If you’ve been hunting Team GO Rocket leaders lately, you already know the drill. You equip that Rocket Radar, wait for the black balloon to drift over your map, or scout the nearby PokeStops, and pray it isn't Cliff for the tenth time in a row. But in the late summer heat, Pokemon Go Sierra August 2024 lineups took a turn that left a lot of players scratching their heads. Gone were the days of her carrying high-tier meta threats like Shadow Beldum or even the spicy Shadow Sableye. Instead, we were stuck dealing with Shadow Trapinch.
It's a weird spot to be in. Trapinch looks harmless. It's a little orange ant-thing that moves at the speed of a tectonic plate. But under Sierra’s control, that little guy has enough boosted Shadow attack power to shred through a poorly prepared lead Pokemon before you even reach your first Charged Attack. Honestly, if you aren't paying attention to your typing, she’ll embarrass you.
The August 2024 rotation was part of the "Shared Skies" season, which saw a major shakeup in the Rocket roster following the Adventure Week Taken Over event. While everyone was busy hunting for Shadow Rayquaza in raids, the grunt and leader lineups quietly shifted. Sierra became the gatekeeper for Flygon fans, but for the competitive Master League or Raid crowd, her value dropped significantly compared to her peers.
The August Lineup: What You’re Actually Facing
Sierra doesn't just rely on Trapinch. That’s just the appetizer. Her second and third slots are where things get genuinely annoying because they cover each other's weaknesses surprisingly well.
Usually, her first Pokemon is Shadow Trapinch. Simple enough. But her second slot is a coin flip between Shadow Milotic, Shadow Honchkrow, or Shadow Flygon. This is where the RNG (random number generation) can really screw over your team composition. If you bring a Grass-type to handle Milotic, Honchkrow will peck it into oblivion in seconds. If you bring an Electric-type for the bird, Flygon or Milotic will shut that down.
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Her final slot is the real closer. You’re looking at Shadow Houndoom, Shadow Alakazam, or Shadow Victreebel.
Think about that spread for a second. You have to prepare for Water, Ground, Flying, Dark, Psychic, and Grass. It is a messy spread. Most people make the mistake of trying to "counter" every single possibility. Don't do that. You’ll end up with a team of glass cannons that die before they can swap. The secret to beating Sierra in August 2024 isn't about having the highest CP; it's about abuse of the "stun" mechanic. Every time you swap a Pokemon or use a Charged Attack, the AI pauses for about two seconds. You have to live in those two seconds.
Why Shadow Trapinch Is a Trap (Pun Intended)
Let’s talk about the prize. Why are we even fighting her? After you win, you get an encounter with that Shadow Trapinch.
Is Shadow Flygon good? Sorta.
In Great League, Flygon has always been a "spice" pick. It has access to Mud Shot, which generates energy faster than almost anything in the game. When you pair that with Scorching Sands or Dragon Claw, you have a spam-machine. The Shadow version hits like a truck, but it’s fragile. One Ice Beam from an Azumarill and your Flygon is deleted from the server.
For raids? Forget it. Shadow Garchomp and Shadow Excadrill exist. Trapinch is purely for the collectors or the PvP niche players who like to run unconventional "inner-meta" teams. If you’re looking for the best use of your Rocket Radars this month, Arlo with Shadow Anorith or Cliff with Shadow Lileep aren't much better, making August a bit of a "dry month" for serious grinders.
Breaking Down the Counters
To beat Sierra without burning through six Max Potions, you need a solid lead. Since Trapinch is Ground-type, you might be tempted to lead with a Water-type. Avoid that if you can. If she swaps into Victreebel later, you're stuck.
Kyogre or Swampert are the "safe" bets, but a high-level Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche is actually the MVP here. Mamoswine destroys Trapinch, destroys Flygon, and puts a massive dent in Honchkrow. It covers the most ground.
