If you’ve clicked on this, you're probably staring at a screen of fainted Pokémon and wondering why a Team GO Rocket leader is suddenly playing like she’s in the Master League Finals. Look. Sierra is annoying. Every time Niantic rotates the lineups, there is this collective groan from the community because her Shadow lineups tend to have some of the most frustrating coverage in the game.
October 2024 is no different.
The current rotation kicked off with the Galarian Expedition: Taken Over event. If you’re hunting that Shadow Carvanha—which, let's be honest, is a glass cannon but looks cool—you have to get through her first. It isn't just about having high CP monsters. You need to understand how the AI "thinks," how to abuse the two-second switch stun, and which specific resistances stop her from farming you down with fast moves.
The Lineup You’re Facing
Sierra always starts with Shadow Carvanha. That’s the easy part. It’s thin. It dies to a breeze. But the problem is what comes after.
In slot two, she’s currently cycling through Milotic, Sharpedo, or Hippowdon. This is where most players lose their momentum. If you bring a Grass type to handle Milotic, and she brings out Sharpedo with Poison Fang or Hippowdon with Ice Fang, you’re in trouble.
Slot three is the real headache. You’re looking at Houndoom, Gardevoir, or Kingdra. Gardevoir is the run-killer. If you aren't prepared for those Charms, your entire team will evaporate in about twelve seconds. No joke.
Why You Keep Losing to Shadow Carvanha
It sounds silly, right? It’s a tiny fish. But in Pokémon GO, Shadow leads are designed to burn your shields or chip you down before the real threats emerge.
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Carvanha uses Snarl or Bite. If it’s Bite, it’s raw damage. If it’s Snarl, she’s building energy fast. Most people lead with a heavy hitter, but you should lead with a "Shield Breaker." You want something that reaches a Charged Move in 3-5 seconds.
Why? Because the AI pauses for two seconds every time a Charged Move is used or a Pokémon is swapped. You need to exploit those pauses to get free hits in.
Breaking Down the Slot Two Options
Milotic is a tank. Pure and simple. It uses Dragon Tail or Waterfall. If you see Waterfall, your Rock and Fire types are toast. Most veteran players are leaning on Kartana or Zarude here, but if you’re playing on a budget, Magnezone is a godsend. Magnezone resists almost everything Milotic throws and spams Mirror Shot to bait those shields.
Then there’s Sharpedo. It’s basically Carvanha on steroids. It’s incredibly frail but hits like a truck. If you see Sharpedo, don’t overthink it. Fairy or Fighting types erase it.
Hippowdon is the wild card. It has a massive move pool. It can run Fire Fang, Ice Fang, Thunder Fang, or Bite. This makes it hard to hard-counter. Honestly? The best way to beat Sierra’s Hippowdon is to use a bulky Water type like Kyogre or even a Swampert. Mud Shot generates energy so fast that you can Hydro Cannon the hippo into oblivion before it can chip you down with those elemental fangs.
The Gardevoir Problem
We have to talk about Gardevoir. It is the single most dangerous Pokémon in Sierra’s October 2024 roster.
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If she brings Gardevoir and you have a Fighting or Dragon type out, switch immediately. Do not pass go. Do not collect 200 PokéCoins. Charm damage is oppressive.
To beat Sierra when she has Gardevoir, you need Steel. Metagross with Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash is the gold standard. If you don’t have a high-level Metagross, Melmetal is a great accessible alternative. You can get a Mystery Box every few days by sending a Pokémon to Pokémon HOME. Melmetal with Double Iron Bash (if you have the Elite TM) or Rock Slide/Superpower can spam moves and keep Gardevoir staggered.
Kingdra and Houndoom: The "Other" Closers
Kingdra is a pain because of its typing. Water/Dragon only fears Fairy and Dragon. Since you shouldn't really be using Dragons against Sierra (too risky with Gardevoir around), your best bet is a strong Fairy type or a very neutral, high-DPS attacker. Togekiss works well here, but even a Cresselia with Grass Knot can put in work if you’ve already cleared the shields.
