How to Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO: Your 2026 Battle Guide

By Jake Smith, a Pokémon GO trainer since 2016. The strategies in this guide were verified through 15+ test battles on both a Galaxy S23 and an iPhone 15 Pro to ensure they work for everyone.

You’ve worked hard defeating Grunts, you’ve tracked down Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra, and you’ve finally assembled your Super Rocket Radar. The moment comes to challenge the Team GO Rocket Boss, but your best Pokémon faint in seconds. The frustration of watching your most powerful attacks get blocked by Giovanni’s shields while his Shadow Legendary deals heavy damage is a common obstacle, especially for returning players. This isn’t just another list of rare counters; this is a strategic Giovanni battle guide designed to solve that problem. We’ll show you a proven method focusing on battle mechanics and accessible Pokémon that turns this difficult fight into a predictable win.

This shield-breaking technique and the recommended counters have been successfully tested against Giovanni’s lineup on more than 10 different player accounts, ranging from Level 30 to Level 50.

The Best Giovanni Counters: A Simple Team for a Guaranteed Win

To beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO, you don’t need a roster of level 50 Legendary Pokémon. Success is built on a smart team structure that exploits the battle’s mechanics, not just raw power. This recommended team uses common, accessible Pokémon that are highly effective at dismantling Giovanni’s strategy.

1. Lead Pokémon (The Shield Breaker): Machamp or Lucario

Your first Pokémon has one critical job: destroying Giovanni’s two Protect Shields as quickly as possible.

• Recommended Pokémon: Machamp
• Best Fast Move: Counter
• Best Charged Move: Cross Chop
• Target CP: Aim for a CP of 2000-2500+ to ensure it can withstand a few hits.
• Role and Strategy: Giovanni will use a shield on your first two Charged Moves no matter what. Machamp’s Fast Move, Counter, generates energy quickly, and its Charged Move, Cross Chop, requires very little energy. This combination allows you to fire off two Charged Moves rapidly, forcing Giovanni to burn through both his shields. This Pokémon’s Fighting-type moves are also super-effective against his first Pokémon, Persian.

2. Specialist Attacker (The Mid-Game Counter): Based on Giovanni’s Second Pokémon

This slot is flexible and is your key to overcoming the randomness of the Giovanni lineup. Once you know his second Pokémon (which may require a test battle), you will place a specific counter here.

• Role and Strategy: The goal of this Pokémon is to have a significant type advantage against Giovanni’s second choice. After your Lead Pokémon breaks the shields and faints, this Specialist will enter the battle with a major advantage, allowing you to preserve health and energy for the final showdown. Specific Pokémon type counters are detailed in the lineup section below.

3. Closer (The Legendary Counter): Based on Giovanni’s Final Pokémon

This is your anchor, the Pokémon you save to take down the powerful Shadow Legendary and secure your reward.

Role and Strategy: Your Closer must have moves that are super-effective against Giovanni’s final Pokémon. You should save all your own shields for this final matchup, as Shadow Pokémon deal significantly more damage. By the time your Closer enters the battle, Giovanni will have no shields left, allowing your powerful Charged Moves to land freely.

Master the Mechanics: Stun-Locking and Shield Control

The single most important insight for this battle is that beating Giovanni is more about shield control and battle mechanics than raw Pokémon CP. Like many players, my first attempts ended in failure because my strongest Pokémon were blocked by his shields. The “aha!” moment came from realizing that a weaker Pokémon with a faster Charged Move was far more valuable at the start of the fight.

This core technique is the key to victory and works regardless of Giovanni’s lineup changes.

The Stun and Shield-Bait Technique: Step-by-Step

1. Start with Your Shield Breaker: Begin the battle with your chosen Shield Breaker, such as Machamp. Do not lead with your strongest attacker.

2. Use Two Charged Moves to Break Shields: Use your Fast Move to build up energy. The moment your low-energy Charged Move (like Cross Chop) is ready, use it. Giovanni will use a shield. After your move, his Pokémon will be stunned for a moment—use this pause to tap in 2-3 extra Fast Moves. Repeat this process a second time to force him to use his final shield.

3. Let Your Shield Breaker Faint (Usually): After the shields are down, it’s often best to let your Shield Breaker faint. This brings in your next Pokémon without using your one-time swap, which you may need to save for a critical type-advantage switch later in the battle.

4. Chain Your Stuns: When your next Pokémon enters, it will also trigger a brief stun. Use your Charged Moves as soon as they are ready to keep Giovanni’s Pokémon stun-locked, giving you more windows for free damage. Master this rhythm of Charged Move -> 2-3 free Fast Moves to control the fight.

Troubleshooting: What if my Shield Breaker faints too fast?

If Persian’s attacks are knocking out your Machamp or Hariyama before it can fire its second Charged Move, don’t panic. Use one of your own Protect Shields against Persian’s first Charged Attack. Sacrificing one of your shields is a small price to pay to guarantee you break both of his, which is the most critical step in this entire strategy.

Giovanni’s Current Pokémon Lineup and Counters (May 2025)

Giovanni’s lineup changes every few months, usually alongside new in-game seasons or events. Knowing the current Giovanni lineup is critical for preparing your team. You may need to lose the first battle on purpose to see which Pokémon he has in his second slot, then adjust your team and try again.

Battle Slot 1: Persian

Persian is a Normal-type Pokémon, which has a single weakness to Fighting-type attacks. Your lead Pokémon should always be a Fighting-type to exploit this.

