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So! I must say, I am impressed you got here. Team Rocket captures Pokémon from around the world. They're important tools for keeping our criminal enterprise going. I am the leader, Giovanni! For your insolence, you will feel a world of pain!

Giovanni is a character who is the Gym Leader for Viridian City's Gym, and the Boss of the criminal organization, Team Rocket. As the eighth Gym Leader in Kanto, Giovanni holds the Earth Badge for the trainers that defeat him, and specializes in Ground-type Pokémon.

In the Generation II games, Giovanni has disappeared inexplicably after his third and final loss to Red, leaving Team Rocket disorganized and confused.

Later, an alternate version of Giovanni has successfully taken over the world and reconstructed the entire organization into Team Rainbow Rocket in Alola and gathers all the other leaders from the past five regions.

Quick Answers

What type of Pokémon does Giovanni specialize in as a Gym Leader? toggle section
Giovanni, the Viridian City Gym Leader, is known for his specialization in Ground-type Pokémon. He also leads Team Rocket, utilizing Pokémon in their criminal activities. Following a rematch with Red, he is succeeded by Blue/Green, who doesn't focus on a specific Pokémon type.
Provided by: Fandom
What badge does Giovanni award to trainers who defeat him? toggle section
Giovanni, known as a Gym Leader and the head of Team Rocket, presents the Diamond Badge to victorious trainers. His primary Pokémon is MechaMew2, a robot based on Mewtwo. After a significant battle with Red, Giovanni disbanded Team Rocket and offered the badge in his capacity as Viridian City's Gym Leader.
Provided by: Fandom
What happened to Giovanni after his final loss to Red in Generation II games? toggle section
Post his last defeat to Red in Generation II, Giovanni disbanded Team Rocket and vanished, not appearing again in the game. Team Rocket, however, reformed and carried on in his absence, hoping for his comeback. Giovanni's final encounter with Red was a battle, post which he voiced his wish to alter his life and foster love and trust with Pokémon.
Provided by: Fandom
Who took over the world in the alternate version of Giovanni's story? toggle section
The Alternate World Team Rocket, including Giovanni, attempted world domination in the alternate version of Giovanni's story. They aimed to use Dialga's temporal powers to devolve Pokémon and manipulate time and space. Their plans were thwarted by Ash, his friends, and their alternate world counterparts, with assistance from Cynthia, Alternate World Professor Rowan, Jessie, James, and Alternate World Nurse Joy. They implored Dialga and Palkia to cease their conflict and restore the Pokémon to their original forms.
Provided by: Fandom
What role does Giovanni play in the criminal organization Team Rocket? toggle section
Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, controls the Kanto region's underground and is notorious for poaching and selling Pokémon. His base is located in Celadon City's Game Corner. Despite his unsuccessful attempt to take over Silph Co., he remains a formidable figure. He is also a former Gym Leader of Viridian City, known for his seriousness in battles and his frustration towards Jessie, James, and Meowth for their failures.
Provided by: Fandom

Appearance[]

Giovanni is a tall, medium built, middle aged man. He has very short, flat, dark hair and small dark eyes. He wears a long sleeved black shirt with a large V neck that shows off a white undershirt, black slightly baggy trousers and black shoes.

Personality[]

As the manipulative leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni has a knack for being underhanded. His general attitude is untrustworthy to say the least, giving off a conniving or serious expression at times. It is revealed during his relationship with the notorious Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo that he sees all Pokémon as a source of power for his own will to abuse.

However, he is not unable to see when he has been defeated, even if he is rather salty about it. Despite his dislike for Red, he gives him the Earth Badge if he defeats him in Viridian City, even giving him a TM (Earthquake). It is unknown if this was simply because it is mandatory for Gym Leaders to give these items to the victors, or for some other reason (after all, Giovanni doesn’t seem like the type to care all that much about mandatory rules).

He also seems to have at least a bit of humanity in him; after the player defeats him at his Gym in the Generation I games, he will state that “having lost in this fashion, I cannot face my followers.” This hints that he feels rather ashamed that he was bested so many times by Red. He also laments on the fact that he “betrayed them all.” This gives us a clue that he does perhaps care for people, or at the very least, he cares for his followers.

However, his feelings towards his son, Silver (who is the player's Rival in Generation II), are unclear. He abandoned Silver along with all of Team Rocket after being defeated by Red. It is possible that this was for much the same reason he abandoned Team Rocket (feeling as though he cannot face him, etc.). Nonetheless, this was an incredibly selfish act on Giovanni’s part, as he considered his own feelings before his child.

Etymology[]

The name Giovanni may originate from geo-, a prefix meaning "earth", as he is a Ground-type Trainer. His localized name's Italian etymology likely alludes to the Sicilian Mafia, a crime syndicate based out of Italy, which Team Rocket's localized appearances (in Japanese, they're based on a Yakuza faction, a type of Japanese crime syndicate) are based on.

