You're standing there, radar humming, and suddenly the screen turns dark. Giovanni doesn't play around. If you’ve been hunting the Team GO Rocket boss lately, you know the stakes have shifted. We aren't just fighting for some standard catch anymore; we’re talking about Shadow Groudon, Shadow Rayquaza, or whatever legendary he's currently corrupted. It’s stressful. One wrong move and your Lead Pokemon is fainted before you’ve even burned his shields.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make with Pokemon Go Giovanni counters is treating him like a standard Grunt or even a Leader like Arlo. He’s different. His stats are buffed to an almost unfair degree, and his lineup changes periodically, meaning that old strategy you used six months ago is probably trash now. You need a mix of fast move pressure, shield-baiting mastery, and—most importantly—understanding how the "stun" mechanic works after every Charged Attack or switch.
The Persian Problem: Why the First Slot is the Hardest
Let's talk about that cat. Persian is Giovanni’s signature, and it’s a nightmare. It’s a Normal-type, sure, but it carries moves like Scratch or Feint Attack that shred through anything not resistant to them. Scratch is particularly nasty because it deals high neutral damage at a rapid pace. If you go in with a glass cannon, you're dead in ten seconds.
The gold standard here is Lucario. You want Counter as the Fast Move and Power-Up Punch as the Charged Move. Why? Because Power-Up Punch charges insanely fast and buffs your attack every time you use it. Since Giovanni always uses his shields on the first two Charged Attacks you throw, you want to "bait" those shields with something cheap. By the time Persian is down, your Lucario is at +2 or +3 Attack, ready to steamroll whatever comes next.
If you don't have a Lucario, Machamp works, but it's riskier. You need Cross Chop to keep the pressure high. Some players swear by Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword. It’s bulky enough to survive the Scratches while generating energy like a beast. The goal isn't just to win the first round; it's to exit the first round with a move ready to go for his second Pokemon.
Handling the Middle: The Rotating Chaos
This is where Giovanni gets tricky. He usually has three different possibilities for his second slot. Lately, we've seen him rotate through heavy hitters like Kingdra, Rhyperior, or Nidoking. You can't always predict it on the first try, and honestly, sometimes you have to lose once just to see what he’s packing.
If he brings out Kingdra, you’re in trouble if you only brought Fighting types. Kingdra resists Fire, Water, and Electric. Your best bet is a Fairy type like Sylveon or a Dragon of your own, though Dialga is the only one that doesn't melt to Kingdra's Dragon Breath.
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Rhyperior is a different story. It has a double weakness to Water and Grass. If you see Rhyperior, a Kyogre with Surf or a Kartana with Leaf Blade will delete it before it can even blink. But here's the catch: if you built your whole team to beat Rhyperior and he pulls out Nidoking, your Grass types are toast. This is why "Generalist" counters are so vital. Mewtwo with Psystrike is a god-tier pick here because it hits almost everything in the second slot for massive neutral or super-effective damage.
The Legendaries: Beating the Shadow Boss
The final slot is always the featured Shadow Legendary. Whether it’s Shadow Cresselia, Shadow Heatran, or the big titans like Mewtwo or Kyogre, the strategy remains the same: leverage the "switch stun."
When you swap a Pokemon in Pokemon Go, the NPC (Giovanni) stops attacking for about two to three seconds. This is your window. You should never start the match with your primary Persian-killer. Start with something else, then immediately switch to your Lucario or Machamp. Those extra few seconds of free energy generation are often the difference between winning and losing.
For Shadow Groudon, you need Ice, Water, or Grass. Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche is the king here. It’s a bit of a glass cannon, but the damage output is unparalleled. If it’s Shadow Rayquaza, Ice moves are non-negotiable. A single Avalanche will practically one-shot it.
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Why Your "Best" Pokemon are Losing
I see this all the time. Players bring their 4000 CP Slaking or their favorite Aggron into the fight. Don't do that. CP is a lie in Rocket battles. What matters is move speed and resistances. Giovanni’s Pokemon have inflated HP, so you aren't going to win a war of attrition. You win by manipulating the AI.
- The 2-Second Rule: Every time a Charged Move is used (by you or him) or a Pokemon faints, Giovanni pauses. Use this time to farm energy, don't just tap mindlessly.
- Shield Baiting: Use moves that require low energy (like Dragon Claw, Bone Rush, or Aqua Tail) to get rid of his two shields early.
- Resistances Over DPS: A Pokemon that lasts 30 seconds and does medium damage is better than a Pokemon that lasts 5 seconds and does high damage.
Real-World Examples of Winning Lineups
If you want a "safe" team that covers most bases for Pokemon Go Giovanni counters, try this:
The "Swiss Army Knife" Team:
- Lead: Lucario (Counter / Power-Up Punch & Shadow Ball)
- Safe Swap: Mewtwo (Psycho Cut / Psystrike)
- Closer: Mamoswine (Powder Snow / Avalanche)
In this scenario, Lucario breaks the shields and kills Persian. If the second Pokemon is Nidoking or Rhyperior, Mewtwo cleans up. If the final is a Dragon or Ground legendary, Mamoswine finishes the job.
The Budget Friendly Team:
- Lead: Machamp (Counter / Cross Chop)
- Middle: Swampert (Mud Shot / Hydro Cannon)
- Closer: Magnezone (Spark / Wild Charge)
Swampert is arguably the best "spam" Pokemon in the game. Hydro Cannon charges so fast it keeps Giovanni in a perpetual state of being stunned. If you’re struggling, put Swampert in your second slot and watch how much easier the fight becomes.
Dealing with Specific Move Punishments
Sometimes Giovanni’s Persian has Feint Attack (Dark type) instead of Scratch. If that’s the case, your Psychic types (like Mewtwo) will get shredded if you switch them in too early. Pay attention to the animation. If your Fighting type is taking very little damage, it’s Scratch. If it’s taking noticeable chunks, it might be the Dark-type move.
Also, watch out for the "Fast Move Sneak-In." Sometimes, if you're lagging, Giovanni will get an extra hit in while you're trying to fire off a Charged Move. To avoid this, try to time your moves right after his "stun" period ends. It takes practice. It’s frustrating. But seeing that "Victory" screen and getting an encounter with a Shadow Legendary makes the three or four restarts worth it.
Preparation Checklist for the Next Takeover
Before you burn your Super Rocket Radar, make sure your team is powered up to at least Level 35. Level 40-50 is better, but 35 is the threshold where you stop getting one-shotted. Check your TMs. If your Machamp has Dynamic Punch, it’s too slow for Giovanni. Switch it to Cross Chop. If your Kyogre has Thunder, swap it for Surf. Speed is king here.
Shadow Pokemon are inherently harder to beat because they deal 20% more damage. You have to be perfect with your shields. Never shield the first move if you’re using a bulky lead; save them for your glass cannons in the back. Most people waste shields on Persian and then have nothing left when the Legendary comes out and hits them with a literal nuke.
Next Steps for Success:
- Check current community reports on Reddit (r/TheSilphRoad) to confirm Giovanni's current second-slot rotation.
- Tag your counters with a specific "Rocket" tag in your storage so you don't have to hunt for them mid-battle.
- Practice "under-charging" your moves against Grunts to get a feel for the timing, though against Giovanni, you usually want to hit the Great or Excellent bubbles every time.
- Stock up on Max Potions and Revives; you will likely need to fail once to scout his lineup before winning on the second attempt.
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