Pokemon GO: How to Beat Sierra (July 2021)

The month of July is looking extremely rich for Pokemon GO trainers. In addition to Pokemon GO Fest 2021, players can also look forward to Pokemon GO's 5 Year Anniversary event. The vast amount of Pokemon available is extremely convenient, as they offer a variety of ways for players to counter the ever-persistent Team GO Rocket.

Thankfully, not much has changed in terms of Sierra's line-up. Pokemon GO trainers can expect Sierra to stick to the same Pokemon as last month. Respectively, Sierra starts off with Sneasel as her first-round pick. Round 2 choices are between Ampharos, Granbull, or Gliscor, and Round 3 choices are between Houndoom, Kingdra, or Drapion.

Round 1 - Sneasel

Pokemon Sneasel — Pokemon TCG Sneasel Card Art 2

Sierra will always start off with Sneasel, the dual Dark and Ice-type Pokemon. Fighting-type moves work the best here, although Sneasel is also weak to Fairy, Steel, Fire, and Rock-type moves. Conversely, Pokemon GO trainers should avoid Pokemon with Ghost, Psychic, Dark, or Ice-type moves, as it resists those. Some good counters include:

Blaziken - Fire Spin & Focus Blast
Conkeldurr - Counter & Dynamic Punch
Meloetta (Pirouette) - Low Kick & Close Combat
Sirfetch'd - Fury Cutter & Close Combat
Primeape - Counter & Low Sweep

Round 2 - Ampharos, Granbull, or Gliscor

Of course, Sierra always has a few tricks up her sleeve. She could start Round 2 with the pure Electric-type Pokemon, Ampharos. Its main weakness is Ground-type moves, and it resists damage from Flying, Steel, and of course, Electric-type moves. The counters here are pretty straightforward, and some include:

Flygon - Mud Shot & Earthquake
Krookodile - Mud-Slap & Earthquake
Golem - Mud-Slap & Earthquake
Excadrill - Mud-Slap & Rock Slide
Rhyperior - Smack Down & Earthquake

Sierra's Granbull is nothing to sneeze at either. The pure Fairy-type Pokemon is weak only to Steel and Poison-type moves but resists damage from Bug, Fighting, Dragon, and Dark-type moves. With the right counters, this is a breeze. Some include:

Staraptor - Wing Attack & Brave Bird
Drapion - Infestation & Sludge Bomb
Roserade - Poison Jab & Sludge Bomb
Attack Deoxys - Poison Jab & Zap Cannon
Ho-Oh - Steel Wing & Brave Bird

Sierra could decide on using the dual Ground and Flying-type Pokemon, Gliscor. It's weak only to Ice and Water-type moves and resists damage from Bug, Fight, Ground, Poison, and Electric-type moves. Ice reigns supreme in this case, though Pokemon GO trainers have a lot of counters to pick from:

Mamoswine - Powder Snow & Avalanche
Gyarados - Waterfall & Aqua Tail
Slowking - Water Gun & Blizzard
Kingdra - Water Gun & Blizzard
Kabutops - Waterfall & Water Pulse

Round 3 - Houndoom, Kingdra, or Drapion

Pokemon Mega Houndoom — Pokemon TCG Mega Houndoom Card Art

Sierra could easily turn up the heat by choosing Houndoom as her Round 3 pick. The dual Dark and Fire-type Pokemon is guaranteed to give Pokemon GO trainers trouble if it shows up. It's weak to Ground, Rock, Fighting, and Water-type moves, but resists Ghost, Ice, Fire, Grass, Steel, Dark, and Psychic-type moves. Some good counters for Houndoom include:

Lucario - Counter & Aura Sphere
Rampardos - Smack Down & Rock Slide
Landorus (Therian) - Rock Throw & Earth Power
Conkeldurr - Counter & Focus Blast
Sharpedo - Waterfall & Hydro Pump

On the other hand, Sierra could skip the fire and use its opposite in the dual Water and Dragon-type Pokemon Kingdra. This Pokemon is weak to Dragon and Fairy-type moves and resists damage from Water, Fire, and Steel-type moves. Dragon-types do well against Kingdra, though Fairy-types are the most effective:

Xerneas - Tackle & Moonblast
Granbull - Charm & Play Rough
Kingdra - Dragon Breath & Outrage
Gardevoir - Charm & Dazzling Gleam
Mega Altaria - Peck & Dazzling Gleam

Pokemon Best Dual Types Poison/Dark — Drapion

If Sierra confides in Drapion, it'd be her most daunting yet. The dual Poison and Dark-type Pokemon is weak only to Ground-type moves and resists damage from Grass, Poison, Ghost, Dark, and Psychic-type moves. Most of the counters for Ampharos work extremely well here: