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

Pokemon Go Sierra counters
(Image credit: Niantic)

These Pokemon Go Sierra counters will help you defeat the Team GO Rocket Leader considered to be somewhere in the middle in terms of difficulty in Pokemon Go. If Cliff is considered the toughest Leader and Arlo is the easiest, that makes Sierra an intermediate step. Sierra’s Pokemon are well balanced, so it’ll make bringing optimal counters a challenge, but not impossible. Continue reading to learn about Sierra’s team in Pokemon GO and the best counters for them.

Still need to battle the other Team Go Rocket leaders? Make sure you read our Pokemon Go Cliff counters and Pokemon Go Arlo counters guides for more.

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Pokemon Go Sierra lineup

Pokemon Go Sierra counters

(Image credit: Niantic)

  1. Sneasel
  2. Gliscor/Granbull/Ampharos
  3. Houndoom/Kingdra/Drapion

Pokemon Go Sierra counters

Below are all of the best counters to Sierra's Pokemon, listed in the order they can appear.

Sneasel

 #1 Sneasel Counters 

Sneasel is Sierra’s first Pokemon and is the toughest of the three Team GO Rocket Leaders. Although it’s frail, Sneasel is a sneaky strong attacker. Its Ice and Dark typing make it good against a number of Pokemon and weak to Bug, Fire, Rock, Steel and Fighting-type attacks. Its typing makes it four times weak to Fighting attacks so trainers will want to bring in as many as possible.  

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PokemonMoveset
LucarioCounter and Aura Sphere
ConkeldurrCounter and Dynamic Punch
MachampCounter and Dynamic Punch
BreloomCounter and Dynamic Punch

Gliscor

 #2 Gliscor Counters 

Gliscor is one of a few Pokemon to have the Ground and Flying typing. It’s only weak to Water and Ice-type attacks with the latter being four times effective against Gliscor so trainers will want to bring in as many Pokemon that use Ice attacks as possible.  

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PokemonMoveset
MamoswinePowder Snow and Avalanche
GlaceonFrost Breath and Avalanche
WeavileIce Shard and Avalanche
Alolan NinetalesPowder Snow and Weather Ball

Granbull

 #2 Granbull Counters 

Fairy-type Pokemon are some of the hardest to take down and Sierra’s Granbull could be difficult if you aren’t prepared with some counters. Granbull is a pure Fairy-type and is weak to just Steel and Poison-type attacks. There are a few powerful Steel types that trainers will want to take into battle against including the following: 

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PokemonMoveset
MetagrossBullet Punch and Meteor Mash
Galarian SlowbroPoison Jab and Sludge Bomb
DrapionPoison Sting and Sludge Bomb
DialgaMetal Claw and Iron Head

Ampharos

 #2 Ampharos Counters 

Electric types like Ampharos are weak to just Ground-type attacks. If you’re used to taking on other Electric types like Manectric and Magnezone then you will likely have the perfect counters for Ampharos. However, be wary of some of Ampharos’ possible moves that include Focus Blast and Dragon Pulse.  

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PokemonMoveset
LandorusMud Shot and Earth Power
GroudonMud Shot and Earthquake
GarchompSnarl/Dark Pulse
MamoswineMud Slap and Bulldoze

Houndoom

#3: Houndoom counters

Houndoom is Sierra’s signature Pokemon and is a powerful attacker so be prepared with some Rock and Water types to take its Fire-type attacks. The Fire and Dark-type from the Johto region is weak to Water, Rock, Fighting and Ground-type attacks. Here are some recommendations to take on Houndoom.  

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PokemonMoveset
TyranitarSmack Down and Stone Edge
RampardosSmack Down and Stone Edge
LandorusMud Shot and Earth Power
ConkeldurrCounter and Dynamic Punch

Kingdra

 #3 Kingdra Counters 

Kingdra is one of the toughest Pokemon to damage as its Water and Dragon typing is one of the best combinations in all of Pokemon GO. However, the addition of the Fairy typing does make it easy to counter Kingdra. Sierra’s second possible final Pokemon is weak to only Dragon and Fairy types so here are some recommendations to take it down.  

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PokemonMoveset
TogekissCharm and Dazzling Gleam
GranbullCharm and Play Rough
KingdraDragon Breath and Outrage
GarchompDragon Tail and Outrage

Drapion

 #3 Drapion Counters  

Drapion is a unique Pokemon as its only weak to Ground-type attacks. Luckily for Pokemon GO trainers, there are plenty of Ground types to take into battle against the possible final member of Sierra’s team. Here are some recommendations to counter Sierra’s Drapion. 

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PokemonMoveset
GarchompMud Shot and Earth Power
Landorus Mud Shot and Earth Power
MamoswineMud Slap and Bulldozevvvvv
GroudonMud Shot and Earthquake
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.