Players in Pokemon GO need to face the various members and leaders of Team GO Rocket thanks to the newest series of special research tasks. The All the Higher They Fly tasks revolve around players once again taking on the evil organization from the bottom to the top.
As expected, the leaders of Team GO Rocket are some of the toughest non-player trainers that players can face in Pokemon GO. One of these leaders is Sierra, a user of powerful and dangerous Pokemon.
RELATED: Pokemon GO: What Is the Kanto Tour Bonus Event?
While Sierra will only use three Pokemon at a time, only the identity of her first Pokemon is guaranteed. Sierra's second and third party members can be one of three Pokemon each in their own separate pools. This means that there are many possible team compositions that Sierra can have when players challenge her.
Even though players can't know what team composition Sierra will use before the battle, she will keep her team if players rematch her within the same encounter. Of course, players can only rematch her if they've lost to her, but players can still prepare for the possibilities either way.
Sierra's first Pokemon will always be Carvanha, a dual Water and Dark-type Pokemon. It is weak to Fairy, Bug, Electric, Grass, and Fighting-type moves, but resists Ghost, Steel, Water, Ice, Dark, Fire, and Psychic-type moves.
Even though Carvanha has a lot of resistances, it also has many weaknesses that can be exploited. Because of this, some of the best Pokemon to use against it are:
- Machamp - Counter and Dynamic Punch
- Raikou - Volt Switch and Wild Charge
- Sirfetch'd - Counter and Close Combat
- Zapdos - Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt
- Roserade - Bullet Seed and Grass Knot
The first option that Sierra can use as her second Pokemon is Hippowdon. Hippowdon is a pure Ground-type Pokemon, making it weak to Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves while also resisting Rock, Poison, and Electric-type moves.
While its typing gives it clear weaknesses, Sierra's Hippowdon actually can provide dangerous type coverage with its fast move. It can know either Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, or Bite, making it very dangerous if players aren't prepared.
With these possible exploits in mind, the following Pokemon can deal plenty of damage against Hippowdon:
- Galarian Darmanitan - Ice Fang and Avalanche
- Kingler - Bubble and Crabhammer
- Kyogre - Waterfall and Hydro Pump
- Roserade - Razor Leaf and Solar Beam
- Black Kyurem - Dragon Tail and Blizzard
The next option that Sierra can use as her second Pokemon is the pure Normal-type Pokemon, Porygon-Z. Its typing gives it a weakness to Fighting-type moves only while making it also only resist Ghost-type moves.
Like with Hippowdon, Porygon-Z is capable of using moves outside of its type, potentially causing trouble for some players. Unlike Hippowdon however, the odds are much lower with Porygon-Z mostly knowing Normal-type moves with one Electric-type move as a possible fast move and potentially knowing Blizzard, Solar Beam, or Zap Cannon as a charge move.
Some of the better Pokemon to use against Porygon-Z are:
- Lucario - Counter and Aura Sphere
- Conkeldurr - Counter and Dynamic Punch
- Breloom - Counter and Dynamic Punch
- Machamp - Counter and Dynamic Punch
- Blaziken - Counter and Focus Blast
The last Pokemon that Sierra could have as her Pokemon is Mismagius. Mismagius is a pure Ghost-type Pokemon, making it weak to Dark and Ghost-type moves only. It is also helped with it resisting damage from Bug, Poison, Fighting, and Normal-type moves.
Players have the option to use either Ghost or Dark-type Pokemon to help take Mismagius down, but Dark-type Pokemon will benefit from not being weak to Mismagius's own attacks. Some of the best ones to bring along are:
- Mega Houndoom - Snarl and Foul Play
- Tyranitar - Bite and Crunch
- Weavile - Snarl and Foul Play
- Darkrai - Snarl and Shadow Ball
- Mega Gyarados - Bite and Crunch
Moving on to the possible last Pokemon that Sierra could use, Flygon is one of her options. Flygon is a dual Ground and Dragon-type Pokemon, making it weak to Ice, Fairy, and Dragon-type moves. It also resists damage from Rock, Poison, Fire, and Electric-type moves.
Out of all of Flygon's weaknesses, Ice will produce the most damage toward the Pokemon when exploiting it. Some of the best Ice-type Pokemon to use in this case are:
- Galarian Darmanitan - Ice Fang and Avalanche
- Black Kyurem - Dragon Tail and Blizzard
- Mamoswine - Powder Snow and Avalanche
- Weavile - Ice Shard and Avalanche
- Glaceon - Frost Breath and Avalanche
Another possibility for Sierra's final party member is Houndoom, a dual Dark and Fire-type Pokemon. It is weak to Fighting, Ground, Rock, and Water-type moves while also resisting damage from Steel, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Dark, Fire, and Psychic-type moves.
With there being nothing after this Pokemon in battle, players should shy away from using any remaining protect shields or charge moves they've been building up. With this in mind, the best Pokemon to take Houndoom down are:
- Lucario - Counter and Aura Sphere
- Rampardos - Smack Down and Rock Slide
- Kingler - Bubble and Crabhammer
- Therian Landorus - Rock Throw and Earth Power
- Conkeldurr - Counter and Dynamic Punch
Finally, the last possible Pokemon that Sierra can use against players is Walrein. Walrein is a dual Ice and Water-type making it weak to Fighting, Rock, Electric, and Grass-type moves. It also only resists damage from Water and Ice-type moves.
With Walrein having far more weaknesses and resistances there are plenty of options for players when it comes to Pokemon to put up against it. Walrein still is on the tanky side of Pokemon, however, so players shouldn't expect Walrein to go down without the help of some powerful charge moves.
The best Pokemon to use against Walrein are:
- Aggron - Smack Down and Stone Edge
- Armaldo - Fury Cutter and Rock Blast
- Mamoswine - Mud-Slap and Stone Edge
- Cradily - Bullet Seed and Grass Knot
- Roserade - Bullet Seed and Grass Knot
After players defeat Sierra, they will get an encounter with a Shadow Carvanha where they can attempt to rescue it. If players do catch it, they can purify it or evolve it into Sharpedo with the use of 50 Sharpedo candies. Purifying Carvanha before evolving it will make the evolution cost less Carvanha candies.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS.
MORE: Pokemon GO Complete Guide for General Tips, Tricks, & Strategies
Source: Pokemon GO Hub