Guide
Pokémon GO November 2022: how to find and counter Giovanni
We tell you how to find Giovanni, the leader of Team GO Rocket, in Pokémon GO. How to beat him and what are the best counters.
Giovanni, leader of Team GO Rocket, is back in action this November 2022 in Pokémon GO. In this guide we’ll tell you how to find and defeat the villainous leader.
How to find Giovanni in Pokémon GO? A step by step guide
The first thing you need to know is that you won’t just find Giovanni walking around in Pokémon GO like any Pokémon: you’re required to go through a very strict process:
- First you need to have any Team GO Rocket Special Investigation active.
- As you progress through this special investigation, you’ll have to defeat Team GO Rocket Grunts to obtain pieces of the Rocket Radar. The Grunts can appear either in PokéStops or in balloons. When you get six pieces, you can create the radar. You can also buy these in the store.
- Equip the Rocket Radar, and use it to find and defeat Arlo, Cliff and Sierra. They can appear in PokéStops or in balloons. You need to beat all three of these Team GO Rocket leaders to get a Super Rocket Radar.
- Equip the Super Rocket Radar, and use that to find Giovanni, who will now have a chance to appear in PokeStops and balloons. It’s possible you’ll have to defeat Team GO Rocket Grunts disguised as him, so you’ll have to win a battle with them before the real Giovanni shows himself.
How to defeat Giovanni in Pokémon GO? Best counters.
Giovanni is the toughest trainer there is in Pokémon GO (when talking about PvE). Right below this we’ll leave you with all of the information detailing which Pokémon may be part of his team and your best option to defeat them. The first and third Pokémon are always the same, but the second is a random one chosen from a small pool of possibilities.
Starting from November 14th, Giovanni has been seen using these Pokémon:
- First Pokémon: Persian
- Second Pokémon: Nidoqueen, Steelix, or Rhyperior
- Third Pokémon: Mewtwo
How to beat Giovanni’s Persian
Persian is a Normal Type Pokémon, weak to Fight Type moves and resistant to Ghost Type moves. As such, your best options are to use the following Pokémon against it:
- Machamp with Counter (Fast Attack) and Dynamic Punch (Charged Attack).
- Lucario with Counter (Fast Attack) and Aura Sphere (Charged Attack).
- Hariyama with Counter (Fast Attack) and Dynamic Punch (Charged Attack).
- Buzzwole with Counter (Fast Attack) and Superpower (Charged Attack).
- Galar Zapdos with Counter (Fast Attack) and Brave Bird (Charged Attack).
How to defeat Giovanni’s Nidoqueen
Nidoqueen is a Ground and Poison Type Pokémon, weak to Ground, Ice, Psychic and Water Type moves. As such, you should use Pokémon of these types with attacks to match:
- Rhyperior with Mud-Slap (Fast Attack) and Earthquake (Charged Attack).
- Kyogre with Waterfall (Fast Attack) and Hydro Pump (Charged Attack).
- Mewtwo with Confusion (Fast Attack) and Psystrike (Charged Attack).
- Jirachi with Confusion (Fast Attack) and Psychic (Charged Attack).
- Swampert with Mud Shot (Fast Attack) and Hydro Cannon (Charged Attack).
How to defeat Giovanni’s Steelix
Steelix is a Steel/Ground Type Pokémon, and is weak to Fire, Water, Fighting and Ground Type moves. These are your best possible counters:
- Ho-Oh with Incinerate (Fast Attack) and Fire Blast (Charged Attack).
- Kyogre with Waterfall (Fast Attack) and Hydro Pump (Charged Attack).
- Mega-Gyarados with Waterfall (Fast Attack) and Hydro Pump (Charged Attack).
- Machamp with Counter (Fast Attack) and Dynamic Punch (Charged Attack).
- Groudon with Mud Shot (Fast Attack) and Earthquake (Charged Attack).
How to defeat Giovanni’s Rhyperior
Rhyperior is a Ground/Rock Type Pokémon, and is weak to Ice, Water, Grass, Steel and Fighting Type moves. Water and Grass attacks will cause extra damage because Ground and Rock are weak to both of these Types. As such, we recommend the following Pokémon:
- Venusaur with Vine Whip (Fast Attack) and Frenzy Plant (Charged Attack).
- Kyogre with Waterfall (Fast Attack) and Hydro Pump (Charged Attack).
- Swampert with Mud Shot (Fast Attack) and Hydro Cannon (Charged Attack).
- Gyarados with Waterfall (Fast Attack) and Hydro Pump (Charged Attack).
- Torterra with Razor Leaf (Fast Attack) and Frenzy Plant (Charged Attack).
How to defeat Giovanni’s Mewtwo
Mewtwo is a Psychic Type Pokémon, which means he’s weak to Bug, Dark and Ghost Type moves. We recommend you use the following Pokémon with attacks to match the type:
- Mega-Gengar with Lick (Fast Attack) and Shadow Ball (Charged Attack).
- Mega-Banette with Shadow Claw (Fast Attack) and Shadow Ball (Charged Attack).
- Hoopa (Unleashed) with Astonish (Fast Attack) and Dark Pulse (Charged Attack).
- Giratina (Origin Forme) with Shadow Claw (Fast Attack) and Shadow Ball (Charged Attack).
- Mismagius with Hex (Fast Attack) and Shadow Ball (Charged Attack).
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