Important note for players searching “this month”
Giovanni lineups can change during Team GO Rocket takeover-style periods. This guide is accurate for June 2026, but if you’re reading later, check your in-game news and Giovanni’s current shadow legendary reward before investing resources.
The Giovanni Win Formula: Shields, Stun Windows, and One Clean Finisher
Giovanni’s biggest advantage
He has two shields and usually blocks your first two charged moves. If you throw big slow moves early, you waste them into shields and lose control.
Your biggest advantage
Rocket battles have “stun windows.” Giovanni’s Pokémon briefly stop attacking after:
- you use a charged move
- you switch Pokémon
- a Pokémon faints and the next one enters
That means you can “steal time” and take less damage while generating more energy.
The simple formula that beats Giovanni consistently
- Start with a shield breaker (fast charged moves)
- Force both shields early (cheap moves)
- Use the stun windows to farm extra energy
- Hard-counter slot 2 with the right answer
- Save your best Ice attacker to close out Shadow Landorus
Best “One-Team” Solution (Works vs All Slot 2 Options)
If you want one team you can use without overthinking, use this structure:
The easiest reliable trio
- Lucario (Counter + Power-Up Punch)
- Swampert (Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon)
- Mamoswine (Powder Snow + Avalanche)
Why this trio works
- Lucario deletes Persian and burns shields instantly
- Swampert handles Nidoking and Rhyperior extremely well and still pressures Kangaskhan
- Mamoswine destroys Landorus with Ice damage (Landorus is double-weak to Ice)
If you don’t have these exact Pokémon
You can swap by role, not by name:
- Lucario role = Fighting shield breaker
- Swampert role = fast Water/Ground controller
- Mamoswine role = Ice closer
This guide gives you multiple replacements for each role so you can build a winning team with what you actually own.
Role 1: Best Shield Breakers for Shadow Persian
Shadow Persian is always first. It’s Normal-type, so Fighting is the answer—but “which Fighting” matters because you need speed.
What your Persian counter must do
- charge fast to burn shields
- survive long enough to keep applying pressure
- ideally keep momentum into slot 2 (so you don’t start the next phase with zero energy)
Top-tier Persian counters (best overall)
Lucario
- Fast move: Counter
- Charged move: Power-Up Punch
- Why it’s elite: extremely fast shields, plus Power-Up Punch ramps your damage
Poliwrath
- Fast move: Counter
- Charged move: Power-Up Punch
- Why it’s elite: bulky, stable, great tempo
Machamp
- Fast move: Counter
- Charged move: Cross Chop
- Why it’s great: easy to build, very consistent shield pressure
Conkeldurr
- Fast move: Counter
- Charged move: Dynamic Punch (or another Fighting charged move you have)
- Why it’s good: strong and durable, but usually slower shield pressure than Lucario/Machamp
Terrakion (high-end option)
- Fast move: Double Kick
- Charged move: Sacred Sword
- Why it’s elite: fast pressure and huge Fighting damage (if you have it)
Budget-friendly Persian counters (still win)
- Hariyama (Counter + a cheap Fighting charged move)
- Breloom (Counter + Dynamic Punch; glassier but can work)
- Toxicroak (Counter + a cheap charged move; risky but fast)
A powerful trick: the “instant swap stun”
Bold tip: Start the battle with any Pokémon, then immediately switch into your Persian counter.
That switch triggers a stun window, giving your counter free fast-move turns and helping you reach your first charged move quicker.
Example: Start Swampert → instant swap to Lucario → spam Power-Up Punch.
Role 2: Slot 2 Counters for Rhyperior, Nidoking, or Kangaskhan
Slot 2 is where most players lose, because they don’t recognize the matchup fast enough.
How to recognize slot 2 instantly
- Rhyperior: huge rocky rhino look (Rock/Ground)
- Nidoking: purple spiky king (Poison/Ground)
- Kangaskhan: brown kangaroo boxer (Normal)
The best “universal” answer across all three
Swampert is the cleanest all-around slot 2 solution because:
- it beats Rhyperior hard
- it beats Nidoking hard
- it still fights Kangaskhan well (and can often finish it if you already burned shields)
If Slot 2 is Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground)
Best counters (safe and fast)
- Swampert (Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon)
- Kyogre (Waterfall + Surf)
- Gyarados (Waterfall + Aqua Tail)
- Excadrill can work but Water is usually the cleanest
Why Water is best
Rhyperior is weak to Water and often goes down quickly when you keep charged move pressure high.
