Pokémon GO offers various Team Rocket Grunts that you can defeat for exclusive rewards, including parts for an item that enables you to challenge the leaders of this nefarious group. One notable Grunt is recognized for their signature phrase, “Ke Ke Ke Ke…”, which hints at the type of Pokémon they will use, helping you select the right team to counter them.
Team Ke Ke Ke Ke focuses on Ghost-type Pokémon, but encountering different Pokémon that might not have clear weaknesses is common. Unlike some Team Rocket bosses, these Grunts will present you with a variety of Pokémon across three phases of the battle, so it’s important to know what to expect before assembling your counter team.
Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt Team & Counters In Pokémon GO (January 2025)
Defeat Ghosts With The Ideal Team
The battle against the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt is split into three stages, with several Pokémon appearing in each. The first and third phases feature three possible Pokémon, while the second phase includes two. Every Pokémon that Team Rocket uses is a Shadow variant, which has enhanced health and inflicts greater damage throughout the encounter.
Similar to Shadow Raids in Pokémon GO, battling Shadow Pokémon demands even stronger counters. You must assemble a lineup of Pokémon that can effectively exploit the type weaknesses of the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt’s team. Below is a table that displays all the potential Pokémon the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt might deploy, along with the best counters against them:
|
Wave |
Pokémon |
Type(s) |
Weaknesses |
Best Counters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
(Shadow) Duskull |
Ghost |
Dark, Ghost |
|
|
1 |
(Shadow) Golett |
Ghost/Ground |
Dark, Ghost, Grass, Ice, Water |
|
|
1 |
(Shadow) Drifloon |
Ghost/Flying |
Dark, Ghost, Electric, Ice, Rock |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Dusclops |
Ghost |
Dark, Ghost |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Sableye |
Ghost/Dark |
Fairy |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Alolan Marowak |
Ghost/Fire |
Dark, Ghost, Ground, Rock, Water |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Froslass |
Ghost/Ice |
Dark, Ghost, Fire, Rock, Steel |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Gengar |
Ghost/Poison |
Dark, Ghost, Ground, Psychic |
|
Some of the best Pokémon to counter the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt’s team include:
- Tyranitar
- Garchomp
- Gardevoir
Without a doubt, Tyranitar is the top choice against Team Ke Ke Ke Ke, as its Dark and Rock-type attacks cover almost all of the Pokémon used by this Team Rocket Grunt. The only exception is Shadow Sableye, which also has a Dark typing. This is where Gardevoir comes in handy, as it can effectively counter that Pokémon if it pops up in the second wave.
Notably, Gardevoir, being both a Psychic and Fairy-type, can also take down Team Ke Ke Ke Ke’s Shadow Gengar in the third round of battle.
Garchomp is another excellent addition to your team against the Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt, sharing some counters with Tyranitar. Even though Shadow Froslass can cause significant damage to Garchomp, your other team members should be prepared to handle Froslass if it appears. While it might be tempting to include other Ghost-types in your roster, keep in mind that Ghost-types counter one another, making them a risky choice.
Rewards For Defeating Rocket Grunts In Pokémon GO
Capture A Shadow Pokémon
You have the option to rematch Team Rocket Grunts if you lose, allowing you to pursue rewards at your own speed. Once you achieve victory, you’ll receive Stardust as your main reward along with a special item termed a Mysterious Component. Accumulating six Mysterious Components lets you challenge one of three Team Rocket leaders, presenting further reward opportunities.
Defeating Team Ke Ke Ke Ke also gives you a chance to catch the Shadow Sableye on their team. With new events scheduled for 2025, having a Shadow Sableye, which has essentially one weakness, could be beneficial. After you defeat this Team Rocket Grunt, you’ll initiate an encounter with Shadow Sableye, allowing you to catch it just like any wild Pokémon.
The Shadow Sableye from Team Ke Ke Ke Ke has a 1 in 64 chance of being a Shiny variant, so feel free to challenge the Rocket Grunt repeatedly to improve your odds of finding a Shiny.
Try to take on as many Team Rocket Grunts as you can to expand your collection of Shadow Pokémon. Not only will you gain a Mysterious Component to help construct the Rocket Radar after conquering Team Ke Ke Ke Ke in Pokémon GO, but you’ll also add a formidable member to your team.
