How to Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO [May 2025 Guide]

Pokémon GO Spoofer - LocaChange

Change your GPS location in Pokémon GO to locate Giovanni encounters more easily and access rare Giovanni balloon spawns.

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Giovanni, the boss of Team GO Rocket, is one of the toughest challenges in Pokémon GO. Whether you're hunting his latest Shadow Legendary Pokémon or trying to complete your monthly Special Research, this Giovanni guide will tell you how to beat Giovanni: his current lineup, the best counters, and proven battle strategies to help you win. Let’s dive in!

Who is Giovanni in Pokémon GO?

Giovanni is the leader of Team GO Rocket and the final boss of Pokémon GO’s villainous Team Battles. As the mastermind behind the Shadow Organization, he commands powerful Shadow Pokémon, including rare Shadow Legendaries. Defeating him is one of the game’s toughest challenges, but the rewards - such as winning grants a chance to catch his Shadow Legendary - are worth the effort.

How to Find Giovanni in Pokémon GO?

To find Giovanni, you’ll need a Super Rocket Radar, a special item earned by completing certain Special Research missions assigned by Professor Willow. These research tasks often include:

• Defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts
• Assembling Rocket Radars to find and defeat Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra
• Completing a storyline mission that culminates in earning the Super Rocket Radar

Once you have the Super Rocket Radar, you can use it to find Giovanni - but it's not always easy. Giovanni doesn't appear at every PokéStop marked by the radar. Instead, you'll often encounter decoy Grunts pretending to be Giovanni. You'll need to tap on each marked PokéStop or Team Rocket balloon until you find the real boss.

Tip

Giovanni can also appear in Team GO Rocket Balloons while your Super Rocket Radar is active. This is often the easiest and quickest way to find him, so check your game every 6 hours when balloons spawn.

How to Beat Giovanni? [May 2025]

Defeating Giovanni in Pokémon GO requires more than just strongest Pokémon - it’s about strategy, right team setup, and knowing his exact lineup. Below is his confirmed lineup for May 2025, along with the best Pokémon counters to defeat him efficiently.

Giovanni always opens with Persian, followed by one of three potential second Pokémon, and finishes with a powerful Shadow Legendary. For May 2025, Giovanni’s team lineup is:

Here’s a breakdown of the best counters for each phase of Giovanni’s battle in May 2025:

1 Best Pokémon Counters for Persian

Persian's Weakness: Fighting-type

Persian's Best Counters:

Tip

Use a fast-charging move like Power-Up Punch to quickly burn Giovanni’s shields.

2 Second Pokémon Counters

Random 1: Kingdra (Water/Dragon-type)

Kingdra's Weakness: Dragon, Fairy-type

Kingdra's Best Counters:

Random 2: Nidoking (Poison/Ground-type)

Nidoking's Weakness: Water, Ice, Ground, Psychic-type

Nidoking's Best Counters:

Random 3: Rhyperior (Ground/Rock-type)

Rhyperior's Weakness: Water, Grass, Fighting, Ice, Steel-type

Rhyperior's Best Counters:

3 Best Pokémon Counters for Closing Pokémon (Palkia)

Shadow Palkia's Weakness: Dragon, Fairy-type

Shadow Palkia's Best Counters:

Tip

Shadow Palkia has powerful Dragon-type moves that can quickly knock out your team. Use Fairy-type Pokémon like Togekiss or Xerneas to resist Dragon attacks and finish the battle strong.

Bonus: Best Battle Strategy Tips for Beating Giovanni

Tip 1 Use a Pokémon GO Spoofer

Some players choose to use a Pokémon GO spoofer LocaChange - a tool that changes your GPS location - to locate Giovanni encounters more easily, especially when Rocket Balloons aren't appearing or nearby PokéStops are limited. By spoofing to different cities or high-density areas, players can check multiple Rocket PokéStops quickly, access rare Giovanni balloon spawns from different time zones, and avoid wasting time walking to distant locations.

Tip 2 Burn Giovanni’s Shields Quickly

Giovanni uses two Protect Shields, and he’ll burn them on your first two Charged Attacks - no matter which Pokémon you use them on.

Tip

Open with a Pokémon that can charge moves quickly (e.g., Lucario with Power-Up Punch or Machamp with Cross Chop) to force out those shields before facing stronger threats.

Tip 3 Switch Strategically

Giovanni often delays his own switch, so you can manually swap to a counter after seeing his second Pokémon without penalty. This gives you a tactical edge. For example, if Giovanni sends out Rhyperior, immediately switch to Kyogre or Swampert to shut it down before it builds energy.

Tip 4 Save a Shield for the Final Phase

Shadow Palkia (or any Shadow Legendary) can deal massive damage, even to resistant Pokémon. Keep at least one shield for the final encounter to block a Charged Move like Hydro Pump, Draco Meteor, or Fire Blast.

Tip 5 Try Multiple Attempts If Needed

If you lose the first time, don’t worry. You can rematch Giovanni without losing your Super Rocket Radar. Use the first attempt to scout his second Pokémon if you’re unsure, then adjust your team accordingly.

Tip 6 Use Shadows or Megas

If you're an advanced player, consider using Shadow Pokémon with high DPS (like Shadow Mamoswine) or Mega Evolutions like Mega Gardevoir or Mega Swampert for extra power and type advantage.

FAQs About Beating Giovanni in Pokémon GO

1. How often does Giovanni's team change in Pokémon GO?

Giovanni’s lineup typically changes every 1 to 2 months, often in sync with:

• New Team GO Rocket Special Research
• Major events like GO Tour or Shadow Raids
• The beginning of a new month or season

Tip: You can save this article. I will update Giovanni's current line-up of the best counters every month.

2. How often can I battle Giovanni?

You can battle Giovanni once a month once you have obtained a Super Rocket Radar from Special Research. If you don't use the radar immediately, it will remain in your inventory for later use.

3. Can I rematch Giovanni if I lose?

Yes! You can rematch Giovanni as many times as needed until you win.

• You won’t lose your Super Rocket Radar unless the battle is successfully completed.
• Use early battles to scout his second Pokémon, then adjust your strategy.

4. What rewards do I get for beating Giovanni?

Defeating Giovanni will reward you with valuable items and exclusive encounters, including A Shadow Legendary Pokémon, Stardust, Revives and Potions, as well as bonus items such as a Sinnoh or Unova Stone.

Conclusion

Beating Giovanni in Pokémon GO isn’t just about having the strongest Pokémon - it’s about knowing the lineup and preparing your team wisely. With this updated May 2025 guide, you're ready to take him down and claim your Shadow Legendary reward. Bookmark this page and check back each month for the latest Giovanni counters and team updates!

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