Honestly, Sierra is a headache. If you’ve spent any time hunting Team GO Rocket leaders lately, you know she doesn't play around like Arlo or Cliff. She’s fast. She’s aggressive. And her current January 2026 lineup is designed specifically to eat your shields and leave you with a fainted team before you even see her third Pokémon.
Most people just throw their highest CP monsters at her and hope for the best. That is a mistake. A big one.
The Current January 2026 Lineup: What You’re Actually Facing
As of right now, Sierra has a very specific pool of Shadow Pokémon. You’ve probably noticed she always leads with Feebas. Don't let the fish fool you. While it's a "weak" Pokémon in a vacuum, in its Shadow form, it’s just there to stall you.
Here is how her team looks right now:
- Slot 1: Shadow Feebas (Always)
- Slot 2: Shadow Staraptor, Shadow Mismagius, or Shadow Ferrothorn
- Slot 3: Shadow Houndoom, Shadow Camerupt, or Shadow Drapion
See the problem? There is almost no overlap in weaknesses between these guys. If you bring a Fire-type to melt Ferrothorn, you’re going to get absolutely crushed if she pulls out Camerupt or Houndoom in the final slot. You have to be surgical.
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How to Handle the "Shield Bait" Problem
Sierra is a master at making you waste your Charged Attacks. Because Team GO Rocket leaders use shields—unlike the grunts—you cannot just fire off a Solar Beam and call it a day. You need a "Shield Breaker."
Basically, you want a Pokémon in your lead slot that charges energy incredibly fast. We’re talking three or four fast attacks per Charged Move. Lucario is the king here. If you have one with Counter and Power-Up Punch, you can usually strip both of Sierra’s shields while Feebas is still on the field.
Another pro tip: The "Stun Lock." Every time you use a Charged Move or swap your Pokémon, the AI stops attacking for about two to three seconds. You’ve got to exploit this. If you swap right at the start of the match, you get a free head start on energy.
Best Counters for Sierra (The January 2026 Edition)
You need a balanced team. Period. Since we know Feebas is coming first, an Electric or Grass type is tempting, but you have to think about the back half of her team.
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Dealing with Slot 1: Shadow Feebas
It’s pure Water. Easy, right? Kartana or Xurkitree will vaporize it. However, if you want to be smart, use Melmetal with Thundershock and Rock Slide. It’s bulky enough to survive whatever comes next and fast enough to burn those shields.
The Slot 2 Nightmare: Ferrothorn or Mismagius?
This is where most runs die.
- If it's Ferrothorn: You need Fire. Heatran or Reshiram are the safest bets because they resist Ferrothorn’s Grass and Steel moves.
- If it's Mismagius: Dark types are your friend. Tyranitar (especially with Brutal Swing) or Hydreigon will make short work of it.
- If it's Staraptor: This bird hits like a truck. Use a Rock-type like Rhyperior or a high-defense Ice-type like Mamoswine.
The Closer: Drapion and the Ground Kings
If she ends with Drapion, you better have a Ground-type left. Drapion only has one weakness: Ground. If you brought a Fairy-type thinking you’d be cute, you’re toast. Garchomp (Mud Shot/Earth Power) or Primal Groudon are the only real answers here. They also happen to counter Camerupt and Houndoom, making a strong Ground-type the "must-have" anchor for your team.
Is Shadow Feebas Even Worth the Effort?
You might be wondering why you’re even bothering with Sierra this month. The shiny Shadow Feebas is the main draw. The shiny rate for Rocket Leaders is roughly 1 in 64, which is way better than the standard wild rate.
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Plus, Shadow Milotic (the evolution) is a niche but annoying pick in the Ultra League. It’s a flex. It looks cool. And honestly, sometimes we just beat Sierra because she’s there.
Actionable Strategy for Your Next Encounter
Don't go in blind. Follow this exact flow to save your Revives:
- Lead with a "Burner": Put Lucario or Melmetal in your second slot, but swap to them immediately the moment the battle starts. This triggers the 3-second stun lock.
- Spam Charged Moves: Use low-energy moves (Power-Up Punch, Rock Slide, Aqua Tail) until her two shields are gone.
- Identify the Middle: If you see Ferrothorn, get your Fire-type out immediately. If you see Mismagius, swap to your Dark-type.
- Save the Ground-type: Keep your Garchomp or Groudon healthy for the end. You’ll need that health bar to tank a Shadow Houndoom’s Crunch or a Drapion’s Sludge Bomb.
Check your bag for 12km "Strange Eggs" before the fight too. You won't get one if your egg inventory is full, and missing out on a potential Salandit or Pancham because of a full bag is a classic rookie mistake. Keep an open slot, stay aggressive with your swaps, and you'll stop losing to her.
Next Steps: Take a look at your current roster and see if you have a Garchomp or Rhyperior with Ground-type moves ready to go. If not, you might want to spend some TMs to fix their movesets before clicking on that next Rocket Balloon.