How to Beat Giovanni in Pokémon GO: October 2024 Guide

If you’re ready to take on Giovanni, the leader of Team GO Rocket, in October 2024, there’s a lot to prepare for! Giovanni is notorious for his challenging lineup, but the rewards for defeating him make it all worthwhile. To successfully overcome this powerful opponent, you need a well-thought-out strategy and the right Pokémon. In this guide, we’ll explore Giovanni’s current lineup, how to beat Giovanni with effective counters, and essential tips for success.

Finding Giovanni: Your First Challenge

Before you face Giovanni, you need to locate him. Here’s how to find him:

• Complete a Special Research quest: These quests revolve around Team GO Rocket and become available to trainers starting at Level 8.
• Earn the Super Rocket Radar: Upon completion of the quest, you’ll receive a Super Rocket Radar, which will help you track down Giovanni.
• Decoy Giovanni: Be aware that not every Giovanni you encounter is real. Some are decoys, so be prepared to visit multiple PokéStops before finding him.

Once you locate Giovanni, the real battle begins!

Giovanni’s Pokémon Lineup for October 2024

Knowing Giovanni’s current Pokémon lineup is crucial to winning the battle. Here is what you’re up against in October 2024:

Best Team Selection for Battling Giovanni

To increase your chances of winning, you need to choose Pokémon that can exploit Giovanni’s weaknesses. Here’s a strong team to consider:

1. Machamp/Lucario (Fighting Type)

• Why: Giovanni’s Persian is a Normal-type, which is highly vulnerable to Fighting-type moves.
• Counters: Use Machamp or Lucario to efficiently burn through Persian’s health, and they’ll double as great counters for Kangaskhan too.

2. Swampert (Water/Ground Type)

• Why: Swampert covers multiple Pokémon in Giovanni’s lineup, including Rhyperior and Nidoking.
• Counters: With Water-type moves, Swampert will easily take down Rhyperior and Nidoking, and its Ground typing will be useful against Heatran.

3. Togekiss (Fairy Type)

• Why: Togekiss can handle Giovanni’s Kingdra with its powerful Fairy-type moves.
• Counters: Charm hits hard against Kingdra and will take down Honchkrow as well. If Giovanni’s Honchkrow appears, Togekiss will be a key player in your team.

Comprehensive Counters for Giovanni’s Shadow Pokémon

Knowing how to beat Giovanni means being prepared for each of his Pokémon. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the best counters for each one:

1. Shadow Persian (Normal-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Machamp
  • Lucario
  • Melmetal
  • Dialga
• Strategy: Start with a strong Fighting-type to quickly deplete Giovanni’s shields. Persian can be challenging if it gets momentum, so a solid opener is essential.

2. Shadow Honchkrow (Dark/Flying-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Rampardos
  • Electivire
  • Xurkitree
  • Togekiss (Fairy-type)
• Strategy: Rock, Electric, and Fairy moves work great here. Use a Fairy-type like Togekiss to deal consistent damage or Electric-types for quick knockouts.

3. Shadow Kangaskhan (Normal-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Machamp
  • Conkeldurr
  • Lucario
• Strategy: Fighting types are a must for Kangaskhan. Stick with your core Fighting team to take it down without much hassle.

4. Shadow Kingdra (Water/Dragon-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Dragonite
  • Palkia
  • Dialga
  • Togekiss (Fairy-type)
• Strategy: Kingdra’s weaknesses to Dragon and Fairy moves make it vulnerable. Togekiss is perfect here, but Dragonite or Palkia will also work well with Dragon-type attacks.

5. Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Swampert
  • Garchomp
  • Mamoswine
• Strategy: Use Ground, Ice, and Water moves to exploit Nidoking’s weaknesses. Swampert is highly effective due to its Ground/Water typing.

6. Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Swampert
  • Kyogre
  • Groudon
  • Metagross
• Strategy: Rhyperior’s double weakness in water and grass makes it easy to prey for Swampert or Kyogre. Use their Water-type moves to deal quick damage.

7. Shadow Heatran (Fire/Steel-type)

• Best Counters:
  • Garchomp
  • Groudon
  • Rhyperior
• Strategy: Heatran’s 2x weakness to Ground-type moves makes Garchomp or Groudon your best bets. Focus on using Ground-type moves to finish it off.

Pro Tips on How to Beat Giovanni

Here are some additional tips to ensure your victory:

• Burn Giovanni’s Shields Early: Use fast-charging moves to remove Giovanni’s shields as early as possible. This makes it easier to land Charged Attacks later in the battle.
• Rematch if Needed: Don’t worry if you lose on your first try! You can always rematch Giovanni and refine your strategy.
• Stock Up on Potions and Revives: Before attempting the battle, make sure you have plenty of healing items so you can keep your team in top shape.

Rewards for Defeating Giovanni

After defeating Giovanni, you’ll earn some exciting rewards, including:

• A rare Shadow Pokémon (currently, Shadow Heatran).
• Items such as Max Potions, Max Revives, and Stardust.
• Exclusive Special Research progress and badges.

Remember, finding Giovanni is part of the Galarian Expedition: Taken Over event. Once you finish the Special Research tasks, you’ll receive your Super Rocket Radar to locate Giovanni.

With these strategies in mind, you’re now equipped to face and defeat Giovanni in Pokémon GO. Make sure you’re ready with the best team and counters, and enjoy the rewards that come with taking down one of Pokémon GO’s most infamous villains!

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