In Pokémon GO you can defeat the Rocket Boss Giovanni with Crypto-Dialga. We will show you which team he will use and which counters are best for you in this guide on MeinMMO.
Who is Giovanni? Giovanni is the big Rocket Boss who pulls the strings underground for Team GO Rocket. From time to time, you can challenge him in Pokémon GO and get his legendary Crypto-Pokémon.
To do this, you need the so-called Super Rocket Radar, which allows you to track down the scoundrel. We have summarized what his current team looks like below.
Rocket Boss Giovanni – Current Team in May 2025
In battles, Giovanni can once again use three different monsters against you as usual. He can choose from 5 different Crypto-Pokémon.
| First Pokémon | Snobilikat |
| Second Pokémon | Kangama Rihornior Nidoking |
| Third Pokémon | Dialga |
By clicking on the links in the previous table, you will be shown the best counters against Giovanni’s team directly.
The Best Counters to Defeat Giovanni
To defeat Giovanni quickly, you should use the right counters. Below we have summarized strong counters against the boss for you.
Defeating Snobilikat – Best Counters Against the 1st Pokémon
First, Giovanni will use his beloved Snobilikat. You should use fighting-type Pokémon against the Normal-type Pokémon. For example:
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| Lucario | Power Wave and Aura Sphere |
| (Crypto-)Meistagrif | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
| Terrakium | Double Kick and Sacred Sword |
| Keldeo | Low Kick and Sacred Sword |
| (Crypto-)Machomei | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
Alternatively, you can also use your Mega Evolutions against Snobilikat:
- Mega-Lucario with Power Wave and Aura Sphere
- Mega-Lohgock with Counter and Focus Blast
- Mega-Skaraborn with Counter and Close Combat
Defeating Kangama, Rihornior and Nidoking – Best Counters Against the 2nd Pokémon
In second position, Giovanni can choose from a total of three different monsters: Kangama, Rihornior, and Nidoking. Which of the three Pokémon Giovanni will use in battle is random.
How to Defeat Kangama: Kangama is a Normal-type Pokémon from the first generation of games and still has a Mega Evolution. Due to its type, it is weak against fighting-type attacks.
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| (Crypto-)Machomei | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
| Terrakium | Double Kick and Sacred Sword |
| (Crypto-)Meistagrif | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
| Masskito | Counter and Power Whip |
| Quappo | Counter and Power Whip |
Additionally, you can rely on the following Mega Evolutions against Kangama:
- Mega-Lucario with Power Wave and Aura Sphere
How to Defeat Rihornior: The ground and rock-type Pokémon has a double weakness against attacks from water and plant types. It is also weak against ice, fighting, ground, and steel.
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| (Crypto-)Kyogre | Waterfall and Origin Wave |
| (Crypto-)Sumpex | Water Gun and Hydro Pump |
| Katagami | Leaf Blade and Leaf Tornado |
| (Crypto-)Bisaflor | Vine Whip and Flora Statue |
| (Crypto-)Tangoloss | Vine Whip and Leaf Tornado |
For Mega Evolutions, you can rely on the following counters:
- Proto-Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Wave
- Mega-Sumpex with Water Gun and Hydro Pump
- Mega-Gewaldro with Seed Bomb and Flora Statue
- Mega-Bisaflor with Vine Whip and Flora Statue
How to Defeat Nidoking: Nidoking is a poison and ground-type Pokémon, so you should use water, ice, ground, and psychic.
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| (Crypto-)Mewtwo | Psychic Blade and Psystrike |
| (Crypto-)Kyogre | Waterfall and Origin Wave |
| (Crypto-)Groudon | Mud Shot and Precipice Blades |
| (Crypto-)Sumpex | Mud Shot and Hydro Pump |
| Demeteros (Therian Form) | Mud Shot and Desert Hurricane |
Use the following Mega Evolutions against Nidoking:
- Proto-Groudon with Mud Shot and Precipice Blades
- Proto-Kyogre with Waterfall and Origin Wave
- Mega-Sumpex with Mud Shot and Hydro Pump
- Mega-Knakrack with Mud Shot and Earth Power
Defeating Crypto-Dialga – Best Counters Against the 3rd Pokémon
Since May 14, Giovanni has Crypto-Dialga on his team. He will definitely use this last. It is a legendary Pokémon of steel and dragon type. Therefore, you should focus on fighting and ground-type attacks.
| Pokémon | Moveset |
| (Crypto-)Knakrack | Mud Shot and Earth Power |
| (Crypto-)Groudon | Mud Shot and Precipice Blades |
| (Crypto-)Stalobor | Mud Shot and Drill Run |
| (Crypto-)Sumpex | Mud Shot and Earthquake |
| Terrakium | Double Kick and Sacred Sword |
Moreover, the following Mega Evolutions work well against Dialga:
- Proto-Groudon with ground attacks
- Mega-Lucario with fighting attacks
- Mega-Knakrack with ground attacks
- Mega-Sumpex with ground attacks
How to Find Giovanni?
If you want to battle the big Rocket Boss Giovanni, you need a special radar: the Super Rocket Radar. To secure this, Niantic periodically provides you with certain special research tasks.
You need to complete these, and as a reward, you receive a Super Rocket Radar with which you can finally track down Giovanni. But the way there is not easy, as you first have to get past the thugs and the other Rocket bosses Arlo, Sierra, and Cliff.
We will show you how to find Giovanni and the other Rocket bosses in Pokémon GO in the following video:
Is it Worth Fighting Giovanni?
Like every other member of Team GO Rocket, you will also receive various rewards from Giovanni after a victorious battle, such as items or stardust. But that’s not all, as you can also look forward to a meeting with a Crypto-Pokémon. Since May 14, 2025, it is the legendary Crypto-Pokémon Dialga.
Additionally, Giovanni has a special 12-km egg for you. These eggs can only be obtained from the Rocket bosses, making them correspondingly more difficult to acquire. Which monsters are in the 12-km eggs, we show you in our associated article. Which monsters do you prefer to use in battles against Giovanni? Feel free to tell us here on MeinMMO in the comments.
