Team Rocket has arrived in Pokémon Go, led by their boss Giovanni. Defeating him is one of the hardest challenges, requiring careful preparation to beat him and rescue his Shadow Pokémon.
After battling Arlo, Cliff, Sierra, and many Grunts, you’ll face Giovanni. He’s tough, so planning your strategy is key to winning.
Giovanni’s team, which has included Shadow Mewtwo, Kyogre, and Groudon, now features Shadow Heatran. Here’s what you need to know to defeat him and secure victory.
Giovanni Pokemon Go lineup (October 2024)
Giovanni’s roster may shift from time to time, but the leading member of his current team is Shadow Heatran, which can be captured if you are able to defeat him.
Here is the Giovanni’s current lineup in Pokemon Go:
- Phase 1: Shadow Persian
- Phase 2: Shadow Rhyperior / Shadow Nidoking / Shadow Kingdra
- Phase 3: Shadow Heatran
Each time a Team Go Rocket Takeover takes place, Giovanni updates his lineup. The most recent adjustments were made during the Pokémon Go Galarian Expedition: Taken Over event in October 2024.
How to beat Giovanni in Pokemon Go
Giovanni is a highly challenging opponent in Pokemon Go, which means that preparation with powerful counters targeting his team’s weaknesses is crucial for victory. He always initiates the battle with his signature Pokemon, Persian. The second Pokemon he employs is chosen at random from a group of three. Finally, you will face Shadow Heatran.
Giovanni counters phase 1
Persian counters
As a Normal-type Pokémon, Persian has a weakness to Fighting-type attacks and a resistance to Ghost-type attacks. This information allows trainers to easily identify the most effective Pokémon to use against it.
Utilize these counters to enhance your likelihood of success against Shadow Persian in Pokémon Go.
Shadow Persian Counters
| Mega Lucario | Force Palm (Fast Move) & Aura Sphere (Charged Move) |
| Keldeo | Low Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charged Move) |
| Terrakion | Double Kick (Fast Move) & Sacred Sword (Charged Move) |
| Conkeldurr | Counter (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charged Move) |
| Mega Blaziken | Counter (Fast Move) & Focus Blast (Charged Move) |
| Hariyama | Force Palm (Fast Move) & Dynamic Punch (Charged Move) |
Giovanni counters phase 2
Rhyperior counters
Rhyperior, known for its fearsome presence, is a dual Ground/Rock-type Pokémon, which makes it vulnerable to Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel-type moves. However, it is resistant to Electric, Poison, Fire, Flying, Normal, and Rock-type attacks.
Here are several effective counters to take down Shadow Rhyperior:
Shadow Rhyperior Counters
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Origin Pulse (Charged Move) |
| Mega Sceptile | Bullet Seed (Fast Move) & Frenzy Plant (Charged Move) |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Hydro Cannon (Charged Move) |
| Kingler | Bubble (Fast Move) & Crabhammer (Charged Move) |
| Venusaur | Vine Whip (Fast Move) & Frenzy Plant (Charged Move) |
| Empoleon | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Hydro Cannon (Charged Move) |
Nidoking counters
Nidoking is classified as a dual Poison/Ground-type Pokémon, rendering it vulnerable to Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water-type attacks. Conversely, it exhibits resistance to Electric, Poison, Bug, Fairy, Fighting, and Rock-type moves, making it advisable to steer clear of these types.
Below are some effective counters to assist you in overcoming Shadow Nidoking.
Shadow Nidoking Counters
| Primal Kyogre | Waterfall (Fast Move) & Origin Pulse (Charged Move) |
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charged Move) |
| Mewtwo | Psycho Cut (Fast Move) & Psystrike (Charged Move) |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Hydro Cannon (Charged Move) |
| Garchomp | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earth Power (Charged Move) |
| Excadrill | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Scorching Sands (Charged Move) |
Kingdra counters
Kingdra is classified as a dual Water and Dragon-type Pokémon, rendering it vulnerable to attacks from Dragon and Fairy types. Conversely, it exhibits resistance to moves of Fire, Steel, and Water types.
Below are some of the most effective counters for Shadow Kingdra.
Shadow Kingdra Counters
| Mega Rayquaza | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charged Move) |
| Mega Garchomp | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charged Move) |
| Palkia Origin Forme | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Spacial Rend (Charged Move) |
| Salamence | Dragon Tail (Fast Move) & Outrage (Charged Move) |
| Mega Gardevoir | Charm (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charged Move) |
| Electivire | Spark (Fast Move) & Dazzling Gleam (Charged Move) |
Giovanni counters phase 3
Heatran counters
The final Pokémon in Giovanni’s lineup, Heatran, possesses a dual typing of Fire and Steel, which makes it susceptible to Ground, Fighting, and Water-type Pokémon. In contrast, it is resistant to attacks from Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ice, Poison, Steel, Dragon, Flying, Normal, and Psychic types.
