While Team GO Rocket will continue its presence in 2022 with an upcoming event starting January 24, it's a good time to challenge Giovanni with the right counter composition. In this guide, we'll cover how trainers can prepare for the battle against the fearsome leader of Team GO Rocket, including its current roster, best Pokemon counters, and best team to use.
Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO
Trainers will need to have their best Pokémon ready for battle and their counters leveled up to counter Giovanni and his Shadow Lugia. Additionally, you'll need to know what roster he's likely using and bring in a team that can exploit weaknesses on his roster.
Since Giovanni uses his Lugia in the third phase, handling his Pokémon in the first two phases should be relatively easy to overcome. Giovanni will likely bring the following composition to the fight:
- Phase 1: Persian
- Phase 2: Kingler / Rhyperior / Nidoking
- Step 3: Lugia de l'Ombre
Pokemon Giovanni's Best Counters/Phases
His first Pokémon, Persian, is weak to Fighting-type Pokémon, so any would be fine for this first encounter. However, five Pokemon would be best utilized with their fast and charged moves to consider.
- Lucaire: Counter (fast move), Aura Sphere (charged move)
- Melmétal: Thunder Shock (fast travel), Thunderbolt (charged travel)
- Machamp : Counter (fast move), Cross Chop (charged move)
- Rhyperior: Mud Slap (fast move), Stone Edge (charged move)
- Conkel duration : Counter (fast move), Dynamic Punch (charged move)
Then he tackles his Kingler/Rhyperior/Nidoking line-up. Kingler and Rhyperior can quickly be supported with the same roster, making this battle much easier to tackle. It also means trainers have a high chance of bringing a new Pokemon to the field once Giovanni releases Nidoking.
- Thundurus (Therian form): Volt Switch (fast travel), Thunderbolt (charged travel)
- Zarude: Vine Whip (fast move), Power Whip (charged move)
- Roserade: Razor Leaf (fast travel), Sunbeam / Grass Node (charged travel)
- Raïkou: Volt Switch (fast travel), Wild Charge (charged travel)
If Giovanni takes out Nidoking, you'll want to have Ground, Water, Psychic, and Ice-type Pokémon for this battle. Since some of these Pokemon are relatively common to find, they should have no problem neutralizing Nidoking's attacks before they encounter Shadow Lugia.
- Swampert : Mud Shot (fast move), Hydro Cannon (charged move)
- Kyogre: Waterfall (fast travel), surf (charged travel)
- Mewtwo : Psycho Cut (fast move), Psystrike (charged move)
- Garchomp : Mud Shot (fast move), Earth Power (charged move)
Finally, we come to the Shadow Lugia encounter for which it is weak to Rock, Ghost, Electric, Ice, and Dark type Pokémon. Using a Fighting and Ground-type Pokémon won't serve Trainers well in this battle, especially since Lugia packs a punch.
Large counters will benefit trainers; however, this will come at the cost of rapid HP loss and low defense stats if you know which Pokemon to use. Having a Legendary Pokemon or two should help alleviate this issue to bolster Shadow Lugia's counters.
- Zacien: Snarl (fast move), Wild Charge (charged move)
- Rhyperior: Smack Down (fast move), Rock Wrecker (charged move)
- Magnesone: Volt Switch (fast travel), Wild Charge (charged travel)
- Melmétal: Thunder Shock (fast move), Rock Slide (charged move)
- Yveltal : Snarl (fast move), Dark Pulse (charged move)
It's important to note that Rhyperior and Melmetal have been mentioned in previous counters, so it would be wise not to use them unless Shadow Lugia has been significantly worn down by other Pokemon. If the Pokémon is used in the first phase of this battle, it can be brought into battle against Shadow Lugia.
The best team composition to use
Ultimately, the team you fight with should be based on the coaches style of play. With a variety of recommended Pokémon to bring to the battlefield, trainers can only bring the top three Pokémon.
- Phase 1: Machomp
- Phase 2: Kyogre
- Step 3: Magnesone
Machomp should easily deal with the Persian and can be used much later in the battle. Kyogre's dual abilities should be effective against Kingler, Rhyperior, or Nidoking. Magnezone is a great counter to Shadow Lugia, and if your Machomp is still healthy, the Pokemon can defeat Shadow Lugia.
If the trainers can't defeat Giovanni on their first try, you can request a rematch with him immediately. This can allow Trainers to change their battle strategies and employ the best counters to exploit Giovanni's weaknesses in order to defeat him.
- Read more: All rare candy locations in Pokemon Shining Diamond & Glittering Pearl
Image courtesy of Niantic/The Pokémon Company
