From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.

Giovanni (Japanese: サカキ Sakaki) is the head of Team GO Rocket in Pokémon GO, based on the character of the same name in the core series.

Giovanni can only be found if the player currently has a Super Rocket Radar equipped. When activated, the Super Rocket Radar will reveal all the nearby PokéStops where Giovanni's headquarters can potentially be located. However, there is a high chance that the PokéStop uncovered will be occupied by a Decoy Grunt disguised as Giovanni instead. Additionally, equipping the Super Rocket Radar guarantees that the real Giovanni will appear in the next Team GO Rocket balloon. If the real Giovanni is located, he will challenge the player to battle. Defeating the real Giovanni consumes the Super Rocket Radar.

From May 27 to May 28, 2023, Giovanni began appearing at Gyms, taking them over in five-star Shadow Raids using Shadow Mewtwo. Defeating him allowed players to capture Shadow Mewtwo in the bonus challenge, with a possibility of it being Shiny.

Pokémon

Trainer Battles

Giovanni uses a team of three Shadow Pokémon in a Trainer Battle, each independently and randomly selected from separate pools. During battle, Giovanni will always use a Protect Shield whenever possible. Upon being defeated, Giovanni will abandon one of the Shadow Pokémon used in battle. Shadow Pokémon left by Giovanni that are not from raids are guaranteed capture on the first Premier Ball that hits. Since July 2020, Shadow Pokémon from Giovanni are guaranteed at least 6 IVs (out of the maximum 15) across all stats.

Initially, the Shadow Legendary Pokémon Giovanni uses changed on the first of each month.[1] However, starting April 2020, the rotation schedule was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following lists Giovanni's possible Pokémon since March 27, 2024. Green-colored cells denote the Pokémon that will be encountered during the bonus challenge.

For a historic list of Giovanni's past Pokémon teams, see Giovanni (GO)/Pokémon change history.

Shadow Raids

Giovanni has appeared in five-star Shadow Raids on weekends during specific in-game events.

Rewards

Upon defeating Giovanni, the player will be rewarded the following prize bundles:

Prior to July 2020, defeating Giovanni also rewarded the following:

Quotes

Main article: Giovanni/Quotes → Pokémon GO

Gallery

Photobombs

Trivia

  • Giovanni debuted in Pokémon GO as a GO Snapshot photobomb at Pokémon GO Fest in Yokohama.
  • The teaser trailer for the debut of Team GO Rocket in GO contains the line "Earth is where I shall unleash my evil schemes next!" This is a reference to Giovanni's final line in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, in which he ponders "Now...what new world shall I unleash my evil schemes upon...?" before warping away from Aether Paradise.
  • Up until March 2023, every non-Legendary Shadow Pokémon used by Giovanni in Pokémon GO was based on a Pokémon he owned in either a core series game or the anime.
    • Steelix is a species here that Giovanni does not have in either media. Instead, Giovanni uses its pre-evolution, Onix, in Generations I and III.
    • Kingdra was included in Giovanni's set on March 25, 2023. None of its evolutionary relatives were used by Giovanni in other media.

References

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