The leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni, returns toPokémon GOin October 2024 with a team of Shadow Pokémon you can beat for several rare rewards. Some familiar faces return to Giovanni’s side this month, making it a little easier to assemble a team that counters them again. By looking at different type match-ups, you should be able to defeat Giovanni once more with your strong group of Pokémon.

Youcannot face Giovanni until you complete an active Team GO Rocket Special Research. This involves getting a Super Rocket Radar to track down the mysterious leader once the research is finished. Anyone can complete the Special Research by defeating Team Rocket Grunts and other organization leaders, such as Cliff orArlo inPokémon GO.

Ditto from Pokémon GO October

Team Rocket Boss Giovanni Lineup & Counters (October 2024)

Recognize Which Pokémon Are Best Against Giovanni

Like any Team Rocket battle, Giovanni’s fight issplitinto three wavesstartingwith his signature Pokémon Persian. Unlike many ofPokémon GO’s raid boss Pokémon, the creatures Giovanni uses are all Shadow Pokémon. These dark reflections of normal pocket monsters are somewhat stronger than their counterparts, making Giovanni’s team a lot stronger than you might expect.

All Ditto Disguises In Pokemon GO (October 2024)

These are the latest Ditto disguises in Pokemon GO for October 2024, showing which Pocket Monsters the elusive purple blob can hide itself as.

For the second wave, Giovannichooses one of three possible Pokémon, which is impossible to predict during the battle. Giovanni will either send out Honchkrow, Kangaskhan, or Kingdra to battle whatever Pokémon you have chosen to use for that portion of the fight. Finally, the last wave sees Giovanni using a Shadow version of the Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon, Cresselia, from the Sinnoh region.

Pokémon GO Giovanni Team Rocket Leader analysis with Shadow Pokémon

If you lose to Giovanni at any point, you can simply challenge him again immediately after you lose, as long as you still have the Super Rocket Radar from your Special Research.

Each of these Pokémon has a unique type that influences what Pokémon counters them. When considering what team to bring, you may want to think about these Pokemon to adapt to Giovanni’s team:

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1

2

3

Bug, Dark, Ghost

Your focus should be totake out Giovanni’s shields as fast as you canwhile Persian is out. Giovanni’s signature Pokémon isn’t particularly strong, so use this time tofill up your Pokémon’s Charge Movefor the next waves. Although the second wave Pokémon is hard to predict, you can at least plan ahead for Cresselia, whose Legendary status makes them the hardest opponent on Giovanni’s team.

Rewards For Beating Rocket Leader Giovanni (October 2024)

Gain Access To A Rare Legendary Pokémon

Defeating Giovanni in October 2024 is part of the"World of Wonders: Taken Over"Special Research quest alongside other encounters like Shadow Groudon. While you don’t get the full rewards from this quest from taking down the Team Rocket leader, you still gainthree item bundlesguaranteed to have at leastfour Max Revives or four Max Potions. Some other item bundles may include:

Revives and Potions are great items for future battles, especially if you plan on tackling one of the many raid bosses appearing in October 2024. However, the Unova Stone is perhaps the most precious reward you can get from Giovanni, as it helps you evolve certain Pokemon from the Unova region. For example, creatures like Eelektrik can evolve into Eelektross, Lampent into Chandelure, and so on.

Unfortunately, Giovanni does not drop any Eggs, unlike some other battles you may participate in. Even if you have a free Egg slot in your inventory, don’t expect the Team Rocket leader to hand over any free Pokemon besides his Shadows.

Youalways get 5,000 Stardust for defeating Giovanni, but the main draw from your victory comes from a special interaction with Shadow Cresselia. This Legendary Pokémon can be caught after you win, allowing you to get one of thehardest Pokémon to catchin the game. This is the main reason you should try to beat Giovanni in October 2024 inPokémon GO, and in future months when he inevitably returns.