How To Beat Giovanni Pokemon Go

To beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO, you’ll need to prepare with the right counters, strategy, and a bit of patience. Giovanni is a Team Rocket boss and has a powerful set of Pokémon, so it’s important to have the right team to take him down.

1. Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup (as of March 2025)

Giovanni’s team typically changes every few months, but here’s a general breakdown of his usual lineup:

• First Pokémon (Tier 1): Persian (Normal type)

• Second Pokémon (Tier 2): Giovanni rotates between powerful Pokémon, like:

  • Rhydon (Ground/Rock type)

  • Nidoking (Poison/Ground type)

  • Garchomp (Dragon/Ground type)

  • Mewtwo (Psychic type) (sometimes)

• Third Pokémon (Tier 3): Giovanni’s final Pokémon varies, and it can include:

  • Mewtwo (Psychic type) (in some instances)

  • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark type)

  • Rhyperior (Ground/Rock type)

Also Read : How To Evolve Inkay in Pokemon Go

2. Best Counters for Giovanni’s Pokémon

To defeat Giovanni, you need to use strong counters for each of his Pokémon. Here are some top suggestions based on his usual roster:

1st Pokémon: Persian

• Persian is a Normal-type, so Fighting-type Pokémon will deal the most damage.

  • Best counters:

    • Machamp (Fighting type)

    • Conkeldurr (Fighting type)

    • Lucario (Fighting/Steel type)

2nd Pokémon: Rhydon / Rhyperior / Garchomp

• Rhydon and Rhyperior are Ground/Rock-type, while Garchomp is Dragon/Ground-type. For both Ground/Rock types and Dragon/Ground, Water, Ice, and Ground-type moves are best.

  • Best counters for Rhydon and Rhyperior:

    • Kyogre (Water type) with Water-type moves like Surf or Waterfall

    • Gyarados (Water/Flying type) with Water-type moves like Hydro Pump or Waterfall

    • Mamoswine (Ice/Ground type) with Ice-type moves like Avalanche or Ice Shard

  • Best counter for Garchomp:

    • Dragonite (Dragon/Flying type) with Dragon-type moves like Dragon Breath or Outrage

    • Giratina (Altered Form) (Ghost/Dragon type) with Dragon-type moves like Dragon Claw and Shadow Ball

3rd Pokémon: Mewtwo / Tyranitar

• Mewtwo is a Psychic-type, so Dark and Bug-type moves work best.

  • Best counters:

    • Tyranitar (Rock/Dark type) with Dark-type moves like Bite and Crunch

    • Darkrai (Dark type) with Dark-type moves like Snarl and Foul Play

    • Zoroark (Dark type) with Dark-type moves like Foul Play or Snarl

• Tyranitar is a Rock/Dark-type, so Fighting, Bug, Fairy, and Steel-type moves are effective.

  • Best counters:

    • Lucario (Fighting/Steel type) with Fighting-type moves like Counter and Aura Sphere

    • Machamp (Fighting type) with Fighting-type moves like Dynamic Punch or Counter

3. Recommended Pokémon for Giovanni Battles

• Machamp (Fighting type)

• Mamoswine (Ice/Ground type)

• Kyogre (Water type)

• Tyranitar (Dark/Rock type)

• Giratina (Altered Form) (Ghost/Dragon type)

• Lucario (Fighting/Steel type)

4. Strategy Tips

• Charge Moves: Make sure your Pokémon have the correct charge moves to maximize damage. For example, a Mamoswine should have Avalanche for dealing with Ground/Rock types.

• Dodge Special Moves: Giovanni’s Pokémon often use powerful Charge Moves like Earthquake or Hyper Beam. Dodging these can save you a lot of health during the battle.

• Revives and Potions: Giovanni’s team can be tough, so don’t forget to bring a supply of Revives and Potions. If one of your Pokémon faint, you can revive them during the battle.

5. Using Shadow Pokémon

If you manage to get Shadow Pokémon (such as a Shadow Tyranitar or Shadow Machamp), they will have enhanced damage. This can be useful for taking down Giovanni’s team more quickly.

6. Steps to Defeat Giovanni:

1. Prepare Your Pokémon: Build a team of at least 3 strong counters from the list above.

2. Dodge Attacks: Use dodging to avoid powerful Charge Moves (especially Earthquake and Hyper Beam).

3. Use Healing Items: Make sure to bring Revives and Max Potions if needed during the fight.

4. Take Down His Pokémon: Giovanni will usually have a trio of strong Pokémon. Focus on taking out each one using your strongest counters.

5. Capture the Legendary Pokémon: After defeating Giovanni, you’ll have a chance to catch a rare Legendary Pokémon like Shadow Latios or Shadow Articuno, depending on the event.

Good luck with your battle against Giovanni!