Giovanni’s October Legendary: A Deep Dive

Giovanni’s October Legendary encounter in Pokémon GO features Shadow Regirock. This gives players a chance to battle and capture this powerful Rock-type Pokémon in its shadow form, adding it to their collection.

Understanding Giovanni and Shadow Pokémon

Giovanni, the leader of Team GO Rocket, is a recurring antagonist in Pokémon GO. He appears monthly with a different Legendary Shadow Pokémon as his ultimate weapon. Defeating Giovanni is a challenging but rewarding endeavor, offering players the unique opportunity to catch these rare and powerful creatures. Shadow Pokémon are recognizable by their red eyes and the dark aura surrounding them. They typically have boosted attack stats but reduced defense, making them formidable opponents in raids and battles.

Confronting Giovanni: The Steps

Encountering and battling Giovanni requires a specific process. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Complete Team GO Rocket Special Research: You’ll need to work through special research tasks offered in the game. These tasks typically involve defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts at PokéStops, battling Team GO Rocket Leaders (Arlo, Cliff, and Sierra), and ultimately, earning a Super Rocket Radar.

2. Equip the Super Rocket Radar: Once you have a Super Rocket Radar, equip it from your Item Bag. This radar allows you to find Giovanni’s hideouts. Note that the radar will also point to decoy Team GO Rocket Grunts disguised as Giovanni, so you might have to battle a few decoys before finding the real Giovanni.

3. Locate and Battle Giovanni: Once you find Giovanni’s hideout (indicated by a red PokéStop with a Team GO Rocket symbol), travel there and challenge him to a battle.

4. Defeat Giovanni: Giovanni’s team typically consists of a Persian as his first Pokémon, followed by a varying second Pokémon, and the Legendary Shadow Pokémon (in this case, Shadow Regirock) as his final Pokémon. Crafting a strong team to counter his line-up is crucial.

5. Catch Shadow Regirock: After defeating Giovanni, you will receive Premier Balls to attempt to catch Shadow Regirock. The number of Premier Balls depends on factors like your Team’s damage contribution, your friendship level with the Gym’s controlling team (if battling at a Gym), and your Gym Badges.

Preparing for the Battle

Knowing Giovanni’s potential Pokémon line-up allows you to prepare accordingly. While his second Pokémon can vary, his first (Persian) and last (Shadow Regirock) are consistent for October. Here’s how to prepare:

• Persian Counters: Persian is a Normal-type Pokémon, making it vulnerable to Fighting-type attacks. Strong Fighting-type Pokémon like Machamp, Lucario, and Conkeldurr are excellent choices.

• Shadow Regirock Counters: Shadow Regirock is a Rock-type Pokémon, making it weak to Fighting, Ground, Steel, Water, and Grass-type attacks. Powerful Pokémon such as Metagross, Excadrill, Swampert, and Kartana can inflict significant damage.

Shadow Regirock: Worth the Effort?

Shadow Regirock is a powerful addition to any player’s roster, though its practical use is situationally dependent. While Shadow Pokémon have a damage bonus, they also take more damage. This means that while Shadow Regirock can hit hard, it is not as durable as its regular counterpart. It can be useful in certain Raid Battles where its Rock-type attacks are advantageous and in Team GO Rocket battles, where its increased attack can quickly overwhelm opponents. However, it may not be the top choice for GO Battle League, due to its lower defenses.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a Super Rocket Radar and how do I get one?

A Super Rocket Radar is an item used to locate Giovanni. You obtain it by completing specific Team GO Rocket Special Research tasks assigned by Professor Willow. These tasks usually involve defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts and Leaders a certain number of times.

2. Can I battle Giovanni multiple times in October to get multiple Shadow Regirocks?

You can only battle Giovanni as many times as you have Super Rocket Radars. Each Special Research task typically grants you one Super Rocket Radar. If you have any leftover from previous months, you can use them to find Giovanni and potentially get more Shadow Regirock if the research allows for it.

3. Does Shadow Regirock have any exclusive moves?

Shadow Regirock does not have any exclusive Fast or Charged Attacks obtainable solely through the encounter with Giovanni in October. However, you can use Elite TMs to teach it powerful moves.

4. Is it possible to get a Shiny Shadow Regirock?

Shadow Regirock cannot be shiny when encountered after defeating Giovanni. Shiny Shadow Pokémon encounters are extremely rare, and usually limited to specific events.

5. What happens if I run out of Premier Balls when trying to catch Shadow Regirock?

If you run out of Premier Balls when trying to catch Shadow Regirock, the Pokémon will flee, and you will not be able to catch it. Therefore, it’s essential to use Golden Razz Berries and curveball throws to increase your chances of catching it with each ball.

6. Can I purify Shadow Regirock? What are the benefits of purifying it?

Yes, you can purify Shadow Regirock. Purifying it will reduce the Stardust and Candy cost to power it up, change its moves, and improve its IVs (Individual Values), potentially bringing it closer to perfect stats. However, purifying it removes the Shadow bonus (20% attack boost) and reduces its value to some players.

7. What are the best movesets for Shadow Regirock?

For Shadow Regirock, the best moveset generally depends on its intended use. For Raid Battles, consider Rock Throw (Fast Attack) and Stone Edge (Charged Attack).

8. How often does Giovanni change his Legendary Shadow Pokémon?

Giovanni typically changes his Legendary Shadow Pokémon each month or at the start of a new Team GO Rocket Special Research.

9. Can I use Remote Raid Passes to battle Giovanni?

No, you cannot use Remote Raid Passes to battle Giovanni. The battles require you to physically travel to the PokéStop where Giovanni is located.

10. If I already have a Shadow Regirock, is it still worth battling Giovanni in October?

Even if you already have a Shadow Regirock, battling Giovanni can be worthwhile. You can get a better IV version of Shadow Regirock, Stardust, and other valuable rewards. Plus, the challenge of the battle itself can be enjoyable.

11. Are there any specific levels recommended for my Pokémon to battle Giovanni?

It is recommended to have Pokémon at Level 30 or higher to comfortably battle Giovanni. The higher the level and CP (Combat Power) of your Pokémon, the better your chances of winning.

12. What other rewards do I get for defeating Giovanni besides Shadow Regirock?

Besides Shadow Regirock, you receive Stardust, Revives, Potions, and sometimes other valuable items like Rare Candy.

13. Will the Super Rocket Radar disappear after I defeat Giovanni?

Yes, the Super Rocket Radar will disappear after you defeat Giovanni. You’ll need to complete another Team GO Rocket Special Research to obtain a new one.

14. Can I store multiple Super Rocket Radars?

Yes, you can store multiple Super Rocket Radars if you haven’t used them from previous Special Research.

15. What if I can’t find Giovanni at any of the PokéStops after using the Super Rocket Radar?

If you can’t find Giovanni after using the Super Rocket Radar, ensure you’re checking all the PokéStops indicated on your map. Also, be aware that some of these PokéStops might have Team GO Rocket Grunts disguised as Giovanni. Battle them to reveal the real Giovanni, or continue searching at other PokéStops. Sometimes restarting the game or walking around can help the Super Rocket Radar refresh its information.