Team GO Rocket's Boss Giovanni poses a significant challenge to Trainers brave enough to face him and his Shadow Pokémon. After facing his Grunts and their leaders, Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, the time has arrived to face their Boss and successfully defeat him in battle.
As facing Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders in battle is a task that can be achieved quite easily; however, facing Giovanni requires the right counter line-up. In this guide, we'll outline how Trainers can prepare for battle against the fearsome Team GO Rocket leader, including his current line-up, best Pokemon counters, and the best team to use.
Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni Current Line-up In Pokémon GO For March 2023:
Trainers will only be able to battle against Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni after completing the Special Research story, Shadowy Skirmishes, in which you can acquire a Super Rocket Radar and track him down. His line-up has significantly changed due to the ongoing Team GO Rocket Takeover event, in which all data is supplied by a notable Pokémon source, PokémonGOHub.
Below is the current Shadow Pokémon line-up for Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni for March 2023:
- Giovanni Battle Phase 1: Persian
- Giovanni Battle Phase 2: Cloyster / Garchomp / Nidoking
- Giovanni Battle Phase 3: Registeel
Best Persian Counters:
Persian is usually a Normal-type Pokémon, but since Giovanni is its Trainer, it also boasts Dark, Fairy, and Rock-type attacks. Luckily, Persian is vulnerable to Fighting and Ghost-type attacks, which can help bring down its shielding abilities, but it will need to have a Fast or Charged Attack to counter Scratch if learned.
- Breloom (Grass/Fighting): Counter (Fast Attack); Dynamic Punch, Grass Knot (Charged Attack)
- Keldeo (Water/Fighting): Low Kick (Fast Attack); Hydro Pump, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
- Lucario (Fighting/Steel): Counter (Fast Attack); Dynamic Punch, Shadow Ball (Charged Attack)
- Pheromosa (Bug/Fighting): Bug Bite (Fast Attack); Focus Blast, Close Combat (Charged Attack)
- Terrakion (Rock/Fighting): Smack Down (Fast Attack); Rock Slide, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
Best Cloyster, Garchomp & Nidoking Counters:
Round two will see Giovanni bring one of three Shadow Pokémon: Cloyster, Garchomp, or Nidoking, to the battle. Cloyster is weak to Electric, Fighting, Grass, and Rock-type Pokémon, and Garchomp is most vulnerable to Dragon, Fairy, and Ice-type Pokémon.
Nidoking, which shares similar counters to Nidoqueen, is vulnerable to attacks from Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water Pokémon. Likewise, it also shared common weaknesses with Garchomp, which should help you pick the right counters for either encounter.
- Kartana (Grass/Steel): Razor Leaf (Fast Attack); Leaf Blade, X-Scissor (Charged Attack)
- Keldeo (Water/Fighting): Low Kick (Fast Attack); Hydro Pump, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
- Lucario (Fighting/Steel): Counter (Fast Attack); Dynamic Punch, Shadow Ball (Charged Attack)
- Terrakion (Rock/Fighting): Smack Down (Fast Attack); Rock Slide, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
- Xurkitree (Electric): Spark (Fast Attack); Discharge, Thunder (Charged Attack)
- Galarian Darmanitan (Ice): Ice Fang (Fast Attack); Avalanche, Ice Punch (Charged Attack)
- Glaceon (Ice): Frost Breath (Fast Attack); Avalanche, Ice Beam (Charged Attack)
- Jynx (Ice/Psychic): Frost Breath (Fast Attack); Avalanche, Ice Beam (Charged Attack)
- Mamoswine (Ice/Ground): Powder Snow (Fast Attack); Avalanche (Charged Attack)
- Weavile (Dark/Ice): Ice Shard (Fast Attack); Avalanche (Charged Attack)
- Alakazam (Psychic): Confusion (Fast Attack); Future Sight, Psychic (Charged Attack)
- Attack Forme Deoxys (Psychic): Zen Headbutt (Fast Attack); Thunderbolt. Psycho Boost (Charged Attack)
- Azelf (Psychic): Confusion (Fast Attack); Fire Blast, Future Sight (Charged Attack)
- Mewtwo (Psychic): Psycho Cut (Fast Attack); Ice Beam (Charged Attack)
- Unbound Hoopa (Psychic): Confusion (Fast Attack); Psychic, Shadow Ball (Charged Attack)
Best Registeel Counters:
The final round will see you finally face Shadow Registeel, and while there are no clear counters for its Shadow form, we’ll use the best counters against its Normal form. While Legendary and Shadow Pokémon can be used in battle, Registeel is weak to Fighting, Fire, and Ground Pokémon, which can determine whether this encounter will be successful or not.
Chandelure (Ghost/Fire): Incinerate (Fast Attack); Flame Charge, Shadow Ball (Charged Attack)
Keldeo (Water/Fighting): Low Kick (Fast Attack); Hydro Pump, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
Lucario (Fighting/Steel): Counter (Fast Attack); Dynamic Punch, Shadow Ball (Charged Attack)
Reshiram (Dragon/Fire): Dragon Breath (Fast Attack); Crunch, Overheat (Charged Attack)
Terrakion (Rock/Fighting): Smack Down (Fast Attack); Rock Slide, Sacred Sword (Charged Attack)
This battle against Giovanni may not have a large pool of Shadow Pokémon, but unlike his Grunts or Leaders, Giovanni does boast powerful Shadow Pokémon. With the right counters, you should be able to defeat Giovanni, which we suggest bringing Lucario (Cloyster), Mamoswine (Garchomp & Nidoking), and Terrakion (Persian & Registeel).
