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 abandon the PokéStop (if not flee via hot air balloon), and leave 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.

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. These Decoys will not show up in balloons.

Appearance

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 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. While most Grunts only abandon the first Pokémon used, a few have a small 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, it's possible that one player encounters Houndour while the other encounters Houndoom.

The following table shows the possible Pokémon that may be used by each Team GO Rocket Grunt since October 12, 2020. Green-colored cells denote the pools of Pokémon that may possibly be encountered during the bonus challenge.

For a list of all past Team GO Rocket Grunt rotations, see list of Team GO Rocket Pokémon changes.

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

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 a shadow.
#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

Quotes

Introduction

• PokéStop invasion

"Wha— Hey! You’re the Trainer that’s been getting in our way all the time!"

"Hahaha!"

"Wha—?!"

"Intruder alert!"

"Halt! State your purpose for being here!"

"What’d you hope to achieve by coming here?"

"This is as far as you’ll go!"

"Welcome to this PokéStop! So good of you to join me!"

"Intruder spotted!"

"Uh-oh! I found a little troublemaker!"

"Not even a single Rattata is getting past me!"

"Who’s there? Quit listening in on us!"

"What do you want, you pest? Scram!"

"Are you lost? No, you can’t be. You don’t have that scared look."

"No way! Only authorized members are allowed. I was told to let no one else get close."

"What d’you think you’re doing running around here?! We’re Team GO Rocket, don’t you know!"

"Show Team GO Rocket a little respect!"

"We’re pulling a big job here! Get lost!"

"Hey, you! What are you wandering here for?"

"If you get in our way, then you’ll...really be in our way!"

"You snuck into Team GO Rocket’s operation? What nerve!"

"Team GO Rocket has taken control of this PokéStop!"

"We’re Team GO Rocket, and we strike fear into others with our strength!"

"Looking for more items? They’re mine now!"

"Not seeing many items? I’ve been stealing them!"

"Want more items? You’ll have to beat me."

"Stealing items from this PokéStop is fun!"

• Decoy Grunt:

"Looking for the boss? HA. Try again."

"I’m sorry—the boss is at another PokéStop."

"You’ll never find Giovanni!"

"You’ve been tricked again, punk! Our boss isn’t here, but I am—and I’m raring for a battle!"

"Hyuck-hyuck—tricked ya, didn’t I?"

"You’ll never find the boss!"

"Team GO Rocket forever! I’ll protect the boss with my life!"

"Heh heh. Feeling lucky? Well, you shouldn’t be. He’s not here, and I’m gonna crush you!"

"Hyuck-hyuck—you’re messing with the wrong grunt, kid!"

"You think you’re a hero? You can’t even find the boss!"

"I’ve been given strict orders. I’m to crush anyone who’s looking for the boss!"

• Team GO Rocket balloon:

"Sweet ride, huh? Jealous?"

"Didn't expect me to come out of the sky, now did you!"

"Caw, CAW! I've descended from the skies to come get your Pokémon!"

"Talk about an epic entrance, right?"

"Team GO Rocket's balloon squad, reporting for duty!"

• Team GO Rocket balloon (GO Fest 2020):

"Caw, CAW! We’ve already taken the skies, and now we’ve taken your precious event, too!"

"Team GO Rocket’s balloon squad, reporting for duty! We’ve taken over this festival!"

"Wow! The confetti looks great from up here!"

Before battle

• PokéStop invasion/Decoy Grunt:

"You’re not going any farther! I don’t show mercy to my enemies!"

"This PokéStop belongs to Team GO Rocket!"

"I’ll give you something to be scared about!"

"We won’t let you ruin our plans to take over PokéStops."

"Pokémon battle? Cool! Rumble!"

"You look gentle, so I think I can beat you. I’ll give it a GO!"

"Feeling lucky, punk? Go ahead, take another step."

"You think you’re a hero?"

"There’s nothing past here except our PokéStop. So what brings you here?"

"I’ll flick you away effortlessly!"

"Boss said he’ll take this PokéStop in the name of Team GO Rocket!"

"You don’t have any business here! Go home!"

"Pokémon are only good for making money. Why not use them? You stay out of our business!"

"Hey, Trainer! C’mon!"

"We’re going to steal all the items and catch all the Pokémon from this PokéStop! You want to stop us? Let’s battle!"

"Nice Pokémon! Hand it over!"

"I'm gonna rough you up!"

"Get lost! I’m bushed!"

