This article is part of a directory: Pokemon GO: Full Game Guide | Tips, Tricks, and Events
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- How to Beat Giovanni In Pokemon GO
- Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s First Round Counters
- Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s Second Round Counters
- Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s Third Round Counters
Pokemon GO developers set Giovanni with a powerful Shadow Pokemon lineup for July 2024. Winning against the Team GO Rocket Main Boss offers valuable rewards. While that is the case, defeating such a powerful foe requires thorough meta-knowledge and strategic counter-selection.
The Shadow Pokemon lineup for Team GO Rocket members changes regularly, and you must know the current lineup to devise a counter roster. But before initiating the battle with Giovanni, the first task is to locate him by completing a Special Research quest featuring Team GO Rocket. Only after Level 8 can you claim these quests; the reward for completion is a Super Rocket Radar, which can locate Giovanni. But before battling, study Giovanni’s battle roster to secure your win. This guide details all Shadow Pokemon Giovanni possesses in July 2024 and the best Giovanni counters in Pokemon GO.
How to Beat Giovanni In Pokemon GO
After you find Giovanni in Pokemon GO, you can initiate the battle with the Team GO Rocket main boss. The battle is segmented into 3 rounds, and Giovanni has a battle roster with 5 Shadow Pokemon. Each Shadow monster is extremely powerful and requires powerful counters to defeat them.
Pokemon GO trainers must face 1 Shadow Pokemon each for the 1st and 3rd rounds. It is the 2nd round that brings forth an unpredictable threat. The Team GO Rocket main boss possesses 3 different Shadow monster choices for the 2nd round.
Rounds | Shadow Pokemon |
|---|---|
First Round | Shadow Persian |
Second Round |
|
Third Round | Shadow Groudon |
Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s First Round Counters
Giovanni always starts the battle with his Shadow Persian, a Normal-type Pokemon with boosted offensive abilities as a Shadow monster.
Shadow Persian
Type: Normal
Weakness: Fighting-type moves
Resistance: Ghost-type moves
Regular Counters Against Shadow Persian
Shadow Persian Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Terrakion | Double Kick (Fighting-type) | Sacred Sword (Fighting-type) |
Keldeo | Low Kick (Fighting-type) | Sacred Sword (Fighting-type) |
Lucario | Counter (Fighting-type) | Aura Sphere (Fighting-type) |
Conkeldurr | Counter (Fighting-type) | Dynamic Punch (Fighting-type) |
Machamp | Counter (Fighting-type) | Dynamic Punch (Fighting-type) |
Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Persian
Shadow Persian Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Mega Blaziken | Counter (Fighting-type) | Focus Blast (Fighting-type) |
Mega Heracross | Counter (Fighting-type) | Close Combat (Fighting-type) |
Mega Rayquaza | Dragon Tail (Dragon-type) | Dragon Ascent (Flying-type) |
Shadow Machamp | Counter (Fighting-type) | Dynamic Punch (Fighting-type) |
Shadow Hariyama | Counter (Fighting-type) | Dynamic Punch (Fighting-type) |
Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s Second Round Counters
Giovanni uses a specific monster in the first round, but the second round's pick is uncertain. The Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket’s main boss has strong choices, like Shadow Nidoking, Shadow Rhyperior, or Shadow Garchomp for the second round. Shadow Nidoking is a Poison/Ground-type, Shadow Rhyperior is a Water-type, and Shadow Garchomp is a Dragon/Ground-type Pokemon. You must select appropriate counters for all of them.
