Giovanni (GO)

Giovanni サカキ Sakaki
Promotional artwork from Pokémon GO
Age	Unknown
Gender	Male
Eye color	Black
Hair color	Black
Hometown	Viridian City
Region	Kanto
Trainer class	The Boss
Generation	VII, VIII, IX
Counterpart(s)	Giovanni
Games	GO
Member of	Team GO Rocket
Rank	Boss
Specializes in	Ground types

Giovanni (Japanese: サカキ Sakaki) is the head of Team GO Rocket in Pokémon GO, based on the character of the same name in the core series.

Giovanni can only be found if the player currently has a Super Rocket Radar equipped. When activated, the Super Rocket Radar will reveal all the nearby PokéStops where Giovanni's headquarters can potentially be located. However, there is a high chance that the PokéStop uncovered will be occupied by a Decoy Grunt disguised as Giovanni instead. Additionally, equipping the Super Rocket Radar guarantees that the real Giovanni will appear in the next Team GO Rocket balloon. If the real Giovanni is located, he will challenge the player to battle. Defeating the real Giovanni consumes the Super Rocket Radar.

From May 27 to May 28, 2023, Giovanni began appearing at Gyms, taking them over in five-star Shadow Raids using Shadow Mewtwo. Defeating him allowed players to capture Shadow Mewtwo in the bonus challenge, with a possibility of it being Shiny.

Pokémon

Trainer Battles

Giovanni uses a team of three Shadow Pokémon in a Trainer Battle, each independently and randomly selected from separate pools. During battle, Giovanni will always use a Protect Shield whenever possible. Upon being defeated, Giovanni will abandon one of the Shadow Pokémon used in battle. Shadow Pokémon left by Giovanni that are not from raids are guaranteed capture on the first Premier Ball that hits. Since July 2020, Shadow Pokémon from Giovanni are guaranteed at least 6 IVs (out of the maximum 15) across all stats.

Initially, the Shadow Legendary Pokémon Giovanni uses changed on the first of each month. However, starting April 2020, the rotation schedule was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following lists Giovanni's possible Pokémon since March 27, 2024. Green-colored cells denote the Pokémon that will be encountered during the bonus challenge.

For a historic list of Giovanni's past Pokémon teams, see Giovanni (GO)/Pokémon change history.

Giovanni The Boss
#1	#2	#3

Shadow Raids

Giovanni has appeared in five-star Shadow Raids on weekends during specific in-game events.

Pokémon	Boss CP	Catch CP	Availability
Mewtwo	54148	2220 - 2387 2776 - 2984	May 27 - 28, 2023
Lugia	45925	1959 - 2115 2450 - 2645	October 27 - 28, 2023
Ho-Oh	50064	2050 - 2207 2563 - 2759	January 27 - 28, 2024
Mewtwo	54148	2220 - 2387 2776 - 2984	March 30 - 31, 2024

Rewards

Upon defeating Giovanni, the player will be rewarded the following prize bundles:

Item		Quantity
	Stardust	×5,000
Three of:
	Max Potion	×4
	Max Revive	×4

Prior to July 2020, defeating Giovanni also rewarded the following:

Item		Quantity
	Unova Stone*	×1
	Rare Candy*	×5
	Fast TM*	×1
	Charged TM*	×1

Quotes

Main article: Giovanni/Quotes → Pokémon GO

Gallery

Icon from Pokémon GO

Photobombs

Photobomb image from Pokémon GO

Trivia

• Giovanni debuted in Pokémon GO as a GO Snapshot photobomb at Pokémon GO Fest in Yokohama.
• The teaser trailer for the debut of Team GO Rocket in GO contains the line "Earth is where I shall unleash my evil schemes next!" This is a reference to Giovanni's final line in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, in which he ponders "Now...what new world shall I unleash my evil schemes upon...?" before warping away from Aether Paradise.
• Up until March 2023, every non-Legendary Shadow Pokémon used by Giovanni in Pokémon GO was based on a Pokémon he owned in either a core series game or the anime.
  • Steelix is a species here that Giovanni does not have in either media. Instead, Giovanni uses its pre-evolution, Onix, in Generations I and III.
  • Kingdra was included in Giovanni's set on March 25, 2023. None of its evolutionary relatives were used by Giovanni in other media.

References

Team GO Rocket Boss: Giovanni Leaders: Cliff • Sierra • Arlo Lower members: Team GO Rocket Grunts Jessie • James Pokémon: Shadow Pokémon • Shadow Raid Items: Mysterious Component Rocket Radar • Super Rocket Radar Shadow Shard • Purified Gem