Giovanni is back, and honestly, he’s kind of a pain this time. If you’ve been hunting the Team GO Rocket boss during the Galarian Expedition event, you already know the stakes. We aren't just fighting for some random Shadow Meowth anymore. This month, the big prize is Shadow Heatran.
Steel and Fire. It’s a nasty combination.
Most people jump into these battles with their highest CP Pokémon and hope for the best. That’s a mistake. Giovanni doesn't play fair, and his Shadow Pokémon hit significantly harder than anything you’ll find in a standard raid. If you want that Shadow Heatran without burning through twenty Max Revives, you need a specific plan.
The Giovanni Lineup: October 2024
The first thing you have to accept is that you won't know his full team until you're actually in the fight. Well, mostly. Giovanni always leads with his favorite, Persian. He always ends with the legendary—Shadow Heatran. It’s that middle slot that ruins everyone's day.
For October 2024, his second Pokémon is a toss-up between three heavy hitters:
- Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground)
- Shadow Rhyperior (Ground/Rock)
- Shadow Kingdra (Water/Dragon)
Each one requires a different approach. If you bring a Grass-type to handle Rhyperior and he pulls out Nidoking, you’re basically cooked. This is why "blind" teams rarely work on the first try.
Beating the Persian Gatekeeper
Don't underestimate the cat. Persian is a Normal-type, which sounds simple, but its Fast Moves—Scratch or Feint Attack—can melt your HP before you even reach a Charged Move.
You need a Fighting-type. Period.
Lucario is the gold standard here because of Power-Up Punch. It’s spammy. It forces Giovanni to use up his two shields early. Plus, Lucario’s Steel typing resists Persian’s Normal moves. If you don't have a Lucario, go with Machamp (Counter/Cross Chop) or Terrakion (Double Kick/Sacred Sword).
Expert Tip: Don't start with your Fighting-type in the first slot. Put it in the second or third and swap to it the second the battle starts. This triggers a "stun" where Giovanni’s Pokémon stops attacking for about two seconds. Those extra hits are literally the difference between winning and losing.
Tackling the Second Slot Roulette
This is where the battle is won or lost. Honestly, the best strategy is to scout. Start the battle, see what his second Pokémon is, and if you lose, just restart with the right counter.
If he uses Shadow Nidoking
Nidoking is weak to Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water. Mewtwo with Psystrike is a monster here, but Kyogre or Swampert work just as well. Since Nidoking resists Fighting moves, your Lucario will struggle if you try to keep it in.
If he uses Shadow Rhyperior
This is the easiest one if you’re prepared. It has a double weakness to both Water and Grass. Swampert with Hydro Cannon is the king of this matchup. It charges incredibly fast. You can also use Kyogre or even a Rosereade if you’re feeling spicy.
If he uses Shadow Kingdra
Kingdra is the "run-ender." It only has two weaknesses: Dragon and Fairy. Using a Dragon-type is risky because Kingdra might be running Dragon-type moves itself, which will shred you. Your best bet is a Fairy-type like Gardevoir (Charm/Dazzling Gleam) or Togekiss.
Giovanni Counters October 2024: The Shadow Heatran Finale
If you’ve made it past the second Pokémon, you’re looking at Shadow Heatran.
Heatran is a Steel and Fire type. That means it has a massive, glaring double weakness to Ground.
You basically want to bury it. Groudon with Precipice Blades is the absolute best counter for Shadow Heatran in October 2024. If you don't have the legendary, Excadrill or Rhyperior (with Mud-Slap and Earthquake) will get the job done.
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Water-types like Kyogre or Swampert also do great work here, but they aren't quite as efficient as Ground-types. Since Heatran is a Shadow Pokémon, its defense is lower, but its attack is terrifying. If you haven't saved at least one shield for this part of the fight, you’re going to have a hard time surviving its Charged Moves.
The "Perfect" Team Composition
If I had to pick one team to walk into this fight without knowing his middle Pokémon, I'd go with this:
- Machamp (Counter / Cross Chop) - For Persian and shield baiting.
- Swampert (Mud Shot / Hydro Cannon) - Covers Rhyperior, Nidoking, and Heatran.
- Gardevoir (Charm / Dazzling Gleam) - Insurance in case he brings out Kingdra.
This lineup covers almost every base. If he doesn't bring Kingdra, you might not even need Gardevoir, as Swampert can usually clean up Heatran solo.
Remember to keep your rhythm. Use the "switch-in stun" and the "Charged Move stun" to your advantage. Every time you or Giovanni uses a Charged Move, the AI pauses for two seconds. Tap like crazy during that window to build up energy before they start hitting back.
To get your shot at Giovanni, make sure you've finished the "Galarian Expedition: Taken Over" special research. You’ll need that Super Rocket Radar.
Your Checklist for Victory
- Check your movesets: Make sure your counters actually have the right move types (e.g., don't bring a Groudon with Fire moves to a Heatran fight).
- The Switch Trick: Never start with your lead; always swap into it immediately.
- Shield Bait: Use fast-charging moves like Power-Up Punch or Cross Chop to burn Giovanni’s shields on Persian.
- Ground is King: Save your Ground-type for the end.
Once you win, you’ll get the encounter with Shadow Heatran. Use a Golden Razz Berry. It’s a guaranteed catch if you hit it, but those berries make the Premier Ball math a lot friendlier.