Giovanni Pokémon GO (December 2024)
Learn how to defeat Giovanni in Pokémon GO in January 2025. This guide details Giovanni’s current Pokémon lineup, the best counters to use, and the optimal team for taking him down.
We’ll also explain how to locate Giovanni, what rewards you need to defeat him and some common challenges trainers face with Team GO Rocket Special Research.
Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup
As the infamous leader of Team GO Rocket, Giovanni commands powerful Shadow Pokémon and oversees leaders like Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra. Here’s his current lineup in January 2025:
Lineup Overview:
- Phase 1: Persian
- Phase 2: Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra
- Phase 3: Heatran
Best Team to Defeat Giovanni
Recommended Team:
- Machamp or Lucario
- Swampert
- Garchomp or Togekiss
Why This Team Works:
- Machamp/Lucario: Ideal against Persian as it’s weak to Fighting moves. These Pokémon also perform well against Kangaskhan.
- Swampert: Great for handling Rhyperior or Nidoking which offers excellent type coverage.
- Garchomp/Togekiss: Garchomp excels against Heatran with Ground moves while Togekiss handles Kingdra effectively with Charm.
Giovanni’s Pokémon Counters
Phase 1: Persian
- Best Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr or Dialga.
Phase 2 (Random Selection):
- Honchkrow: Use Rampardos, Electivire, Togekiss or Rhyperior.
- Kangaskhan: Stick with Fighting types like Machamp or Conkeldurr.
- Kingdra: Use Togekiss, Dragonite, Rayquaza or Palkia.
Phase 3: Heatran
- Best Counters: Garchomp, Groudon, Swampert or Rhyperior.
Rewards for Defeating Giovanni
- 4× Shadow Shards to help purify Shadow Pokémon.
- A chance to catch a Legendary Shadow Pokémon.
Tips for Battling Giovanni
- Preparation is Key: You have to make sure your Pokémon have optimal movesets and are at high levels.
- Type Advantage: You should focus on Pokémon that exploit weaknesses in Giovanni’s lineup.
- Save Shields: You can use shields wisely to block Charged Attacks from Giovanni’s strongest Pokémon.
You’ll have no trouble defeating Giovanni and adding a powerful Shadow Pokémon to your team with these strategies!