His Japanese name, Sakaki, is literally 榊 (sakaki, a sacred tree that the Earth Badge resembles). It may also include 坂 (saka, slope).

Biography[]

Games[]

Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version[]

Giovanni first appeared in Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version as the leader of Team Rocket. After he and his soldiers, the Team Rocket Grunts, were defeated at both the Rocket Hideout and Silph Co., Giovanni himself escapes to an unknown hideout. Eventually, it is revealed that he is the Gym Leader of the Viridian Gym, and the final Gym Leader the player character faces. Upon defeating him for good, Giovanni states that he's giving up on Team Rocket, subsequently disbands the organization, and disappears, and is not seen again for the rest of the game.

Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version[]

Later on, in Pokémon Gold Version and Pokémon Silver Version, Team Rocket has returned, led by Executives, now functioning without Giovanni, and believes that he himself will return. The lost Team Rocket attempts several acts in order to call their former Leader, though he never makes an appearance.

Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version[]

In Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version, Giovanni retains his first role as the main villain and Viridian Gym Leader as in Red and Blue with the exception of passing the protagonist the TM (Earthquake) instead of the TM (Fissure). At the Sevii Islands, a group of renegade Team Rocket Grunts and Admins attempt to continue their schemes but are defeated by the protagonist.

Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version[]

In Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version, like in the originals, the return of Team Rocket led by Executive Archer attempt to regaining their evil glory by committing several acts such as at the Slowpoke Well and the Lake of Rage. After being foiled by the protagonist, Team Rocket took over the Goldenrod Radio Tower to contact their missing leader but are once again defeated. Archer then disbands Team Rocket forever, much like his leader three years ago.

It was later revealed during the Celebi Event that Giovanni heard the broadcast from his radio in his hideout in Tohjo Falls. After being defeated, he disappears. During the event, it was also revealed that Silver was Giovanni's son who was abandoned by his father when he met his defeat at the hands of Red. This act reflects on Giovanni's selfishness.

Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2[]

In Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2, he appears at the Pokémon World Tournament mode wearing his Celebi event outfit.

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon[]

In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, an alternate version of himself appears in the Alola region, where he has formed Team Rainbow Rocket. This new, powerful villainous team, in addition to Giovanni (who is the leader), consists of Archie from Team Aqua, Maxie from Team Magma, Cyrus from Team Galactic, Ghetsis from Team Plasma, Lysandre from Team Flare, and Faba from Aether Paradise, and numerous Team Rainbow Rocket grunts.

He and other individuals all hail from an alternate universe where they actually achieved their prior villainous goals and were brought to Alola through an Ultra Wormhole.

At some point late in the game, the player character enters the Team Rainbow Rocket hideout to put an end to their (currently unknown) plans, battling all of the villainous team leaders and Giovanni himself in the process.

Other appearances[]

Sprites[]

Pokémon[]

Pokémon Red Version and Pokémon Blue Version[]

Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition[]

[]

Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version (Special Event)[]

0034Nidoking HGSS
Nidoking
 Type Poison Type Ground 
0430Honchkrow Pt
Honchkrow
 Type Dark Type Flying 
0031Nidoqueen HGSS
Nidoqueen
 Type Poison Type Ground 
0115Kangaskhan HGSS
Kangaskhan
 Type Normal 

Lv. 42 Lv. 43 Lv. 46 Lv. 40

Ability: Poison Point Ability: Super Luck Ability: Poison Point Ability: Scrappy

Item: None Item: None Item: None Item: None

Shadow Claw Nasty Plot Crunch Outrage - -
Double Kick Swagger Roar Leer - -
Focus Energy Dark Pulse Earth Power Sucker Punch - -
Fury Attack Shadow Ball Superpower Dizzy Punch - -


Pokémon Black Version 2 and Pokémon White Version 2[]

(Pokémon picked randomly from the list. Rhyperior is certain to be the first.)

Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon[]

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee![]

Pokémon Stadium[]

Trivia[]

  • Giovanni is widely considered to be the main antagonist of the Pokémon franchise.
  • He is the only villainous team leader in the franchise who is also a Gym Leader.
  • In the Generation I games, as he is the leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni is referred to by the Team Rocket Grunts as well as Jessie and James in Pokémon Yellow Special Pikachu Edition, and Pokémon the Series, as "Boss". Blue also calls him "Boss Rocket". This is also a reference to as villainous teams leaders are boss opponents in the mainline games.
  • Giovanni's outfit in Generation IV and V as well as his Sygna Suit in Pokémon Masters EX seems to be based on a general's miltary uniform.
  • In Pokémon Yellow, Giovanni replaced Kangaskhan with Persian since this game was based on the anime series.
  • He may be inspired by one of the villains of the James Bond series, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. In the James Bond novels and films, Blofeld leads his own criminal organization, the S.P.E.C.T.R.E., to become rich and reign the world. As a companion, Blofeld has a cat.
  • In the Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version Celebi event, the Rival of the Generation II games is found out to be the son of Giovanni.

Gallery[]

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