Arlo is back, and honestly, he's kind of a nightmare this month. If you’ve been cruising through Team GO Rocket encounters thinking your old Smack Down Tyranitar is going to carry you through every single leader fight, June 2025 is going to be a massive reality check. Niantic shifted the meta again. It happens. But this time, the lineup shifts feel particularly punishing for players who rely on "auto-select" or outdated infographics from three years ago.
Tracking down Pokemon Go Arlo June 2025 lineups requires more than just knowing what he’s leading with; it’s about understanding the specific shield-pressure mechanics that make his current roster so annoying. Arlo has always been the "technical" leader of the trio. While Cliff relies on raw bulk and Sierra often goes for speed, Arlo’s June 2025 team composition is built to bait your shields early and then sweep with high-damage Fast Moves that can delete your Lead before you even reach a second Charged Attack.
The June 2025 Lineup Breakdown
Right now, Arlo is leading with Shadow Teddiursa. Don't let the cute face fool you. While Teddiursa itself isn't the threat, the potential for a Shadow Ursaluna or even a nasty Shadow Scizor later in the fight means you have to manage your energy perfectly from second one.
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In the second slot, you’re looking at a rotation between Shadow Charizard, Shadow Golurk, or Shadow Hypno. This is where most trainers hit a wall. If you bring a Rock-type to handle the Charizard, Golurk’s Mud-Slap will delete you in four hits. It’s a classic RPS (Rock-Paper-Scissors) trap. The third slot is even more volatile, featuring Shadow Scizor, Shadow Salamence, or the heavy-hitting Shadow Dragonite.
Why Shadow Teddiursa is a Shield Bait Trap
The reason Arlo is using Teddiursa in June 2025 is simple: it’s a Normal-type with high energy generation. It forces you to stay in and farm, but if you don't burn his shields immediately, you’re going to enter the second matchup at a massive disadvantage.
You need a "Shield Breaker." This is a Pokemon with a very fast-charging move. Think Lucario with Power-Up Punch or Greninja with Hydro Cannon. You aren't trying to do massive damage here. You are trying to make Arlo waste those two shields as fast as humanly possible so your "Closer" can finish the job. If you enter the second phase of the fight and Arlo still has a shield, you've basically already lost the encounter.
Best Counters for Pokemon Go Arlo June 2025
Let's get practical. You need a team that covers his wide range of typing.
Lucario is arguably the MVP for the first half of this fight. If you have one with Counter and Power-Up Punch, you can spam Arlo into oblivion. The beauty of Power-Up Punch is that it buffs your Attack every time you use it. By the time Teddiursa is down, your Lucario is hitting like a freight train. Just watch out if he swaps into Charizard; you'll need to bail immediately.
Mamoswine (specifically High-Level or Shadow) is your insurance policy against the Dragon-types in slot three. If Arlo brings out Salamence or Dragonite, Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche ends the fight in seconds. Seriously. It’s not even a contest. However, Mamoswine is glassy. You cannot let it take a Charged Attack.
Tyranitar still has a place, but only if you see Charizard. With the June 2025 move tuning, Smack Down deals incredible chip damage, but you have to be wary of Scizor’s Steel-type moves which will shred Tyranitar's health bar before you can say "Team Rocket's blasting off again."
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Dealing with the Shadow Golurk Problem
Golurk is the "run-killer" this month. It has access to Mud-Slap, which received a stealth buff in the late 2024 balance updates, making it one of the hardest-hitting Fast Moves in the game. If you aren't prepared, Golurk will farm your Lucario or Tyranitar for energy and then have a Shadow Ball ready for whatever you bring in next.
To beat the June 2025 Golurk, you want a Water or Grass-type that can take a hit. Swampert is the gold standard here. Mud Shot builds energy so fast that you can hit Golurk with a Hydro Cannon before it even gets to its first move. Kyogre is another heavy hitter, but it lacks the spamminess of Swampert. Honestly, Swampert is just more reliable for the Rocket Leader AI.
The Scizor Threat
Scizor is Arlo's signature Pokemon for a reason. It only has one weakness: Fire. If you don't have a Fire-type move in your back pocket, a Shadow Scizor can potentially solo your entire team. It resists almost everything else.
A lot of players make the mistake of bringing a pure Fire-type like Charizard or Arcanine. While they do damage, they often die too fast because Scizor’s Night Slash builds up so quickly and can trigger an Attack buff. A better play is something like Heatran or a Ho-Oh with Incinerate. They have the bulk to tank a few hits while dealing 4x effective damage.
Advanced Tactics for June 2025
The most important mechanic in Team GO Rocket fights is the "stun" period. Every time you use a Charged Attack or a switch, the AI stops attacking for about 2 to 3 seconds. Expert players exploit this.
Don't just tap mindlessly.
Wait.
After you use a move, get in two or three Fast Attacks while Arlo is standing there frozen. This extra energy generation is often the difference between getting off a finishing move and dying with a full energy bar. In the Pokemon Go Arlo June 2025 meta, energy management is everything because the Shadow Pokemon damage multiplier is so high that one or two Fast Moves from a Shadow Salamence will end your run.
Strategy Summary for Success
Success against Arlo this month comes down to a few very specific choices.
- Lead with a Spammy Fighter: Lucario or Machamp (with Cross Chop) are best. Burn those shields immediately.
- The Mid-Game Pivot: If Golurk or Hypno comes out, swap to something that resists their moves. Don't stay in with your Lead if the matchup is neutral. Use that swap to freeze the AI.
- Save the Ice/Fire for the End: You need to know if he has a Dragon or a Scizor. Usually, you can tell based on the silhouette or the "taunt" text, but if you're going in blind, keep a Mamoswine or a Heatran in the third slot.
If you lose, don't just revive and jump back in with the same team. Look at what he had. The lineup for that specific PokeStop or Balloon stays the same for that encounter. If he had Golurk in the middle, he will always have Golurk in the middle for that specific fight. Adjust your second slot to a Water-type and go back in.
Moving Forward with Shadow Teddiursa
Once you defeat Arlo, you get the chance to catch Shadow Teddiursa. While it might not seem top-tier, Shadow Ursaluna with High Horsepower is a legitimate beast in Master League Premier and certain Raid scenarios. It's worth using your Radars to hunt for a high-IV version this June.
Check your storage for a "Purified" gem if you’re struggling with the Shadow damage. While most veterans suggest keeping everything Shadow for the 20% damage boost, sometimes a high-defense Purified mon is exactly what you need to anchor a team if you’re a lower-level trainer.
Stop treating Arlo like a regular Grunt. He’s designed to counter lazy playstyles. Tighten up your swaps, use the stun mechanic, and keep your Mamoswine away from Scizor. Do that, and you’ll be collecting your 12km Egg without any stress.
Actionable Steps for June 2025:
- Audit your Lucario: Ensure it has Power-Up Punch; it's non-negotiable for shield baiting.
- Check the Radar: Only engage Arlo if you have a Swampert or Kyogre ready for the Golurk possibility.
- Practice the "Stun" Count: Count two Fast Moves after every Charged Attack to maximize energy gain while the AI is paused.
- Save your Berries: Shadow Teddiursa has a low catch rate; use a Silver Pinap to maximize candy for that eventual Shadow Ursaluna evolution.