If she pulls out Milotic, you need something that can spam. Kartana is a beast here because Leaf Blade charges so fast that Milotic barely gets a move off. Just watch out—if she has Houndoom in the back, Kartana needs to get out of there immediately. Fire Fang Houndoom will incinerate Kartana in three hits. No joke.
The "Cheat Code" Team
If you want to breeze through this without thinking, try this trio:
- Greninja (Water Shuriken + Hydro Cannon/Night Slash) - The speed of Water Shuriken keeps Sierra's Trapinch constantly stunned.
- Togekiss (Charm + Ancient Power/Aura Sphere) - This is your safety net for Honchkrow and Flygon.
- Lucario (Counter + Power-Up Punch) - Once those shields are down, Lucario can sweep Houndoom or Alakazam with ease.
The Strategy Most Players Ignore
Most players jump into the battle, tap the screen furiously, and hope for the best. That’s how you lose your Revives. Team GO Rocket leaders always use their two shields on your first two Charged Attacks. Period.
Your goal for the first 30 seconds of the fight isn't to do damage. It's to strip those shields. This is why Pokemon like Poliwrath or Lucario are so vital. They have "bait" moves that cost very little energy. Burn Sierra's shields on Trapinch, even though Trapinch is weak. Once her shields are gone, your heavy hitters like Mewtwo or Primal Kyogre can come in and one-shot her remaining roster.
Also, remember the "Swap Trick." Start the match with your second Pokemon, then immediately swap to your actual lead. This triggers that 2-second AI freeze right at the start, giving you a massive energy lead. It feels like an exploit, but Niantic hasn't changed it in years, so it's a feature now.
Is it worth the grind?
Honestly? August 2024 was a bit of a lull for Sierra. Compared to when she had Shadow Mewtwo (which was a special event, sure) or Shadow Larvitar, Trapinch feels like a participation trophy. But you need those 12km eggs. Defeating Sierra is the only way to get a Rocket Radar out of your inventory and clear space for the Strange Eggs that contain Sandile, Pawniard, or the elusive Salandit.
If you're hunting for a female Salandit to evolve into Salazzle, you're going to be fighting Sierra a lot. It’s a grind. It’s tedious. But that’s Pokemon Go.
Steps to Take Right Now
If you are staring at a Sierra encounter on your screen right now, stop and check your lineup. Don't just "Go" with the recommended battle party. The game's auto-recommendation is notoriously bad at handling Shadow bonuses.
Check your storage for a Mamoswine or a Glaceon. Ice moves are the "silver bullet" for Sierra this month because they hit Trapinch, Flygon, and Honchkrow for super-effective damage. Even a Budget Glaceon evolved from a random Eevee can do heavy lifting here.
Once you beat her, look at the IVs of that Trapinch. If it’s something like a 13/13/13, consider purifying it for the Hundo Pokedex entry. Shadow Flygon isn't a "must-have" attacker, so losing the Shadow bonus isn't the tragedy it would be with a Dratini or a Beldum.
Check your item bag. If you’re low on Revives, head to a Gym and spin. Rocket battles in August have been tuned slightly higher in difficulty, and Sierra’s Milotic can be a real resource sink if you don't have a fast Grass or Electric-type ready to go.
Finally, keep an eye on the "Shared Skies" event timers. These lineups don't last forever. By the time the next Team GO Rocket Takeover happens, Sierra will likely move on to a new Pokemon, and Trapinch will return to the desert where it belongs. Get your Shadow Dex entry now while you can.
Stay sharp, keep your shields for her second Pokemon, and don't let a tiny ant ruin your win streak.
Next Steps for Players:
- Audit your Mamoswine: Ensure it has Powder Snow (Fast) and Avalanche (Charged). If it has Ground moves, use a Fast TM immediately; you need the Ice speed for this fight.
- Clear Egg Space: Ensure you have at least one open Egg slot before clicking "Battle" if you want that 12km Strange Egg.
- Tag your "Rocket Killers": Create a specific tag in your Pokemon storage for "Rocket Leads" so you aren't scrolling through 500 monsters every time a balloon appears.