Pokemon GO Giovanni counters and lineup (September '25): How to beat the GO Rocket Boss

Pokemon GO Giovanni counters and lineup (September
Pokemon GO Giovanni September 2025 (Image via The Pokemon Company)

Defeating Pokemon GO Giovanni's team requires in-depth knowledge of the best counters that will work against him. His current ace is Incarnate Shadow Tornadus. This follows Shadow Giratina, Shadow Palkia and Shadow Dialga from the last seasons.

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To find the best Pokemon GO Giovanni' team counters in your collection, use these search strings:

  • Fighting&@Fighting&cp2000-
  • Water&@Water&cp2000-
  • Ice&@Ice&cp2000-
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Check out the current Pokemon GO raid bosses that you can encounter in-game

Best team to defeat Pokemon GO Giovanni (September 2025)

The following is Sportskeeda Gaming's recommendation for the best team composition to counter Giovanni's lineup:

  • Mega Lucario with Force Palm, Aura Sphere, and Flash Cannon
  • Primal Kyogre with Waterfall, Origin Pulse, and Blizzard
  • White Kyurem with Ice Fang, Ice Burn, and Focus Blast
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This list consists of the most accessible creatures of this type. A Fighting-type, a Water-type and an Ice-type attacker will easily get you across the line when it comes to beating Giovanni in Pokemon GO in September 2025.


How to find Giovanni in Pokemon GO

You will need a Super Rocket Radar to find Giovanni in Pokemon GO. You will get the item from the Delightful Days Taken Over Giovanni Special Research. In it, you are tasked with defeating the three GO Rocket Leaders: Sierra, Cliff, and Arlo, after which you will get the Super Rocket Radar.

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With the item equipped, Giovanni will spawn in GO Rocket balloons or GO Rocket PokeStops like other leaders from the outfit. Unlike the latter, you may encounter a grunt disguised as the GO Rocket Boss.

Once you have found the right one, don't worry if you can't beat him on the first try. You can battle Giovanni as many times as you want.

Also read: How to get Shadow Tornadus in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?

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Pokemon GO Giovanni lineup in September 2025

Pokemon GO Giovanni lineup (Image via The Pokemon Company)
Pokemon GO Giovanni lineup (Image via The Pokemon Company)

You will find Giovanni sporting the following lineup:

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Phase 1Phase 2Phase 3
Shadow Persian (Normal-type)
Shadow Rhyperior (Ground- & Rock-type)
Incarnate Shadow Tornadus (Flying-type)
Shadow Kangaskhan (Normal-type)
Shadow Nidoking (Poison- & Ground-type)
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Pokemon GO Giovanni Counters

How to beat the Pokemon GO Giovanni team in Pokemon GO

To defeat Giovanni's team, utilize one Fighting-type, one Water-type, and one Ice-type. There are no apparent threats from the team.

Make sure to bait out both shields while Persian is on the field, ideally with a Fighting-type that is quick to Fast Moves (Force Palm/Power-Up Punch Lucario is a good set-up). Once that is done, switch to the required type counters for each Pokemon you face.

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Best Fighting-type counters to Giovanni: Good against Persian, Rhyperior and Kangaskhan

PokemonFast MoveCharged Move
Mega LucarioForce PalmAura Sphere
Mega BlazikenCounterFocus Blast
TerrakionDouble KickSacred Sword
KeldeoLow KickSacred Sword
Shadow ConkeldurrCounterDynamic Punch
Shadow MachampKarate ChopCross Chop
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Best Water-type counters to Giovanni: Good against Nidoking and Rhyperior

PokemonFast MoveCharged Move
Primal KyogreWaterfallOrigin Pulse
Mega or Shadow SwampertWater GunHydro Cannon
Mega BlastoiseWater GunHydro Cannon
Mega GyaradosWaterfallHydro Pump
Shadow KinglerBubbleCrabhammer
Shadow EmpoleonWaterfallHydro Cannon
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Best Ice-type counters to Giovanni: Good against Nidoking, Rhyperior, and Incarnate Tornadus

PokemonFast MoveCharged Move
Black KyuremDragon TailFreeze Shock
White KyuremIce FangIce Burn
Shadow MamoswinePowder SnowAvalanche
Shadow WeavileIce ShardAvalanche
KyuremDragon BreathGlaciate
BaxcaliburIce FangAvalanche
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You don't need to have a Pokemon with a second Charged Attack. If you are wondering how to get so, check out our guide on how to unlock a second Charged Attack for your Pokemon in Pokemon GO.


Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

🚨 Calculate the Pokemon type effectiveness to win battles with our newly launched Pokemon GO Type Calculator 🚨

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Edited by Adarsh J Kumar
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