Learn how to defeat Giovanni in Pokémon during the month of June 2026 in Pokémon GO. This page details Giovanni’s Pokémon lineup, the most effective counters, and the best team to win against Giovanni. We also list the steps to find Giovanni, understand the rewards for defeating him, and common issues with Team GO Rocket Special Research.
- 🔔 Currently being updated with the start of Steeled Resolve: Taken Over
- 🔗 Other GO Rocket guides: Arlo lineup and counters, Sierra lineup and counters, Cliff lineup and counters, Team GO Rocket Grunt lineups
Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup
Giovanni’s current lineup includes Shadow Pokémon such as Persian, Rhyperior, Nidoking, Kangaskhan, and the Incarnate Forme Landorus.
Slot #1
Slot #2
Slot #3
Best Pokémon for defeating Giovanni
One of the best Teams you can use against Team GO Rocket Giovanni in Pokémon GO is Lucario, Poliwrath, and Swampert.
- Lucario/Machamp – or any other strong Fighting-type – is a great choice against Giovanni, as Persian, Rhyperior, and Kangaskhan are weak to Fighting-type moves. You more or less want a Fighting-type on your team.
- Poliwrath – Flexes STAB Water and Fighting, which actually covers the entire team of Giovanni! Quaquaval is another option, but Poliwrath has a more efficient moveset.
- Swampert/Kyogre – Swampert and Kyogre provide coverage for Rhyperior, Nidoking, and even Landorus Incarnate, which makes them quite strong and valuable in this fight.
- Shadow Altered Forme Landorus is double-weak to Ice and also has a weakness to Water-type attacks, so something like Mamoswine, White Kyurem, Baxcalibur, or Glaceon will get the job done. However, if the Legendary uses Rock and/or Fighting moves, which Ice is weak to, go with a strong Water type like Swampert, Kyogre, or Poliwrath.
- Remember that apart from Landorus Incarnate, Rhyperior may use Rock moves and Kangaskhan may use Fighting moves. So, using Ice types might cost you the battle and, as such, sticking to powerful Water types is great for the latter part of the bout.
💡 Note: In Trainer Battles, counters need not always be Pokémon that do super-effective damage. We include Pokémon that are more viable to defeat Giovanni, rather than those that do maximum damage. Defeating Giovanni rewards 4× Shadow Shards.
Shadow Persian Counters
Shadow Persian
Persian is a Normal-type Pokémon, weak to Fighting type moves. It takes reduced damage from Ghost type moves and has a wide move pool variety. Best counters are strong Fighters without a doubt.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Lucario
|
Force Palm, Power-Up Punch, Aura Sphere |
Machamp
|
Karate Chop, Cross Chop, Stone Edge |
Terrakion
|
Double Kick, Sacred Sword |
Resolute Keldeo
|
Low Kick, Secret Sword |
Conkeldurr
|
Counter, Dynamic Punch |
Open with a strong Pokémon that can burn Giovanni’s shields efficiently – the aim is at least one. Since we are always facing Persian, we strongly recommend going with a strong Fighting type.
Shadow Rhyperior Counters
Shadow Rhyperior
Rhyperior is a Rock/Ground-type Pokémon. Rhyperior is weak to Grass (2x), Water (2x), Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel moves. Use Water types to finish it off.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
Swampert
|
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Origin Pulse |
Poliwrath
|
Bubble, Scald, Dynamic Punch |
Mamoswine
|
Powder Snow, Icicle Spear |
Quaquaval
|
Waterfall, Hydro Cannon, Close Combat |
Sceptile
|
Bullet Seed, Leaf Blade |
Kartana
|
Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade |
Shadow Nidoking Counters
Shadow Nidoking
Shadow Nidoking is a Poison/Ground-type, and as such is weak to Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water moves. Going with Water and Ice types is most reasonable as they have synergy with the rest of the lineup.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Swampert
|
Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon |
|
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Origin Pulse |
Gyarados
|
Waterfall, Aqua Tail |
|
Poliwrath
|
Bubble, Scald |
White Kyurem
|
Ice Fang, Ice Burn |
|
Mamoswine
|
Powder Snow, Icicle Spear |
Shadow Kangaskhan Counters
Shadow Kangaskhan
Kangaskhan is a pure Normal-type Pokémon. So, it is only weak to Fighting type moves. It takes reduced damage from Ghost-type moves. Be aware that Kangaskhan can hit pretty hard!
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
Lucario
|
Force Palm, Power-Up Punch, Aura Sphere |
|
Machamp
|
Karate Chop, Cross Chop |
|
Terrakion
|
Double Kick, Sacred Sword |
|
Conkeldurr
|
Counter, Dynamic Punch |
|
Resolute Keldeo
|
Low Kick, Secret Sword |
Shadow Incarnate Form Landorus Counters
Incarnate Shadow Landorus
Giovanni’s Shadow Landorus is a Ground and -type Pokémon. It is weak to Ice (2x) and Water-type moves, which means you have a wide choice of counters available.
Shadow Landorus can have Mud Shot or Rock Throw for its fast move, and Earth Power, Outrage, Focus Blast, or Rock Slide for charged moves. Based on this, we selected counters almost always perform well.
| Pokémon | Moves |
|---|---|
|
White Kyurem
|
Ice Fang, Ice Burn |
|
Kyogre
|
Waterfall, Origin Pulse |
|
Mamoswine
|
Powder Snow, Avalanche |
Baxcalibur
|
Ice Fang, Avalanche |
|
Poliwrath
|
Bubble, Scald |
|
Gyarados
|
Waterfall, Aqua Tail |
How to find Giovanni in Pokémon GO
To find Giovanni, progress through GO Pass: Steeled Resolve – Taken Over to receive a Super Rocket Radar and chase down Giovanni. You can claim rewards from the GO Pass until Wednesday, May 6, at 7:59 p.m. local time.
- It works like a regular Rocket Radar, but it tracks Giovanni, not GO Rocket leaders.
- The Super Rocket Radar doesn’t immediately lead you to Giovanni; it displays locations of both decoy Grunts disguised as Giovanni and Giovanni’s actual hideout.
- You’ll need to approach each PokéStop and investigate yourself to find where Giovanni’s hiding.
- You can rematch if you lose, and your Super Rocket Radar will be consumed if you win.
Rewards for defeating Giovanni in Pokémon GO
Trainers who manage to defeat Giovanni will receive selection of rare reward bundles, including the chance to get a Legendary Shadow Pokémon.
- Trainers receive 5,000 Stardust for defeating Giovanni
- Defeating Giovanni rewards three item bundles including Max Potions or Max Revives
- Trainers have the opportunity to catch the Legendary Shadow Pokémon used by Giovanni at the moment of defeating him.
- Giovanni does not drop Strange Eggs as a reward, regardless of open egg inventory slots.
Reward bundles
Guaranteed
5000×
Stardust
Random drop of three of these (can stack)
-
4×
Revive
-
4×
Max Revive
-
4×
Hyper Potion
-
4×
Max Potion
-
1×
Unova Stone
Defeating Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni yields three item bundles, each of which has an equal chance of containing 4 Max Potions or 4 Max Revives. As an example, a typical reward drop might contain 8 Max Potions and 4 Max Revives.
