Here’s what you need to know about how to beat Jessie and James in Pokemon GO. Team GO Rocket is Pokemon GO’s version of Team Rocket from the mainline Pokemon games. In this game, the crime syndicate has a chance to appear at PokeStops randomly throughout the day. A PokeStop with a dark blue color and a spinning cube indicates that a Team GO Rocket member has taken it over. Team GO Rocket balloons may also appear overhead, offering more battles and Rocket Radars.
The Team GO Rocket balloons appear once every six hours. Jessie and James have a chance to appear in a special Meowth balloon above you at 12 a.m., 6 a.m., 12 p.m., and 6 p.m. Jessie and James are unique in that it’s a two-person back-to-back battle, but it’s nothing to worry about so long as you know what their lineup looks like, and that’s why we’re here to help you out.
Here are the possible Team GO Rocket Members you can face:
- Grunts
- Jessie & James (Team Rocket Meowth Balloon)
- Arlo (Leader)
- Cliff (Leader)
- Sierra (Leader)
- Giovanni (Boss)
What Pok of Pokemon in Pokemon GO?
Jessie and James’s lineup of Pokemon is currently:
| Jessie | James | |
| Pokemon 1 | Scyther | Pinsir |
| Pokemon 2 | Ekans | Koffing |
| Pokemon 3 | Stantler | Grimer |
How to beat Jessie and James in Pokemon GO
Defeating Jessie and James in Pokemon GO is more intimidating than it is difficult, especially if you know which Pokemon to bring with you. Both Jessie and James are considered grunts, and you will fight them back to back. Let’s take a look at the best Jessie and James counters in Pokemon GO.
Jessie’s Counters
Scyther
Scyther is very weak to any Fire-type or Ice-type Pokemon. The best counters against Scyther in Pokemon GO are:
- Rampardos: Smack Down, Rock Slide
- Rhyperior: Smack Down, Rock Wrecker
- Terrakion: Smack Down, Rock Slide,
- Tyranitar: Smack Down, Stone Edge
- Archeops: Wing Attack, Ancient Power
- Moltres: Fire Spin, Sky Attack
- Raikou: Thunder Shock, Wild Charge
Ekans
Ekans is weak to any Psychic-type or Ground-type Pokemon. The best counters against Ekans in Pokemon GO are:
- Gardevoir: Confusion, Psychic
- Mewtwo: Confusion, Psystrike
- Alakazam: Confusion, Psystrike
- Groudon: Mud Shot, Earthquake
- Garchomp: Mud Shot, Earth Power
- Rhyperior: Mud-Slap, Earthquake
Stantler
Stantlet is weak to any Fighting-type Pokemon. The best counters against Stantler in Pokemon GO are:
- Urshifu: Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Blaziken: Counter, Focus Blast
- Conkeldurr: Counter, Focus Blast
- Machamp: Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Lucario: Counter, Aura Sphere
- Breloom: Counter, Dynamic Punch
James’s Counters
Pinsir
Pinsir is very weak to any Flying-type or Fire-type Pokemon. The best counters against Pinsir in Pokemon GO are:
- Blaziken: Fire Spin, Blast Burn
- Chandelure: Incinerate, Overheat
- Darmanitan: Ice Fang, Overheat
- Rampardos: Smack Down, Rock Slide
- Reshiram: Fire Fang, Overheat
- Moltres: Fire Spin, Sky Attack
- Volcarona: Fire Spin, Overheat
- Chandelure: Fire Spin, Overheat
Koffing
Both Koffing and Grimer are weak to any Ground-type and Psychic-type Pokemon. The best counters against Koffing in Pokemon GO are:
- Alakazam: Confusion, Psychic
- Mewtwo: Psycho Cut, Psystrike
- Groudon: Mud Shot, Earthquake
- Garchomp: Mud Shot, Earth Power
- Gardevoir: Confusion, Psychic
- Rhyperior: Mud-Slap, Earthquake
Grimer
Both Grimer and Koffing are weak to any Ground-type and Psychic-type Pokemon. The best counters against Grimer in Pokemon GO are:
- Alakazam: Confusion, Psychic
- Mewtwo: Psycho Cut, Psystrike
- Calyrex (Shadow Rider): Confusion, Psychic
- Hoopa (Unbound): Confusion, Psychic
- Metagross: Zen Headbutt, Psychic
- Gallade: Confusion, Psychic
- Gardevoir: Confusion, Psychic
- Exeggutor: Confusion, Psychic
- Mamoswine: Mud-Slap, Bulldoze
- Excadrill: Mud-Slap, Earthquake
What do I get for beating Jessie and James in Pokemon GO?
Team GO Rocket leaders give you a chance to capture the shadow version of their first summoned Pokemon. For beating Jessie and James, players can catch Shadow Ekans and Shadow Koffings, both of which have the chance to be shiny, along with two Mysterious Components.
For more related content, guides, lists, and Pokemon counters, check out our Pokemon GO section. You may also like our Pokemon GO effectiveness and weakness chart.
