The fight against Team GO Rocket continues in Pokemon GO this July, with new challenges for players to overcome. In order to take the battle to the notorious gang, players must collect Mysterious Components from Grunts and construct a Pocket Radar. This will allow them to track down and challenge the Leaders of Team GO Rocket in Pokemon GO.
At the very top of the Team GO Rocket hierarchy is the big boss himself, Giovanni. Giovanni is one of the toughest trainers that players will face in Pokemon GO, and he has a new roster for July 2021. In order to defeat the Team GO Rocket boss and earn the chance to catch a Shadow Pokemon, players will need to bring the right team to counter him.
Persian and Shadow Ho-Oh
Giovanni brings three Pokemon to the fight in July 2021, two of which are guaranteed. The first guaranteed Pokemon is Persian, a Normal-type cat Pokemon with access to Dark moves. Like all Normal-types, Persian is extremely weak to Fighting Moves. Therefore, trainers should make sure to bring a strong Fighting-type:
Best Persian Counters
- Hariyama - Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Machamp - Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Lucario - Counter, Aura Sphere
- Blaziken - Counter, Focus Blast
- Conkeldurr - Counter, Dynamic Punch
The other guaranteed Pokemon used by Giovanni in July is his Shadow Ho-Oh, which he will put out last. As a Shadow Pokemon controlled by a NPC trainer, Giovanni's Ho-Oh is a glass cannon. This means getting the right type matchup is essential. Ho-Oh is a Fire/Flying-type, making it weak to Electric and Water, and extremely weak to Rock.
Best Ho-Oh Counters
- Golem - Rock Throw, Rock Wrecker
- Rhyperior - Smack Down, Rock Wrecker
- Tyranitar - Smack Down, Rock Slide
- Electivire - Thunder Shock, Wild Charge
- Omastar - Rock Throw, Water Pump
Kangaskhan, Garchomp, and Nidoking
Giovanni's second Pokemon pick in July 2021 can be either a Kangaskhan, Garchomp, or Nidoking. Of the three, Kangaskhan's Fighting-vulnerability is the easiest to counter, as players should already be bringing a Fighting-type to deal with Persian. Garchomp is a little more complicated, a Dragon/Ground-type with a weakness to Dragon, Fairy, and a major weakness to Ice. The final possibility, Nidoking, is also weak to Ice, along with Ground, Psychic, and Water.
This combo of weaknesses means that the smartest third pick to defeat Giovanni in Pokemon GO is an Ice-type:
Best Kangaskhan Counters
- Hariyama - Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Machamp - Counter, Dynamic Punch
- Lucario - Counter, Aura Sphere
- Blaziken - Counter, Focus Blast
- Conkeldurr - Counter, Dynamic Punch
Best Garchomp Counters
- Glaceon, Frost Breath, Avalanche
- Weavile - Ice Shard, Avalanche
- Mamoswine - Mud-Slap, Avalanche
- Galarian Darmanitan - Ice Fang, Avalanche
- Black Kyurem - Dragon Tail, Blizzard
Best Nidoking Counters
- Excadrill - Mud Shot, Earthquake
- Glaceon, Frost Breath, Avalanche
- Mewtwo - Confusion, Psystrike
- Weavile - Ice Shard, Avalanche
- Mamoswine - Mud-Slap, Avalanche
Summing up, the best team to take on Giovanni in 2021 consists of a Fighting-type, a Rock-type, and an Ice-type. Using these matchups should help players take down the Team GO Rocket Leader and secure their own Shadow Ho-Oh.
Pokemon GO is available on Android and iOS.