The fight against Team GO Rocket continues inPokemon GOthis 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 inPokemon 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 inPokemon GO, and he has a new roster for July 2021. In order todefeat the Team GO Rocket bossand 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 isPersian, a Normal-type cat Pokemonwith access to Dark moves. Like all Normal-types, Persian is extremely weak to Fighting Moves. Therefore, trainers should verify to bring a strong Fighting-type:
Best Persian Counters
The other guaranteed Pokemon used by Giovanni in July is hisShadow 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
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 defeatGiovanni inPokemon GOis an Ice-type:
Best Garchomp Counters
Best Nidoking Counters
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 playerstake down the Team GO Rocket Leaderand secure their own Shadow Ho-Oh.
Pokemon GOis available on Android and iOS.