Below are several of the leading counters to successfully defeat Shadow Heatran in battle.
Shadow Heatran Counters
| Primal Groudon | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Precipice Blades (Charged Move) |
| Mega Garchomp | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earth Power (Charged Move) |
| Landorus Therian Forme | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Sandsear Storm (Charged Move) |
| Mega Swampert | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Earthquake (Charged Move) |
| Excadrill | Mud Shot (Fast Move) & Scorching Sands (Charged Move) |
| Rhyperior | Mud-Slap (Fast Move) & Earthquake (Charged Move) |
Giovanni is a strong opponent and will be much more challenging to defeat than the other Team Go Rocket Leaders. Having the right counters with the most effective moves is not sufficient; it is crucial to ensure that they are sufficiently powered to confront the challenge.
In the event that you do not recognize any of your Pokémon in the tables provided, you are encouraged to select your strongest Pokémon capable of targeting each of Giovanni’s weaknesses. Furthermore, consulting our weaknesses chart may assist you in matching your Pokémon accordingly.
Best Pokemon against Giovanni in Pokemon Go
To beat Giovanni in Pokémon Go, use Mega Lucario, Salamence, and Primal Groudon. While other Pokémon can work, this team is effective against all opponents.
For Persian, use a strong Fighting-type like Mega Lucario, Terrakion, or Conkeldurr, which also helps against Rhyperior and Heatran.
To counter Kingdra, use a Dragon or Fairy-type like Salamence. If possible, go with Mega Rayquaza or Palkia Origin Forme.
Primal Groudon resists Heatran’s Fire and Steel moves and exploits its Ground weakness. It’s also useful against Nidoking and Rhyperior. If Primal Groudon isn’t available, try Mega Swampert or Excadrill.
Every Giovanni Shadow Boss ranked by difficulty
Since Giovanni and Team Go Rocket joined Pokémon Go in 2019, he’s used various Shadow Boss Pokémon, including Articuno, Mewtwo, Lugia, and Groudon.
Players have faced many Legendary Pokémon from Giovanni’s team over the years. Considering stats, bulk, and movesets, we’ve created a guide detailing how challenging each of Giovanni’s Shadow Boss Pokémon has been.
How to find Giovanni in Pokemon Go
To locate Giovanni, it is essential to engage in a Team Go Rocket-related Special Research quest, such as Shadowy Skirmishes. These quests become available for you to claim once you attain Level 8.
To complete these Special Research quests, you must vanquish numerous Grunts along with the individual Leaders, namely Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo. After accomplishing this, you will be awarded a Super Rocket Radar.
Once equipped, the Super Rocket Radar will enable you to find Giovanni’s hideout and confront him in battle.
How to get a Team Rocket Special Research quest
Engaging Giovanni in battle presents a significant challenge, but reaching the Team Rocket leader can also prove to be quite difficult. It is necessary to complete a series of Team Go Rocket Special Research tasks to access him, and one must first possess those tasks.
New players should be attentive to the upcoming Team Go Rocket event in Pokemon Go. The previous event, Adventure Week: Taken Over, provided an opportunity for players to initiate the latest Special Research quests, culminating in a confrontation with Giovanni.
If you are a player of Pokémon Go, whether new or returning, and wish to meet Giovanni, please examine your Special Research quests for any of the following quest paths.
- Looming in the Shadows
- A Challenging Development
- The Take-Over Continues
- A Professor’s Work is Never Done
- The Shadowy Threat Grows
- An Inter-egg-sting Development
- The Higher They Fly
- A Seven-Colored Shadow
- Silent Schemes
- Field Notes: Team GO Rocket
- Ultra Beast Protection Efforts
- Shadowy Skirmishes
- From the Shadows
- A Shadowy Distrubance
- Showdown in the Shadows
- It’s a Rocket World
- Adventure Week: Taken Over
It is essential to understand that although players may theoretically accumulate several Special Research quests to facilitate multiple encounters with Giovanni in a brief period, the ultimate Raid Pokémon obtained will consistently be the current one, rather than the one available at the initial launch of the quest.
If you wish to avoid acquiring the current Shadow Raid boss, which is Shadow Heatran, it may be prudent to reserve the final Special Research reward for a later date when the concluding boss is a Pokémon you desire to obtain in multiple quantities.