Guides Pokémon GO Edward Collins

Pokémon Go Giovanni counters, current line-up and rewards explained

Giovanni, the formidable leader of Team Go Rocket, is a challenging opponent in Pokémon Go. If you manage to defeat him, you’ll be rewarded with the chance to capture powerful Shadow Pokémon, including Shadow Mewtwo or Shadow Regice.

Alongside Team Leaders Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, you can encounter Giovanni as part of special research quests introduced during events. His lineup has changed, so it’s essential to prepare your best Giovanni counters for the battle.

How to Find Giovanni in Pokémon Go

To battle Giovanni, you need a Super Rocket Radar, which you can obtain by completing the latest Team Go Rocket quest. Here’s how to get it:

Complete the Special Research storyline to unlock the Giovanni Special Research quest.
Progress to the fourth step of this task, which requires you to defeat each Team Go Rocket Leader (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra).
Upon completing the fourth step, you will receive the Super Rocket Radar.

Once you have the Super Rocket Radar, you can use it to locate Giovanni. It functions similarly to the regular Rocket Radars but will only show potential encounters with Giovanni, including Decoy Grunts disguised as him.

Check PokéStops to find where Giovanni is hiding. Alternatively, you can wait for a Rocket Balloon, which guarantees an encounter with him.

Giovanni Counters in Pokémon Go

Preparing for the battle against Giovanni is crucial, as his Pokémon are significantly stronger than those of the previous Team Go Rocket Leaders. Don’t be discouraged if it takes multiple attempts to defeat him!

As of August 2024, Giovanni’s updated lineup includes:

First Pokémon: Persian

Persian will always be his first Pokémon and is weak to Fighting-type moves. Recommended counters include:

Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
Alternative options are Machamp and Lucario.

To maximize damage, switch to your Fighting-type Pokémon after your first Pokémon takes a hit. This tactic allows you to exploit Giovanni’s delay when you switch or use a Charged move.

Second Pokémon: Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra

Giovanni’s second Pokémon can be one of several options, so scouting ahead is beneficial. Here’s how to counter each:

Honchkrow: Weak to Electric, Ice, Rock, and Fairy-types. Use Fairy-types like Tapu Lele or Togekiss.
Kangaskhan: A strong Fighting-type like Terrakion or Lucario is recommended.
Kingdra: Weak to Dragon and Fairy-types; again, using a Fairy-type is advantageous.

Third Pokémon: Cresselia

Finally, Giovanni’s last Pokémon, Cresselia, is a Psychic-type with weaknesses to Bug, Dark, and Ghost-types. Suitable counters include:

Tyranitar (Dark-type)
Volcarona (Bug-type)
Ghost-type options like Gengar or Origin Forme Giratina.

Strategically, you might start with a Fairy-type against the second Pokémon and then switch to your Dark or Bug-type Pokémon to finish Cresselia.

How Often Can You Fight Giovanni in Pokémon Go?

As long as you possess a Super Rocket Radar, you can challenge Giovanni. These radars are primarily obtained through Team Go Rocket quest rewards, which refresh every few months along with Giovanni’s lineup. Occasionally, Super Rocket Radars may appear as rewards in other quests and events.

Rewards for Defeating Giovanni in Pokémon Go

Defeating Giovanni yields various rewards, including:

5000 Stardust
Healing items such as Max Potions and Max Revives
A chance to obtain an Unova Stone
The opportunity to catch a Legendary Shadow Pokémon

Each month introduces a new Shadow Legendary Pokémon. For instance, completing the Team Go Rocket Special Research quest for that month will allow you to capture the current Shadow Legendary. Giovanni has had various Shadow Legendaries over time, including Shadow Mewtwo, Shadow Groudon, and Shadow Cresselia.

Additionally, defeating Giovanni helps you level up the Ultra Hero medal, which tracks how many times you’ve defeated him. As you increase your medal rank, you can unlock Giovanni-themed clothing for your avatar.