How to beat Arlo in Pokémon Go in December 2024

Defeat this troublesome opponent with these counters

Niantic

Team Go Rocket’s Arlo is back at it in Pokémon Go, causing trouble with a brand-new team of Shadow Pokémon at his side. Returning with a fresh roster of creatures in December 2024, you must defeat him to get one step closer to a combative encounter with his boss, Giovanni.

Table of Contents

1. Arlo’s Pokémon in December 2024 – Pokémon Go
2. Best counters to Beldum – Pokémon Go Arlo
3. Best counters to Gyarados – Pokémon Go Arlo
4. Best counters to Hypno – Pokémon Go Arlo
5. Best counters to Charizard – Pokémon Go Arlo
6. Best counters to Scizor – Pokémon Go Arlo
7. Best counters to Snorlax – Pokémon Go Arlo
8. Best counters to Metagross – Pokémon Go Arlo

Arlo is only available for battle if you possess an active Rocket Radar, so the first order of business is to defeat a couple of grunts, loot the Mysterious Parts they're carrying, and construct a Rocket Radar from six of these.

Once it’s activated, you can encounter Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra at PokéStops or on Rocket Balloons. Defeating all three bosses enables you to finally face off against their boss, Giovanni.

This guide will tell you how to beat Arlo in Pokémon Go in 2024.

Arlo’s Pokémon in December 2024 – Pokémon Go

Arlo is guaranteed to open the battle with his Shadow Beldum, though things get murky after that as your opponent has three possible choices for his second and third Pokémon. Let’s get you up to speed and prepare for all of them.

• Slot #1: Beldum
• Slot #2: Gyarados / Hypno / Charizard
• Slot #3: Scizor / Snorlax / Metagross

Best counters to Beldum – Pokémon Go Arlo

Beldum is Arlo's first choice. / Niantic

Beldum is certainly a convenient pick, since it allows you to prepare a counter not just for itself, but also for the entire range of third slot picks Arlo has access to.

• Blaziken (Fire, Fighting): Counter, Blast Burn, Overheat
• Gengar (Ghost): Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb
• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake

Best counters to Gyarados – Pokémon Go Arlo

Gyarados is a potential second choice for Arlo. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Good ole Gary is always a tricky foe. While Gyarados is weak to Rock-type attacks, it’s able to respond to such moves with its own Water-type attacks, countering your counter. Opting for an Electric-type attacker is much better. Using Raikou with Shadow Ball could even provide enough firepower to deal with Arlo’s potential third slot, Metagross.

• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Discharge, Power Whip
• Raikou (Electric): Thunder Shock, Wild Charge, Shadow Ball
• Magnezone (Electric, Steel): Spark, Wild Charge, Zap Cannon

Best counters to Hypno – Pokémon Go Arlo

Hypno is one of Arlo's potential second choices. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

This Psychic-type opponent can be defeated by using Bug-, Dark-, or Ghost-type moves. Going with Tyranitar here also covers Charizard.

• Tyranitar (Rock, Dark): Smack Down, Stone Edge, Brutal Swing
• Hydreigon (Dark, Dragon): Dragon Breath, Brutal Swing, Flash Cannon
• Gengar (Ghost): Shadow Claw, Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb

Best counters to Charizard – Pokémon Go Arlo

Charizard is one of Arlo's potential second choices. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Thanks to its Rock-type attacks, Tyranitar can cover Charizard, making it a strong weapon against anything Arlo might throw at you in the second slot. Alternatively, the Electric-types prepared for Gyarados can deal with the wannabe dragon.

• Tyranitar (Rock, Dark): Smack Down, Stone Edge, Brutal Swing
• Xurkitree (Electric): Thunder Shock, Discharge, Power Whip
• Raikou (Electric): Thunder Shock, Wild Charge, Shadow Ball

Best counters to Scizor – Pokémon Go Arlo

Scizor is one of Arlo's potential third choices. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Arlo's signature Pokémon is only particularly weak to Fire-type attacks and has a lot of resistances. Fortunately, those are useful against several other potential foes as well.

• Blaziken (Fire, Fighting): Counter, Blast Burn, Overheat
• Emboar (Fire, Fighting): Low Kick, Blast Burn, Focus Blast
• Incineroar (Fire, Dark): Double Kick, Blast Burn, Blaze Kick

Best counters to Snorlax – Pokémon Go Arlo

Snorlax is a potential third pick for Arlo. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

You can use those Fire/Fighting-hybrids you prepared for Beldum and Scizor to cover Snorlax as well, should it make an appearance.

• Blaziken (Fire, Fighting): Counter, Blast Burn, Overheat
• Emboar (Fire, Fighting): Low Kick, Blast Burn, Focus Blast
• Incineroar (Fire, Dark): Double Kick, Blast Burn, Blaze Kick

Best counters to Metagross – Pokémon Go Arlo

Metagross is a potential third pick for Arlo. / Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Metagross is another Pokémon that can be covered with your Fire-types, though of course Ground- and Ghost-types offer a smoother battle experience – luckily, you may have some monster capable of making Ghost-type attacks from your earlier encounters 

• Blaziken (Fire, Fighting): Counter, Blast Burn, Overheat
• Emboar (Fire, Fighting): Low Kick, Blast Burn, Focus Blast
• Groudon (Ground): Mud Shot, Precipice Blades, Earthquake

To summarize the situation: Bringing a Ghost-type, an Electric-type, and one Fire/Fighting-hybrid should allow you to deal with anything Arlo may throw at you.

For more Pokémon Go, check out the overviews of the monthly Spotlight Hours and 5-Star Raids.