How to Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO

Hey, fellow trainers! Are you ready for a challenge? Giovanni, the leader of Team GO Rocket, is back in Pokémon GO for January 2025, and he’s bringing along some tough Shadow Pokémon. If you’re Level 8 or above and have completed the Special Research tasks, you’re all set to hunt him down. Let’s dive into how to defeat Giovanni and what rewards you can earn!

Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup

When you battle Giovanni, you’ll face him in three rounds, each with different Pokémon. Here’s what to expect:

1. First Pokémon: Shadow Persian (Normal Type) – Weak against Fighting moves.
2. Second Pokémon: Giovanni could choose one of these:
   • Shadow Rhyperior (Ground/Rock Type) – Weak against Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel moves.
   • Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground Type) – Weak against Psychic, Water, and Ice moves.
   • Shadow Kingdra (Water/Dragon Type) – Weak against Dragon and Fairy moves.
3. Final Pokémon: Shadow Heatran (Fire/Steel Type) – Weak against Ground, Fighting, and Water moves.

Tips for Defeating Giovanni

1. How to Beat Shadow Persian

Persian is fast and packs a punch, but it’s weak to Fighting moves. Here are some great Pokémon to use against it:

• Mega Lucario

  • Fast Move: Force Palm
  • Charged Move: Aura Sphere
• Machamp
  • Fast Move: Counter
  • Charged Move: Dynamic Punch

Quick Question: Have you beaten Shadow Persian before? What Pokémon did you use?

2. How to Handle Shadow Rhyperior

If Giovanni sends out Rhyperior, Water or Grass-types will do great! Check out these powerful counters:

• Primal Kyogre

  • Fast Move: Waterfall
  • Charged Move: Origin Pulse
• Mega Sceptile
  • Fast Move: Bullet Seed
  • Charged Move: Frenzy Plant

3. Beating Shadow Nidoking

Nidoking is weak to Psychic, Water, and Ice moves. Here are some powerful options:

• Mewtwo

  • Fast Move: Psycho Cut
  • Charged Move: Psystrike
• Mamoswine
  • Fast Move: Powder Snow
  • Charged Move: Avalanche

4. Tackling Shadow Kingdra

For Kingdra, use Dragon and Fairy-type moves. Some solid choices are:

• Mega Rayquaza

  • Fast Move: Dragon Tail
  • Charged Move: Outrage
• Gardevoir
  • Fast Move: Charm
  • Charged Move: Dazzling Gleam

5. Conquering Shadow Heatran

For the final battle, use Ground-type moves to take down Heatran effectively:

• Primal Groudon

  • Fast Move: Mud Shot
  • Charged Move: Precipice Blades
• Excadrill
  • Fast Move: Mud Shot
  • Charged Move: Scorching Sands

How to Find Giovanni

To find Giovanni, you need to complete Team GO Rocket Special Research tasks and obtain a Super Rocket Radar. After reaching Level 8, get ready to battle Team GO Rocket Grunts and defeat the leaders, Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra. Once you have your Super Rocket Radar, look for Giovanni at PokeStops or in Team GO Rocket balloons!

Rewards for Defeating Giovanni

When you finally beat Giovanni, you’ll score some awesome rewards:

• 5,000 Stardust
• Chance to catch Shadow Heatran – It’s a guaranteed catch, so aim for those Pinap Berries to get extra candy!
• Four item bundles containing:
  • Max Potions
  • Max Revives
  • Hyper Potions
  • Regular Revives
  • 1x Unova Stone

Final Thought: Remember, while playing Pokémon GO can be a blast, it’s important to take breaks and balance your screen time with other activities. So, get out there, have fun, and may you catch them all! If you have any questions or need help, feel free to drop them in the comments below!