPO.
REPO Strength explained and how to upgrade it