Arlo has always been the "technical" one of the Team GO Rocket trio. Honestly, if you aren't prepared for his specific February 2025 rotation, he will absolutely steamroll your team before you even see his third Pokémon. He’s not like Cliff, who usually just tries to out-muscle you with raw power. Arlo plays a game of shields and annoying resistances.
If you're hunting for that shiny Shadow Wobbuffet, you've probably noticed that his current lineup is a bit of a headache. You can't just throw a high-CP Mewtwo at him and hope for the best. Shadow Pokémon hit 20% harder, and with Arlo's boosted stats, a single "Confusion" from his lead can chunk your health into the red faster than you can say "Rocket Radar."
Arlo February 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest mistake? People focus on the "best" counters rather than the "right" lead. In Pokémon GO, the first ten seconds of a Rocket Leader battle decide the winner. Arlo is a shield hog. He will use both of his shields on your first two Charged Attacks. Period. If you lead with a slow-charging move like Earthquake or Solar Beam, you’ve basically already lost.
You need a "shield breaker." Something like Scizor with X-Scissor or Lucario with Power-Up Punch. These moves charge in the blink of an eye. You want to force Arlo to burn those shields early so your heavy hitters can actually land a blow later on.
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The February Lineup Breakdown
Arlo’s team this month is a mix of Psychic, Poison, and Steel. It’s a messy spread. Here is exactly what you are looking at when the screen fades to black:
- Slot 1: Always Shadow Wobbuffet.
- Slot 2: A toss-up between Shadow Slowbro, Shadow Crobat, or Shadow Steelix.
- Slot 3: The heavy hitters—Shadow Scizor, Shadow Alakazam, or Shadow Alolan Muk.
Wobbuffet is a tanky nuisance. It doesn't do a ton of damage, but it stays on the field forever. This is actually a gift. Use this time to farm energy. If you can get Wobbuffet down while sitting on two full Charged Attacks, you’re in a great spot for whatever comes next.
How to Handle the "Slot 2" RNG
This is where the run usually dies. You bring a Dark-type for Slowbro, and he brings out Steelix. You bring an Ice-type for Crobat, and he brings Slowbro. It's frustrating.
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Tyranitar is a beast here, specifically if it has Smack Down and Brutal Swing. It resists the Psychic moves from Slowbro and crushes Crobat with Rock-type damage. If he brings out Steelix, though, Tyranitar is in trouble. That’s why your second Pokémon needs to be a "safe swap."
A lot of high-level players are running Swampert with Hydro Cannon right now. It’s spammy, it hits Steelix for super-effective damage, and it’s neutral against almost everything else Arlo has. Plus, Ground-type moves are the only thing that really scares Alolan Muk in the back.
The Best Teams That Actually Work
Forget the perfect theoretical tables for a second. In the real world, you want a team that covers multiple bases without needing to switch constantly.
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- The "Reliable" Build: Scizor (Fury Cutter/X-Scissor), Swampert (Mud Shot/Hydro Cannon), and Charizard (Fire Spin/Blast Burn). Scizor eats Wobbuffet and burns shields. Swampert handles the middle-slot chaos. Charizard is there solely to melt Shadow Scizor in one or two hits.
- The "Power" Build: Tyranitar (Smack Down/Brutal Swing), Garchomp (Mud Shot/Earth Power), and Entei (Fire Fang/Overheat). This team is more about raw DPS. It’s risky because it’s slower, but if you time your switches right to "stun" the AI, it works.
- The "Budget" Build: If you don't have Legendaries, go with Magnezone (Spark/Wild Charge), Rhyperior (Mud-Slap/Rock Wrecker), and Blaziken (Counter/Blaze Kick).
The "Stun" Trick Nobody Talks About
There’s a weird quirk in the AI logic for Team GO Rocket. Every time you use a Charged Attack or switch your Pokémon, the AI stops attacking for about two to three seconds.
Use this. Don’t lead with your best counter. Lead with something else, then instantly switch to your real opener as soon as the battle starts. This gives you a free "stun" window to get ahead on energy. It sounds like a small thing, but against Shadow Steelix, those three extra fast moves are the difference between a win and a wipe.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Battle
- Check your moves: If your Pokémon still has Frustration, it's useless. Use a Charged TM during a Takeover event or just pick a different Pokémon.
- Burn the shields: Use your fastest-charging Pokémon first. Even if the move is "Not Very Effective," getting those shields out of the way is priority number one.
- Look for overlaps: Fire-types are great against both Scizor and Steelix. Ground-types work for Alolan Muk and Steelix. Try to double up on utility.
- Don't ignore the rewards: Beating Arlo gets you 1,000 Stardust and a shot at a Shiny Shadow Wobbuffet. Make sure you have an open egg slot too; that 12km Strange Egg is worth the effort for a chance at Salandit or Vullaby.
If you lose the first time, don't just mash the rematch button with the same team. Arlo’s second and third Pokémon stay the same for that specific encounter. If he had Steelix and Alakazam, he’ll have them again. Adjust your team to specifically counter what you just saw and go back in for the win.