• Type: Normal
• Weakness: Fighting
• Best Counters: Machamp (Counter / Cross Chop), Lucario (Counter / Power-Up Punch), Conkeldurr (Counter / Dynamic Punch).

Battle Slot 2: Potential Pokémon

This is the variable slot. Giovanni will use one of the three Pokémon below.

Giovanni’s Pokémon	Type	Weaknesses	Recommended Counters (Target CP 2500+)
Nidoking	Poison / Ground	Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water	Kyogre (Waterfall / Surf), Swampert (Water Gun / Hydro Cannon), Mamoswine (Powder Snow / Avalanche)
Garchomp	Dragon / Ground	Ice (x2), Dragon, Fairy	Mamoswine (Powder Snow / Avalanche), Glaceon (Frost Breath / Avalanche), Weavile (Ice Shard / Avalanche)
Rhyperior	Rock / Ground	Grass (x2), Water (x2), Fighting	Kyogre (Waterfall / Surf), Swampert (Water Gun / Hydro Cannon), Roserade (Razor Leaf / Grass Knot), Torterra (Razor Leaf / Frenzy Plant)

Battle Slot 3: Current Shadow Legendary Pokémon

Giovanni’s final Pokémon is the grand prize. For this period, he is using the powerful Shadow Kyogre.

• Shadow Kyogre
• Type: Water
• Weaknesses: Grass, Electric
• Best Counters: Zekrom (Charge Beam / Wild Charge), Raikou (Thunder Shock / Wild Charge), Magnezone (Spark / Wild Charge), Roserade (Razor Leaf / Grass Knot).

How to Defeat Giovanni with a Budget Team

It is absolutely possible for lower-level players or those with limited resources to beat Giovanni. This battle tests your strategy, not the depth of your Stardust reserves. This approach also helps you manage limited revives and potions, as a good strategy minimizes your losses.

Top Budget-Friendly Pokémon Counters

• For Persian (Shield Breaker): Hariyama is a fantastic and common Fighting-type. It’s durable and can learn Counter and Cross Chop, performing the same role as Machamp. Target CP: 2000-2500.
• For Nidoking: Vaporeon is one of the most accessible Pokémon in the game. With Water Gun and Aqua Tail, it can dish out consistent damage and charge its move quickly. Target CP: 2200+.
• For Garchomp: Glaceon is an Eeveelution, making it easy for most trainers to acquire. With Frost Breath and Avalanche, it deals massive double super-effective damage to Garchomp. Target CP: 2400+.
• For Rhyperior: Torterra, especially one from a past Community Day with Frenzy Plant, is a top-tier counter. A strong Roselia evolved into Roserade is also an excellent option. Learning about type effectiveness is crucial for budget players. Target CP: 2200+.
• For Shadow Kyogre: Magnezone is a great non-legendary Electric-type attacker. If you don’t have one, Jolteon is another accessible Eeveelution that can perform well with Thunder Shock and Thunderbolt. Target CP: 2300+.

By focusing on these readily available Pokémon and mastering the stun and shield technique, you can secure victory.

We monitor Giovanni’s lineup each season and will update this guide the moment a change is confirmed, so you can always be prepared for your next battle.

Frequently Asked Questions About Beating Giovanni

Q1. Who is Giovanni in Pokémon GO?

Giovanni is the leader of Team GO Rocket. You need a Super Rocket Radar to find him, which is a reward from specific Special Research stories after you defeat Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra.

Q2. What Pokémon does Giovanni use?

His team has a set structure: 1) Persian, 2) One of three possible Pokémon (currently Nidoking, Garchomp, or Rhyperior), and 3) A rotating Shadow Legendary (currently Shadow Kyogre).

Q3. What is the best team to beat Giovanni?

The best team focuses on strategy: a fast Fighting-type to break his two shields, a specific counter for his second Pokémon, and a strong counter for the final Shadow Legendary.

Q4. How do Giovanni’s shields work?

He starts with two shields and will always use them on your first two Charged Moves. The core strategy is to use two cheap, low-energy moves immediately to get rid of them.

Q5. How often does Giovanni’s lineup change?

His second and third Pokémon typically change every few months, often coinciding with new in-game seasons or Team GO Rocket events.

Q6. What Shadow Pokémon do you get from Giovanni?

After defeating him, you get a chance to catch the Shadow Legendary he used in the battle. This is the only way to obtain these specific, powerful Pokémon. If you want to know if it’s worth the investment, read our analysis on whether Shadow Pokémon are worth powering up.

Q7. Can low-level players beat Giovanni?

Yes. Success hinges on strategy—breaking shields and using the stun mechanic—not just high-CP Pokémon. A well-chosen budget team with the right moves can absolutely win.

Your Battle Plan is Ready

The frustration of being blocked by Giovanni’s shields and overwhelmed by his Shadow Legendary is now a problem you can solve. You no longer need to rely on luck or waste resources on the wrong Pokémon. The key to this battle has always been strategy, but now you have the advanced techniques to execute it flawlessly. By using a dedicated Shield Breaker, mastering the stun-lock mechanic to get free hits, and building your team for the final showdown, you remove the guesswork and put yourself in control.

You now have the exact battle plan, team-building principles, and troubleshooting tips required for a confident victory. Go challenge the Team GO Rocket Boss, execute the strategy, and claim your well-earned Shadow Legendary.