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@ Erna
2025-04-26 20:38:30So , you've battles through your way through countless Grunts , overcome the Team GO Rocket Leaders, and now you stand face to face with the big boss him self - Giovanni!
As of April 2025 , Giovanni is finishing his battles with Shadow Palkia.
Giovanni's Current Lineup (April 2025) First, know your enemy. Giovanni's team follows this structure:
Slot 1: Shadow Persian (Normal)
Slot 2: One of these three, chosen randomly:
Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground) Shadow Kingdra (Water/Dragon) Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground)
Slot 3: Shadow Palkia (Water/Dragon) Remember, these are Shadow Pokémon – they hit harder than their normal counterparts!
Counter Strategy: Beating Giovanni Pokémon by Pokémon
Let's dive into the best counters for each potential opponent:
- Vs. Shadow Persian (Normal)
Giovanni always leads with Persian. As a Normal-type, it's weak only to Fighting-type attacks.
Top Counters: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Mega Blaziken, Mega Lucario.
Moves: Prioritize Fighting-type moves like Counter, Dynamic Punch, Aura Sphere, and Sacred Sword.
Tip: Lead with a strong Fighting-type. Moves like Lucario's Power-Up Punch or Machamp's Cross Chop charge quickly and are great for baiting Giovanni's shields early!
- Vs. The Second Slot (Nidoking, Kingdra, or Rhyperior)
This is where things get unpredictable. You need Pokémon that can handle these potential threats:
Vs. Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground): Weak to Water, Ground, Ice, Psychic.
Counters: Kyogre (Primal/Shadow), Swampert (Mega), Groudon (Primal/Shadow), Mewtwo (Shadow), Excadrill. Water and Ground-types are prime choices.
Vs. Shadow Kingdra (Water/Dragon): Weak to Fairy, Dragon. Counters: Gardevoir (Mega), Togekiss, Xerneas. Fairy-types are excellent as they resist Dragon attacks while dealing super-effective damage. Dragon-types like Rayquaza or Palkia work but are risky.
Vs. Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground): Double weak to Water and Grass! Also weak to Fighting, Ground, Ice, Steel.
Counters: Kyogre (Primal/Shadow), Swampert (Mega), Sceptile (Mega), Roserade. Your Fighting-type lead (if it survived Persian) can also do significant damage. Hit it hard with Water or Grass!
- Vs. Shadow Palkia (Water/Dragon)
Giovanni's final Pokémon is the powerful Shadow Palkia. Like Kingdra, it's weak to Fairy and Dragon types.
Top Counters: Gardevoir (Mega), Togekiss, Xerneas. Again, Fairy-types are the safest and most reliable counters.
Dragon Counters (Use with Caution): Rayquaza (Mega), Palkia (Origin Forme), Dragonite, Dialga (Origin Forme).
Recommended Battle Teams for April 2025 Based on the counters, here are a few effective teams you can assemble:
Team 1 (Balanced):
Machamp (Counter / Cross Chop & Dynamic Punch)
Swampert (Mud Shot / Hydro Cannon & Earthquake)
Togekiss (Charm / Dazzling Gleam & Ancient Power)
Why it works: Covers all bases well with accessible Pokémon. Machamp handles Persian/shields, Swampert crushes Rhyperior/Nidoking, Togekiss tackles Kingdra/Palkia.
Team 2 (Legendary Power):
Lucario (Counter / Power-Up Punch & Aura Sphere)
Kyogre (Waterfall / Origin Pulse & Surf)
Xerneas (Geomancy / Moonblast & Close Combat)
Why it works: High-powered options. Lucario baits shields effectively, Kyogre dominates slot two's Ground/Rock types, Xerneas shreds the Dragons.
Team 3 (Mega Advantage):
Machamp (Counter / Cross Chop & DP)
Kyogre (Waterfall / Origin Pulse)
Mega Gardevoir (Charm / Dazzling Gleam & Shadow Ball)
Why it works: Uses a standard strong lead and mid-game counter, saving the Mega slot for Gardevoir to ensure a powerful finish against Palkia/Kingdra.
Essential Battle Tips Don't forget these crucial tactics:
The Switch Trick: Place your intended starting Pokémon (e.g., Machamp) in the second or third slot. Start the battle, then immediately switch to it. Giovanni will pause for a moment, letting you get in free hits!
Bait Those Shields: Use Pokémon with fast-charging Charged Moves, especially early on, to force Giovanni to waste his Protect Shields.
Power Up: Ensure your team is powered up significantly and consider unlocking second Charged Moves for better flexibility.
Don't Give Up: Giovanni is tough! It might take a few tries to get the right matchup against his second Pokémon. Learn from each attempt and adjust your team if needed.
Go show the boss who's the boss and claim your shadow Palkia . Good Luck, Trainer !