"Let me take all the Pokémon and items from this PokéStop! Uh...pretty please?"

• Team GO Rocket balloon:

"I’m sure to win—I have the element of surprise on my side!"

"This will be over faster than the wind can blow!"

"I was tired of waiting for Trainers to come battle me, so now I've come to you!"

"Can't wait to cross “win a battle in the air” off my bucket list!"

"I came all this way to fight you, so you can bet I'm not going to lose!"

• Team GO Rocket balloon (GO Fest 2020):

"Sure glad I got over that fear of heights... Oh, wait... What?"

"I've always wanted to see this event from the air! What a view!"

"Where do you think the boss got all these balloons?"

Prebattle screen

• Decoy Grunt:

"Fooled ya, twerp."

"I can’t believe you fell for it!"

"In the name of the boss, I’ll destroy you!"

"You’ll never get to him!"

"It feels good to see you disappointed."

"Wanna get to the boss, do ya? You’ll have to defeat me!"

"I’ll do anything to protect the boss!"

"You’ve been bamboozled, punk!"

"Get lost! You’ll never find him."

"What, did you think finding the boss was going to be that easy?"

Upon victory

• PokéStop invasion/Decoy Grunt:

"Stop meddling in Team GO Rocket’s affairs, or else!"

"My life as a criminal makes me feel so alive!"

"It sure does feel good to have Pokémon do your evil deeds for you!"

"Keep out of our way!"

"Hahaha, is that all you’ve got?"

"Nailed it!"

"Yeah!"

• Team GO Rocket balloon:

"Caw, CAW! You've been defeated by the sovereign of the skies!"

"I know you hate to see me win but love to watch me fly away."

"It's not every day you get beat by a Grunt in a balloon, right?"

"Today, Team GO Rocket rules the skies. Tomorrow, the world!"

"I bet you wish you had a hot-air balloon, huh?"

• Team GO Rocket balloon (GO Fest 2020):

"Today, this celebration. Tomorrow, the world!"

"I know you hate to see us take over your festival but love to watch us fly away."

"Can’t wait to fly around in my handy-dandy hot-air balloon and defeat other event attendees!"

Upon being defeated

• PokéStop invasion/Decoy Grunt:

"Argh! You are good!"

"Blast!"

"Gaaah!"

"It’s because of you that Team GO Rocket’s reputation was totally smashed!"

"If you were to join Team GO Rocket, you could become a Team GO Rocket Leader."

"What if the boss hears about this?!"

"Such a dreadful twerp!"

"Don’t fight us GO Rockets!"

"What’re you staring at? Get lost. Either you leave or I’ll make you leave!"

"Boy, that really makes me steam!"

"As always..."

"This is not good... I better tell the boss!"

"What? I lost? No!"

"I can’t do it!"

"Go wherever you like! Get lost! See if I care!"

"*cough cough* It’s only ’cause I’m coming down with a cold!"

"I failed in my duties... I’ll be docked pay for this..."

"I blew it!"

"So you are good..."

"Oww! We got beat bad!"

"This won’t do!"

"Why...?"

"I surrender!"

"Oof! Taken down!"

"No!"

"You’re tough!"

"Not enough grit!"

"I’m stunned!"

"Stop! I give up! I’ll leave quietly!"

"We’ll never be able to face the boss at this rate!"

"Grrr, Team GO Rocket is scarier than you know, and don’t you forget it!"

"Who needs a weak Pokémon like this? It’s all yours!"

"Forget it. Who needs your Pokémon!"

"I hate losing! Get out of my face!"

"I need to catch a few z’s!"

"Manners never get me anywhere."

• Team GO Rocket balloon:

"I should've stayed on the ground..."

"I knew I wasn't cut out for balloon duty."

"Nooooooooooo!"

"But...I came all the way here in a balloon and everything..."

"Get in a balloon, they said. It'll be fun, they said..."

• Team GO Rocket balloon (GO Fest 2020):

"Caw, caw... Worst event ever..."

"Get in a balloon, they said. It’ll be fun, they said. This is the worst event ever..."

"This confetti just makes me sad now. Worst event ever."

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 Italian Recluta del Team GO Rocket Korean GO로켓단의 조무래기 GO Roket-dan Jomuraegi Brazilian Portuguese Recruta da Equipe GO Rocket Spanish Recluta del Team GO Rocket Thai ลูกสมุนแก๊งโกร็อกเกต Luksamun Gang GO Rocket