So, you’re staring at a blacked-out PokeStop or a suspicious balloon floating over your avatar, and you know who's inside. Giovanni. The man, the myth, the guy who refuses to buy a regular pet and insists on tortured, purple-flamed shadows instead.
Honestly, finding Giovanni in Pokemon Go 2025 has become a bit of a ritual for some of us. It’s that quarterly spike of adrenaline where you realize your casual Great League team is about to get absolutely folded by a Persian with a bad attitude.
But here is the thing: most players make this way harder than it needs to be. They see a Legendary and panic. They throw their highest CP monsters at the screen and wonder why they're burning through Max Revives like candy. If you're hunting giovanni pokemon go 2025 rewards, you need to stop thinking about raw power and start thinking about "the stun."
The January 2025 Lineup: Who Is He Hiding?
Right now, we are dealing with the aftermath of the Fashion Week: Taken Over event that kicked off in mid-January. If you haven't been keeping up with the blog posts, Giovanni is currently packing Shadow Palkia. Yeah, the space-bending dragon.
It’s a nasty fight if you aren't ready.
🔗 Read more: Finding the Best Free Online Games Board Options Without the Junk
Slot 1: The Forever Cat
It is always Persian. Always. People underestimate this cat because it’s a Normal-type, but in Giovanni’s hands, its Fast Moves (especially Scratch) hit like a freight train. You've got to respect the claws.
Slot 2: The Random Factor
This is where he tries to trip you up. In early 2025, Giovanni is rotating between three middle-men:
- Shadow Nidoking: Poison and Ground. Annoying, but predictable.
- Shadow Rhyperior: Huge bulk, double weak to Water and Grass.
- Shadow Kangaskhan: Another Normal-type that just exists to soak up your energy.
Slot 3: The Big Prize
As mentioned, it’s Shadow Palkia. Unlike the regular version, this thing has a 20% attack boost. If you let it reach an Aqua Tail or Draco Meteor, it's game over for whatever is on your field.
How to Actually Win (Without Maxing Out Everything)
You don't need a Level 50 hundo Dialga to beat this guy. You really don't. You need to exploit the AI’s "brain fart" moments.
Every time you use a Charged Move or switch your Pokemon, the NPC (Giovanni) stops attacking for about two to three seconds. That is your window. If you use a "spammy" move—something that charges up in 3 or 4 seconds—you can effectively lock him in a cycle of never actually hitting you.
Basically, the best way to start the fight isn't with your lead Pokemon. Put your Persian-counter in the second slot. As soon as the "GO!" disappears, switch to it immediately. This triggers that 3-second stun right at the start, giving you a massive head start on energy.
The Best Counters for Your Team
I’m not going to give you a perfect table because your inventory looks different than mine. But you generally want this specific trio:
- The Shield Breaker (Slot 1): You need someone with a fast-charging move to burn his two shields. Lucario with Power-Up Punch is the king here. Machamp with Cross Chop is the budget hero. Honestly, even a Poliwrath with Power-Up Punch works because it resists Persian's moves and keeps Giovanni stunned.
- The Specialist (Slot 2): Since you don't know if he has Nidoking, Rhyperior, or Kangaskhan, you need a "safe swap" or a heavy hitter. Swampert with Hydro Cannon is the GOAT here. It deletes Rhyperior and Nidoking. If he pulls out Kangaskhan, your Fighting-type from the first slot can usually handle it anyway.
- The Dragon Slayer (Slot 3): For Shadow Palkia, you want Fairy or Dragon. Togekiss with Charm is the "set it and forget it" option. It just deletes Palkia’s HP through fast moves alone. Gardevoir works too. If you’re feeling spicy, use your own Palkia (Origin Forme) with Spacial Rend if you caught one during Sinnoh Tour.
Finding the Man: The Super Rocket Radar Grind
You can't just find giovanni pokemon go 2025 by walking around. You need the Super Rocket Radar.
Usually, this comes from the seasonal Special Research. For January 2025, it was tied to the "Fashion Week: Taken Over" story. If you don't see the research in your list, check your "Special" tab. You likely have an old Team Go Rocket quest (like "Showdown in the Shadows" or "Shadowy Cries") that you never finished. Niantic won't give you the new one until you finish the old one.
Pro tip: Once you equip the radar, Giovanni can appear in balloons or at PokeStops. But watch out for Decoys. If you see a "Giovanni" at a stop and it turns into a regular Grunt with a Bellsprout, that's a Decoy.
Honestly? Don't be mad. Decoys are actually great for farming Mysterious Components and Stardust without the stress of a boss fight.
👉 See also: The Crystal Stars Paper Mario Fans Still Debate Today
Why People Are Stacking Radars in 2025
There’s a subset of players who aren't even fighting Giovanni right now. They’re "stacking."
If you don't particularly care about Shadow Palkia—maybe you already have a good one or you're low on stardust—you can just hold onto your Super Rocket Radar. You don't have to use it.
If you save it, you can use two radars the next time he switches to a "top-tier" shadow like Shadow Rayquaza or Shadow Mewtwo. It’s a bit of a meta-game move, but it pays off if you're a hardcore raider. Just keep in mind that Shadow Palkia is currently one of the strongest Water/Dragon attackers in the game, so it's not a bad one to pick up.
The Rewards: Is It Worth the Revives?
When you finally take him down, you get 5,000 Stardust and some item bundles (usually Max Revives or Unova Stones). But let's be real: you're here for the catch encounter.
📖 Related: Finding the Right 5 Letter Word Starting with PET for Wordle and Beyond
The Shadow Palkia you get is guaranteed to have at least 6/6/6 IVs. It sounds low, but remember that a 0/0/0 Shadow Pokemon deals more damage in raids than a 15/15/15 regular Pokemon of the same species.
Don't purify it. I see people do this all the time because they want the "100% IV" look. Unless you're a hardcore Master League PvP player who specifically needs the Palkia to be purified for a certain breakpoint, keep it Shadow. That 20% attack bonus is way more valuable than a slight bump in stats and a cheaper power-up cost.
To make the most of your encounter, wait for the next "Team Go Rocket Takeover" window to use a Charged TM. This is the only way to get rid of the move Frustration. Without removing Frustration, your Shadow Palkia is basically an expensive paperweight.
Check your Special Research tab immediately to see if you have "Fashion Week: Taken Over" active. If you do, focus on defeating the three leaders—Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra—to unlock the Super Rocket Radar. Once you have it, wait for a Rocket Balloon to spawn (they appear every few hours) to challenge Giovanni from the comfort of your couch. Make sure your team includes a fast-move spammer like Lucario or Machamp in the second slot to exploit the switch-stun mechanic right from the start of the battle.