Pokémon GO features several different types of Team Rocket Grunts you can beat in trainer battles for multiple rewards, including one who only says "Ke Ke Ke Ke..." This Grunt specializes in one type of Pokémon but has many potential team of that type. This can make them tricky to beat, as you need to find the right counters to challenge the strange criminal lackey.

Team Ke Ke Ke Ke is a kind of Team Rocket Grunt, a common trainer enemy you can challenge when they take over Poké Stops or in their Team Go Rocket Hot Air Balloons. Not to be mistaken for Difficult Rocket Grunts, Team Ke Ke Ke Ke only uses Ghost-type Pokémon in their arsenal. Although this makes them easier to predict, the powerful Ghost-types in Pokémon GO they use should not be underestimated.

Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt Team & Counters In Pokémon GO (April 2025)

Watch Out For Shadows And Study Type Match-Ups

When you start battling Team Ke Ke Ke Ke, you must defeat three waves of Pokémon used by the Team Rocket Grunt. Team Ke Ke Ke Ke has a chance to use one of three different Pokémon across three waves, with each potential choice mixing up what counters work best. This makes finding the right team to use against Team Ke Ke Ke Ke difficult, as you need to find an option that works against a broad selection of the Grunt's Pokémon.

Each one of Team Ke Ke Ke Ke's Pokémon are Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO. These variants of normal pocket monsters sport higher health and damage, so you may need to use Shadow or Mega Pokémon of your own to match their strength.

Despite the added complexity of this fight's multiple waves, Team Ke Ke Ke Ke has some clear weaknesses. Even with multiple choices, the Team Rocket Grunt will always use some sort of Ghost-type in each wave, narrowing down which counters work best. At the same time, I've found that Team Rocket Grunts of any kind do not use Shields, making it easier to attack their strongest Pokémon.

The following table showcases every possible Pokémon Team Ke Ke Ke Ke could use in each wave, including what dual typings in Pokémon GO their Ghosts may have and what counters work best:

The variety of Ghost-types at Team Ke Ke Ke Ke's disposal may seem daunting at first, but the shared typing creates some clear weaknesses. While you can form whatever team you wish, here is an example of a very strong squad of Pokémon to use against this Team Rocket Grunt:

• Absol
• Swampert
• Charizard

I found Absol to be the perfect counter for the entire Team Ke Ke Ke Ke Grunt, as their Dark-type counters 99% of the enemy team. Only Team Ke Ke Ke Ke's Sabelye resists the Dark-type, but that Pokémon does not have nearly the same attacking power or defense as threatening to your team. If you have a Mega Absol on your side, its elevated power will be more than enough to sweep most of the Team Rocket Grunt's options.

Swampert and Charizard are also great picks to clear the rest of Team Ke Ke Ke Ke due to their type match-ups. For example, should Team Ke Ke Ke Ke use Froslass, I like to use Charizard to use super-effective Fire-type attacks to secure victory. Swampert counters Team Ke Ke Ke Ke's Golett and Alolan Marowak, covering options that Absol or Charizard may not be able to handle alone.

Rewards For Beating Rocket Grunts In Pokémon GO

Catch Your Own Shadow Pokémon And Progress Research

You automatically gain 500 Stardust for beating any Team Rocket Grunt, but there are other rewards you get on top of that. In addition to some currency, you receive:

• Special Encounter - Shadow Sabeleye
• 1x Mysterious Component

The biggest reward from this battle is how you unlock a special encounter with Team Ke Ke Ke Ke's Shadow Sabeleye, Gastly, Haunter, Duskull, or Golett, allowing you to catch one of the Shadow Pokémon for yourself. Any of these Pokémon has a chance to be Shiny in Pokémon GO as well, giving you the incentive to face this Grunt trainer more than once.

Defeating any Rocket Grunt also grants you a Mysterious Component, a rare item that progresses Special Research used to construct the Rocket Radar. Once you beat Team Ke Ke Ke Ke in Pokémon GO for April 2025, you can make the Rocket Radar by taking down five other Grunts, then use the device to challenge one of Team Rocket's three Leaders.