In Pokemon GO, players face a significant threat from the antagonists Team GO Rocket. To take down their leader, Giovanni, players must first defeat several Grunts and Leaders, including Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra. However, defeating Giovanni is no small feat - he boasts a diverse array of Shadow Monsters and requires careful strategizing to overcome. The battle consists of three phases, with the second stage being particularly unpredictable. But for those who succeed, defeating Giovanni not only grants valuable Pokemon GO items but also the chance to capture powerful Shadow Monsters. To emerge victorious, here is everything players need to know about taking down the Team GO Rocket Boss.
Pokemon GO: How to Beat Giovanni
Giovanni's battle roster consists of five Shadow Pokemon, with Shadow Persian being his choice for the first phase. In the second phase, he has three options to choose from, making it unpredictable which one he'll select. To prepare for this, Pokemon GO players should have strong counters that can take on any of his potential second phase choices. Finally, his last Shadow Pokemon will make an appearance in the final phase of the battle.
Second Phase: Shadow Kingdra, Shadow Kingler, or Shadow Nidoking
Third Phase: Shadow Regice
Giovanni's First Phase Counters
One effective strategy for countering Giovanni's Shadow Persian in the first phase of the battle is to use a Fighting-type Pokemon with STAB moves. This will allow the Pokemon to deal significant damage to the Normal-type Pocket Monster, which is vulnerable to Fighting-type attacks. However, it's important to note that Shadow Persian can resist Ghost-type moves, so choosing a Fighting-type with Ghost-type moves may not be the best option.
Pokemon | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
---|---|---|
Hariyama | Close Combat | Counter |
Conkeldurr | Dynamic Punch | Counter |
Machamp | Dynamic Punch | Counter |
Lucario | Aura Sphere | Counter |
Sirfetch’d | Close Combat | Counter |
Giovanni's Second Phase Counters
In the second phase of the match, Giovanni presents a challenging decision with three Shadow Monsters to choose from: Shadow Kingler, Shadow Nidoking, or Shadow Kingdra. To effectively combat any of these opponents, it's crucial to select counters that can handle the unique abilities of each monster. When facing Shadow Kingdra specifically, a combination of Electric and Dragon-type Pokémon can prove to be effective counters.
The Shadow Kingdra, with its dual Water and Dragon typing, is particularly susceptible to Dragon and Fairy-type moves. However, it does have some noteworthy resistances, with a decent ability to withstand Steel, Fire, and Water-type moves in the game of Pokemon GO. When strategizing against this opponent, it is important to consider selecting counters that can deliver STAB Potential attacks that exploit its type weaknesses.
Pokemon | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
---|---|---|
Dragonite | Outrage | Dragon Tail |
Rayquaza | Outrage | Dragon Tail |
Gardevoir | Dazzling Gleam | Charm |
Groudon | Precipice Blades | Dragon Tail |
Garchomp | Outrage | Dragon Tail |
To defeat Shadow Kingler in Pokemon GO, players should focus on using Electric and Grass-type attacks, as these are the monster's primary weaknesses due to its Water typing. It's also important to note that Shadow Kingler is resistant to Ice, Steel, Water, and Fire-type moves, so players should avoid using these types of attacks. To maximize damage output, players should choose counter choices that have STAB potential moves that align with Shadow Kingler's weaknesses.
Pokemon | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
---|---|---|
Zekrom | Wild Beam | Charge Beam |
Xurkitree | Power Whip | Thunder Shock |
Kartana | Leaf Blade | Razor Leaf |
Electivire | Wild Charge | Thunder Shock |
Raikou | Wild Charge | Thunder Shock |
Shadow Nidoking Counters
The Shadow Nidoking is a dual Poison and Ground-type Pokemon that is vulnerable to Psychic, Water, and Ice-type attacks. However, it has the ability to withstand moves of Fairy, Rock, Poison, Bug, Electric, and Fighting-type attributes. To effectively counter the Shadow Nidoking, Pokemon GO players should opt for counters that have STAB potential and exploit its weaknesses, as listed in
Pokemon | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
---|---|---|
Groudon | Precipice Blades | Mud Shot |
Kyogre | Surf | Waterfall |
Mewtwo | Psystrike | Psycho Cut |
Garchomp | Earth Power | Mud Shot |
Glaceon | Avalanche | Ice Shard |
Giovanni's Third Phase Counters
Shadow Regice poses as the final challenge in the battle, being a legendary opponent. It is best defeated by using Fire, Fighting, Steel, or Rock-type moves, while Ice-type attacks are less effective. To increase the chances of defeating Shadow Regice, one should consider using STAB potential counters that match its type weaknesses.
Pokemon | Fast Attack | Charge Attack |
---|---|---|
Reshiram | Fusion Flare | Fire Fang |
Terrakion | Close Combat | Double Kick |
Lucario | Aura Sphere | Counter |
Chandelure | Overheat | Fire Spin |
Metagross | Meteor Mash | Bullet Punch |
Pokemon GO is available for Android and iOS.