Look, hunting down the Team GO Rocket Boss isn't as straightforward as it used to be back in the day. You can't just stumble upon him at a PokéStop while you're out grabbing a coffee. If you're looking for Giovanni in Pokémon GO November 2024, you're likely chasing one thing: Shadow Heatran.
He's tough. Honestly, if you go in underprepared, he’ll wipe your team before you even see his third Pokémon.
But here’s the deal. To even get a shot at him this month, you need a Super Rocket Radar. Most players are getting theirs through the "Galactic Expedition" Special Research or the seasonal "Max Out" research lines that have been trickling out. If you've been sitting on an old radar from a previous season, now is the time to burn it if you want a high-IV Fire/Steel legendary with that massive 20% shadow attack bonus.
Finding the Real Giovanni (and Avoiding Decoys)
Once you equip that Super Rocket Radar, your map is going to get messy. You'll see Giovanni icons at stops all over the place. Most of them are fakes. Decoy Grunts are everywhere in November 2024, and while they’re okay for farming Mysterious Components, they’re a massive distraction when you're specifically hunting the boss.
The trick is the balloon.
If you have the Super Rocket Radar equipped, the next Team GO Rocket balloon that floats over your avatar—usually at 12 AM, 6 AM, 12 PM, and 6 PM—is guaranteed to be the real Giovanni. No decoys. No guessing games. Just the big man himself ready to ruin your win streak. If you prefer the "street hunt" method, you’ll just have to check every invaded stop until the dialogue matches Giovanni's usual arrogant tone rather than a Grunt's taunt.
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The November 2024 Lineup: What You’re Up Against
Giovanni doesn't play fair, but he is predictable. His first Pokémon is always Persian. It’s his signature. It’s also surprisingly annoying because its "Scratch" fast move deals relentless neutral damage that adds up faster than you’d expect.
After Persian, things get a bit more random. For the second slot in November 2024, Giovanni typically rotates between three heavy hitters: Nidoking, Kingdra, or Rhyperior. You have a 33% chance of seeing any of these, which makes picking a "perfect" team difficult. Finally, his third slot is locked in as Shadow Heatran for this rotation.
Breaking the Shields
You have to burn his shields immediately. Giovanni will always shield the first two Charged Attacks you throw at him. Period. If you lead with a high-energy, slow-charging move like Earthquake, you’ve already lost the match.
The strategy here is "shield baiting." You need a Pokémon that generates energy fast and has a low-cost Charged Attack. Lucario with Power-Up Punch is the gold standard here. Cross Chop Machamp works too. Basically, you want to spam those moves until his shields are gone, all while buffing your own stats or at least chipping away at Persian's health.
Countering Slot Two: The Wildcards
If he pulls out Rhyperior, you're in luck. A strong Water or Grass type will melt it. Swampert with Hydro Cannon is a beast here because it resists Rhyperior’s Rock moves and hits back with double-effective damage.
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Kingdra is the real run-killer.
Since Kingdra is Water/Dragon, it only fears Fairy and Dragon moves. If you brought a Kyogre to fight Rhyperior and he swaps in Kingdra, you're going to have a bad time. Bringing a Primarina or a Sylveon is a smart "safe swap" because Charm deals heavy fast-move damage that bypasses the need for shields entirely.
Nidoking is less of a threat if you have a Ground or Psychic type ready, but it can catch you off guard with Megahorn if you aren't careful. Garchomp or Mewtwo are the reliable answers there. Honestly, just having a versatile team that covers Ground and Water usually handles two out of the three possibilities.
How to Take Down Shadow Heatran
This is the main event. Shadow Heatran is a Fire and Steel type. This means it has a massive, glaring double weakness to Ground-type moves.
If you have a Groudon (especially Primal Groudon, though you can't use Mega Evolutions in the actual battle, the base form is still elite) or a Landorus, use it. One or two Earthquakes or even a well-timed Scorching Sands will absolutely delete Heatran's HP bar.
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Water and Fighting moves also do neutral or super-effective damage, but Ground is the king here. The goal is to save at least one shield for this phase. Heatran’s Fire Spin or Magma Storm (if it has it) can burn through your remaining HP if you’re caught without protection.
Why the "Stun Lock" Technique is Essential
There is a mechanical quirk in Pokémon GO's AI that you have to exploit to beat Giovanni consistently. Every time you use a Charged Attack, swap your Pokémon, or someone faints, the AI pauses for about two to three seconds.
Use this.
Don't start the match with your shield-breaker in the lead slot. Start with something else, then immediately swap to your Lucario or Machamp the second the battle begins. Giovanni’s Persian will stand there like a statue for two seconds, letting you get free hits in. You can win entire matches just by timing your Charged Attacks to keep him "stunned" for half the fight.
Is Shadow Heatran Worth the Effort?
Some people in the community are split on this one. Heatran has always been a "good but not great" legendary. However, the Shadow version changes the math significantly.
In Master League, Shadow Heatran is a niche but terrifying pick against Steel-heavy teams. For Raids, it’s a top-tier Fire attacker. If you don't have a solid team of Shadow Blaziken or Reshiram, this Heatran is going to be a staple in your PvE lineup for years. Plus, there’s the collection aspect—Giovanni doesn't change his shadow legendary often, so if you miss the November 2024 window, it might be a year or more before Heatran comes back around.
Actionable Steps for Victory
- Check your Research Tab: Ensure you have "Galactic Expedition" or a similar Rocket-themed quest active to earn the Super Rocket Radar.
- The "Throwaway" Run: Enter the fight once just to see what his second Pokémon is. If it's Kingdra and you brought all Fire-types, just quit, heal up, and re-enter with a Fairy-type in the second slot. The lineup stays the same for that specific encounter.
- Lead with a Swapper: Put your actual starter in the second or third slot of your party and swap to them instantly when the countdown ends to trigger the 2-second AI freeze.
- Prioritize Ground: Ensure your team has at least one heavy-hitting Ground user (Garchomp, Mamoswine, or Groudon) specifically saved for the final showdown with Shadow Heatran.
- Farm Decoys: If you need more Max Potions or Revives before the big fight, keep the radar equipped but purposefully fight the Decoy Grunts at stops to stock up on items.
The window to catch Shadow Heatran will likely remain open throughout the rest of the "Max Out" season, but getting it done in November ensures you have the resources to power it up during any upcoming Team GO Rocket Takeover events where you can TM away the move "Frustration." Ground-type attackers are your best friend this month—use them.