Defeating Giovanni in Pokemon GO: April 2025 Strategies

In April 2025, Giovanni makes his return to Pokemon GO, bringing with him a formidable lineup of Shadow Pokemon. Although his roster remains unchanged from the previous month, players must be well-prepared to confront the Team GO Rocket leader, as he commands some of the most formidable Shadow Pokemon within the game.

To confront Giovanni, players must first successfully track him down. This task begins by acquiring a Rocket Radar, which can be assembled by defeating several Team GO Rocket Grunts, as well as the leaders: Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff. Once you’ve triumphed over these challenges, you’ll be able to construct the Rocket Radar to locate Giovanni. However, defeating him will require strategic insights and effective counters, which this guide aims to provide for your April 2025 battles against Giovanni.

All Shadow Pokemon from Giovanni in Pokemon GO (April 2025)

Giovanni’s Shadow Pokemon lineup for April consists of five distinctive Pokémon, set to challenge trainers over three rounds. The first and third rounds feature specific Pokemon, but the second round introduces unpredictability, allowing Giovanni to choose from three different options. Therefore, knowing the typing of all his Shadow Pokemon is essential for forming an effective counter strategy.

Optimal Counter Team Against Giovanni (April 2025)

For an effective challenge against Giovanni, consider assembling a counter team comprised of Machamp, Swampert, and either Xerneas or Togekiss. Giovanni kicks off the battle with Shadow Persian, a Normal-type Pokémon vulnerable to Fighting-type moves, making Machamp the ideal first pick.

If Giovanni selects a Shadow Nidoking in the second round, Swampert would excel due to its counters leveraging the creature’s Ground and Water weaknesses. Should Kingdra appear, Togekiss is a strong choice, as Fairy-type moves are particularly effective against it. Moreover, in the face of Shadow Palkia during the final round, Togekiss can remain a strong contender, given that Palkia’s Dragon typing is weak to Fairy-type attacks. Alternatively, Xerneas serves as a formidable option against both Kingdra and Palkia.

While this core counter team proves advantageous, several other Pokémon can also effectively handle Giovanni’s Shadow Pokemon lineup this April.

Comprehensive Counters for Giovanni’s Shadow Pokemon (April 2025)

Giovanni’s roster includes five distinct Shadow Pokemon, each with unique types, weaknesses, and resistances. Below is a breakdown of each Shadow Pokemon along with effective counter strategies for April 2025.

1. Shadow Persian

• Type: Normal
• Weakness: Fighting
• Resistance: Ghost

Shadow Persian Counters

2. Shadow Nidoking

• Type: Poison and Ground
• Weakness: Ground, Ice, Psychic, and Water
• Resistance: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Rock, Electric, and Poison

Shadow Nidoking Counters

3. Shadow Kingdra

• Type: Water and Dragon
• Weakness: Dragon and Fairy
• Resistance: Steel, Fire, and Water

Shadow Kingdra Counters

4. Shadow Rhyperior

• Type: Ground and Rock
• Weakness: Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel
• Resistance: Fire, Flying, Normal, Rock, Electric, and Poison

Shadow Rhyperior Counters

5. Shadow Palkia

• Type: Water and Dragon
• Weakness: Dragon and Fairy
• Resistance: Steel, Fire, and Water

Shadow Palkia Counters

For further details and strategies, please refer to the source and images here.