Pokemon Go Arlo counters October 2021: Best Pokemon to use & weaknesses

Defeating Pokemon Go’s Team Rocket Leader Arlo can be difficult, so we’ve got the best counters for his weaknesses that will lead you straight to victory. From Crobat to Scizor, Venonat, and Vileplume, here’s how to beat his lineup in October 2021.

One of the most exciting features of Pokemon Go is the battles you can enter against Team Go Rocket. The nefarious villains invade Pokestops within the game and use their aggressive Shadow Pokemon to battle against anyone who interacts with them.

If you win the battle, you’ll get the chance to capture one of their Shadow Pokemon, which can either be ‘purified’ for a CP boost or left as a Shadow with higher attack stats if you’re competitive-minded or looking to master Raid battles.

Additional reporting by Ava Thompson-Powell.

Contents

• Arlo Pokemon Go counters (October 2021)
• How to beat Arlo in Pokemon Go
• Phase 1
  • Venonat
• Phase 2
  • Crobat
  • Manectric
  • Ursaring
• Phase 3
  • Magnezone
  • Scizor
  • Vileplume
• Best team to defeat Arlo
• How to beat Team Rocket Leaders

Arlo is one of the hardest Team Go Rocket Leaders.

Arlo Pokemon Go counters (October 2021)

While Team Go Rocket’s Boss Giovanni is currently missing in the Season of Mischief, Trainers will still have the opportunity to face off against Arlo, who commands a pool of seven different Pokemon.

At the start of every match, the Team Go Rocket Leader will always send out Venonat, followed by two of six other potential encounters. Here’s Arlo’s current lineup of Pokemon:

• Phase 1: Venonat
• Phase 2: Crobat / Manectric / Ursaring
• Phase 3: Magnezone / Scizor / Vileplume

How to beat Arlo in Pokemon Go

If you defeat enough Team Go Rocket Grunts at PokeStops, you’ll be able to piece together a Rocket Radar, which will allow you to locate and battle either Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra. They’re chosen at random.

• Read More: Best attackers and defenders in Go

Let’s take a look at the weaknesses of all the Pokemon that Arlo can send out into battle, and the best counters you can use to defeat each one.

Arlo Pokemon Go counters phase 1

Arlo will always start with Venonat.

Venonat counters

Venonat is a Bug/Poison-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Fire, Flying, Psychic, and Rock.

Venonat Counters
	Blaziken	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Blast Burn (Charge Move)
	Darmanitan	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Ho-Oh	Incinerate (Fast Move) Brave Bird (Charge Move)
	Honchkrow	Peck (Fast Move) Sky Attack (Charge Move)
	Reshiram	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Rampardos	Smack Down (Fast Move) Rock Slide (Charge Move)

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Arlo Pokemon Go counters phase 2

Arlo’s Phase 2 Pokemon will either be Crobat, Manectric, or Ursaring.

Crobat counters

Crobat is a Poison/Flying-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock.

Crobat Counters
	Aggron	Smack Down (Fast Move) Heavy Slam (Charge Move)
	Electivire	Thunder Shock (Fast Move) Wild Charge (Charge Move)
	Magnezone	Spark (Fast Move) Wild Charge (Charge Move)
	Rampardos	Smack Down (Fast Move) Rock Slide (Charge Move)
	Regirock	Lock On (Fast Move) Stone Edge (Charge Move)
	Tyranitar	Smack Down (Fast Move) Crunch (Charge Move)

Manectric counters

Manectric is a pure Electric-type Pokemon, so its only major weakness is Ground.

Manectric Counters
	Excadrill	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Garchomp	Mud Shot (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Golem	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Groudon	Mud Shot (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Rhyperior	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Rock Wrecker (Charge Move)
	Tyranitar	Smack Down (Fast Move) Crunch (Charge Move)

Ursaring counters

Ursaring is a pure Normal-type Pokemon, which means that it’s weak to Ghost, Rock, Steel, and Fighting ‘mon.

Ursaring Counters
	Blaziken	Counter (Fast Move) Focus Blast (Charge Move)
	Breloom	Counter (Fast Move) Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)
	Conkeldurr	Counter (Fast Move) Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)
	Hariyama	Counter (Fast Move) Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)
	Lucario	Counter (Fast Move) Aura Sphere (Charge Move)
	Regigigas	Hidden Power (Fast Move) Giga Impact (Charge Move)

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Arlo Pokemon Go counters phase 3

Arlo’s Phase 3 Pokemon will either be Magnezone, Scizor, or Vileplume.

Magnezone counters

Magnezone is an Electric/Steel-type Pokemon, so it’s weak against Ground, Fighting, and Fire.

Magnezone Counters
	Donphan	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Excadrill	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Garchomp	Mud Shot (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Groudon	Mud Shot (Fast Move) Earthquake (Charge Move)
	Landorus	Mud Shot (Fast Move) Earth Power (Charge Move)
	Rhyperior	Mud-Slap (Fast Move) Rock Wrecker (Charge Move)

Scizor counters

Scizor is a Bug/Steel-type Pokemon, which means its only weakness is Fire.

Scizor Counters
	Blaziken	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Blast Burn (Charge Move)
	Charizard	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Blast Burn (Charge Move)
	Darmanitan	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Entei	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Heatran	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Fire Blast (Charge Move)
	Reshiram	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)

Vileplume counters

Vileplume is a Grass/Poison-type Pokemon, so it’s weak against Fire, Flying, Ice, and Psychic.

Vileplume Counters
	Charizard	Wing Attack (Fast Move) Blast Burn (Charge Move)
	Darmanitan	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Entei	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)
	Heatran	Fire Spin (Fast Move) Flamethrower (Charge Move)
	Ho-Oh	Incinerate (Fast Move) Brave Bird (Charge Move)
	Reshiram	Fire Fang (Fast Move) Overheat (Charge Move)

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Best team to beat Arlo in Pokemon Go

Heatran is an excellent addition to your team to take down Arlo in Go.

While we’ve listed a whole host of ‘mon above, one of the best teams you can take into battle against Arlo in Pokemon Go is Heatran, Reshiram, and Rhyperior.

With so many Pokemon that are weak to Fire on Arlo’s team (Venonat, Magnezone, Scizor, Vileplume) it makes sense to have two strong Fire-types like Heatran and Reshiram. Then, the Ground/Rock-type Rhyperior will be able to take out Crobat and Manectric.

• Read More: Pokemon Go promo codes

As always, if you don’t have any of the counters we’ve recommended, pay attention to the weaknesses of each of Arlo’s Pokemon (our type chart might help), and take your most powerful Pokemon of those types into battle for the best chance at success.

Remember, Arlo’s lineup changes often in the game, so make sure you check back here next time you fight them to make sure your favorite counters will still be effective.

How to beat Team Rocket Leaders in Pokemon Go

Alongside Arlo, you’ll also be able to go head to head with a few other Team Go Rocket Leaders, so check out our guides to defeat Cliff and Sierra. Unfortunately, Giovanni is currently off the radar for October.

So, there you have it. All you need to know about defeating Arlo in Pokemon Go, and the best counters to use along the way!

For all of the best tips and tricks to become the very best, make sure to check out our other guides:

Spotlight Hour guide | Current Raid Bosses | Best ‘mon in Go: Attackers and defenders | Pokemon Go Spotlight Hour | Cliff counters guide | Giovanni counters | How to get free Remote Raid Passes | Sierra counters guide | How to catch Ditto | Shop: Items list, prices, box changes