Quick Links
Giovanni returns this March 2025 with powerful Shadow Monsters in Pokemon GO. While his battle roster remains the same as the previous month, winning against them is still challenging. You must strategically select counters to secure a win.
You must first locate Giovanni in Pokemon GO, and then only can you initiate the battle. Once you defeat 6 GO Rocket Grunts and all three Leaders, Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff, you can get a Rocket Radar leading to Giovanni’s location. The Team GO Rocket main boss has numerous powerful Shadow Pokemon, which requires thorough preparation. That said, this guide details the best Giovanni Shadow Pokemon counters for March 2025.
Related
Pokemon GO: Mythical, Legendary, And Mega Raid Schedule (January 2025)
This guide details all the Mythical, Legendary, and Mega Raids in Pokemon GO January 2025 along with their dates, time, and Shiny availability.
Pokemon GO: Giovanni Shadow Pokemon And Best Counters (March 2025)
The battle with Giovanni has three rounds; the main boss has an individual Shadow Pokemon for the first and last rounds. But the second round is tricky, Giovanni has 3 Shadow Pokemon he can choose from. Since the second round’s opponent is random, you must carefully strategize your Pokemon GO counters to defeat Giovanni.
|
Round |
Pokemon |
|---|---|
|
1st |
Shadow Persian |
|
2nd |
|
|
3rd |
Shadow Palkia |
Shadow Persian
- Type: Normal
- Weakness: Fighting-type moves
- Resistance: Ghost-type moves
Shadow Persian Counters
- Mega Lucario – Force Palm (Fighting) (Legacy) & Aura Sphere (Fighting)
- Mega Blaziken – Counter (Fighting) & Focus Blast (Fighting)
- Mega Heracross – Counter (Fighting) & Close Combat (Fighting)
- Lucario – Force Palm (Fighting) (Legacy) & Aura Sphere (Fighting)
- Terrakion – Double Kick (Fighting) & Sacred Sword (Fighting) (Legacy)
Shadow Nidoking
- Type: Poison and Ground
- Weakness: Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water-type
- Resistance: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Rock, Electric, and Poison-type
Shadow Nidoking Counters
- Primal Kyogre – Waterfall (Water) & Origin Pulse (Water) (Legacy)
- Primal Groudon – Mud Shot (Ground) & Precipice Blades (Ground) (Legacy)
- Shadow Mewtwo – Psycho Cut (Psychic) & Psystrike (Psychic) (Legacy)
- White Kyurem – Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Mega Garchomp – Mud Shot (Ground) & Earth Power (Ground) (Legacy)
Shadow Kingdra
- Type: Water and Dragon
- Weakness: Dragon and Fairy-type moves
- Resistance: Steel, Fire, and Water-type moves
Shadow Kingdra Counters
- Mega Rayquaza – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Breaking Swipe (Dragon) (Legacy)
- Shadow Palkia – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Draco Meteor (Dragon)
- Origin Forme Palkia – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Spacial Rend (Dragon) (Legacy)
- Mega Garchomp – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Outrage (Dragon)
- Black Kyurem – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Outrage (Dragon)
Shadow Rhyperior
- Type: Ground and Rock
- Weakness: Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel-type
- Resistance: Fire, Flying, Normal, Rock, Electric, and Poison-type
Shadow Rhyperior Counters
- Primal Kyogre – Waterfall (Water) & Origin Pulse (Water) (Legacy)
- Mega Swampert – Water Gun (Water) & Hydro Cannon (Water) (Legacy)
- Mega Sceptile – Bullet Seed (Grass) & Frenzy Plant (Grass) (Legacy)
- Shadow Kyogre – Waterfall (Water) & Origin Pulse (Water) (Legacy)
- Mega Blastoise – Water Gun (Water) & Hydro Cannon (Water) (Legacy)
Shadow Palkia
- Type: Water and Dragon
- Weakness: Dragon and Fairy-type
- Resistance: Steel, Fire, and Water-type
Shadow Palkia Counters
- Mega Rayquaza – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Breaking Swipe (Dragon) (Legacy)
- Mega Garchomp – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Outrage (Dragon)
- Mega Salamence – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Outrage (Dragon) (Legacy)
- Mega Gardevoir – Charm (Fairy) & Dazzling Gleam (Fairy)
- Origin Forme Dialga – Dragon Breath (Dragon) & Roar of Time (Dragon) (Legacy)
Related
Pokemon GO – All Ditto Disguises (February 2025)
You can find and catch a Pokemon GO Ditto and Shiny Ditto in February 2025 by following this detailed guide.
Pokemon GO: Best Giovanni Counter Team (March 2025)
Some of the best Pokemon GO counter teams for Giovanni would be Machamp, Swampert, and Xerneas/Togekiss. You can use the Fighting-type Machamp to exploit Persian’s type-weaknesses. If Rhyperior is his second choice, Machamp can also deal heavy damage before being knocked out.
For the second round, you can proceed with the Water and Ground-type Pokemon, Swampert. The monster’s Ground-type attacks work well against Nidoking. Its Charged Attacks help deplete Giovanni’s shields quickly. You can also use Togekiss in the second round if Giovanni chooses Kingdra.
The Fairy-type Togekiss also comes in handy on the last round’s Dragon-type Palkia in Pokemon GO. Fairy-type Pokemon like Xerneas or Togekiss can easily counter Kingdra or Palkia, dealing massive damage while resisting the opponent’s attacks.