Backup options if you don’t have strong Water
- Machamp / Lucario can still handle Rhyperior with Fighting pressure (Rhyperior is also weak to Fighting), but Water is usually safer and quicker.
If Slot 2 is Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground)
Best counters (safe and reliable)
- Swampert (Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon)
- Kyogre (strong Water damage)
- Garchomp (Ground pressure; be careful if you’re taking heavy damage)
- Mewtwo can work with strong Psychic pressure, but Ground typing can complicate things depending on moves
Why Swampert is amazing here
Mud Shot charges quickly, Hydro Cannon pressures hard, and Swampert resists or handles many of Nidoking’s common attack profiles better than fragile Psychic attackers.
If Slot 2 is Shadow Kangaskhan (Normal)
Best counters
- Lucario / Machamp / Poliwrath (Fighting)
- Terrakion (if you have it)
- Conkeldurr (strong and stable)
How to beat Kangaskhan efficiently
If your Persian counter is still alive with energy, you can often:
- finish Persian
- keep the same Fighting counter in
- throw a few more cheap charged moves to keep Kangaskhan stunned
- Then swap to Swampert only if you need stabilization.
Role 3: Best Counters for Shadow Landorus (Incarnate)
Shadow Landorus (Ground/Flying) is the final boss this month.
The key weakness
Landorus has a double weakness to Ice, which makes Ice by far the best answer.
Best Ice closers (top tier)
- Mamoswine (Powder Snow + Avalanche)
- Weavile (fast and strong; more fragile)
- Glaceon (solid budget Ice)
- Avalugg (bulky Ice option if you keep fainting)
High-end Ice options (if you have them)
- White Kyurem (massive Ice power)
- Black Kyurem (strong overall, though Ice-focused options are best)
Secondary counters (if you lack Ice)
Landorus is also weak to Water, but it’s not as strong as Ice in this matchup.
- Swampert can still pressure Landorus
- Kyogre can still win if you keep pressure high
The win condition vs Landorus
You want to enter Landorus with:
- your Ice attacker alive, and ideally
- some stored energy so you can fire Avalanche (or your Ice charged move) quickly
If your Ice attacker keeps fainting
Use these fixes:
- Bring a bulkier Ice (Avalugg/Glaceon)
- Enter Landorus with energy (farm a little energy on slot 2 after shields are gone)
- Use the switch-stun: swap into your Ice counter right as Landorus enters to get free fast-move turns
Best Giovanni Teams by Player Level (Beginner, Mid, Advanced)
You don’t need perfect Pokémon. You need the right roles.
Beginner Team (No Legendaries Needed)
Goal: reliable win with common builds
- Machamp (Counter + Cross Chop)
- Gyarados (Waterfall + Aqua Tail)
- Glaceon (Frost Breath + Avalanche)
Why it works
Machamp handles Persian/Kangaskhan and burns shields. Gyarados covers Rhyperior/Nidoking. Glaceon finishes Landorus.
Mid-Level Team (Best Value for Most Players)
Goal: fast and consistent with common meta picks
- Lucario (Counter + Power-Up Punch)
- Swampert (Mud Shot + Hydro Cannon)
- Mamoswine (Powder Snow + Avalanche)
This is the “default” team for June 2026 because it wins cleanly against every slot 2 option with minimal adjustments.
Advanced Team (High-End Speed Clear)
Goal: delete Giovanni quickly and safely
- Terrakion (Double Kick + Sacred Sword) or Lucario (PuP spam)
- Swampert (Hydro Cannon pressure)
- White Kyurem (premium Ice finisher)
Why it’s fast
Terrakion/Lucario burns shields instantly, Swampert cleans slot 2, White Kyurem erases Landorus.
Moves That Matter Most (And What to Do If You Don’t Have Them)
The truth about Rocket battles
In Rocket fights, the best move is often the move that charges fastest while still doing enough damage. That’s why “cheap moves” are king for shields.
