Giovanni is the final boss of Pokemon Go’s villainous Team Go Rocket, so you’ll need to pull out all the stops to beat him. To help trainers out, we’ve put together a guide featuring his current lineup of Pokemon, their weaknesses, and the best counters to use on your team. After you’ve valiantly fought your way through Grunts, Team Leaders, and plenty of Decoys, you’ll finally get the chance to take on Giovanni.
The Team Go Rocket Boss is tough competition, so it’s important to take the time to plan if you want to walk away a winner. After battling with the Kanto region’s Legendary Mewtwo throughout 2022, Giovanni now has Shadow Regigigas in his team. We will break down everything you need to know to help you defeat him and storm to victory on the battlefield.
Giovanni Pokemon Go lineup (January 2024)
Giovanni’s lineup changes now and then, but the star of his current team remains Shadow Regigigas, which you’ll be able to catch if you manage to defeat him. Here’s Giovanni’s current lineup in Pokemon Go:
- Phase 1: Persian
- Phase 2: Nidoking / Kingler / Garchomp
- Phase 3: Shadow Regigigas
Giovanni’s lineup changes every time there’s a Team Go Rocket Takeover. We don’t know when the next one will take place, but we’ll update this page as soon as it happens.
How to beat Giovanni in Pokemon Go
Giovanni is an incredibly strong opponent in Pokemon Go, so if you want to defeat him, you’ll need to come prepared with some equally strong counters that can target his team’s weaknesses. At the start of every battle, Giovanni always throws out his signature Pokemon, Persian. The second Pokemon he chooses is at random from a pool of three. Finally, you’ll face Shadow Regigigas.
Giovanni Pokemon Go counters phase 1
Persian is a Normal-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Fighting-type moves. On the other hand, Persian is resistant to Ghost-type attacks, so avoid those wherever possible. Here are some of the best counters to help you defeat Persian:
| Persian Counters | ||
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Terrakion | Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charge Move) |
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Conkeldurr | Counter (Fast Move) & Focus Blast (Charge Move) |
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Hariyama | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move) |
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Lucario | Counter (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charge Move) |
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Machamp | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move) |
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Breloom | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move) |
Giovanni Pokemon Go counters phase 2
The second Pokemon Giovanni chooses is one of these three: Nidoking, Kingler, or Garchomp. Each of them has different weaknesses and resistances, so you’ll need to adjust your strategy accordingly.
Nidoking counters
Nidoking is a Poison and Ground-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Water, Ice, Ground, and Psychic-type moves. On the other hand, Nidoking is resistant to Poison, Rock, Electric, and Fighting-type attacks, so avoid those wherever possible. Here are some of the best counters to help you defeat Nidoking:
| Nidoking Counters | ||
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Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Psychic/Psystrike (Charge Move) |
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Kyogre | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Origin Pulse (Charge Move) |
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Garchomp | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earth Power (Charge Move) |
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Glaceon | Ice Shard (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) |
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Galarian Darmanitan | Ice Fang (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) |
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Espeon | Confusion (Fast Move) & Psychic (Charge Move) |
Kingler counters
Kingler is a Water-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Grass and Electric-type moves. On the other hand, Kingler is resistant to Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel-type attacks, so avoid those wherever possible. Here are some of the best counters to help you defeat Kingler:
| Kingler Counters | ||
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Xurkitree | Thunder Shock & Power Whip |
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Kartana | Razor Leaf & Leaf Blade |
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Mega Sceptile | Bullet Seed & Leaf Blade |
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Shadow Electivire | Thunder Shock & Wild Charge |
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Shadow Zapdos | Thunder Shock & Thunderbolt |
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Shadow Luxray | Spark & Wild Charge |
Garchomp counters
Garchomp is a Dragon and Ground-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type moves. On the other hand, Garchomp is resistant to Fire, Electric, Poison, and Rock-type attacks, so avoid those wherever possible. Here are some of the best counters to help you defeat Garchomp:
| Garchomp Counters |
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Articuno | Frost Breath (Fast Move) & Ice Breath (Charge Move) |
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Galarian Darmanitan | Ice Fang (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) |
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Mamoswine | Powder Snow (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) |
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Glaceon | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charge Move) |
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Dragonite | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charge Move) |
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Weavile | Ice Shard (Fast Move) & Avalanche (Charge Move) |
Giovanni Pokemon Go counters phase 3
The final Pokemon Giovanni uses is Shadow Regigigas, a Normal-type Pokemon that has a massive amount of HP and Attack. Shadow Regigigas is weak to Fighting-type moves, but resistant to Ghost-type attacks. Here are some of the best counters to help you defeat Shadow Regigigas:
| Regigigas Counters |
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Terrakion | Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charge Move) |
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Machamp | Counter (Fast Move) & Cross Chop (Charge Move) |
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Pheromosa | Low Kick (Fast Move) & Focus Blast (Charge Move) |
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Hawlucha | Low Kick (Fast Move) & Flying Press (Charge Move) |
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Lucario | Counter (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charge Move) |
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Conkeldurr | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charge Move) |
Best team to defeat Giovanni in Pokemon Go
The recommended team to face Giovanni consists of Lucario, Swampert, and Kyogre. These Pokemon are chosen for their effectiveness against Giovanni’s line-up, with Lucario being particularly useful against Persian and Regigigas. Swampert and Kyogre are strong against Nidoking and Garchomp, with Kyogre also being useful against Persians.
