Team GO Rocket Grunt (Trainer class)

Team GO Rocket Grunt GOロケット団のしたっぱ GO Team Rocket Underling
Models from Pokémon GO
Other names
Introduced in	Generation VII
Appears in	Pokémon GO
Gender	Both
Counterpart	{{{counterpart}}}
Notable members	Jessie, James
Anime debut
TCG debut	[[(TCG)|]]
TCG card	{{{card}}}
Manga debut	{{{manga}}}

Team GO Rocket Grunts (Japanese: GOロケット団のしたっぱ GO Team Rocket Underling) are members of Team GO Rocket in Pokémon GO. They invade PokéStops, use hot air balloons and battle using Shadow Pokémon to defend their claims.

Defeating a Team GO Rocket Grunt in a Trainer Battle rewards the player with 500. The Grunt will flee the scene and leave behind one of the Shadow Pokémon used in battle, which can then be captured during the bonus challenge. Since November 5, 2019, starting in selected locations, a defeated Team GO Rocket Grunt will also leave behind a Mysterious Component needed to assemble a Rocket Radar, if the player does not already have a Rocket Radar on hand. Since March 22, 2023, a Team GO Rocket Grunt will also leave behind one Shadow Shard if the player has less than ten Purified Gems on hand.

When using a Super Rocket Radar, Decoy Grunts may be found disguised as Giovanni. Upon interacting with the PokéStop, they will reveal themselves to be Grunts and challenge the player to battle.

With the introduction of Shadow Raids on March 22, 2023, Team GO Rocket Grunts can be found at Gyms, commanding one- and three-star Shadow Raid Bosses.

Gallery

Models before battle from Pokémon GO

VS models from Pokémon GO

Icons from Pokémon GO

Trainer list

A Grunt's prebattle quote hinting at specializing in Fire-type Pokémon

The possible Shadow Pokémon used by each Team GO Rocket Grunt are based on the Grunt's gender and type specialty, which is hinted at by the quote on the prebattle screen. Team GO Rocket Grunts will always send out their Pokémon in the same order, with each of their three Pokémon independently and randomly selected from separate pools. The odds of each Grunt appearing and which Pokémon they use are not uniformly distributed. Team GO Rocket Grunts will also never use Protect Shields.

After a Grunt is defeated, they will abandon one of their Shadow Pokémon used in battle, which can then be captured during the bonus challenge. Although Grunts usually abandon the first Pokémon used, some have an approximately 15% chance of abandoning the second instead. For Grunts that may abandon either the first or second Shadow Pokémon, the bonus challenge encounter is random for every player; for instance, if two players defeat a Team GO Rocket Grunt at the same PokéStop invasion, whose team consisted of Houndour, Houndoom, and Arcanine, one player may encounter Houndour while the other encounters Houndoom.

For a list of all past Team GO Rocket Grunt rotations, see Team GO Rocket Grunt (Trainer class)/Pokémon change history.

The following lists the possible Pokémon that may be used by each Team GO Rocket Grunt since March 27, 2024. Green-colored cells denote the pools of Pokémon that may be encountered during the bonus challenge; indicates a 1 in 256 chance being Shiny.

Normal does not mean weak.
#1	#2	#3

This buff physique isn't just for show!
#1	#2	#3

Battle against my Flying-type Pokémon!
#1	#2	#3

Coiled and ready to strike!
#1	#2	#3

You'll be defeated into the ground!
#1	#2	#3

Let's rock and roll!
#1	#2	#3

Go, my super bug Pokémon!
#1	#2	#3

Ke...ke...ke...ke... ke...ke!
#1	#2	#3

You're no match for my iron will!
#1	#2	#3

Do you know how hot Pokémon fire breath can get?
#1	#2	#3

These waters are treacherous!
#1	#2	#3

These waters are treacherous!
#1	#2	#3

Don't tangle with us!
#1	#2	#3

Get ready to be shocked!
#1	#2	#3

Are you scared of psychics that use unseen power?
#1	#2	#3

You're gonna be frozen in your tracks.
#1	#2	#3

ROAR! ...How'd that sound?
#1	#2	#3

Wherever there is light, there is also shadow.
#1	#2	#3

Check out my cute Pokémon!
#1	#2	#3

Don't bother—I've already won. Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners.
#1	#2	#3

Don't bother—I've already won. Get ready to be defeated! Winning is for winners.
#1	#2	#3

Decoy Grunt Boss Decoy
#1	#2	#3

In other languages

Language Title Chinese Cantonese GO火箭隊手下 GO Huǒjiànduì Sáuhah Mandarin GO火箭隊手下 GO Huǒjiànduì Shǒuxià French Sbire de la Team GO Rocket German Team GO Rocket-Rüpel Hindi टीम GO रॉकेट जूनियर Team GO Rocket Junior Italian Recluta del Team GO Rocket Korean GO로켓단의 조무래기 GO Roket-dan Jomuraegi Brazilian Portuguese Recruta da Equipe GO Rocket Spanish Latin America Recluta del Equipo GO Rocket Spain Recluta del Team GO Rocket Thai ลูกสมุนแก๊งโกร็อกเกต Luksamun Gang GO Rocket Turkish GO Roket Takımı Serseri

Trivia

• One of the introductory lines for the Decoy Grunt may be a reference to Super Mario Bros., and Toad's infamous line, “Thank you, Mario! But our princess is in another castle!”.
• The introductory line “This buff physique isn't just for show!” is the one used by Black Belt Adam in Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl.

References

Team GO Rocket Boss: Giovanni Leaders: Cliff • Sierra • Arlo Lower members: Team GO Rocket Grunts Jessie • James Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Raid Items: Mysterious Component Rocket Radar • Super Rocket Radar Shadow Shard • Purified Gem