Look, Arlo has always been the most annoying member of the Team GO Rocket trio. Whether it’s his smug attitude or that signature red tracksuit, he just feels like the guy who wants to ruin your walk in the park. Entering Pokemon Go Arlo January 2025 cycles, things haven't changed much in terms of his ego, but the meta shifted just enough to make his current lineup a genuine headache if you aren't prepared.
If you’re hunting that elusive Shiny Shadow, you've probably realized that brute force doesn't work as well as it used to. Niantic loves tweaking the AI's aggression levels. Honestly, if you go in with a generic "recommended" team, you’re going to burn through Max Revives faster than a Charizard through a field of Oddish.
What Arlo Is Actually Using Right Now
The big news for the start of the year is his lead. For Pokemon Go Arlo January 2025, he is anchoring his team with Shadow Anorith. It’s a bit of a curveball compared to the heavy hitters he's had in the past. Anorith is Bug/Rock, which sounds easy on paper until you realize it can spam X-Scissor or Ancient Power.
The middle of the pack is where the real RNG nightmare starts. You’re likely to face Shadow Steelix, Shadow Gardevoir, or Shadow Magnezone. This is a nasty spread. If you bring a Dragon to fight Steelix, Gardevoir will Charm you into oblivion before you can even reach a Charged Attack. If you bring a Fairy for Steelix, Magnezone might just zap you out of the sky. It's about coverage.
His final slot is currently held down by Shadow Scizor, Shadow Salamence, or Shadow Armaldo. Scizor is the classic Arlo pick. It only has one weakness: Fire. If you don't have a Fire-type alive by the time you reach the third slot, you might as well quit and restart. It’s that simple.
The Anorith Problem and Shield Baiting
Let’s talk strategy. The first thing you need to do is burn Arlo's shields. Shadow Leaders always use their shields on the first two Charged Attacks you throw, no matter how weak those attacks are.
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This is why Lucario with Power-Up Punch or Greninja with Hydro Cannon are gold tier here. You want something that charges fast. I’ve found that leading with a specialized "breaker" makes the rest of the fight a breeze. Don't worry about doing massive damage to Anorith right away. Just get those shields out of the way.
Anorith’s Rock-type moves can hurt, but since it's also a Bug, it’s susceptible to Water, Rock, and Steel. Empoleon is a sleeper hit here because it resists almost everything Anorith throws while hitting back with Drill Peck or Hydro Cannon.
Dealing With the Middle Slot Chaos
If he pulls out Shadow Gardevoir, you have to swap immediately. Charm is arguably the most oppressive Fast Attack in the game when used by a Shadow Pokemon. Your health bar will simply vanish.
Metagross is the hard counter. Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash will delete Gardevoir. But wait—what if he has Steelix? Then your Metagross is basically hitting a brick wall. This is why you need a flexible second slot. Primal Groudon or a high-level Rhyperior with Mud-Slap is great because they can handle both Magnezone and Steelix.
Steelix is a tank. It’s slow, but it’s bulky. You need Ground, Fighting, or Fire. If you’re lucky enough to have a Terrakion with Sacred Sword, use it. It cuts through Steelix like butter and can also help with Arlo’s third-slot Scizor if you’re in a pinch.
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The Scizor Threat in January 2025
Scizor is Arlo's pride and joy. It’s fast. It’s mean. It has a 4x weakness to Fire.
If you see Scizor at the end of the Pokemon Go Arlo January 2025 rotation, you need Heatran, Ho-Oh, or Blaziken. Honestly, even a Charizard with Blast Burn does the trick. The problem is that Scizor often carries Night Slash, which has a chance to boost its Attack stat. If that proc happens, the fight becomes significantly harder.
Salamence is the other possibility. It’s a glass cannon. If you saved a shield, you can take it down with a strong Ice-type move. Mamoswine is the king here. One Powder Snow and an Avalanche, and that dragon is grounded.
Essential Team Building for This Month
Don't overcomplicate it. You want a team that covers the most likely scenarios.
- The "Safe" Lead: Melmetal. It's easy to get (thanks to the Mystery Box), it's incredibly tanky, and Rock Slide/Superpower provides amazing coverage against Anorith and Scizor.
- The "Sweeper": Blaziken. Specifically with Counter and Blast Burn. It handles the Steelix and Magnezone mid-tier and incinerates Scizor or Armaldo in the back.
- The "Closer": Mamoswine or Kyogre. You need something that can hit hard and fast if the RNG gives you Salamence or Steelix.
The "Switch Trick" is still your best friend. In Pokemon Go, the AI pauses for about two seconds after you switch your Pokemon or after a Charged Attack. Use this. Start the battle with your second Pokemon, then instantly swap to your lead. This gives you a few free "turns" of energy generation while Arlo just stands there. It’s the difference between winning with half health and losing with a sliver of health left on his side.
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What Most Trainers Get Wrong
People focus too much on CP. A 4000 CP Slaking is useless here. You need synergy and fast energy generation. Arlo's Shadow Pokemon have massive attack boosts, meaning you can't win a war of attrition. You have to win a war of speed.
Another mistake is ignoring the weather boost. If it’s sunny out, your Fire and Ground types are going to hit 20% harder. Use that to your advantage if you're struggling. Conversely, if it’s raining, his Anorith and Scizor are going to be much more dangerous.
Also, check your Shadow Pokemon. If you have a purified high-IV apex attacker, it might actually be better to keep it Shadow for the extra damage output, provided you can dodge the incoming hits.
Tactical Next Steps
To effectively farm Arlo this January, you should prioritize these actions:
- Check your inventory for a high-IV Lucario or Machamp. These are the most consistent shield-breakers for the current Anorith lead.
- Verify your movesets. Ensure your Fire-type has its "Elite TM" moves like Blast Burn or Sacred Fire, as the raw damage is necessary to bypass Scizor's defense.
- Stock up on Rocket Radars. Since the January 2025 event cycle features increased Rocket Balloon spawns, try to battle Arlo during "Windy" or "Sunny" weather to maximize your own team's boosts.
- Save your Super Rocket Radar. Unless you specifically want the current Shadow Legendary, keep it. But for Arlo, you only need the standard Radar.
- Focus on the "Stun Lock." Always time your Charged Attacks to trigger right after Arlo finishes his own, or right after a switch, to exploit the 2-second AI delay.
Beating Arlo isn't about having the rarest Pokemon; it's about understanding his patterns and having the right tools to break his shields early. Once those shields are gone, his Shadow Pokemon are surprisingly fragile. Stick to the Fire and Fighting types for this rotation, and you'll find that Shiny Shadow Anorith much faster than expected.