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Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni is back again in Pokémon GO for August 2025, bringing a powerful lineup that trainers need to be prepared for. He’s the toughest AI opponent in the game, but with the right Pokémon, you can still defeat him.
In Pokémon GO, you’ll battle against the Team GO Rocket Leaders Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff, along with the Grunts and Giovanni himself. After you defeat all three Leaders, Giovanni will start appearing at PokéStops and in GO Rocket Balloons. His Pokémon are high CP and are Shadow Pokémon, making them even stronger. If you don’t choose your counters carefully, he can quickly take down your team.
Giovanni’s Lineup & Counters (August 2025)
His team usually changes, but for August 2025, he’s sticking with the same five Pokémon he used in July. He’ll always start with a Normal-type Persian, but the second Pokémon will vary each time — it could be Kangaskhan, Nidoking, or Rhyperior. His final Pokémon remains the same: Dialga.
Here’s a quick look at his team and the best counters:
| Wave | Pokémon | Weaknesses | Best Counters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shadow Persian (Normal) | Fighting | Lucario, Machamp, Terrakion, Heracross |
| 2 | Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground) | Ground, Ice, Psychic, Water | Groudon, Garchomp, Mamoswine, Mewtwo |
| 2 | Shadow Kangaskhan (Normal) | Fighting | Lucario, Machamp, Terrakion, Heracross |
| 2 | Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground) | Ground, Water, Ice, Fighting, Grass, Steel | Lucario, Machamp, Groudon, Garchomp |
| 3 | Shadow Dialga (Dragon/Steel) | Fighting, Ground | Lucario, Machamp, Groudon, Garchomp |
Best Team to Beat Giovanni
To stand the best chance, use Pokémon that are strong against all his options. A solid team includes:
- Lucario
- Machamp
- Groudon
Lucario and Machamp are two of the strongest Fighting Pokémon in the game and are super effective against four of Giovanni’s Pokémon, including Persian and Dialga. Using two Fighting types gives you flexibility, allowing you to swap them if one gets too damaged. Since Fighting types aren’t effective against Nidoking, including Groudon as backup is a smart move.
August is a great time to challenge Giovanni ahead of the biggest event in Pokémon GO’s history happening this month.
Rewards for Defeating Giovanni (August 2025)
Every time you beat Giovanni, you’ll earn various rewards:
- 5,000 Stardust (to boost your Pokémon’s CP)
- Possible items like Max Revives, Revives, Max Potions, Potions, or an Unova Stone
The highlight is always the chance to encounter the Shadow Form of the Legendary Dialga. Catching it can be tough, but using Golden Berries and timing your throws carefully will increase your chances.
To succeed against Giovanni in August 2025, remember to bring a strong team like Machamp, Lucario, and Groudon. Good luck!
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