Battling Arlo in Pokémon GO – April 2025
In April 2025, many trainers will face the challenge of battling Arlo, one of the tougher bosses in Pokémon GO. While his Pokémon lineup remains similar to March 2025, you can implement various strategies to simplify this encounter. Prepare for an intense battle as Arlo presents three rounds of challenges, requiring careful preparation for success.
To battle Arlo, you’ll need to assemble a Rocket Radar, which can be created using components dropped by Team GO Rocket grunts, including the one known as "Ke Ke Ke Ke." After collecting six components, you can construct a radar to locate Arlo and other Rocket Leaders like Sierra and Cliff.
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Arlo’s Lineup & Counters (April 2025)
Shadow Pokémon Advantage
Arlo commands Shadow Pokémon, which boast a 20% increase in damage while also taking 20% more damage. This makes Shadow Pokémon particularly formidable foes if you’re unprepared, identifiable by their dark aura and striking red eyes. However, their increased vulnerability means you can quickly defeat them with the right strategy and counters.
When forming a team to face Arlo, select versatile Pokémon that can excel in various scenarios. His first Pokémon is always Alolan Grimer, a dual Poison/Dark-type. Strong Ground-type attackers like Primal Groudon, Mega Swampert, or Excadrill are excellent choices for this initial challenge.
Tip: Pokémon that have Mega, Shadow, or Primal forms typically shine in this battle due to their enhanced stats, so always consider them when forming your team.
As you move into round 2, you may encounter one of three possible Shadow Pokémon: Shadow Slowbro, Shadow Gyarados, or Shadow Dugtrio. Notably, two of these Pokémon are weak against Electric types, making Electric-type Pokémon a strategic advantage. However, if you face Shadow Dugtrio, other options may also come into play.
Pokémon Overview for Round 2
| Pokémon | Typing | Weakness | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Slowbro | Water/Psychic | Dark/Bug/Ghost/Grass/Electric | Mega Gengar, Shadow Raikou |
| Shadow Dugtrio | Ground | Ice/Grass/Water | Mega Swampert, Primal Kyogre |
| Shadow Gyarados | Water/Flying | Rock/Electric | Shadow Raikou, Mega Manectric |
After defeating the second round, you’ll move on to the final round, where Arlo will select from Shadow Alolan Muk, Shadow Scizor, or Shadow Metagross. Two of these Pokémon are weak to Ground types, making them particularly vulnerable to the Ground-type Pokémon you’ve prepared to counter Alolan Grimer. It’s worth noting that Shadow Scizor is weak to Fire, so having Fire-type coverage is advisable.
Pokémon Overview for Round 3
| Pokémon | Typing | Weakness | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadow Alolan Muk | Poison/Dark | Ground | Primal Groudon, Shadow Mamoswine |
| Shadow Scizor | Steel/Bug | Fire | Shadow Heatran, Mega Blaziken |
| Shadow Metagross | Steel/Psychic | Dark/Fire/Ghost/Ground | Shadow Heatran, Primal Groudon |
Team composition is critical for taking down Arlo. Ensure your Pokémon cover various weaknesses in order to handle each stage of the fight effectively. The inclusion of Pokémon capable of covering multiple enemy weaknesses is highly recommended.
Rewards for Beating Arlo (April 2025)
Valuable Rewards Await
Defeating Arlo grants you a multitude of rewards that contribute to your progress in Pokémon GO. You’ll initially earn 1000 stardust, a key currency used to level up or trade Pokémon. Additionally, you’ll receive two bundles of random items which may include the following:
| Item Amount | Item Type |
|---|---|
| 2 | Max Revives |
| 4 | Normal Revives |
| 2 | Max Potions |
| 4 | Hyper Potions |
| 1 | 12 km Strange Egg |
| 1 | Unova Stone |
Furthermore, after defeating Arlo, you have the exciting opportunity to battle and potentially capture one of his Shadow Pokémon. This is a rare chance as Shadow Pokémon are normally difficult to obtain, so it’s a prime opportunity to add these unique Pokémon to your collection.
After defeating Arlo, if you’ve also taken down the other GO Leaders, you can challenge Giovanni for a chance to capture a legendary Pokémon—an exciting prospect in the world of Pokémon GO!
