Want to take down the Team GO Rocket boss Giovanni in Pokémon GO this July 2025? You’re in the right place! This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know—from Giovanni’s current Pokémon lineup and the best counters to how to find him, complete the required Special Research, and earn exclusive rewards like Shadow Dialga.
Updated for the Crown Clash: Taken Over event, this guide is tailored to help you master Giovanni’s latest team and claim victory.
🕵️ How to Find Giovanni in Pokémon GO
Giovanni doesn’t appear randomly in the wild—you’ll need to unlock and complete specific Special Research tasks to encounter him.
🔑 Steps to Encounter Giovanni:
- Complete “A Troubling Situation” Special Research – This must be finished before you can access any Team GO Rocket storyline.
- Unlock Current Research: “Crown Clash: Taken Over” – Once unlocked, progress through the tasks until you receive the Super Rocket Radar.
- Equip the Super Rocket Radar – It will show PokéStops where Giovanni might be hiding.
- Find the Real Giovanni – The radar may lead you to decoys (Grunts disguised as Giovanni). Keep checking PokéStops until you find the real one.
💡 Tip: You can rematch Giovanni if you lose. The Super Rocket Radar is only consumed when you successfully defeat him.
👊 Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup (July 2025)
Giovanni always opens the battle with Shadow Persian, followed by one of three randomized second Pokémon, and finally the powerful Shadow Dialga as his third.
| Slot | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Persian |
| 2 | Shadow Rhyperior / Shadow Nidoking / Shadow Kangaskhan |
| 3 | Shadow Dialga |
Let’s break down each battle slot with the best counters you can use.
🥇 Best Team to Defeat Giovanni (July 2025)
If you want a quick, effective team to counter Giovanni’s lineup, start with this:
- Lead: Machamp or Mega Lucario (for Persian & general coverage)
- Flex: Swampert or Groudon (to counter Rhyperior/Nidoking)
- Closer: Excadrill or Primal Groudon (to take on Shadow Dialga)
You can also swap based on your personal roster. Now, let’s go deeper into individual counters for each of Giovanni’s Pokémon.
⚔️ Shadow Persian Counters (Slot 1)
Type: Normal
Weakness: Fighting
Resists: Ghost
✅ Best Counters:
- Mega Lucario – Force Palm + Aura Sphere
- Terrakion – Double Kick + Sacred Sword
- Machamp – Counter + Close Combat
- Shadow Conkeldurr – Counter + Dynamic Punch
- Annihilape – Counter + Rage Fist
- Melmetal – Thunder Shock + Superpower (Shield baiter)
Strategy: Start with a powerful Fighting-type Pokémon to quickly burn through Giovanni’s two shields. Use charged attacks with short charge times to apply early pressure.
🌋 Shadow Rhyperior Counters (Slot 2 – Possibility 1)
Type: Rock/Ground
Double Weaknesses: Grass, Water
Other Weaknesses: Fighting, Ice, Steel
✅ Best Counters:
- Mega Swampert – Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon
- Mega Sceptile – Bullet Seed + Frenzy Plant
- Shadow Kyogre – Waterfall + Origin Pulse
- Mega Venusaur – Vine Whip + Frenzy Plant
- Zarude – Vine Whip + Power Whip
- Kartana – Razor Leaf + Leaf Blade
Strategy: Use Grass or Water-types with fast charge moves. Rhyperior’s slow attacks make it an easier opponent with the right typing.
🐍 Shadow Nidoking Counters (Slot 2 – Possibility 2)
Type: Poison/Ground
Weaknesses: Water, Ice, Psychic, Ground
Resistances: Fighting, Poison, Electric
✅ Best Counters:
- Mega Swampert – Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon
- Shadow Mewtwo – Psycho Cut + Psystrike
- Mega Garchomp – Mud Shot + Earth Power
- Shadow Groudon – Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
- Therian Landorus – Mud Shot + Sandsear Storm
Strategy: Psychic-types like Shadow Mewtwo work well. However, bulky Ground or Water-types like Swampert are often the safer bet.
👊 Shadow Kangaskhan Counters (Slot 2 – Possibility 3)
Type: Normal
Weakness: Fighting
Resistances: Ghost
✅ Best Counters:
- Mega Lucario – Force Palm + Aura Sphere
- Machamp – Karate Chop + Cross Chop
- Terrakion – Double Kick + Sacred Sword
- Keldeo – Low Kick + Sacred Sword
- Shadow Hariyama – Force Palm + Upper Hand
Strategy: Like Persian, Kangaskhan is only weak to Fighting. Bring the same Pokémon you used in the first slot if it survives.
⛓️ Shadow Dialga Counters (Slot 3 – Final Boss)
Type: Dragon/Steel
Weaknesses: Fighting, Ground
Resistances: Water, Electric, Flying, Poison, Bug, Rock, Grass, Normal, Steel, Psychic
✅ Best Counters:
- Primal Groudon – Mud Shot + Precipice Blades
- Mega Lucario – Force Palm + Aura Sphere
- Shadow Excadrill – Mud Slap + Scorching Sands
- Mega Garchomp – Mud Shot + Earth Power
- Mega Heracross – Counter + Upper Hand
- Mega Swampert – Mud Shot + Earthquake
Strategy: Dialga is tanky and deadly with Iron Head or Draco Meteor. Bring strong Ground-types or Lucario for quick and efficient damage.
🎁 Rewards for Defeating Giovanni (July 2025)
Victory over Giovanni comes with some of the best loot in Pokémon GO.
🧾 Guaranteed Rewards:
- 5,000 Stardust
- Shadow Legendary Catch Encounter (Dialga)
- 3× Item Bundles (includes any of the following):
- Max Revives ×4
- Max Potions ×4
- Hyper Potions ×4
- Unova Stone ×1
- Revives ×4
Note: Giovanni does not drop Strange Eggs, even if you have free egg slots.
🧪 What If You Don’t See the Current Giovanni Research?
You’re not alone! If you’re missing the Crown Clash: Taken Over Special Research, it’s likely because you haven’t finished an older Rocket storyline. Pokémon GO doesn’t allow players to hold multiple Team GO Rocket Special Research lines at the same time.
❗ Check for These Older Incomplete Research Tasks:
- A Troubling Situation (must be completed first!)
- Any previous Team GO Rocket storylines (in Special Research tab)
Tip: Finish any old Rocket research, and the current one will automatically appear shortly after.
💡 Giovanni Battle Tips and Strategy Summary
- Always start with a Fighting-type – Good against Persian, Kangaskhan, and often Nidoking.
- Use Charged Attacks quickly to burn through Giovanni’s shields.
- Bring a strong Water/Ground-type for middle slot coverage.
- End with a hard-hitting Ground or Fighting-type to counter Dialga.
👑 Suggested Team Summary (Budget + Meta):
| Role | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| Lead | Machamp / Mega Lucario |
| Mid | Swampert / Groudon |
| Closer | Excadrill / Primal Groudon |
🎉 Conclusion: Beating Giovanni in July 2025
Defeating Giovanni in Pokémon GO requires careful planning and the right team, but with the updated counters above, you’re fully equipped to win. Shadow Dialga is a valuable and rare addition to your collection, and taking down Giovanni is always a rewarding challenge.
Be sure to check your Special Research tab, use the right counters, and bring your best Fighters and Ground-types to the battle.
Ready to take down Team GO Rocket’s leader? Let’s go!
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