Pokémon Go: How To Beat Giovanni and Shadow Latias (April 2022)

Giovanni is back with a Shadow Latias in Pokémon Go. Defeating him will give trainers the opportunity to capture it. While Pokémon Go is currently hosting its Season of Alola event, new Alolan Pokémon are periodically being added to the game. In Pokémon Go’s most recent event, All-Hands Rocket Retreat, Team Rocket Grunts, and Admins will spawn in the overworld more frequently. Not only that, but their Shadow Pokémon originate from Pokémon Sun and Moon, including Alolan Rattata, Alolan Exeggcute, and Alolan Sandshrew. The event is heavily focused on Alolan Pokémon, but Giovanni mixes it up a bit by carrying a legendary Pokémon that originated from Hoenn.

The All-Hands Rocket Retreat will take place Sunday, April 3, 2022, from 12:00 a.m. to Thursday, April 7, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. local time. It’s also the first time trainers are able to capture Salandit in the game. It will only appear after being hatched from a 12km egg, making it one of the most difficult Pokémon to encounter. This event features a new Special Research Task that will give trainers a Super Rocket Radar which is an item that is needed to hunt down Giovanni.

After obtaining the Super Rocket Radar from clearing the Silent Schemes Special Research Task in Pokémon Go, trainers can now search for Giovanni. The Super Rocket Radar will display his exact location on the map. Like many other trainer battles, this is a three-on-three Pokémon battle. The trainer with Pokémon standing at the end is declared the winner. While his first and his last Pokémon are always the same, his second one will always be different. These are the Pokémon trainers should use to counter Giovanni’s team.

Countering Giovanni and Shadow Latias in Pokémon Go

First Pokémon: Persian Counters

• Tyranitar: Smack Down and Crunch.
• Terrakion: Smack Down and Close Combat.
• Conkeldurr: Counter and Dynamic Punch.

Second Pokémon: Option 1: Honchkrow Counters

• Galarian Darmanitan: Ice Fang and Avalanche
• Raikou: Volt Switch and Wild Charge.
• Zekrom: Charge Beam and Wild Charge.

Second Pokémon: Option 2: Gyarados

• Zekrom: Charge Beam and Wild Charge
• Electivire: Thundershock and Wild Charge
• Zapdos: Thunder Shock and Thunder Bolt

Second Pokémon: Option 3: Rhyperior

• Torterra: Razor Leaf and Frenzy Plant.
• Kyogre: Waterfall and Surf.
• Swampert: Mud Shot and Hydro Cannon.

Third Pokémon: Shadow Latias

• Dialga: Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor.
• Zacian: Snarl and Play Rough.
• Mamoswine: Powder Snow and Avalanche.

It’s recommended to retry the battle after discovering what his second Pokémon is, that way it’s much easier to rematch with a proper counter. Once the battle is over, trainers will then be given the chance to capture Shadow Latias. Then, it’s up to the player if they wish to purify the darkness in their heart or not. Defeating Giovanni will also clear step 5 of the Silent Schemes Special Research. After that, the trainer just needs to claim their rewards.

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Pokémon Go is available now on iOS and Android.