How to Beat Giovanni in Pokemon GO (Giratina Weakness and Counters)

Giovanni’s Pokemon GO team is constantly evolving, with each passing month bringing a new Pokemon or two to his lineup. The latest addition is Shadow Giratina, which was introduced as part of the Delightful Days: Taken Over event and will serve as the third and final Pokemon in the Team GO Rocket leader’s lineup.

Naturally, many Pokemon GO players will be keen to find out Giratina’s weakness so that they can prepare the best possible counters. This guide will offer a few different suggestions, while also going over which Pokemon players should bring with them to deal with the other two members of Giovanni’s current team.

What are Shadow Giratina’s Weaknesses in Pokemon GO?

As a Ghost/Dragon-type Pokemon, Giratina is weak against Dark, Dragon, Fairy, Ghost, and Ice-type attacks. With this in mind, players will want to counter it using Pokemon like Dragonite, Kyurem, and Mamoswine, with Dazzling Gleam Gardevoir also offering a solid option for those with limited options in the Dragon and Ice-type departments. Of course, players will also need to think carefully about how to counter the other two members of Giovanni’s current lineup, which includes Shadow Persian and one of three other potential Pokemon.

Giovanni’s Delightful Days: Taken Over Lineup

The Best Giovanni Counters for August 2025

A strong Fighting-type Pokemon is a must for tackling Giovanni’s team, as three of the five Pokemon that players could potentially find themselves up against (Persian, Kangaskhan, and Rhyperior) are weak against Fighting-type moves. With this in mind, players should bring Machamp, Lucario, or Terrakion as their first Pokemon if they have access to them.

Next up, players will want to choose a decent Water-type Pokemon, as this will be useful in the event that Giovanni throws out Nidoking as his second Pokemon. We recommend Primarina, Kyogre, or Swampert, although there are plenty of other viable options here. As an added bonus, the Pokemon mentioned above can also be used against Rhyperior if needed.

Last but not least is Shadow Giratina, who, as we mentioned above, is best countered using a Dragon or Ice-Type Pokemon. Where possible, players should round out their team with either Dragonite, Kyurem, or Mamoswine. Of course, any hard-hitting Pokemon that can target Giratina’s weakness should be able to get the job done.

The Best Team to Beat Giovanni’s Current Lineup in Pokemon GO

Can Shadow Giratina be Shiny?

Unfortunately, the Shadow Giratina that players get after defeating Giovanni cannot be shiny.