Can’t figure out how to beat Sierra in Pokémon GO?
Defeating Team GO Rocket is part of every trainer’s journey in Pokémon GO. Like any Pokémon series, Team GO Rocket in Pokémon GO is a criminal organization that aims to take over all the PokeStops in the world.
Inspired by the original Pokémon franchise, Team GO Rocket is composed of various grunts, including Jesse and James, team leaders, and Giovanni, the evil mastermind behind all of this.
Among the three leaders of Team GO Rocket is Sierra. She is considered the second-best leader of the group next to Arlo and also uses a wide variety of Pokémon that can be difficult to predict and counter.
Nonetheless, facing Sierra in a battle is far easier than going up against Arlo.
If you also want to defeat Arlo, you can check our detailed guide regarding this matter to help you out.
Today, we will focus on giving you key pointers to beat Sierra in Pokémon GO.
Let’s dive right in!
How to Beat Sierra in Pokémon GO

Like any Team GO Rocket leader, Sierra has various Pokémon that she can use randomly against you. This is one of the reasons why trainers are having difficulties facing Team GO Rocket leaders.
Besides, their combination of Pokémon is compelling and has good coverage of most Pokémon types.
With this, the key to defeating Sierra is knowing all the Pokémon she can use against you and preparing the best counters for them.
1st Round
Sneasel

When facing Sierra, you have to remember that she would always start with Sneasel. It is a Dark / Ice-type Pokémon vulnerable to Fairy, Fighting, Steel, Fire, Rock-type moves. Fighting-type Pokémon are the most effective against Sierra.
However, Sneasel can resist Ghost, Psychic, Ice, and Dark-type attacks, so be sure to avoid them.
Here are some Pokémon that can handle Sneasel:
- Blaziken – Fire Spin / Focus Blast
- Primeape – Counter / Low Sweep
- Conkeldurr – Counter / Dynamic Punch
- Sirfetch’d – Fury Cutter / Close Combat
- Meloetta – Low Kick / Close Combat
2nd Round
Ampharos

If you pass the 1st round, Sierra will start taking things seriously, and she’ll start using a few tricks up her sleeve. One of the possible Pokémon you can face is Ampharos, a pure Electric-type Pokémon.
It is vulnerable to Ground-type moves and strong against Flying, Steel, and Electric-type attacks.
Countering Ampharos is quite easy, and here are some Pokémon you can use:
- Krookodile – Mud-Slap / Earthquake
- Rhyperior – Smack Down / Earthquake
- Golem – Mud-Slap / Earthquake
- Excadrill – Mud-Slap / Rock Slide
- Flygon – Mud Shot / Earthquake
Gliscor

Aside from Ampharos, Sierra can also go with Gliscor, a dual Ground / Flying-type Pokémon that is weak to Ice and Water-type attacks. Gliscor can resist damage from Bug, Ground, Poison, Fighting, and Electric-type moves, so stay away from them.
Some of the best counters for Gliscor are the following:
- Kingdra – Water Gun / Blizzard
- Mamoswine – Powder Snow / Avalanche
- Gyarados – Waterfall / Aqua Tail
- Kabutops – Waterfall / Water Pulse
- Slowking – Water Gun / Blizzard
Granbull

Although it doesn’t look intimidating, Sierra’s Granbull is no easy opponent either. Granbull is a pure Fairy-type Pokémon that is only vulnerable to Steel and Poison-type moves. This means that it can handle damage from Dark, Dragon, Bug, and Fighting-type attacks.
Nonetheless, Granbull is a manageable opponent if you pick the proper counters.
Here are some of them:
- Attack Deoxys – Poison Jab / Zap Cannon
- Staraptor – Wing Attack / Brave Bird
- Drapion – Infestation / Sludge Bomb
- Ho-Oh – Steel Wing / Brave Bird
- Roserade – Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb
3rd Round
Kingdra

One of the Pokémon that Sierra can use for the final round is Kingdra, a Water / Dragon-type Pokémon that can resist Fire, Steel, and Water-type attacks. On the other hand, it is vulnerable to Dragon and Fairy-type moves.
With that said, you can use any of the Pokémon below should be able to handle Kingdra:
- Xerneas – Tackle & Moonblast
- Mega Altaria – Peck & Dazzling Gleam
- Granbull – Charm & Play Rough
- Gardevoir – Charm & Dazzling Gleam
- Kingdra – Dragon Breath & Outrage
Houndoom

Sierra could also turn up the intensity quickly by going with Houndoom for the 3rd round. This Dark / Fire-type Pokémon will surely give trainers a hard time if chosen in the final round. It is vulnerable to Water, Ground, Fighting, and Rock-type moves but can resist Fire, Grass, Ghost, Ice, Dark, Steel, and Psychic-type moves.
Decent counters for Houndoom include:
- Lucario – Counter / Aura Sphere
- Sharpedo – Waterfall / Hydro Pump
- Rampardos – Smack Down / Rock Slide
- Conkeldurr – Counter / Focus Blast
- Landorus – Rock Throw / Earth Power
Drapion

When worst comes to worst, Sierra can also go with Drapion, a Poison / Dark-type Pokémon that is only weak to Ground-type moves. Drapion is also resistant to Poison, Grass, Dark, Ghost, and Psychic-type attacks.
Some of the best counters for Drapion are:
- Nidoking – Fury Cutter / Earth Power
- Garchomp – Mud Shot / Earth Power
- Therian Landorus – Mud Shot / Earthquake
- Mamoswine – Mud-Slap / Bulldoze
- Excadrill – Mud Shot / Earthquake
You Might Ask (FAQs)
What are the best Pokémon to beat Sierra?
Regardless of Sierra’s Pokémon lineup, trainers can go for Groudon with Mud Shot and Earthquake or Excadrill with Mud Shot and Drill Run as a safe choice to counter Sierra’s possible Pokémon.
What is Dark type’s weakness?
Dark-type Pokémon give great resistance to Ghost, Psychic, and other Dark-type moves, but they are weak against Fighting, Fairy, and Bug-type attacks.
What is Fairy type’s weakness?
Fairy-type Pokémon can’t handle attacks from Steel and Poison-type Pokémon. On the other hand, Poison, Steel, and Fire-type Pokémon are the best counters for Fairy-types.
This ends our guide on how to beat Sierra in Pokémon GO. If you have questions or other concerns, please let us know in the comment section, and we’ll be glad to answer them.