Published May 1, 2026, 9:00 AM EDT
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The Steeled Resolve: Taken Over event for Pokémon GO brings back Team Rocket, reshuffling the Pokémon on the teams of the criminal organization's leaders, including the elusive Giovanni. The captured Shadow Pokémon on Giovanni's team are tough opponents to beat, this can be worth the effort. With the changed team for May 2026, completing the right Research and countering Giovanni's Pokémon has plenty of unique rewards.
Available to start until May 4, 2026, players can start the GO Pass: Steeled Resolve Research to receive a Super Rocket Radar item. This tool leads you to many Giovanni impostors, eventually revealing the real leader. You'll have to defeat several other Team Rocket trainers and leaders with their own Shadow Pokémon in Pokémon GO to get to this point, which will help you understand the structure of Giovanni's battle.
Team Rocket Boss Giovanni Lineup & Counters (May 2026)
Plan To Take On The Last Of A Legendary Trio
Custom image by Katarina CimbaljevicThroughout the past Taken Over events, Giovanni has used many of the same Pokémon for his battles. The fight against Giovanni is organized into three waves, with the first and third wave always using the same Pokémon. Regardless of how many attempts you make to fight Giovanni, only his second wave has any variety, as the Team Rocket leader could throw out one of any three possible Pokémon from his roster.
The Shadow Pokémon on Giovanni's team deal more damage and have more health than their normal variants. This is also the case for Giovanni's final Pokémon, a Legendary that he has captured and forced to fight against its will. The table below goes over which Legendary Giovanni has taken over this time, as well as his other Pokémon and some good counters to use against them:
|
1 |
Shadow Persian (Normal) |
Fighting |
|
|
2 |
Shadow Kangaskhan (Normal) |
Fighting |
|
|
2 |
Shadow Nidoking (Poison/Ground) |
Ice, Psychic, Water, Ice, Ground |
|
|
2 |
Shadow Rhyperior (Rock/Ground) |
Ground, Water, Ice, Steel, Grass, Fighting |
|
|
3 |
Shadow Incarnate Forme Landorus (Ground/Flying) |
Ice, Water |
|
You don't always need to have the rarest Pokémon in Pokémon GO to take down Giovanni, but having at least one Mega Evolution or Legendary can go a long way to make this battle easier. That being said, a variety of teams can defeat the Team Rocket mastermind, no matter what you have at your disposal. Here is a good example team of counters that might give you ideas on how you can defeat Giovanni:
- Mamoswine
- Lucario
- Empoleon
Mamoswine is the perfect Pokémon for Giovanni's new team, especially the Incarnate Forme Landorus he has taken control of. The Ice and Ground-type attacks of this Pokémon are super-effective against Giovanni's Landorus, Rhyperior, and Nidoking, making it a counter for multiple options. Similarly, Lucario is great against Persian or Kangaskhan, especially if you have the right equipment to help it Mega Evolve.
Having an Empoleon is a great way to round out your team, giving you a Water/Steel-type to cover Giovanni's options with multiple team members. For example, you could use either Mamoswine or Empoleon against Landorus, or Empoleon and Lucario for Rhyperior. With each of your Pokémon covering each other in multiple ways, you can be prepared for any outcome.
Rewards For Beating Rocket Leader Giovanni (May 2026)
New Encounters And Items Prepare You For Future Battles
You get 5,000 Stardust right when you beat Giovanni, giving you plenty of in-game currency to spend on whatever you want. Yet, the biggest reward from the Giovanni battle is a chance to catch his Incarnate Forme Landorus, with the freed Pokémon presenting itself in an encounter right after you win. Giovanni's Landorus is an excellent Pokémon for anyone's collection, acting as a powerful Ground/Flying-type in Pokémon GO for future Raids or Gym battles.
Landorus marks the third and final Legendary from the Unova "Forces of Nature" trio that includes itself, Thundurus, and Tornadus. Players who have been challenging Giovanni across multiple events may have a chance in May 2026 to complete the trio by defeating the leader again.
Landorus isn't the only reward though, as players also earn three different item bundles, out of a set selection of possible drops. You could get three of the same type of bundle, stacking rewards for your victory over Team Rocket. At the same time, each item from these bundles is meant for battle, giving players a collection of tools to use for other battles later.
The item bundles players can receive include:
- 4x Revive
- 4x Max Revive
- 4x Hyper Potion
- 4x Max Potion
- 1x Unova Stone
Regardless of which rewards you get, any of them are useful enough to make any drops worth the effort it took to beat the Team Rocket mastermind. Although Giovanni's team is different in May 2026, it is actually quite easier to beat in Pokémon GO this time around, with more universal counters that will hopefully help you get these rewards faster.
Systems
Released July 6, 2016
ESRB e
Developer(s) Niantic
Publisher(s) Niantic
Engine Unity
Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play Yes
English (US) ·