Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025: Lineup, how to beat, and counters

Defeating Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025's team requires in-depth knowledge of its counters. His current ace is the Pokemon Pearl mascot, Palkia. The Season of Might and Mastery will likely host a GO Rocket Takeover event, meaning changes to the leaders' and the boss' Pokemon.

To find the best Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025's counters in your collection, use these search strings:

• Fighting&@Fighting&cp2000-
• Fairy&@Fighting&cp2000-

You can check out the other GO Rocket Leader guides:

• Sierra: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Cliff: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Arlo: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters

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Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025 team lineup

Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025 team (Image via TPC)

You will find Giovanni sporting the following lineup after the Fashion Week Taken Over event:

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Shadow Persian	Shadow Rhyperior	Shadow Palkia
	Shadow Kingdra
	Shadow Nidoking

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How to beat the Pokemon GO Giovanni team in Pokemon GO

To defeat Giovanni's April 2025 team, utilize a Fighting-type, a Fairy-type, and a Water-type. There are no apparent threats from the team. Just make sure to bait out both shields while Persian is on the field.

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Best team to defeat Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025

Fashion Week Taken Over introduces Shadow Palkia (Image via TPC)

The following is the best team to counter Giovanni in April 2025:

• Mega or Shadow Gallade with Charm and Leaf Blade + Close Combat
• Swampert with Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon and Earthquake
• Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam + Triple Axel

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Best counters to Pokemon GO Giovanni April 2025

If you don't have access to the critters mentioned above, try using some of the critters from this list:

• Mega Lucario with Force Palm and Aura Sphere
• Mega Heracross with Counter and Close Combat
• Mega Blaziken with Counter and Focus Blast
• Terrakion with Double Kick and Sacred Sword
• Keldeo with Low Kick and Sacred Sword
• Shadow Conkeldurr with Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Incarnate Forme Enamorus with Fairy Wind and Dazzling Gleam
• Tapu Lele with Astonish and Nature's Madness
• Zacian with Snarl and Play Rough
• Xerneas with Geomancy and Moonblast

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Check out our other Pokemon GO guides:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy Evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Pokemon Type Calculator