Arlo is back. If you’ve tapped on a Rocket Balloon today and saw that smug face staring back at you, you already know the drill. He isn't the pushover he used to be back in the day when a single Charizard could melt his entire team. This season, Arlo’s lineup is a weird mix of high-stamina walls and glassy attackers that can shred your health bars if you aren't paying attention.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is jumping in with their highest CP Pokémon without checking the typing. CP is a lie in Rocket Leader battles. It's all about the "stun lock" and shield baiting.
The January 2026 Lineup: What are you actually fighting?
Before we talk about the best pokemon go arlo counter options, you need to know who is even on the team. Arlo is currently leading with Shadow Wobbuffet.
Yes, the blue blob.
It’s annoying because it has massive HP, but its actual damage output is laughable. This is actually good news for you. It means you can use the first slot to farm energy or burn through his two shields without losing much health.
After Wobbuffet, things get randomized. In the second slot, he’ll throw out Shadow Slowbro, Shadow Crobat, or Shadow Steelix. His "closer" in the third slot is where the real pain starts: Shadow Scizor, Shadow Alakazam, or Shadow Alolan Muk.
If you get the Steelix/Scizor combo, you’re in for a long fight. If you get Wobbuffet/Slowbro/Alakazam, you can basically sweep the whole thing with a single Dark-type.
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Best Pokemon GO Arlo Counter for Wobbuffet
Wobbuffet is pure Psychic. You want Bug, Dark, or Ghost moves.
But here is the pro tip: don't just kill it. Use it. Wobbuffet hits like a wet noodle, so this is your chance to "shield bait." Arlo will always block your first two charged attacks. Use a Pokémon with a very fast-charging move to get those shields out of the way immediately.
Tyranitar with Bite and Brutal Swing is the gold standard here. It resists almost everything Wobbuffet does and charges Brutal Swing so fast that Arlo will be out of shields before you even break a sweat.
If you don't have a good T-Tar, Gengar with Shadow Punch works too, though Gengar is a bit squishy if you mistime a switch. Pinsir or Scizor (your own, not his) with X-Scissor are also great because they charge fast and deal super-effective bug damage.
Handling the Middle: Slowbro, Crobat, and Steelix
This is where the battle usually goes sideways. You need a flexible second Pokémon because these three have very different weaknesses.
Shadow Slowbro
Slowbro is Water/Psychic. It’s weak to Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark. If you’re still using that Tyranitar from the first round, just keep biting. Dawn Wings Necrozma also deletes Slowbro from existence with Moongeist Beam.
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Shadow Crobat
Crobat is a nightmare because of how fast it moves. It’s Poison/Flying, so you need Rock, Electric, Ice, or Psychic. Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker is a beast here. It resists Crobat’s poison moves and hits back like a truck.
Shadow Steelix
This is the "wall." Steel/Ground. You need Fire, Water, Fighting, or Ground. Primal Groudon or a standard Groudon with Precipice Blades is the best choice, period. If you’re budget-conscious, Swampert with Hydro Cannon is the king of spam. It forces Steelix to sit through constant "stun" animations.
The Closers: Scizor, Alakazam, and Alolan Muk
If you make it to the third Pokémon, you're almost there.
Shadow Scizor is arguably the most famous pokemon go arlo counter challenge. It only has one weakness: Fire. But it’s a double weakness. If you bring a Charizard (especially Mega or Shadow) or a Blaziken with Blast Burn, Scizor melts in about four seconds. Just don't let it hit you with a Night Slash or X-Scissor if your health is low.
Shadow Alakazam is the opposite of Steelix. It has zero defense but hits like a nuclear bomb. You need to kill it fast. Dark-types like Hydreigon or Darkrai are your best friends.
Alolan Muk is Poison/Dark. Its only weakness is Ground. This is why having a Garchomp or Excadrill in your back pocket is so vital. Mud-Slap is the move you want here; it deals heavy "fast move" damage that bypasses the need for charge moves entirely.
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Pro Strategies the Experts Use
You’ve probably noticed that when you swap Pokémon or use a Charged Attack, the Team GO Rocket leader stops attacking for about two to three seconds.
This is the "stutter."
Exploit it.
Don't lead with your best counter. Lead with something else, and then immediately swap to your real counter. This gives you three seconds of free hits to build up energy. Also, never fire off back-to-back Charged Attacks. Fire one, wait for them to start attacking again (usually two fast moves), then fire the second one. This maximizes the time they spend standing still doing nothing.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Battle
- Check your inventory for a Tyranitar or Hydreigon. These "Pseudo-Legendaries" cover about 70% of Arlo's possible team.
- Equip fast-charging moves. Moves like Power-up Punch, Brutal Swing, or X-Scissor are better than high-damage moves like Hyper Beam because they burn shields and create stutters.
- Lose on purpose if you have to. If you go in and get wrecked, don't worry. The lineup stays the same for that specific PokéStop or Balloon. Now that you know he has, say, Steelix and Scizor, you can come back with a dedicated Ground/Fire team and steamroll him.
- Save your shields for the third Pokémon. You can usually tank a hit from Wobbuffet or Slowbro, but a Shadow Scizor will end your run instantly if a Charged Attack connects.
Victory over Arlo isn't about having the rarest Pokémon; it's about understanding the clock. Use the stun, bait the shields early, and keep a Fire-type in the back just in case that Scizor shows up.