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Updated! Giovanni Pokémon GO: Everything You Need to Know

author Molly Snyder Update on May 19, 2025

Giovanni, Pokémon GO is one of the toughest Pokémon to defeat among the Team GO Rocket leaders, and with the latest refresh, he’s back with a powerful reward: Shadow Dialga. So, if you want to get this legendary Pokémon before a new update, you must prepare with the right strategy. In this guide, we will share Giovanni’s Pokémon GO weakness, the best counter Pokémon, and how to get those counters quickly. Ready to take him down? Let’s dive into the ultimate battle plan.

Part 1: Who is Giovanni in Pokémon GO

Giovanni is the boss of Team GO Rocket, the villainous organization that causes trouble. He appears as part of the monthly Special Research tasks. Giovanni is significantly stronger than regular team leaders. His team includes powerful Legendary Shadow Pokémon. Each counter is unique and challenging.

Giovanni can be tracked with a Super Rocket Radar. By defeating him, you can earn rare shadow Pokémon as rewards.

Giovanni in Pokémon GO

Part 2: What You Need to Know Before Beating Giovanni

To beat Giovanni you need to understand his current lineup, his weaknesses, and prepare an optimized counter team. One misstep can cost you the fight.

1. Giovanni Pokémon GO Weakness

Giovanni uses five powerful Pokémon in his counter. He always starts with Persian Pokémon. It is a Normal-type weak to Fighting-type move. The second round rotates between three powerful Pokémon with different types. The final Pokémon is usually a Legendary Shadow, which changes each month. Here’s a quick breakdown of the type weaknesses:

Pokemon Type Weakness
Persian Normal Fighting
Nidoking Poison/Ground Water, Ice, Ground
Rhyperior Ground/Rock Water, Grass, Ice
Garchomp Dragon/Ground Ice, Dragon, Fairy
Shadow Groudon Ground Water, Ice, Ground
Shadow Dialga Steel/Dragon type Fighting, Ground
Shadow Kangaskhan Normal Fighting

2. Best Pokémon Team to Defeat Giovanni

To beat Giovanni, you need a team that can directly counter his lineup. The best team to use against the Giovanni Team Go Rocket is:

Lucario: Many of Giovanni’s Pokémon, especially Persian, are weak in fighting-type moves. Lucario’s Counter and Aura Sphere combo makes it a top pick for the lead.

Kyogre: Kyogre, which has a waterfall and surf moves, is the best counter for Nidoking and Rhyperior.

Mamoswine, Groudon, Mega Lucario, and Swampert: All these Pokémon have charged attacks and type advantages. Swampert is very effective against Shadow Dialga.

Best Pokémon Team to Defeat Giovanni

Choose your lineup based on his current rotation, and make sure your counters are well-powered and fully charged.

3. Giovanni Pokémon GO Rewards

Defeating Giovanni will grant you several valuable rewards:

  • Shadow Legendary Pokémon – Currently Shadow Dialga
  • 5,000 Stardust
  • Unova Stone or Sinnoh Stone
  • Max Revives and Max Potions

These rewards make the battle worth the effort, especially the counter with shadow legendary Pokémon, which are unavailable elsewhere.

🔔 Also Read: Ultimate Pokémon GO XL Candy Guide

4. Giovanni Current Lineup in Pokémon GO

As of the latest update, Giovanni’s team is:

  1. First Pokémon: Persian
  2. Second Pokémon: One of Nidoking, Rhyperior, or Garchomp
  3. Final Pokémon: Shadow Legendary Dialga

Always prepare for Persian first, and use the Super Rocket Radar to locate him. The second Pokémon is randomly selected, so bring versatile counters to handle all possibilities.

Part 3: Tips for Beating Giovanni in Pokémon GO

Giovanni is a strong, troubling opponent in Pokémon GO. So, if you want to defeat him, you need to make a strategy. Create a lineup that is strong enough to beat Giovanni Shadow Pokémon.

  • To counter Persian always start with a strong fighting-type lead like Lucario or Machamp.
  • Use fast-charging moves to break Giovanni’s two shields quickly.
  • Switch between mid-battle to counter each of Giovanni’s Pokémon.
  • Always use High DP Shadow or Mega evolved Pokémon to dominate in battle with power and super moves.
  • Keep your counter team fully powered up and unlock it with second-chance moves.

🔔 Also Read: How to Get Pokémon GO Sun Stone Fast? Easy Guide!

Part 4: Best Way to Get Pokémon Team with Auto-Scanner

Not only defeating but locating Giovanni is another big challenge when the PokeStops are limited nearby or you don’t see any Team Go Rocket Balloons. But worry not MocPOGO Location Spoofer can easily find Giovanni and build your battle team easier than ever.

With its latest update, MocPOGO offers advanced Pokémon resource scanning features. You can not only spoof your location to high-traffic areas but also scan for specific Pokémon, nearby raids, and team battles. It shows real-time data such as CP, level, IV, moveset, spawn time, and distance. So, you can catch exactly what you need to take down Giovanni.

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MocPOGO
Best Auto Pokemon Go Scanner
Available for:

168,282 people have downloaded it.

  • Fly Anywhere with Bluetooth: No Cracked Apps!
  • Best Pokemon Go spoofer on Android/iOS devices.
  • Simulate GPS movement with customized speeds.
  • Import popular GPX route files for next use.
  • Support GPS joystick to play AR game on PC.
  • Compatible with iOS 18 & Android 15.

How to Use MocPOGO to Defeat Giovanni

Step 1 Download and install MocPOGO on your PC. After installation, open the program and click on “Start.”

mocpogo main interface

Step 2 Use a USB cable, bluetooth or WiFi to link your phone to your computer.

mocpogo bluetooth mode

Step 3 Click the POGO icon in the upper right corner. This opens three scanning options:

  • Scan Nearby Pokémon: Shows all Pokémon around your spoofed location, including stats like CP, Level, IV, and Moveset.
  • Scan Nearby Team Battles: Reveals nearby raid and gym battles with full battle details.
  • Search for Pokémon & Raids: Manually search by name or ID and filter by raid tier, CP, or type.

resource search mocpogo

Step 4 Click the “Go” button next to any Pokémon or raid to instantly spoof your location and engage. Build your team fast and dominate Giovanni without waiting for local spawns.

scan nearby team battles

With MocPOGO’s auto-scan feature, exploring the world of Pokémon GO has never been easier or more exciting!

🔔 Also Read: How to Use Pokemon Go Scanner for Better Gaming Experience

Final Thoughts

Giovanni Pokémon GO battles are some of the most rewarding and challenging in the game. With the right strategy, counters, and preparation, you can beat him and earn valuable rewards like Shadow Dialge. All you can do with MocPOGO Auto-Scan Nearby Pokémon & Gyms. It not only helps you locate rare counters quickly but also gives you an edge in raids and PvP battles. Stay one step ahead of Giovanni and dominate your next encounter with the best tools and tactics.

Molly Snyder

Molly is a game fanatic who specializes in writing technology articles. In her articles, you can find many questions about game guides and solution of how to fix it. She has over 10 years of work experience in the gaming and technology industries, which makes her articles more readable. 

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