Must-have style moves (cheap and fast)
- Power-Up Punch (Lucario/Poliwrath)
- Cross Chop (Machamp)
- Aqua Tail (Gyarados)
- Avalanche (Mamoswine/Glaceon)
- Hydro Cannon (Swampert) is huge if you have it
If you don’t have Hydro Cannon on Swampert
Swampert is still usable, but weaker. Your best replacements:
- Kyogre (Water damage brute force)
- Gyarados (Aqua Tail spam)
- Empoleon can work in some situations, but be careful with matchups
If you don’t have Lucario
Use Machamp or Poliwrath as your shield breaker. The goal is still the same: burn both shields quickly.
If you don’t have Mamoswine
Use Glaceon or Weavile as your Ice closer. If you’re fainting too much, choose bulk over glass.
Step-by-Step Battle Script (Copy This and Win More Often)
This is the cleanest “do this, then this” plan
Step 1: Start and Force a Stun Window
Bold move: Start with Swampert (or any non-critical Pokémon), then immediately switch into your Fighting shield breaker (Lucario/Machamp/Poliwrath).
You gain free fast moves while Persian is stunned.
Step 2: Remove Shields Fast
Goal: remove both shields before Persian is fully gone
- Throw your first cheap charged move as soon as it’s ready
- Throw your second cheap charged move quickly after
- After the second shield is gone, Giovanni is now vulnerable.
Step 3: Finish Persian and Build Energy
Once shields are down, do one of these:
- If your Fighting counter is healthy: finish Persian and try to exit the phase with some energy stored
- If you’re taking too much damage: swap to your stabilizer (often Swampert) and finish Persian safely
Step 4: Identify Slot 2 and Choose the Correct Response
If Shadow Rhyperior appears
- Swap to Swampert/Kyogre/Gyarados and pressure with Water
If Shadow Nidoking appears
- Swap to Swampert/Kyogre and pressure with Water (Swampert is usually best)
If Shadow Kangaskhan appears
- Keep Fighting in if you can
- If you’re low, swap into your second Fighting or Swampert as a stabilizer
Step 5: Prepare for Shadow Landorus
The transition to Landorus is where you win or lose.
Bold goal: bring in your Ice attacker at the right time.
- If your Ice attacker is already alive and has energy, great
- If not, try to finish slot 2 while building a little extra energy on Swampert (don’t over-farm if you’ll faint)
Step 6: Delete Shadow Landorus With Ice
Landorus is double-weak to Ice.
- Swap into Mamoswine/Glaceon/Weavile (swap triggers stun)
- Throw Avalanche (or your Ice charged move) as soon as you safely can
- Keep pressure; don’t over-dodge—Rocket fights reward momentum more than perfect dodging
The “Emergency Fixes” When Giovanni Is Beating You
If you lose, you’re usually losing for one of these reasons. Fix the cause and you’ll win on the next attempt.
Problem: Persian is deleting your opener
Fixes
- Use the instant-swap stun to start your shield breaker with a free window
- Choose a bulkier Fighting counter (Poliwrath is very stable)
- Don’t hold charged moves—throw quickly to create stun windows
Problem: Slot 2 surprises you and snowballs
Fixes
- Use Swampert as the universal slot 2 controller
- Keep a backup plan: Fighting for Kangaskhan, Water for Rhyperior/Nidoking
- Save one charged move to throw immediately after you swap (stun + pressure)
Problem: Landorus is somehow surviving and knocking you out
Fixes
- Use a stronger Ice attacker (Mamoswine is the best “common” option)
- Use bulkier Ice if you keep fainting (Avalugg can stabilize)
- Make sure you’re not entering Landorus with your Ice attacker at 5% HP—swap at the transition for the stun window
Problem: You’re running out of healing items
Fixes
- Use bulkier counters so you faint less (Poliwrath, Avalugg)
- Heal only the team you use for Giovanni, not your whole storage
- If you’re farming Rocket battles daily, keep a dedicated “Rocket heal stash”
How to Find Giovanni Faster (Super Rocket Radar Tips That Save Time)
Giovanni is not a random PokéStop boss you stumble into. You find him by using the right radar.
