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If players want to learn how to hit Giovanni and his Lineup in November 2025this guide offers the best calculators, strategies and optimized movements to defeat Team Rocket Leader and his Shadow Pokémon.
Check out its updated lineup and prepare for the next Team Rocket Takeover in Pokémon GO with the most powerful Pokémon able to counter all 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 in order to find and challenge the Team Rocket Leader, players must first face Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff. Once they've done that with the three rocket launchers, a Super Rocket Radar will show them the way to Giovanni and his team of Shadow Pokémon, which consists of the following team members in each of the three battle rounds:
|
Round |
Pokémon |
|---|---|
|
First |
Shadow Persian |
|
Other |
|
|
Third |
Shadow Tornadus (Incarnate Form) |
Players should remember that the second round is always a variable, and Giovanni will have any of the Pokemon mentioned above, so prepare ahead of time with the right counters.
Pokemon GO: How To Beat Giovanni (November 2025)
Beating Giovanni in Pokémon GO (November 2025), players must choose one of the following counters from the list, as they are the best team members to defeat his Shadow Pokemon in each round of battle.
- Machamp or Mega Lucario are the optimal Fighting types that counter Persian. Machamp is particularly good because it can take down Persian really quickly, and it's also optimized to fight Shadow Rhyperior and Shadow Kangaskhan. Mega Lucario is a powerhouse with ridiculous TDO, and can sweep Giovanni's entire team by himself if the trainers are skilled.
- Swampert and Kyogre are good choices for STAB damage to Shadow Nidoking and Shadow Rhyperior, (weak to water-like moves) but Kyogre is the bulkier of the two and has a bit more power, so pick it over Swampert if budget allows.
- Black Kyuremwith Ice Fang as a quick move and Ice burn (462.5 TDO) as a Charged Move, is currently the best Ice-type attacker in Pokémon GO. Shadow Tornadus Incarnate takes x2 damage from Ice-type moves.
Players can check for more options below if any of the previous Pokémon are out of their current budget (untrained or require too many resources to optimize).
Shadow Persian Counters
|
Pokémon |
Quick move |
Charged move |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura sphere |
|
Machamp |
Disk |
Close combat |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura sphere |
|
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Disk |
Dynamic Punch |
|
Urshifu |
Disk |
Dynamic Punch |
Shadow Superior Counters
|
Pokémon |
Quick move |
Charged move |
|---|---|---|
|
Swampert |
Force Palm |
Aura sphere |
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall |
Initial pulse |
|
Quaquaval |
Waterfall |
Hydrocannon |
|
The maps |
Razor Leaf |
Leaf blade |
|
Zarude |
Vine whip |
Power Whip |
Shadow Kangaskhan Counters
|
Pokémon |
Quick move |
Charged move |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura sphere |
|
Machamp |
Disk |
Close combat |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm |
Aura sphere |
|
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Disk |
Dynamic Punch |
|
Urshifu |
Disk |
Dynamic Punch |
Shadow Nidoking Counters
|
Pokémon |
Quick move |
Charged move |
|---|---|---|
|
White Kyurem |
Ice Fang |
Ice Blast |
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall |
Initial pulse |
|
Garchomp |
Mud Shot |
Earth power |
|
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut |
Psystrike |
|
Alakazam |
Confusion |
Psychological |
Shadow Tornadus incarnate form counter
|
Pokémon |
Quick move |
Charged move |
|---|---|---|
|
White Kyurem |
Ice Fang |
Ice Blast |
|
Shadow Raikou |
Thunder Shock |
Wild Charge |
|
Xurkitree |
Thunder Shock |
Discharge |
|
Zekrom |
Charge beam |
Wild Charge |
|
Tyrants |
SmackDown |
Stone edge |
Pokémon GO
- Released
-
July 6, 2016
- Engine
-
Unit
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
