You've been staring at that research task for weeks, haven't you? It sits there in your "Special" tab, mocking you. It’s not over yet Pokemon GO 5/5 is the final hurdle in a quest line that has tripped up more players than a laggy GBL match. If you’re stuck on this specific stage of the "It's a Rocket World" or similar Team GO Rocket-themed Special Research, you aren't alone. Niantic loves to make these final steps feel like a marathon when you're already out of breath.
Honestly, the name of the quest is a bit on the nose. It really isn't over. Not until you've stared down a Boss with a line-up that makes your best Tyranitar look like a decorative houseplant.
What is It’s Not Over Yet Pokemon GO 5/5 Actually Asking?
Most players hitting this wall are looking at a set of tasks that involve defeating the Team GO Rocket Boss, Giovanni. But it isn't just about the win. Usually, step 5/5 is the "victory lap" stage where you claim your rewards, but getting to it requires finishing the brutal 4/5 stage.
In the current rotation, "It's a Rocket World" requires you to find, battle, and defeat the Boss of Team GO Rocket. Once you do that, 5/5 basically hands you the XP and the items as a "thanks for playing." But here’s the kicker: many players find themselves "stuck" because they haven't seen a Rocket Balloon in twelve hours or they can't find a stop that isn't just a lowly Grunt.
Check your bag. Do you have the Super Rocket Radar? If you don’t have that equipped, Giovanni is invisible. He’s ghosting you. You have to go into your items, find that black-and-red radar, and ensure it’s active. Only then will the big boss show his face in a balloon or at a PokéStop.
Beating Giovanni Without Losing Your Mind
Let’s talk strategy because this is where the 5/5 journey usually stalls out. Giovanni’s lineup changes every few months. Currently, he’s rocking a Shadow Groudon (or whichever legendary Niantic has rotated in for the season).
🔗 Read more: Magic Thread: What Most People Get Wrong in Fisch
His first Pokémon is always Persian. Don't underestimate that cat. It scratches fast. You need a "shield breaker." Lucario with Power-Up Punch is the gold standard here. You want something that charges its Charged Attack incredibly fast to force Giovanni to burn through his two shields early. If you go into the second half of the fight and he still has shields, you've basically already lost.
The middle of his lineup is usually a toss-up between three different heavy hitters. This is where it gets annoying. You might face a Kingdra, a Rhyperior, or a Garchomp. You sort of have to lose once to "scout" his team. It’s a bit of a waste of a Max Revive, but it’s the only way to know if you need a Grass-type or an Ice-type in that second slot.
Then there’s the Shadow Legendary. If it’s Groudon, bring Kyogre or a beefy Swampert. If it’s one of the birds, bring a Rock-type with Smack Down. The goal is to survive long enough to let your fast moves do the heavy lifting while saving one last shield for his final nuke.
Why the Rewards Matter (And Why They Sometimes Feel Underwhelming)
You finish the battle. You rescue the Shadow Legendary. You finally click over to the 5/5 page. What do you get? Usually, it's a mix of:
- 2,500 to 5,000 XP
- A handful of Stardust (rarely enough to actually power up the legendary you just caught)
- Some Silver Pinap Berries or a Fast/Charged TM
It feels light, right? The real reward for it’s not over yet Pokemon GO 5/5 isn't the stuff on the 5/5 page. It’s the Shadow Legendary itself. Shadow Pokémon deal 20% more damage than their regular counterparts. A Shadow Groudon with even mediocre IVs will out-DPS a 100% IV regular Groudon in raids. That is the meta-game reality.
💡 You might also like: Is the PlayStation 5 Slim Console Digital Edition Actually Worth It?
People obsess over the IV floor. In Special Research, the floor for Shadow Legendaries is usually 6/6/6. If you get a 6/7/6, it feels like a slap in the face. But remember: a "bad" Shadow is still a beast in PVE. Don't purify it. Please. Just don't. Purifying it might give it a 2-point bump to every stat and make it cheaper to power up, but you lose that 20% damage bonus which is irreplaceable.
Common Glitches That Stop Progress
Sometimes, the game just breaks. You beat Giovanni, the screen fades to white, and... nothing. You’re back on the map, the research isn't cleared, and your Super Rocket Radar is gone.
If this happens, do not panic. Do not immediately delete the app. First, check your Pokémon storage. Often, the Shadow Legendary is sitting there, meaning the game registered the win. If the research still hasn't moved to 5/5, you need to contact Niantic Support through the in-game chat. They can see your battle logs. They are surprisingly good at manually pushing the research forward if you can prove the radar was consumed without the encounter finishing.
Also, check your GPS. If you are "GPS drifting" while the battle ends, the game might think you’re too far away from the encounter to reward the catch. Try to stay in one spot when finishing the 4/5 stage to ensure the 5/5 transition happens smoothly.
The Seasonal Nature of Rocket Research
One thing many players get wrong is thinking they can "stack" these researches. Niantic changed the rules a while back. Usually, you cannot receive a new Team GO Rocket Special Research if you still have an unfinished one in your "Special" tab.
📖 Related: How to Solve 6x6 Rubik's Cube Without Losing Your Mind
If you are still on an old quest like "A Shadowy Disturbance" or "Showdown in the Shadows," you won't get the latest one. This is why finishing it’s not over yet Pokemon GO 5/5 is so urgent. You’re essentially blocked from future Shadow Legendaries until you clear the backlog.
Wait for a Team GO Rocket Takeover event to use your TMs. Even after you finish 5/5 and catch your prize, that Shadow Pokémon will have "Frustration" as its Charged Attack. It’s a useless move. You can only remove it during specific week-long events that happen about once a season. Mark your calendar. Keep some Charged TMs in your bag.
Moving Toward a Better Team
Once you've cleared the 5/5 stage, you're back in the "grind" phase. The game doesn't give you another Super Rocket Radar immediately. You have to wait for the next seasonal event.
In the meantime, focus on building a "Rocket Destroyer" team. Stop using the "Recommended" button. The game loves to recommend Aggron. Aggron is terrible. It has high defense but pathetic damage output in this context.
Instead, invest in:
- Machamp (Counter/Cross Chop): Essential for taking out the Snorlax or Lapras Grunts.
- Mamoswine (Powder Snow/Avalanche): The king of taking down Flying and Dragon types.
- Kartana or Zarude: To shred through the Water and Ground types that Giovanni likes to hide in his second slot.
The Verdict on 5/5
It’s a bit of a grind. It’s frustrating when the "decoy" Grunts keep popping up instead of the Boss. But finishing the research is the only way to keep your account current. The Shadow meta defines high-level raiding in 2026. If you want to be the person carrying the group during a 5-star raid, you need these shadows.
Actionable Next Steps to Finish Your Research
- Check Your Radar: Open your items. Is the Super Rocket Radar (the black/red one) equipped? If it’s unequipped, you’ll never find Giovanni.
- Identify the Current Lineup: Look up the current month's Giovanni team on a site like Leek Duck or Serebii. Don't go in blind. Knowing his second Pokémon saves you Revives.
- Lead with a "Sacrifice" or a Fast Charger: Start with a Pokémon that has a very fast-charging move to burn Giovanni's shields. If you can't get both shields down before your first Pokémon faints, you need to swap your lead.
- Clear the Backlog: If you don't see the research in your list, check if you have an older Rocket quest unfinished. You must finish the old one to get the new one.
- Save Your TMs: Once you catch the Shadow Legendary after the 4/5 battle, wait for a Rocket Takeover event to use a Charged TM to remove "Frustration."