All Team Rocket grunt Pokémon teams and shadow Pokémon rewards in Pokémon Go for February 2021
The backbone of Team Rocket.

Team Rocket is a reoccurring villain and gang of troublemakers in the Pokémon series, and they’ve made their way to the mobile version, Pokémon Go. In this version, you can battle a variety of grunts that are using shadow Pokémon to do their bidding. After defeating one of these grunts, you’ll have the opportunity to capture one of the Shadow Pokémon they’ve taken over. Not only will beating a Team Rocket grunt give you a shadow Pokémon, but they also reward you with mysterious components that you need to collect to battle Team Rocket leaders.
Not every Team Rocket grunt is the same. They all have different shadow Pokémon you can battle against, and they also reward you with specific shadow Pokémon encounters. If you’re looking for a specific shadow Pokémon to add to your collection, you have to make sure to battle that grunt. We’ve compiled a list of all the different Team Rocket grunts, what Pokémon they use, and what shadow Pokémon encounter they give you a chance to capture.
The list is being updated for the Team Rocket celebration that started on February 2. These grunts will have a new series of Pokémon at their disposal. We’re still learning what those teams are, and the rewards players will receive.
Team Rocket grunt Pokémon teams and shadow Pokémon rewards
Type of Team | Team Rocket grunt gender and dialogue | First Pokémon | Second Pokémon | Third Pokémon | Shadow Pokémon Reward |
Ace | Female: “Winning is for winners or … Get ready to be defeated or … Don’t bother- I’ve already won!” | Snorlax | Poliwrath Gardevoir Snorlax | Snorlax Gyarados | Snorlax |
Bug | Male: “Go, my super bug Pokémon!” | Anorith | Pinsir | Beedrill | Anorith |
Dark | Female: “Wherever there is light, there is also a shadow.” | Sableye | Skuntank Nuzleaf | Shiftry Cacturne | Sableye |
Dragon | Female: “Roar! How’d that sound?” | Dratini | Dragonair Flygon | Gyarados Dragonite Dragonair | Dratini |
Electric | Female: “Get ready to be shocked!” | Magnemite Electabuss Mareep | Flaaffy Electabuzz Magneton | Electabuzz Ampharos | Magnemite Electabuzz Mareep |
Fighting | Female: “This buff physique isn’t just for show!” | Hitmonlee Hitmonchan Machop | Machoke | Machoke Hitmonlee | Hitmonlee |
Fire | Female: “Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?” | Vulpix Houndour | Ninetales Magmar Houndoom | Ninetales Charmeleon Arcanine | Vulpix Houndour Ninetales Magmar Houndoom |
Flying | Female: “Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!” | Golbat | Scyther Golbat | Dragonite Crobat | Golbat |
Ghost | Male: “Ke…ke…ke…ke…ke!” | Misdreavus Duskull Shuppet | Banette Dusclops | Dusknoir Banette Sableye | Misdreavus Duskull Shuppet |
Grass | Male: “Don’t tangle with me!” | Lileep Hoppip Oddish | Weepinbell Gloom Ivysaur | Shiftry Victreebel Vileplume | Lileep Hoppip Oddish |
Ground | Male: “You’ll be defeated into the ground!” | Swinub Diglett | Flygon Vibrava Pupitar | Gliscor Flygon | Swinub Diglett |
Ice | Female: “You’re gonna be frozen in your tracks.” | Spheal Snover | Walrein | Abomasnow | Spheal Snover |
Normal | Male: “Normal does not mean weak.” | Teddiursa | Raticate | Snorlax | Teddiursa |
Poison | Female: “Coiled and ready to strike!” | Nidoran(male) Nidoran(female) Zubat | Grimer Muk | Muk Nidorina Weezing | Nidoran(male) Nidoran(female) Zubat |
Psychic | Male: “Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?” | Exeggcute Wobbuffet Slowpoke | Kadabra Drowzee Kirlia | Kirlia Exeggutor Hypno | Exeggcute Wobbuffet Slowpoke |
Rock | Male: “Let’s rock and roll!” | Aron Nosepass | Pupitar Lairon Larvitar | Pupitar Tyranitar | Aron Nosepass Lairon Pupitar |
Water | Female: “These waters are treacherous!” | Shellder Poliwag Wooper | Golduck Poliwhirl | Politoed | Shellder Poliwag Wooper |
Water | Male: “These waters are treacherous!” | Magikarp | Magikarp | Magikarp | Magikarp |