If players want to learn how to beat Giovanni and his Lineup in November 2025, this guide offers the best counters, strategies, and optimized movesets to defeat the Team Rocket Leader and his Shadow Pokemon.
Check out its updated Lineup and prepare for the next Team Rocket Takeover in Pokemon GO with the most powerful Pokemon that can counter every one of Giovanni's team members, including the powerful Shadow Tornadus Incarnate.
Pokemon GO - All Giovanni Shadow Pokemon (November 2025)
Giovanni's Lineup doesn't change from previous iterations, and to find and challenge the Team Rocket Leader, players will first have to face Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff. Once they've done with the three Rocket Leaders, a Super Rocket Radar will indicate them the way to Giovanni and his team of Shadow Pokemon, which consists of the following team members on each of the three rounds of combat:
|
Round |
Pokemon |
|---|---|
|
First |
Shadow Persian |
|
Second |
|
|
Third |
Shadow Tornadus (Incarnate Forme) |
Players should remember that the Second Round is always a variable, and Giovanni will have either of the above-mentioned Pokemon, so prepare ahead with the proper counters.
Pokemon GO: How To Beat Giovanni (November 2025)
To beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO (November 2025), players have to pick one of the following counters from the list, since they're the best team members to defeat his Shadow Pokemon in every round of the combat.
- Machamp or Mega Lucario are the optimal Fighting-types that counter Persian. Machamp is particularly good since it can take down Persian really fast, and it's also optimized to fight Shadow Rhyperior and Shadow Kangaskhan. Mega Lucario is a powerhouse with ridiculous TDO, and can swipe Giovanni's entire team by itself if trainers are skilled.
- Swampert and Kyogre are good choices to deal STAB damage to Shadow Nidoking and Shadow Rhyperior, (weak to Water-type moves) but Kyogre is the bulkiest of the two and carries a bit more power, so choose it over Swampert if the budget allows it.
- Black Kyurem, with Ice Fang as a Fast Move and Ice Burn (462.5 TDO) as a Charged Move, is currently the best Ice-type attacker in Pokemon GO. Shadow Tornadus Incarnate takes x2 damage from Ice-type moves.
Players can check for more options below if some of the previous Pokemon are out of their current budget (untrained, or require too many resources to optimize).
Shadow Persian Counters
|
Pokemon |
Fast Move |
Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura Sphere |
|
Machamp |
Counter |
Close Combat |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura Sphere |
|
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Counter |
Dynamic Punch |
|
Urshifu |
Counter |
Dynamic Punch |
Shadow Rhyperior Counters
|
Pokemon |
Fast Move |
Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
|
Swampert |
Force Palm |
Aura Sphere |
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall |
Origin Pulse |
|
Quaquaval |
Waterfall |
Hydro Cannon |
|
Kartana |
Razor Leaf |
Leaf Blade |
|
Zarude |
Vine Whip |
Power Whip |
Shadow Kangaskhan Counters
|
Pokemon |
Fast Move |
Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura Sphere |
|
Machamp |
Counter |
Close Combat |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura Sphere |
|
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Counter |
Dynamic Punch |
|
Urshifu |
Counter |
Dynamic Punch |
Shadow Nidoking Counters
|
Pokemon |
Fast Move |
Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
|
White Kyurem |
Ice Fang |
Ice Blast |
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall |
Origin Pulse |
|
Garchomp |
Mud Shot |
Earth Power |
|
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut |
Psystrike |
|
Alakazam |
Confusion |
Psychic |
Shadow Tornadus Incarnate Forme Counters
|
Pokemon |
Fast Move |
Charged Move |
|---|---|---|
|
White Kyurem |
Ice Fang |
Ice Blast |
|
Shadow Raikou |
Thunder Shock |
Wild Charge |
|
Xurkitree |
Thunder Shock |
Discharge |
|
Zekrom |
Charge Beam |
Wild Charge |
|
Tyranitar |
Smack Down |
Stone Edge |
Pokémon GO
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