Introduction
For the duration of GoFest’s Day 2, Rocket Leaders each have a single unique lineup. Rather than doing a full guide for each, we’re gonna compress it all into a few tips here!
Cliff
Pinsir/Tyranitar/Articuno
Pinsir has Fighting and Bug-type Fast Moves. This means Flying-types are your best bet to counter it. Moltres is exceptionally strong, as its Fire typing means it double resists the Bug moves. In the absence of that, Ghosts (especially spammy ones like Giratina-Altered or Origin), are solid as well.
For Tyranitar, there’s really no better choice than Fighting-type damage. Lucario and Poliwrath resist both Bite and Iron Tail, but Machamp or Conkeldurr will do just fine. Alternatively, just use your strongest Water, Grass, or Ground attackers.
Articuno is double-weak to Rock, but it hits hard with Ice. This means your Rhyperiors may go down quick, and you should try to use Tyranitar or Terrakion if you’ve got them. If not, Fire (Entei, Heatran, Arcanine) or Steel (Metagross) are fantastic picks as well!
Sierra
Beldum/Houndoom/Zapdos
Beldum is more or less farmbait, dealing almost no damage. Use this opportunity to take both of Sierra’s shields and build up energy for the other two Pokémon.
Machamp, Swampert, and Kyogre are great picks here. With enough stored energy, you can knock out Houndoom before it even gets a fast move in! Ground-types are often a bit slow, so in general Fighting and Water are your top choices!
Zapdos deals mostly Electric damage, and is weak to Rock and Ice. As such, the top two picks are Rhyperior (with Smack Down + Rock Wrecker or Stone Edge) and Mamoswine (Powder Snow + Avalanche). In the absence of that, anything you’ve got in those types should be good!
Arlo
Mawile/Scizor/Moltres
Mawile is tough, with its four fast moves giving it crazy coverage. All things considered, Fire-types like Entei, Blaziken, and Heatran are your best bet. Mud Slap Rhydon and Rhyperior are also good choices, though they’re iffier against Ice Fang. Swampert’s an especially solid pick against Fire Fang versions.
Scizor: double weak to Fire. Thus, more Fire-types! If you don’t have any good ones, Water-types are good against Bullet Punch, and Ghost-types are good against Fury Cutter. Swampert, Kyogre, and Giratina are all solid picks here.
Like Articuno, Moltres is double weak to Rock. Unlike Articuno, Moltres doesn’t deal Ice damage. If you search @Rock Throw or @Smack Down and pick the biggest Pokémon (probably a Rhyperior?), you’re likely set to handle the Valor team’s mascot.
Giovanni
Persian/Sandslash/Mewtwo
Persian’s counters are split based on its fast move. If it’s Scratch, consider Steel- or Rock-types, like Melmetal, Metagross, and Tyranitar. If it’s Feint Attack, Fighting-types are much stronger, so just use a Machamp. Lucario resists both and hits back hard if you have one, preferably with Power-Up Punch to burn shields easier but Aura Sphere is alright too.
Sandslash is weakest to Grass, Water, and Ice. This means your Venusaur, Sceptile, Kyogre, and Gyarados will be fantastic picks here!
Mewtwo may not be that bulky, but it hits like a truck. A truck enhanced by evil shadow power. Steel-types (especially Metagross) and Dark-types (Darkrai, Weavile, Bite Tyranitar) are fantastic choices, with great resistances against Mewtwo’s Psychic-type fast moves. Just try to save a shield, though, just in case!
