Mastering Team GO Rocket: Conquer Giovanni with these Winning Strategies (July 2023)

Content: Pokemon GO regularly updates its events and special occasions to ensure maximum engagement. Similar to the Pokemon franchise, the game also features antagonists that players must defeat. One notorious group of NPCs is known as Team GO Rocket, who are known for their mischievous acts and their use of Shadow Pokemon.

Team GO Rocket in Pokemon GO consists of numerous Grunts, three Leaders, and one Main Boss. While battling the Grunts may be relatively easy, defeating the Leaders - Arlo, Cliff, Sierra - and the Main Boss, Giovanni, proves to be extremely challenging. Giovanni possesses a wide range of powerful Shadow Monsters, and the battle is divided into three phases, with the second phase being particularly unpredictable. This guide provides comprehensive information on what players should know before taking on Team GO Rocket's Main Boss.

How to Beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO

In July 2023, Giovanni's Pokemon GO team consists of 5 Shadow Pokemon for a three-round battle. The first and last rounds involve one Pokemon each, while the second round poses a challenge as Giovanni can select three representatives. It is essential to carefully analyze the second round's monsters in order to create a comprehensive roster with STAB Potential moves, before facing off against Team GO Rocket's Main Boss.

First Phase: Shadow Persian

Second Phase: Shadow Nidoking, Shadow Rhyperior, or Shadow Garchomp

Third Phase: Shadow Regirock

Giovanni’s First Phase Counters

Giovanni always starts the battle with his trusted companion, Shadow Persian. It is a Normal-type Pokemon but has boosted offensive capabilities as a Shadow variant.

Shadow Persian

Type: Normal-type

Weakness: Fighting-type

Resistance: Ghost-type

Giovanni’s Second Phase Counters

In the Second Phase of the battle, Giovanni may deploy some formidable choices such as Shadow Nidoking, Shadow Rhyperior, or Shadow Garchomp. It becomes crucial for Pokemon GO players to closely analyze the meta and strategically choose suitable opponents that can effectively counter all of them.

Type: Poison and Ground

Weakness: Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water-type

Resistance: Electric, Poison, Bug, Fairy, Fighting, and Rock-type

Shadow Rhyperior

Type: Ground and Rock

Weakness: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Ice, Steel, and Water-type

Resistance: Electric, Poison, Fire, Flying, Normal, and Rock-type

Shadow Garchomp

Type: Dragon and Ground

Weakness: Dragon, Fairy, and Ice-type

Resistance: Electric, Fire, Poison, and Rock-type

Giovanni’s Third Phase Counters

Much like the First Phase, the Third Phase has just one opponent. Giovanni comes with a powerful Shadow Regirock as his representative for the Final Phase of the Pokemon GO battle.

Shadow Regirock

Type: Rock

Weakness: Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water-type

Resistance: Fire, Flying, Normal, and Poison-type

Pokemon GO is available for Android and iOS.