Pokemon GO Giovanni counters and lineup (May 2025): How to beat the GO Rocket Boss

Defeating Pokemon GO Giovanni May 2025's team requires in-depth knowledge of its counters. His current ace is the Pokemon Pearl mascot, Palkia, though not for long. We will see his team see change with the Crown Clash Taken Over event, where Giovanni will unleash Shadow Dialga upon the trainers.

To find the best Pokemon GO Giovanni May 2025's counters in your collection, use these search strings:

• Fighting&@Fighting&cp2000-
• Fairy&@Fighting&cp2000-

You can check out the other GO Rocket Leader guides:

• Sierra: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Cliff: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Arlo: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters

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Best team to defeat Pokemon GO Giovanni May 2025

The following is the Sportskeeda Gaming recommended best team to counter Giovanni in May 2025:

• Mega or Shadow Gallade with Charm and Leaf Blade + Close Combat: While many may choose Machamp and Lucario, we find Gallade to do the trick quite well, nevertheless. Start off with it against Persian and hopefully you will be able to eke out both shields.
• Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon + Earthquake: With Swampert, you are preparing yourself with a counter to two of the three possible second options of Giovanni's team - Rhyperior and Nidoking.
• Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam + Triple Axel: Gardevoir is the perfect pick here. Not only can it cause havoc against Giovanni's ace, Palkia, but it will also prove useful if you face Kingdra as the GO Rocket Boss' second choice.

We discuss more counters (if you don't have any of these three) to specific 'mons later in the article.

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How to encounter Giovanni in Pokemon GO

You will need a Super Rocket Radar to find Giovanni in Pokemon GO. You will get the item from the ongoing Team GO Rocket-related questline (currently Fashion Week: Taken Over). In the research, you are tasked to defeat the three GO Rocket Leaders, after which you will get the Super Rocket Radar.

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.

When you have found the right one, don't worry. You will be able to battle Giovanni as many times as you want. So, check out the guide and find out how to counter him and catch Palkia.

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Pokemon GO Giovanni lineup in May 2025

Pokemon GO Giovanni May 2025 team (Image via TPC)

You will find Giovanni sporting the following lineup after the Fashion Week Taken Over event:

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Shadow Persian (Normal-type)	Shadow Rhyperior (Ground- & Rock-type)	Shadow Palkia (Water- & Dragon-type)
	Shadow Kingdra (Water- & Dragon-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 May 2025 team, utilize a Fighting-type, a Fairy-type, and a Water-type. There are no apparent threats from the team. Just make sure to bait out both shields while Persian is on the field, ideally with a Fighting-type. Once that is done, switch to the required type counters for each Pokemon you face.

Fashion Week Taken Over introduces Shadow Palkia (Image via TPC)

Shadow Persian Counters

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

Shadow Kingdra Counters

• Mega Rayquaza with Dragon Tail and Dragon Ascent
• Mega Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam

Shadow Rhyperior Counters

• Mega Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon
• Mega Sceptile with Bullet Seed and Frenzy Plant
• Mega Venusaur with Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant

Shadow Nidoking Counters

• Mega Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon
• Shadow Mewtwo with Psycho Cut and Psystrike
• Shadow Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Pulse

Shadow Palkia Counters

• Mega Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Togekiss with Charm and Dazzling Gleam
• Xerneas with Geomancy and Moonblast

It is not mandatory that you have 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.

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Pokemon Type Calculator