Pokémon GO: How to Beat Giovanni (February 2023)

Giovanni, the mastermind of Team GO Rocket, is back in February 2023, equipped with his Shadow Registeel Team that will be the bane of many Pokémon GO Trainers. Unlike his subordinates, Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo, Giovanni cannot be found using a Rocket Radar. Instead, you need to acquire a Super Rocket Radar, which can only be obtained as a reward from Team GO Rocket Special Research, during which players are tasked with defeating all three Leaders. Once this requirement has been fulfilled, the “Boss” will emerge from the shadows and challenge Trainers with the toughest boss fight in Pokémon GO.

Best Counters for Giovanni in February 2023 of Pokémon GO

In Phase 1, you can always expect to face Giovanni’s Persian, the Classy Cat Pokémon he cannot bear to part with. However, things change up in Phase 2, with Nidoking, Cloyster, or Garchomp as Giovanni’s second contender for his February 2023 lineup in Pokémon GO. Finally, the boss battle finale involves fighting the powerful and corrupted Legendary — Shadow Registeel.

Pokémon GO: How to Beat Cliff (February 2023)

Here is an index of the top counters recommended by Pokebatter for each of Giovanni’s combatants featured in February 2023 of Pokémon GO:

Giovanni’s Pokémon	Weaknesses	Best Counter & Movesets
Persian	Fighting	Terrakion – Fast Move: Double Kick \| Charge Move: Sacred Sword Keldeo – Fast Move: Low Kick \| Charge Move: Sacred Sword Lucario – Fast Move: Counter \| Charge Move: Aura Sphere
Nidoking	Ground, Water, Psychic, & Ice	Mewtwo – Fast Move: Confusion \| Charge Move: Psystrike Mamoswine – Fast Move: Mud-Slap \| Charge Move: Avalanche Espeon – Fast Move: Confusion \| Charge Move: Psychic
Cloyster	Fighting, Rock, Grass, & Electric	Terrakion – Fast Move: Double Kick \| Charge Move: Sacred Sword Keldeo – Fast Move: Low Kick \| Charge Move: Sacred Sword Lucario – Fast Move: Counter \| Charge Move: Aura Sphere
Garchomp	Ice, Drago, & Fairy	Mamoswine – Fast Move: Powder Snow \| Charge Move: Avalanche Kyurem – Fast Move: Dragon Breathe \| Charge Move: Glaciate Galarian Darmanitan – Fast Move: Ice Fang \| Charge Move: Avalanche
Shadow Registeel	Fighting, Ground, & Fire	Reshiram – Fast Move: Fire Fang \| Charge Move: Fusion Flare Terrakion – Fast Move: Double Kick \| Charge Move: Sacred Sword Chandelure – Fast Move: Fire Spin \| Charge Move: Overheat

If you are aiming to form a specific team to counter Giovanni in February 2023 of Pokémon GO, Pokémon GO YouTuber DrKendo suggests using one of the two teams below, depending on whether you own the rare Legendaries:

Pokémon	Best Movesets	Legendary Pokémon	Best Movesets
Galarian Stunfisk	Fast Move: Mud Shot Charge Move: Muddy Water	Terrakion	Fast Move: Double Kick Charge Move: Sacred Sword
Melmetal	Fast Move: Thunder Shock Charge Move: Rock Slide	Cobalion	Fast Move: Double Kick Charge Move: Sacred Sword
Excadrill	Fast Move: Mud-Slap Charge Move: Earthquake	Heatran	Fast Move: Fire Spin Charge Move: Flamethrower