Pokémon GO Spoofer - LocaChange

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

Try It Free

Giovanni, the boss of Team GO Rocket, is one of the toughest challenges in Pokémon GO. In September 2025, he returns with one of the most powerful Shadow Legendaries yet - Shadow Tornadus. 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.

Giovanni’s Current Team Lineup [September 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 September 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 September 2025, Giovanni’s team lineup is:

Phase	Pokémon	Type
First Pokémon	Shadow Persian	Normal-type
Second Pokémon (randomly chosen)	Shadow Kangaskhan	Normal-type
	Shadow Nidoking	Poison/Ground-type
	Shadow Rhyperior	Ground/Rock-type
Third Pokémon	Shadow Tornadus	Flying-type

How to Beat Giovanni? [September 2025]

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

1 Best Pokémon Counters for Persian

Persian's Weakness: Fighting-type

Persian's Best Counters:

Persian Counter	Moves
Lucario	Counter + Power-Up Punch / Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr	Counter + Dynamic Punch
Machamp	Counter + Cross Chop
Terrakion	Double Kick + Sacred Sword

Tip

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

2 Best Counters for Giovanni’s Second Pokémon

Random 1: Kangaskhan (Normal-type)

Kangaskhan's Weakness: Fighting-type

Kangaskhan's Best Counters:

Kangaskhan Counter	Moves
Lucario	Counter + Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr	Counter + Dynamic Punch
Machamp	Counter + Close Combat

Random 2: Nidoking (Poison/Ground-type)

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

Nidoking's Best Counters:

Nidoking Counter	Moves
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut + Psystrike
Kyogre	Waterfall + Surf
Excadril	Mud-Slap + Drill Run

Random 3: Rhyperior (Ground/Rock-type)

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

Rhyperior's Best Counters:

Rhyperior Counter	Moves
Kyogre	Waterfall + Surf
Swampert	Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon
Zarude	Vine Whip + Power Whip

3 Best Pokémon Counters for Shadow Tornadus

Shadow Tornadus's Weakness: Electric, Ice, Rock-type

Shadow Tornadus's Best Counters:

Shadow Tornadus Counter	Moves
White Kyurem	Ice Fang + Ice Burn
Mega Diancie	Rock Throw + Rock Slide
Mega Rayquaza	Dragon Tail + Dragon Ascent

Tip

Shadow Tornadus is a pure Flying-type Pokemon, which means it is weak to Electric, Rock, and Ice-type moves. Remember that Shadow Tornadus hits hard, so using Pokemon with both high DPS and decent bulk will help you survive longer. Don’t forget to dodge its charged moves - it can make the difference between winning and losing in raids.

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 Tornadus (like other Shadow Legendaries) can deal massive damage, even to resistant Pokémon. It may use powerful Charged Moves such as Hurricane, Grass Knot, or Dark Pulse, so always keep at least one shield for the final encounter. Blocking a heavy-hitting move at the right time can be the difference between victory and defeat.

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 September 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!

Try It Free See Pricing

Philip Williams

• Pokémon GO
• GPS Spoofing
• AR Gaming

• AR gaming and GPS spoofing specialist with over a decade of software experience. He is a trusted writer on Pokémon GO tips and safe location-changing strategies, helping over 2 million users worldwide. As an Apple enthusiast and expert in location-changing technology, he brings both technical depth and gaming insight to every guide.