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Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG)

How to Beat Giovanni: Viridian City Gym Guide

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Pokemon FRLG - How to Beat Giovanni

This is a guide for Viridian City's Gym Leader, Giovanni, in Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG). Learn how to beat Giovanni, his Pokemon team and specialty, and the recommended Pokemon to use against Giovanni!

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Blaine -

List of Contents

Giovanni's Pokemon Team and Types

Type and Suggested Levels

Type Specialty Pokemon FRLG - Ground
Rec. Level Lv. 50 ~ Lv. 53

Giovanni specializes in Ground-type Pokemon, which are known for their strong physical attacks and powerful moves such as Earthquake. Ground-type Pokemon can deal heavy damage if you are not properly prepared.

To keep up with Giovanni’s team, it is recommended that your Pokemon are around Level 50 to 53. Bringing Pokemon with Water-, Grass-, or Ice-type moves will give you a strong advantage, as these types deal super-effective damage against most of Giovanni’s Pokemon.

Giovanni's Pokemon

Pokemon Type Abilities Moves
Pokemon FRLG - Rhyhorn Rhyhorn
(Lvl. 45) 		Pokemon FRLG - Rock Pokemon FRLG - Ground ・Lightning Rod
・Rock Head
・Earthquake
・Rock Blast
・Scary Face
・Take Down
Pokemon FRLG - Dugtrio Dugtrio
(Lvl. 42) 		Pokemon FRLG - Ground ・Sand Veil
・Arena Trap
・Earthquake
・Mud-Slap
・Sand Tomb
・Slash
Pokemon FRLG - Nidoqueen Nidoqueen
(Lvl. 44) 		Pokemon FRLG - Ground Pokemon FRLG - Poison ・Poison Point
・Body Slam
・Double Kick
・Earthquake
・Poison Sting
Pokemon FRLG - Nidoking Nidoking
(Lvl. 45) 		Pokemon FRLG - Ground Pokemon FRLG - Poison ・Poison Point
・Double Kick
・Earthquake
・Poison Sting
・Thrash
Pokemon FRLG - Rhyhorn Rhyhorn
(Lvl. 50) 		Pokemon FRLG - Rock Pokemon FRLG - Ground ・Lightning Rod
・Rock Head
・Earthquake
・Rock Blast
・Scary Face
・Take Down

Giovanni’s team consists of two Rhyhorn, a Dugtrio, Nidoqueen, and Nidoking, all of which rely heavily on strong Ground-type attacks like Earthquake. These moves can deal significant damage to unprepared teams.

Among them, Nidoqueen and Nidoking are especially dangerous due to their dual Poison/Ground typing and balanced stats. Giovanni’s final Rhyhorn is also capable of dealing heavy damage with Rock Blast and Earthquake, making it important to bring Pokemon that can take advantage of their weaknesses.

How to Beat Giovanni

Use Water, Grass, and Ice-Type Pokemon

Surf

With Giovanni's specialty being Ground-type, it is best to use Water, Grass, and Ice-type Pokemon to deal super-effective damage against his team. Remember to have your Pokemon at least three levels higher than Giovanni's strongest Pokemon.

For Water-type Pokemon, having Surf in their moveset will be the best option for offense. As for Grass-type, Razor Leaf or Solarbeam are your strongest offensive moves to one-hit Giovanni's team. Lastly, for Ice-type, having Ice Beam would be great for its power and effectiveness against Ground-type.

Teach these moves to Pokemon with the same type to benefit from Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) to deal more serious damage.

Psychic and Flying-Type are Also Good

The Viridian City Gym trainers also have Fighting-type Pokemon in their team. Additionally, Giovanni's Nidoqueen and Nidoking are Poison/Ground.

With this, Psychic and Flying-type Pokemon can be super-effective against some Pokemon in the gym. Flying-type Pokemon also have an advantage because they are immune to Ground-type moves. However, Flying-types might fall victim to Giovanni's Rhyhorns as they can use Rock Blast.

Best Team to Beat Giovanni

Recommended Pokemon to Bring

Pokemon Recommended Moves
Pokemon FRLG - Venusaur Venusaur
Pokemon FRLG - Grass
・Leech Seed
・Razor Leaf
・Sleep Powder
・Super effective against Giovanni’s Ground-types.
・Can absorb damage while applying status effects with Leech Seed or Sleep Powder.
Pokemon FRLG - Gyarados Gyarados
Pokemon FRLG - Water Pokemon FRLG - Flying
・Dragon Rage
・Hyper Beam
・Surf
・Flying type makes it immune to Ground moves.
・Water moves cover Rhyhorn, Dugtrio, and other Ground-types effectively.
Pokemon FRLG - Tentacruel Tentacruel
Pokemon FRLG - Poison Pokemon FRLG - Water
・Acid
・Barrier
・Surf
・Toxic
・Water moves deal super-effective damage to Ground-types.
・Poison typing provides utility and coverage without extra weakness.

※ Move recommendations are for in-game solo play and may differ in competitive battles.

You can bring a full party of six Pokemon, but these picks cover the Ground-type weaknesses of Giovanni’s team. Flying or Water moves make it easy to handle Rhyhorn, Dugtrio, Nidoqueen, and Nidoking while keeping your Pokemon relatively safe.

When Starting with Bulbasaur

Pokemon FRLG - Venusaur Venusaur Pokemon FRLG - Gyarados Gyarados
Pokemon FRLG - Lapras Lapras 		Pokemon FRLG - Tentacruel Tentacruel
Pokemon FRLG - Starmie Starmie

Venusaur handles Giovanni’s Ground-types well with moves like Razor Leaf or Solarbeam, though Grass moves are less effective on Nidoqueen and Nidoking due to Poison typing.

Gyarados and Lapras provide Flying/Water coverage to safely counter Ground moves, while Tentacruel or Starmie can finish off the remaining Pokemon with strong Water-type moves.

When Starting with Charmander

Pokemon FRLG - Gyarados Gyarados
Pokemon FRLG - Lapras Lapras 		Pokemon FRLG - Tentacruel Tentacruel
Pokemon FRLG - Starmie Starmie 		Pokemon FRLG - Charizard Charizard

Charizard is vulnerable to Rhyhorn’s Rock Blast, so it’s best to rely on Gyarados, Lapras, or Tentacruel for Water-type coverage.

Starmie can help with Nidoqueen and Nidoking thanks to its Water/Psychic typing, making your team balanced and able to handle all of Giovanni’s Pokemon.

When Starting with Squirtle

Pokemon FRLG - Blastoise Blastoise Pokemon FRLG - Gyarados Gyarados
Pokemon FRLG - Lapras Lapras 		Pokemon FRLG - Tentacruel Tentacruel
Pokemon FRLG - Starmie Starmie

Blastoise already has a natural advantage against Ground-types, so a Water-type move at level 50-53 can carry most of the battle.

Other Water-types like Gyarados, Lapras, Tentacruel, or Starmie provide coverage to ensure a clean sweep of Giovanni’s team.

Previous and Next Gym Leaders

Previous Gym Next Gym
Blaine -

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen (FRLG) Related Guides

Pokemon FRLG - Walkthrough

100% Walkthrough Guide

Walkthrough Guides by Type

Gym Leader Guides Elite Four Guide
Giovanni Fights and Teams Rival Fights and Teams

All Gym Leader Guides

1 Brock 2 Misty
3 Lt. Surge 4 Erika
5 Koga 6 Sabrina
7 Blaine 8 Giovanni

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