How to Beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO (August 2024)

Anyone who has watched Pokemon or played the games will know who Giovanni is. The Team Go Rocket leader makes a prominent appearance in Pokemon GO. While you would think he’s only there for show, this pesky villain is the final boss of Team Rocket. If you’re a Pokemon GO player hell-bent on defeating Giovanni, keep reading. I will give you the breakdown with my dedicated guide below.

Giovanni Pokemon Lineup (August 2024)

As of August 2024, the Giovanni boss fight in Pokemon GO currently includes three phases, each with its own boss Pokemon. The first phase includes the Normal-type Pokemon Persian in its shadow form, the signature companion of this character from video games and even anime shows.

Phase two includes Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra. This is randomized, and it depends on your luck who you fight against. Finally, after you defeat the two Pokemon, you’ll face the shadow variant of Cresselia as the final Pokemon. Here are the bosses listed:

• Phase 1: Persian
• Phase 2: Honchkrow/Kangaskhan/Kingdra
• Phase 3: Cresselia

Giovanni’s lineup usually changes following a Team Go Rocket takeover. While we don’t know how long the current one will last, we will update this page as soon as it changes!

How to Beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO

To defeat Giovanni in Pokemon GO, you must ensure you beat the current Pokemon lineup available in-game. Here is how to win all the Pokemon in the phases.

Phase 1: Shadow Persian

Giovanni’s pet Persian is a normal-type Pokemon, which is weak against fighting-type Pokemon. As such, the best way to deal with it is to bring fighting counters. The best counters for Giovanni in Phase 1 are:

• Machamp: Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Lucario: Counter and Aura Sphere
• Hitmonchan: Counter and Rock Smash

Using these three Pokemon should effectively take down Persian and bring you to the second phase of the boss fight.

Phase 2: Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra

For the second boss fight, you can fight either of the shadow variants of these Pokemon—Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra. Each of these Pokemon has different properties and counters. Since you can’t bring all three counters, you must pick. Keep reading to find the best counters for each.

Honchkrow Counters

Honchkrow is a Dark/Flying-type Pokemon and can pose a considerable risk. However, its weaknesses include an Electric, Ice, Rock, and Fairy-type Pokemon. As such, the best Nidoking counters are:

• Xurkitree: Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Rhyperior: Smack Down and Rock Wrecker
• Gardevoir: Triple Axel and Shadow Ball

Kangaskhan Counters

Kangaskhan belongs to the Normal-type archetype. If you face a Garchomp, its weakness is a Fighting-type Pokemon. Here are the best counters for it:

• Lucario: Counter and Aura Sphere
• Machamp: Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Terrakion: Double Kick and Sacred Sword

Kingdra Counters

Kingdra is a water/dragon-type Pokemon. As such, its weaknesses include a Fairy or a Dragon-type Pokemon. So, tap into their weakness and bring these Pokemon if you have them. The best Kingdra counters are:

• Rayquaza: Dragon Tail and Breaking Swipe
• Togekiss: Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Gradevoir: Charm and Dazzling Gleam

Once you defeat either of these Pokemon, Giovanni moves to the final phase of the boss fight.

Phase 3: Shadow Cresselia

The final fight against the Team GO Rocket boss involves fighting a shadow Cresselia. It is a Psychic Pokemon that hits hard because it is a shadow variant. As such, when you fight this Pokemon, bring over a Pokemon belonging to the bug, ghost, and dark-type archetype. Bring these counters to the fight:

• Tyranitar: Bite and Brutal Swing
• Gengar: Lick and Shadow Ball
• Necrozma: Shadow Claw and Moongeist Beam

How to Find Giovanni in Pokemon GO

While some of you may already have found this elusive Pokemon GO boss, this is for the ones who haven’t. To see Giovanni, you must complete a four-part special quest called “A Troubling Situation.” Once that is complete, you’ll receive your monthly quest to hunt down Giovanni.

Before you fight the boss, you do three fights with three separate Team GO Rocket leaders. They are namely Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra. You track them using mysterious components dropped by Team GO Rocket members, and six are required to fight each of them. Use it to challenge the remainder of the bosses to receive the Super Rocket Radar. Once you have that, use it to track Giovanni and finish the job.

Were you able to beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO? Let us know in the comments below!