How to find Giovanni in Pokemon Go
To find Giovanni, you need to complete the Showdown in the Shadows (Team Go Rocket Special Research). This involves defeating six Grunts, and three Team Leaders, and collecting six Mysterious Components to create a Rocket Radar. Once you have the Rocket Radar, you can use it to locate Giovanni’s hideout, which will be marked by a black balloon with a red R. However, be careful, as some of the balloons may be decoys, and you’ll have to face another Grunt instead. You can also get a Super Rocket Radar from the monthly Team Go Rocket Timed Research, which will show you all the possible locations of Giovanni, but also more decoys.
How to Defeat Team Leaders in Pokemon Go
Before you can face Giovanni, you’ll need to defeat the three Team Leaders: Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra. Each of them has a different lineup of Pokemon, with different weaknesses and resistances. You can check out our guides on how to beat each of them here:
- How to beat Arlo in Pokemon Go
- How to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go
- How to beat Sierra in Pokemon Go
Conclusion
Giovanni is the toughest opponent in Pokemon Go, and you’ll need a strong team and a smart strategy to defeat him. In this guide, we showed you his current lineup, the best counters, and the tips and tricks to win. By following this guide, you’ll be able to beat Giovanni and catch Shadow Regigigas, a legendary Pokemon with immense power. Good luck, trainer!
FAQs
Q: How do I get the Rocket Radar to find Giovanni?
A: You need to complete the Showdown in the Shadows (Team Go Rocket Special Research), which involves defeating six Grunts, and three Team Leaders, and collecting six Mysterious Components. You can also get a Super Rocket Radar from the monthly Team Go Rocket Timed Research, which will show you all the possible locations of Giovanni, but also more decoys.
Q: How do I know if a balloon is Giovanni’s or a decoy’s?
A: Giovanni’s balloon will be black with a red R, while a decoy’s balloon will be black with a white R. You can also use the Super Rocket Radar to see all the balloons, but some of them will be fake.
Q: How often does Giovanni’s lineup change?
A: Giovanni’s lineup changes every time there’s a Team Go Rocket Takeover, which is an event where Team Go Rocket invades more PokeStops and balloons. The last takeover was in November 2023, and the next one is unknown.
Q: What are the best Pokemon to use against Giovanni?
A: The best Pokemon to use against Giovanni depends on his lineup, but some general recommendations are Lucario, Swampert, and Kyogre. Lucario is great against Persians and Regigigas, Swampert, and Kyogre are great against Nidoking and Garchomp, and Kyogre is also great against Persians.
Q: What are the rewards for beating Giovanni?
A: The rewards for beating Giovanni are 5000 Stardust, three Golden Razz Berries, and a chance to catch Shadow Regigigas. You can also get a Giovanni medal for defeating him multiple times.
Q: How do I purify Shadow Regigigas?
A: You can purify Shadow Regigigas by spending 20,000 Stardust and 20 Candy. Purifying Shadow Regigigas will increase its IVs, lower its cost of powering up and evolving, and change its charge move to Return.
Q: Should I purify Shadow Regigigas or keep it as a Shadow Pokemon?
A: That depends on your preference and playstyle, but generally, Shadow Pokemon are more powerful than their purified counterparts, as they deal 20% more damage and take 20% more damage. However, purified Pokemon are cheaper to power up and evolve, and can learn exclusive moves during certain events.
Q: How do I beat the Team Leaders in Pokemon Go?
A: The Team Leaders are Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, and they have different lineups of Pokemon. You can check out our guides on how to beat each of them here:
- How to beat Arlo in Pokemon Go
- How to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go
- How to beat Sierra in Pokemon Go