Getting ready to face Giovanni in Pokemon GO? The Team GO Rocket boss is back for January 2025, and he’s not making things easy with his Shadow Pokemon lineup. You’ll face him in a three-phase battle, with Shadow Heatran as his powerful final Pokemon. This battle can be tough if you go in unprepared, as you need the right counters and a good understanding of your team’s weaknesses to win. Want to know how to win? Keep reading as we break down exactly how to beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO here.
Team Rocket Giovanni Lineup (January 2025)
Giovanni uses a three-phase battle format with Shadow Pokemon. While his first and third Pokemon are fixed, he can choose from three different options for his second Pokemon which makes it challenging.
| Phase | Pokemon | Image | Type | Weaknesses |
| First | Shadow Persian |  |
Normal | Fighting |
| Second | Shadow Rhyperior |  |
Ground/Rock | Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Ice, Steel |
| Second | Shadow Nidoking |  |
Poison/Ground | Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water |
| Second | Shadow Kingdra |  |
Water/Dragon | Dragon, Fairy |
| Third | Shadow Heatran |  |
Fire/Steel | Ground, Fighting, Water |
Shadow Persian Counters
Persian always appears first in Pokemon GO. As a Normal-type Pokemon, it’s weak to Fighting-type moves. Persian can hit pretty hard with its Shadow boost, so you’ll want to take it down quickly. Here are the best Shadow Persian counters in Pokemon GO:
Shadow Rhyperior Counters
If Giovanni sends out Rhyperior, you’ll want to use Water or Grass-type Pokemon for maximum effectiveness. Its dual Ground/Rock typing gives it several weaknesses to exploit. These are:
| Pokemon | Image | Fast Move | Charged Move |
| Primal Kyogre |  |
Waterfall | Origin Pulse |
| Mega Sceptile |  |
Bullet Seed | Frenzy Plant |
| Kartana |  |
Razor Leaf | Leaf Blade |
| Zarude |  |
Vine Whip | Power Whip |
Shadow Nidoking Counters
Nidoking’s Poison/Ground typing makes it vulnerable to Psychic and Water moves. Ice-type attacks also work well against it. The best Shadow Nidoking counters are:
| Pokemon | Image | Fast Move | Charged Move |
| Mewtwo |  |
Psycho Cut | Psystrike |
| Mega Garchomp |  |
Mud Shot | Earth Power |
| Therian Landorus |  |
Mud Shot | Sandsear Storm |
| Mamoswine | |
Powder Snow | Avalanche |
Shadow Kingdra Counters
Kingdra can be tricky due to its Dragon/Water typing. Dragon and Fairy-type moves are your best options here. The best Shadow Kingdra counters are:
Shadow Heatran Counters
For Giovanni’s final Pokemon, Shadow Heatran, Ground-type moves are particularly effective due to its Fire/Steel typing. These are:
How to Find Giovanni in Pokemon GO
To battle Giovanni, you need to complete Team GO Rocket Special Research tasks to obtain a Super Rocket Radar. After reaching Level 8, you’ll get access to these quests.
You’ll need to defeat multiple Team GO Rocket Grunts and the three Team Leaders (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra) first. Once you have the Super Rocket Radar, equip it to locate Giovanni at PokeStops or in Team GO Rocket balloons.
Rewards for Beating Team Rocket Leader Giovanni
Beating Giovanni in Pokemon will give you several rewards. These are:
- 5,000 Stardust
- Chance to catch Shadow Heatran
- Four item bundles which can include:
- Max Potions
- Max Revives
- Hyper Potions
- Regular Revives
- 1x Unova Stone
Remember, Shadow Heatran is a guaranteed catch, so use a Pinap Berry to get extra candy if you want. While it can’t be shiny, Shadow Heatran is still a powerful addition to your collection. And that’s how you beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO. Still confused? Drop your questions in the comments below.
