For Giovanni’s April 2024 encounter, build around a Fighting-type counter for Persian, then choose the rest of your team based on the Pokémon Giovanni actually sends out. Niantic identified Shadow Groudon as the featured Shadow Pokémon for this period. A contemporaneous counter guide’s claimed final-slot lineup conflicts with that official announcement, so it should not be treated as a verified April roster.
What to expect from Giovanni in April 2024
Niantic’s March 13, 2024 announcement said the World of Wonders: Taken Over event ran from March 27 through March 31, 2024, local time. Its Special Research offered a Super Rocket Radar so players could find Giovanni and pursue Shadow Groudon. The research could be claimed through June 1, 2024, at 9:59 a.m. local time; that was a historical deadline, not an ongoing availability date. Niantic’s event announcement
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Niantic’s announcement establishes Shadow Groudon as the featured encounter, but it does not list every Pokémon Giovanni could use in the battle. An April 4 counter guide names Shadow Registeel as the final Pokémon, which conflicts with Niantic’s identification of Shadow Groudon. Do not rely on that guide’s complete lineup as authoritative for this encounter. Pro Game Guides’ April 4 counter guide
How to counter Persian
The April counter guide describes Persian as Giovanni’s usual lead and recommends Fighting-type attacks. Its suggested Pokémon and moves are source-reported options, not a guarantee of victory or the result of firsthand testing.
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| Pokémon | Suggested moves |
|---|---|
| Lucario | Counter and Aura Sphere |
| Machamp | Counter and Cross Chop |
| Conkeldurr | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
| Hariyama | Counter and Dynamic Punch |
| Blaziken | Counter and Focus Blast |
Choose among the available options by checking that the Pokémon has a useful Fighting-type attack and can contribute to another matchup if needed. The cited guide gives these recommendations but does not establish one universally best choice.
How to choose counters for the rest of the battle
The reliable April evidence here does not establish a complete middle-slot pool. Rather than building around an unverified roster, inspect the opponent Giovanni actually uses and select a Pokémon with attacks that exploit its type weaknesses. Favor coverage that remains useful against more than one possible matchup, but adjust if the battle shows a different opponent than expected.
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- Start with Persian: bring a Fighting-type attacker such as one of the guide’s listed options.
- Use the battle to identify the next matchup: check the opposing Pokémon and respond with a counter suited to its weaknesses.
- Keep the final slot flexible: plan for Niantic’s featured Shadow Groudon, but do not treat the conflicting guide lineup as proof of Giovanni’s exact roster in every encounter.
Getting the Super Rocket Radar
Niantic said players could progress through the World of Wonders: Taken Over Special Research to receive a Super Rocket Radar and chase Giovanni. The Pokémon GO Help Center describes Giovanni as Team GO Rocket’s boss and says defeating him leads to an encounter with a rare, powerful Shadow Pokémon. Pokémon GO Help Center: Who is Giovanni?
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