Giovanni, the leader of Team OG Rocket, has returned in December with a challenging lineup featuring the powerful shadow Heatran.
Lineup for December
Giovanni’s team consists of three Pokemon: the first one is Persian, Nidoking, Machamp, or Gatchomp, and the final Pokemon is Shadow Heatran. Each of these Pokemon has unique challenges that require different counters to overcome them.
Counters and Weaknesses
Persian
It is a normal Pokemon, and it is a signature opener. It moves quickly, so in order to defeat it and keep your shields intact, you must prioritize a powerful fighting Pokemon.
Counters
- Lucario
- Conkeldurr
- Machamp
Nidoking
It is a classic Pokemon from the first generation of Pokemon games; it is a reliable poison/ground type of Pokemon.
Nidoking dual Poison and ground typing gives it several resistances and vulnerabilities; it is resistant to Fighting, poison, rock, bug, fairy, and electric Its weaknesses are water, ice, ground, and psychic.
Counter
- Rhyperior
- Kingler
- Gardevior
Shadow Heatran
The latest addition to the Shadow Pokemon roster, with its power and stats, Shadow Heatran can dominate in both PvE and PvP scenarios
It is a fire/steel type Pokemon that offers notable resistances and vulnerabilities; it is resistant to bugs, fairy, grass, ice, poison, steel, dragon, psychic, and normal.
Its weaknesses are water, fighting, and ground.
Counter
- Kyogre
- Groundon
- Swampert
How To Find Giovanni In Pokemon Go
The only way to find Giovanni is to make your way through a Team Go Rocket special research quest. Like Shadowy Skirmishes, you can claim these quests after you reach Level 8.
The special request quests require you to defeat multiple Grunts and individual leaders like Cliff, Sierra, and Arlo. After completing, you will be given a Super Rocket Rader.
How To Get A Team Rocket Special Research Quest
Getting Team Rocket Special is a bit challenging. You have to complete a series of Team Rocket Special event quests to get there; you also have to have quests in the first place.
New players need to look out for the next Pokemon Go Team Rocket event. Which will allow players to start the most recent special research quests that reward trainers with a Giovanni encounter.
If you are an existing player, you need to check your special research quests for any of the following paths.
- Looming in the Shadows
- A Challenging Development
- The Take-Over Continues
- A Professor’s Work is Never Done
- The Shadowy Threat Grows
- An Inter-egg-sting Development
- The Higher They Fly
- A Seven-Colored Shadow
- Silent Schemes
- Field Notes: Team GO Rocket
- Ultra Beast Protection Efforts
- Shadowy Skirmishes
- From the Shadows
- A Shadowy Disturbance
- Showdown in the Shadows
- It’s a Rocket World
- Adventure Week: Taken Over