Shadow Nidoking
Type: Poison and Ground
Weakness: Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water-type moves
Resistance: Electric, Poison, Bug, Fairy, Fighting, and Rock-type moves
Regular Counters Against Shadow Nidoking
Shadow Nidoking Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Psychic-type) | Psystrike (Psychic-type) |
Therian Forme Landorus | Mud Shot (Ground-type) | Sandsear Storm (Ground-type) |
Hoopa Unbound | Confusion (Psychic-type) | Psychic (Psychic-type) |
Lunala | Confusion (Psychic-type) | Psychic (Psychic-type) |
Groudon | Mud Shot (Ground-type) | Precipice Blades (Ground-type) |
Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Nidoking
Shadow Nidoking Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Shadow Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Psychic-type) | Psystrike (Psychic-type) |
Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Ground-type) | Precipice Blades (Ground-type) |
Mega Swampert | Water Gun (Water-type) | Hydro Cannon (Water-type) |
Mega Alakazam | Confusion (Psychic-type) | Psychic (Psychic-type) |
Shadow Rhyperior
Type: Ground and Rock
Weakness: Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel-type moves
Resistance: Electric, Poison, Fire, Flying, Normal, and Rock-type moves
Regular Counters Against Shadow Rhyperior
Shadow Rhyperior Counters | Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
|---|---|---|
Kartana | Razor Leaf (Grass-type) | Leaf Blade (Grass-type) |
Sky Forme Shaymin | Magical Leaf (Grass-type) | Grass Knot (Grass-type) |
Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Zarude | Vine Whip (Grass-type) | Power Whip (Grass-type) |
Greninja | Water Shuriken (Water-type) | Hydro Cannon (Water-type) |
Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Rhyperior
Shadow Rhyperior Counters | Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
|---|---|---|
Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Mega Swampert | Water Gun (Water-type) | Hydro Cannon (Water-type) |
Mega Sceptile | Bullet Seed (Grass-type) | Frenzy Plant (Grass-type) |
Shadow Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Mega Blastoise | Water Gun (Water-type) | Hydro Cannon (Water-type) |
Shadow Garchomp
Type: Dragon and Ground
Weakness: Dragon, Fairy, and Ice-type moves
Resistance: Electric, Fire, Poison, and Rock-type moves
Regular Counters Against Shadow Garchomp
Shadow Garchomp Counters | Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
|---|---|---|
Galarian Standard Darmanitan | Ice Fang (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Baxcalibur | Ice Shard (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Mamoswine | Powder Snow (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Cetitan | Ice Shard (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Kyurem | Dragon Breath (Dragon-type) | Glaciate (Ice-type) |
Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Garchomp
Shadow Garchomp Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Shadow Mamoswine | Powder Snow (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Shadow Weavile | Ice Shard (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Shadow Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Psychic-type) | Ice Beam (Ice-type) |
Mega Rayquaza | Dragon Tail (Dragon-type) | Outrage (Dragon-type) |
Mega Glalie | Frost Breath (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Pokemon GO: Giovanni’s Third Round Counters
Similar to the first round, Giovanni has just one representative in the third round of the battle, which is Shadow Groudon. You must use counters that exploit its weaknesses in Pokemon GO effectively to defeat the monster. One also needs to be wary of its best moveset, which comprises Mud Shot (Ground-type) and Precipice Blades (Ground-type), resulting in a total DPS of 21.25.
Shadow Groudon
Type: Ground
Weakness: Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves
Resistance: Electric, Poison, and Rock-type moves
Regular Counters Against Shadow Groudon
Shadow Groudon Counters | Fast Moves | Charged Moves |
|---|---|---|
Sky Forme Shaymin | Magical Leaf (Grass-type) | Grass Knot (Grass-type) |
Kartana | Razor Leaf (Grass-type) | Leaf Blade (Grass-type) |
Zarude | Vine Whip (Grass-type) | Power Whip (Grass-type) |
Galarian Standard Mode Darmanitan | Ice Fang (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Shadow And Mega Counters Against Shadow Groudon
Shadow Groudon Counters | Fast Moves | Charge Moves |
|---|---|---|
Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Water-type) | Origin Pulse (Water-type) |
Mega Rayquaza | Dragon Tail (Dragon-type) | Dragon Ascent (Flying-type) |
Mega Swampert | Water Gun (Water-type) | Hydro Cannon (Water-type) |
Mega Sceptile | Fury Cutter (Bug-type) | Frenzy Plant (Grass-type) |
Shadow Mamoswine | Powder Snow (Ice-type) | Avalanche (Ice-type) |
Franchise Pokemon Platform(s) iOS , Android Released July 6, 2016 Developer(s) Niantic , The Pokemon Company
