Giovanni
Boss of Team GO Rocket. Beat his rotating Shadow Legendary lineup for one of the rarest catches in Pokémon GO.
Boss briefing
Why every Giovanni encounter is high-leverage
The catch at the end of the fight is the entire reason to chase him. A 6/6/6 IV floor, a 1-in-1,000 Shiny rate, and the cleanest hundo math in the game.
Level 8
Shadow Legendary catch level
Level 13 when weather boosted, the same as any Team GO Rocket catch
6 / 6 / 6
IV floor on the encounter
Minimum 6 in every IV. 13/13/13 or better purifies to a hundo
~1 / 1,000
Shiny rate
Boosted ×4 above the standard 1/4,096 baseline
How to find him
The Special Research → Super Rocket Radar pipeline
Giovanni is gated by the seasonal Special Research questline. Each step funnels you toward equipping the Super Rocket Radar that finally reveals him.
Special Research
This season's rotating questline (often Looming in the Shadows or a variant). Defeat Grunts, defeat the three Leaders, then craft the Super Rocket Radar.
Super Rocket Radar
Equip it. Every Rocket balloon and most invaded PokéStops show a Giovanni pin. The radar burns on first encounter.
Decoys
Most encounters are Grunts impersonating Giovanni. Real Giovanni always leads Persian and finishes with a Shadow Legendary.
The catch
Win the fight. The Shadow Legendary appears in a catch screen at level 8, or level 13 when weather boosted, with a 6/6/6 IV floor.
Current lineup
Giovanni's team right now
Pulled live from the dittobase CMS. Last verified Oct 2, 2026. Each slot lists the possible Pokémon Niantic is currently rotating into Giovanni's team.
Giovanni·Rocket Boss“I will not tolerate your interference.”
Persian
Machamp
Kangaskhan
Rhyperior
Zekrom
The fight
Giovanni's three slots
Slot 1 is fixed. Slot 2 rotates. Slot 3 is the Shadow Legendary you're after. Counter the locked slot first, then save resources for the prize.
Slot 1
Persian
Always Persian. Counter with Fighting (Mega Lucario, Conkeldurr, Terrakion). Save shields for its Frustration. Chip damage is significant.
Slot 2
Rotating mid
One of three possibilities, all heavy hitters. Recent rotations: Nidoking, Garchomp, Rhyperior, Kingler. Bring a flexible second team.
Slot 3
Shadow Legendary
The encounter. Exact Pokémon changes with the season. Shield baits matter. See the live lineup for the current rotation.
For the live matchup and best counters, see the full Rocket lineups page.
Battle tips
How to beat him in fewer attempts
Decoys still cost potions. Stretch your radars by going in with a clean plan.
Lead with a Persian counter
Mega Lucario or Conkeldurr can bait two shields off Persian alone, opening a clean read on slots 2 and 3.
Bring two diverse teams
Slot 2 is unpredictable. A Ground team that wrecks Persian and Nidoking might fold to a Water-type in slot 2.
Save shields for the Shadow Legendary
Slot 3 Charged Moves usually one-shot if unshielded. Keep at least one shield for the prize.
Heal between attempts
Decoys still cost potions and revives. Stock up before chaining radars.
How Giovanni stacks up
Compared to other Rocket sources
Same hundo math as a Shadow Raid and far better than a Leader, but Giovanni is the only consistent source for the season's Shadow Legendary.
Grunt
Free, common
0/0/0
IV floor
Cheapest Shadow encounter, weakest IV floor.
Leader
1 Rocket Radar per fight
0/0/0
IV floor (level 8 / 13)
Required step on the path to Giovanni.
Giovanni
1 Super Rocket Radar per fight
6/6/6
IV floor (level 8 / 13)
Shadow Legendary at level 8. The hundo lottery.
Shadow Raid
Monthly boss rotation
6/6/6
IV floor (level 20 / 25)
Alternative source for non-Giovanni Shadow Legendaries.
Shadow Legendary rotation
Who Giovanni has hosted
Niantic introduced Shadow Giovanni encounters with the legendary birds and has cycled through most of the marquee Legendaries since. The rotation isn't strictly chronological, and a few have made repeat appearances.
Kanto
Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Mewtwo
Johto
Raikou, Entei, Suicune, Ho-Oh, Lugia
Hoenn / Sinnoh
Latias, Latios, Kyogre, Groudon, Dialga, Palkia
Regis & Lake Trio
Regirock, Regice, Registeel, Mesprit, Azelf, Uxie
FAQ
Common Giovanni questions
How often does Giovanni appear?
Roughly every two to four months, tied to a seasonal Special Research drop. He stays available until the next rotation begins.
Can I battle Giovanni without finishing the Special Research?
No. The Super Rocket Radar is gated behind the research, and only that radar reveals him.
Is Giovanni's Shadow Legendary always Shiny-eligible?
If a Shiny version exists in the game, yes, and the rate is around 1 in 1,000.
Should I purify my Shadow Legendary?
Only if it is a 13/13/13 (which becomes a 15/15/15 hundo) and you do not need a second Shadow attacker of that species.
