Rocket Boss Giovanni Counters

Giovanni is the Team GO Rocket Boss in Pokémon GO and his signature Pokémon is a Shadow Legendary Pokémon (Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres). You can catch a Shadow Articuno, Zapdos or Moltres by defeating Giovanni. Giovanni’s Shadow Legendary changes every month. This page describes how to defeat Giovanni and which Pokemon are best counters for Giovanni’s Pokemon.

Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup

Giovanni always uses a Persian as his first Pokémon. Giovanni’s second Pokémon can be a Cloyster, a Kangaskhan or a Garchomp. His third Pokémon is Moltres.

Counters recommendation

The following Pokemon are good Giovanni counters, no matter which Pokémon line-up he has:

• Lucario covers Persian and Cloyster and burns shields
• Poliwrath covers Persian and Cloyster and burns shields
• Dragonite covers Garchomp and Kangaskhan
• Tyranitar covers Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos (Stone Edge)

Other recommended Giovanni counters include Machamp (Counter, Cross Chop), Gyarados (Dragon Brath / Waterfall and Hydro Pump), Melmetal, Torterra (Razor Leaf, Frenzy Plant, Stone Edge).

Countering Giovanni’s Pokémon

Persian

Persian

Persian uses Dark and Normal fast moves, and it uses Dark, Rock or Fairy charge moves. We recommend starting with Tyranitar simply because it helps him charge up Stone Edge in preparation for Articuno. You should switch to a Fighting type as soon as you can. You should use Fighting types with counter and easy-to-charge Charge moves to burn Giovanni’s shields.

Recommended Persian counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Lucario	Counter	Power Up Punch
Machamp	Counter	Cross Chop
Blaziken	Counter	Blaze Kick
Poliwrath	Mud Shot	Power Up Punch

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Giovanni’s second Pokémon will be Cloyster, Kangaskhan or Garchomp. Surprisingly, Dragonite easily counters Garchomp and Kangaskhan, while Lucario and Poliwrath can deal with Cloyster easily.

Cloyster

Cloyster

Cloyster uses a combination of Ice Fast and Charge moves. The only Water typed move it has is Hydro Pump. Therefor, Pokémon with resistance it to Ice and access to Fighting type moves will perform splendidly against it. Lucario and Poliwrath lead the way here.

Recommended Cloyster counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Lucario	Counter	Power Up Punch
Poliwrath	Mud Shot	Power Up Punch
Machamp	Counter	Cross Chop
Blaziken	Counter	Blaze Kick

Kangaskhan

Kangaskhan

Surprisingly, countering Giovanni’s Kangaskhan is not an easy task. Kangaskhan has access to Fighting and Ground fast moves, and Fighting, Ground, Dark and Dragon typed charge moves. This insane combination makes it quite difficult to pick counters, but Dragonite fares well against everything except for Outrage.

Recommended Kangaskhan counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Dragonite	Dragon Breath	Dragon Claw Draco Meteor
Poliwrath	Mud Shot	Power Up Punch
Machamp	Counter	Cross Chop

Garchomp

Garchomp

Garchomp uses Ground and Dragon Fast moves, and Ground, Fire and Dragon Charge moves. This combination makes it rather easy to counter if you’re lucky enough to be matched against Ground moves, as Flying Pokémon (Dragonite shines here!) have an easy way of countering it. Otherwise you should use Ice counters.

Recommended Garchomp counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Dragonite	Dragon Breath	Dragon Claw Draco Meteor
Regice	Lock On	Blizzard
Mamoswine	Powder Snow	Avalanche

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Giovanni’s last Pokémon is Shadow Moltres, a Flying and Fire type with a double weakness to Rock.

Shadow Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos counters

Articuno

Articuno

Articuno uses Ice fast moves, and Ice and Rock charge moves. Articuno’s double weakness to Rock makes him very fragile versus strong Rock types. Switch in your charged up Tyranitar and lay waste to Giovanni’s Aricuno!

Moltres

Moltres

Moltres uses Fire and Flying fast moves, and Fire and Rock charge moves. Similar to Articuno, Moltres has a double weakness to Rock type moves. Tyranitar easily defeats Moltres, while taking reduced damage from everything Moltres throws at it.

Recommended counters for Shadow Articuno and Shadow Moltres

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Tyranitar	Smack Down	Stone Edge
Regirock	Lock On	Stone Edge
Aggron	Smack Down	Stone Edge
Typhlosion	Shadow Claw	Blast Burn

Zapdos

Zapdos

Zapdos uses Electric fast moves, and Electric, Flying and Rock type charge moves. Tyranitar takes normal damage from Electric moves, which makes him a bit weaker in this fight. Luckily it’s easily replaced by Rhyperior and Mamoswine.

Recommended counters for Shadow Zapdos

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Rhyperior	Smack Down	Stone Edge
Mamoswine	Powder Snow	Avalanche
Tyranitar	Smack Down	Stone Edge
Regice	Lock On	Blizzard

 

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📜 Giovanni’s Previous Pokémon 📜

These Pokémon are no longer used by Giovanni, but they were a part of his previous lineup.

Dugtrio

Dugtrio uses Ground and Dark fast moves, and Ground or Rock charge moves. Dugtrio’s counters rarely resist Sucker Punch, which is unfortunate. Luckily, Hydro Cannon almost always overpowers Dugtrio before it can chip through your health pool. Burn the remainder of Giovanni’s shields here.

Recommended Dugtrio counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Swampert	Mud Shot	Hydro Cannon Muddy Water
Kyogre	Waterfall	Hydro Pump
Gyarados	Waterfall	Hydro Pump
Torterra	Razor Leaf	Frenzy Plant Stone Edge

Rhydon

Rhydon uses Ground or Fighting fast moves, and Water, Ground or Rock charge moves. Rhydon is one of the easiest Giovanni’s Pokémon, as it has a double weakness to Water and Grass. Remember to shield against charge moves.

Recommended Rhydon counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Swampert	Mud Shot	Hydro Cannon Muddy Water
Kyogre	Waterfall	Hydro Pump
Gyarados	Waterfall	Hydro Pump
Torterra	Razor Leaf	Frenzy Plant Stone Edge

Hippowdon

Hippowdon uses Electric, Ice, Fire or Dark fast move, and Rock, Ground or Normal charge moves. Luckily, our good old Swampert takes reduced or normal damage from anything Hippowdon throws at it. Shield against every Charge move.

Recommended Hippowdon counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Swampert	Mud Shot	Hydro Cannon Muddy Water
Kyogre	Waterfall	Hydro Pump
Torterra	Razor Leaf	Frenzy Plant Stone Edge
Dialga	Dragon Breath	Draco Meteor