Giovanni, the leader of Team GO Rocket, is one of the toughest battles in Pokémon GO. Many players struggle to defeat him because of his strong lineup and his Shadow Legendary Pokémon. However, with the right strategy and team selection, you can bring down Giovanni.
In this guide, we will cover all the steps you need to follow to defeat Giovanni. We’ll discuss his lineup, counters, and useful tips that can help you succeed. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this guide will help you develop the perfect strategy to win.
Step 1: Prepare for the Battle
Before you face Giovanni, you need to go through several steps:
- Complete Rocket Radar: You need to defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect six Mysterious Components. These components can be combined to create a Rocket Radar. Once you have the Rocket Radar, you can track Giovanni’s location.
- Locate Giovanni: Giovanni is not always easy to find. Sometimes, you might encounter fake Team GO Rocket Leaders who pretend to be him. Once you locate Giovanni, you are ready to fight him.
- Heal Your Pokémon: Make sure your Pokémon are fully healed before the battle. Giovanni is known for his powerful lineup, so you’ll need your best team in full health.
- Stock up on Potions and Revives: Giovanni’s Pokémon can deal heavy damage. It’s wise to have enough healing items, like Max Potions and Revives, for after the battle.
Step 2: Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup
Giovanni usually has a set lineup with some variations. His lineup includes three phases:
- First Pokémon: Persian
- Second Pokémon: Varies (Nidoking, Rhyperior, or Garchomp)
- Third Pokémon: Shadow Legendary (This changes depending on the current event)
Persian (First Pokémon)
Persian is always Giovanni’s first Pokémon. It is a Normal-type, and it relies on Fast and Charge moves to deal damage quickly. Persian’s Fast Move is usually Scratch, and it may use Charge Moves like Foul Play or Power Gem.
- Best Counters for Persian:
- Machamp with Counter and Dynamic Punch
- Lucario with Counter and Aura Sphere
- Conkeldurr with Counter and Dynamic Punch
Fighting-type Pokémon are the best counters for Persian. Persian has high attack speed but lower defense, making it vulnerable to Fighting moves.
Second Pokémon
Giovanni’s second Pokémon will be one of three possibilities: Nidoking, Rhyperior, or Garchomp. All of these options are challenging, but they can be countered effectively if you choose the right Pokémon.
Nidoking: Nidoking is a Poison and Ground-type Pokémon. It can deal both poison and ground-based damage, but its main weakness is Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic moves.
- Best Counters for Nidoking:
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
- Mewtwo with Confusion and Psystrike
- Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon
Rhyperior: Rhyperior is a Rock and Ground-type Pokémon, which means it’s weak to Water, Grass, Ice, and Fighting moves. Its Fast Move is usually Smack Down, and it can have Charge Moves like Surf or Stone Edge.
- Best Counters for Rhyperior:
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
- Torterra with Razor Leaf and Frenzy Plant
- Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon
Garchomp: Garchomp is a Dragon and Ground-type Pokémon. It can be quite fast, and its moves can include Dragon Tail and Earthquake. Garchomp is weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy moves.
- Best Counters for Garchomp:
- Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche
- Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
- Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
Shadow Legendary Pokémon (Third Pokémon)
Giovanni’s third Pokémon is the most difficult to defeat. This will usually be a Shadow Legendary Pokémon, which changes depending on the current Team GO Rocket event. Here are a few examples of Shadow Legendaries Giovanni has used in the past:
- Shadow Mewtwo
- Shadow Lugia
- Shadow Ho-Oh
- Shadow Regice
Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage than regular Pokémon, making them extremely powerful. However, they also take more damage in return. Below are some strategies for popular Shadow Legendaries.
Shadow Mewtwo: Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Pokémon. It is very fast and has a high attack stat, making it dangerous. But it is weak to Dark, Bug, and Ghost moves.
- Best Counters for Shadow Mewtwo:
- Tyranitar with Bite and Crunch
- Giratina (Origin) with Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
- Darkrai with Snarl and Dark Pulse
Shadow Lugia: Lugia is a Psychic and Flying-type Pokémon. It is more defensive, with high HP. However, it is weak to Electric, Rock, Ice, Dark, and Ghost moves.
- Best Counters for Shadow Lugia:
- Zekrom with Charge Beam and Wild Charge
- Rhyperior with Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
- Darkrai with Snarl and Dark Pulse
Shadow Ho-Oh: Ho-Oh is a Fire and Flying-type Pokémon. It’s vulnerable to Electric, Rock, and Water moves.
- Best Counters for Shadow Ho-Oh:
- Rampardos with Smack Down and Rock Slide
- Kyogre with Waterfall and Surf
- Electivire with Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
Step 3: Useful Battle Tips
Here are some important tips that can help you during your battle against Giovanni:
- Shield Baiting: Giovanni always has two shields. Use your Fast Moves or weaker Charge Moves to make him use his shields early in the battle. Once he runs out of shields, you can deal heavy damage with your stronger Charge Moves.
- Time Your Switches: Giovanni’s Pokémon often have devastating moves. If you see one of his Pokémon about to use a powerful Charge Move, switch to a Pokémon that can resist it.
- Use Pokémon with High CP: Giovanni’s Pokémon have high Combat Power (CP), so make sure you bring your best Pokémon to the fight. Pokémon with maxed CP will perform better in battle.
- Don’t Forget Mega Evolutions: If you have a Mega Evolved Pokémon, it can give you a significant advantage. Mega Evolved Pokémon have increased stats and can deal more damage.
Step 4: Rewards for Defeating Giovanni
Once you defeat Giovanni, you’ll get some amazing rewards. You will receive rare items like Max Potions, Max Revives, and an encounter with the Shadow Legendary Pokémon he used in the battle. You can also purify the Shadow Legendary if you want to remove its shadow status.
Additionally, defeating Giovanni helps you complete special research tasks. These tasks often reward players with rare items, XP, and even more encounters with Legendary Pokémon.
Conclusion
Defeating Giovanni in Pokémon GO requires strategy, preparation, and the right team. By knowing his lineup, using effective counters, and following the tips in this guide, you’ll have a much better chance of victory.
Remember to adjust your strategy based on his current Shadow Legendary Pokémon and take advantage of shield baiting to wear him down. With enough practice and persistence, you’ll be able to bring down Giovanni and claim your Shadow Legendary reward. Good luck!