What you need
- A Super Rocket Radar from Rocket Special Research or takeover-related lines
Where Giovanni appears
- In Team GO Rocket balloons when the Super Rocket Radar is equipped
- At certain taken-over PokéStops, but you may encounter decoy grunts first
Fast “find Giovanni” routine
- Equip the Super Rocket Radar
- Check the map for a balloon encounter (it’s the most convenient option)
- If you’re hunting at stops, expect decoys; don’t waste time fighting decoys unless you want the extra rewards
Best time to battle Giovanni
If your goal is to maximize value:
- battle Giovanni when you’re ready to keep the Shadow Legendary
- battle during Rocket event windows if you want to remove Frustration soon after (or plan to unlock a second move)
Catching Shadow Landorus: Don’t Lose the Reward
Winning the battle is step one. Securing the catch is step two.
Catch mindset
You have limited balls in the encounter. Rushing throws is the main reason players lose Shadow Legendaries.
Safe catch routine
- Use a berry for consistency
- Aim for Great throws if Excellent is risky for you
- Be patient with movement—wait for calm timing
If you care about building Landorus
You’ll want Candy and Candy XL over time. Even if you don’t power it up immediately, securing the catch is always worth the extra patience.
After You Catch It: Frustration, Second Moves, and What to Power Up
Shadow Landorus usually comes with Frustration, which is a weak move you can’t remove at any time.
Two smart options
Option 1: Remove Frustration during Rocket takeover-style windows
Those are the best times to grind and clean up your Shadow builds.
Option 2: Unlock a second charged move
If you want to use Landorus before Frustration removal windows, adding a second charged move lets you use the other move while Frustration sits in the first slot.
Should you purify Shadow Landorus?
Most players should not purify Shadow Legendaries unless they have a specific reason. Shadow Pokémon can be valuable for damage, and once purified, you can’t go back.
Practical advice
If you’re unsure, keep it Shadow and decide later. Waiting is safe.
Common Mistakes That Make Giovanni Feel Harder Than He Is
Mistake 1: Using slow charged moves into shields
If you throw a giant move first, Giovanni shields it and you lose momentum.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the instant swap stun
That free stun window at the start is one of the easiest ways to improve win rate without powering anything up.
Mistake 3: Not recognizing slot 2 quickly
Slot 2 decides your swap. Hesitation costs HP and energy.
Mistake 4: Bringing no Ice for Landorus
You can win without Ice sometimes, but Ice makes the fight dramatically easier because Landorus is double-weak to it.
Mistake 5: Over-dodging
Dodging can help, but constant dodging reduces your fast-move pressure. In Rocket battles, pressure and stun windows usually matter more.
Mistake 6: Fighting Giovanni with half-healed teams
Giovanni battles are not “warm-up fights.” Start fully healed so you don’t lose to avoidable attrition.
BoostRoom: Beat Giovanni Faster With a Personalized Counter Plan
If Giovanni keeps beating you (or you win, but it feels messy), BoostRoom can turn this into a clean repeatable win.
How BoostRoom helps with Giovanni
Personal team building: A winning Giovanni team based on what you actually own right now (no unrealistic “must have” lists).
Move optimization: What to TM and what to leave alone so you don’t waste resources.
Role-based swaps: Exact “if you see Rhyperior do this / if you see Nidoking do that” instructions tailored to your roster.
Resource protection: Help you avoid Stardust traps and build only what increases win rate.
Rocket routine planning: How to time balloons, radars, and event windows so Rocket progress is fast and efficient.
FAQ
What are the best Giovanni counters ?
For June 2026, the most reliable core is a Fighting shield breaker for Shadow Persian, a Water/Ground controller for slot 2, and a strong Ice attacker for Shadow Landorus.
What is the best team to beat Giovanni ?
Lucario (Power-Up Punch), Swampert (Hydro Cannon), and Mamoswine (Avalanche) is one of the most consistent teams because it covers every possible slot 2 and deletes Landorus.
What is Giovanni’s lineup this month?
In June 2026 Giovanni uses Shadow Persian first, then Shadow Rhyperior or Shadow Nidoking or Shadow Kangaskhan, and finishes with Shadow Landorus (Incarnate Forme).
How do I beat Shadow Persian fast?
Use a fast-charging Fighting type like Lucario, Machamp, or Poliwrath. Throw cheap charged moves early to burn Giovanni’s shields and create stun windows.
What should I do if Giovanni’s second Pokémon is Nidoking?
Swap into Swampert or another strong Water attacker and keep charged move pressure high. Swampert is one of the safest answers because it’s fast and stable.
