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Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni returns to Pokémon GO for May 2025, with a new line-up on the horizon. Giovanni has long provided the toughest AI test for trainers in Pokémon GO and continues to do so this month. However, the start of May 2025 offers the final chance to capture one of his best rewards yet. A new Team GO Rocket-themed event, Crown Clash, Taken Over, will start on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, when Shadow Dialga will feature.
Until the new event starts, Giovanni remains a familiar opponent for those that have faced him in recent months, but offers some fantastic rewards that you do not want to miss out on. To be able to face him this month, you will still need to defeat six rocket Grunts, followed by all three Team GO Rocket leaders Arlo, Sierra and Cliff. Once you have beaten them all, you will be able to hunt down Giovanni by spinning PokeStops and Gyms. After overcoming his decoys, you will eventually find him, but you need to be prepared if you want to have a chance to beat him.
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Team Rocket Boss Giovanni Lineup & Counters (May 2025)
An Unchanged Line-up For Now
At least for the start of May 2025, Team GO Rocket Leader Giovanni’s Pokémon line-up will stay the same as it was in April 2025. However, you should keep an eye out for it changing on May 14 for the new event when at least his final Pokémon is expected to change to Shadow Dialga. He starts May by leading with Normal-type Persian.
All of Giovanni’s Pokémon are Shadow variants, meaning their stats are boosted, making them even harder to defeat.
Giovanni will also always finish the battle with his strongest Pokémon, Water- and Dragon-type Palkia. However, his second Pokémon will change for each battle, and be one out of three potential options. These are Poison- and Ground-type Nidoking, Dragon- and Water-type Kingdra or Rock- and Ground-type Rhyperior.
|
Wave |
Pokémon and Type |
Weaknesses |
Counters |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
(Shadow) Persian – Normal |
Fighting |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Nidoking – Poison/Ground |
Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Kingdra – Dragon/Water |
Dragon, Fairy |
|
|
2 |
(Shadow) Rhyperior – Rock/Ground |
Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, Steel |
|
|
3 |
(Shadow) Palkia – Dragon/Water |
Dragon, Fairy |
|
Machamp is a fantastic Pokémon to start every battle against Giovanni with. Persian is only weak to Fighting-type attacks, so you should always lead with a Fighting-type Pokémon. The Gen 1 Machamp remains a powerhouse and most players should have a strong one due to its length of time in the game. It is also super-effective against Rhyperior if Giovanni chooses to use it.
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You should also make sure you include a Fairy-type in your squad to have an advantage over Palkia, who you will face in every battle. The Legendary Pokémon Xerneas is one of the strongest options you can pick for this, and can quickly power up its charged attacks. Like Machamp, it has the benefit of having an advantage over one of his second options as well, Kingdra.
For a final choice, your best option is to pick a Water-type Pokémon that will be able to make quick work of both Nidoking or Rhyperior, if they are chosen. Swampert is a great option due to being a powerhouse Water-type, as well as being able to take damage itself.
Rewards For Beating Rocket Leader Giovanni (May 2025)
A Final Chance To Catch Shadow Palkia
The biggest incentive for beating Giovanni in May is that it is likely to be the final chance you will have to catch the Legendary Shadow Palkia for some time in Pokémon GO. Once you have defeated Giovanni, you will immediately get an encounter with his final Pokémon, which is currently Palkia. However, if, as expected, this changes to Dialga on May 14, Palkia, who is one of the best Master League Cup Pokémon, will no longer be available.
You will receive all the rewards every time you defeat Giovanni in May 2025, meaning you can face him multiple times to earn more.
You also receive a number of useful items each time you defeat Giovanni. This includes a huge 5,000 Stardust, which is used in Pokémon GO to power up and increase the CP of any Pokémon that you have caught. This is rewarded along with three random items you will gain out of 4x Revives, 4x Max Revives, 4x Hyper Potions, 4x Max Potions, or an Unova Stone.
Giovanni’s line-up remains unchanged for the start of May 2025 in Pokémon GO. However, it is still important that you go into it with the right team if you want to defeat him. This will also change once the new event is underway, starting May 14, 2025.
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