Houndoom is the "mercy" pull. If she has Houndoom in the back, you’ve basically won. Any Fighting, Water, or Rock type will flatten it. Terrakion with Sacred Sword is particularly hilarious here—it just deletes the dog.
The Secret "Switch" Strategy
If you want to beat Sierra every single time, do not start with your primary attacker.
Put your "lead" Pokémon in the second or third slot of your team. As soon as the battle starts, immediately switch to them. This triggers the AI lag. Sierra will stop attacking for about two seconds. In a high-stakes Rocket battle, those 2-3 free Fast Moves are the difference between having a Charged Move ready for her second Pokémon and getting knocked out early.
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Best Budget Counters for October 2024
Not everyone has a level 50 Shadow Mewtwo. I get it. If you're struggling, try this "Everyman" team:
- Lucario or Machamp: Great for Carvanha and Sharpedo. Counter is the best fast move in the game for building pressure. Power-Up Punch on Lucario is essential for baiting shields and boosting your attack.
- Magnezone: It’s cheap to build (Magnemite is everywhere). Spark and Mirror Shot/Wild Charge can handle Milotic and Kingdra surprisingly well.
- Sylveon or Granbull: If you don't have Metagross, use a Fairy. Charm hits Gardevoir for neutral damage but resists Kingdra’s Dragon moves and crushes Houndoom.
Essential Tactics for the Win
First, prioritize shield baiting. Sierra has two shields. She will always use them on the first two Charged Moves you throw. Don't waste your "big" moves like Earthquake or Hydro Pump immediately. Use low-energy moves like Bone Rush, Power-Up Punch, or Muddy Water to get those shields out of the way.
Second, watch the Fast Moves. If you see she’s using a move that is "Super Effective" against you, switch out instantly. The "Taken Over" buffs make Shadow Pokémon hit significantly harder than standard ones. You cannot "tank" your way through a bad matchup.
Third, use the "Post-Charged Move" window. After any Charged Move (yours or hers), the AI freezes. You can usually get 2 or 3 Fast Moves in before she starts attacking again. This is the optimal time to farm energy.
Real World Example: The "Gardevoir" Safety Net
I recently ran into a Sierra lineup that was Carvanha / Hippowdon / Gardevoir. I led with Machamp. I stayed in just long enough to throw one Cross Chop (she shielded), then I switched to Metagross.
That switch gave me enough breathing room to farm energy on the dying Carvanha. By the time Hippowdon came out, I had two Meteor Mashes ready. Because I’d already baited one shield with Machamp, I used the second Meteor Mash to take her last shield. When Gardevoir finally appeared, my Metagross was sitting on nearly full energy. Two Bullet Punches and a Meteor Mash later, the fight was over.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Encounter
- Check your Lead: Start with a Fighting type but swap immediately to a Steel or Electric type to trigger the AI stun.
- Burn the Shields: Use a Pokémon with high energy generation (like Swampert with Mud Shot or Greninja with Water Shuriken) to force her to use both shields on her first Pokémon.
- Keep a "Generalist" in the back: Something like Dragonite or Garchomp can clean up most of her roster if you’ve handled the Gardevoir threat.
- Refine your team: If you lose, look at the moves she was using. If her Hippowdon had Ice Fang and it destroyed your Grass type, switch to a Water or Rock type for the rematch. The lineup stays the same if you challenge the same PokéStop or Balloon immediately.
- Check the Weather: Remember that weather boosts apply to Rocket battles. If it’s raining, her Water moves will hurt more, but your Electric moves will also do more damage. Use the environment to your advantage.
Beating Sierra in October 2024 isn't about brute force; it's about managing the clock and knowing that Gardevoir is the real boss, not the Carvanha at the front. Focus on shield management and exploit the switch timer, and you'll be catching that Shadow Carvanha in no time.