Guides

Giovanni’s Team – Viridian City Gym (Pokémon FRLG)

by ReOcelot
Challenging Giovanni to a gym battle
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Gym Leader Giovanni
Pokémon Rhyhorn Lv. 45 Dugtrio Lv. 42 Nidoqueen Lv. 44 Nidoqueen Lv. 44 Rhyhorn Lv. 50
Type Ground / Rock Ground Poison / Ground Poison / Ground Ground / Rock
Ability Lightningrod Sand Veil Poison Point Poison Point Lightningrod
Held Item None None None None None
Weaknesses
  • Water (4x)
  • Grass (4x)
  • Ice (2x)
  • Fighting (2x)
  • Ground (2x)
  • Steel (2x)
  • Water (2x)
  • Grass (2x)
  • Ice (2x)
  • Water (2x)
  • Ice (2x)
  • Ground (2x)
  • Psychic (2x)
  • Water (2x)
  • Ice (2x)
  • Ground (2x)
  • Psychic (2x)
  • Water (4x)
  • Grass (4x)
  • Ice (2x)
  • Fighting (2x)
  • Ground (2x)
  • Steel (2x)
Moves
  • Take Down
  • Rock Blast
  • Scary Face
  • Earthquake
  • Slash
  • Sand Tomb
  • Mud Slap
  • Earthquake
  • Double Kick
  • Earthquake
  • Poison Sting
  • Body Slam
  • Double Kick
  • Earthquake
  • Poison Sting
  • Thrash
  • Take Down
  • Rock Blast
  • Scary Face
  • Earthquake

Gym Puzzle Solution

Giovanni’s Gym has Arrow Pads all along the floor. You need to take these pads in a specific order to reach Giovanni. Here’s the fastest solution to this puzzle:

First, walk north from the entrance, into the small room with three trainers. Head out the east exit of this room.

Take a right in the little room just north of the entrance / Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Take a right in the little room just north of the entrance

Start heading north. You will need to battle the purple-haired trainer.

After you defeat them, keep following the corridor until you run into Black Belt Takashi.

Head north to the top of the floor and face the Black Belt trainer / Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Head north to the top of the floor and face the Black Belt trainer

You will need to defeat Black Belt Takashi as well.

After you defeat him, head back to the entrance of the Gym and take the arrow pad on the right side.

After defeating the Black Belt, take the arrow pad at the entrance of the Gym / Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
After defeating the Black Belt, take the arrow pad at the entrance of the Gym

Finally, you can walk behind Black Belt Takashi and right up to Giovanni to challenge him for the Earth Badge!

Walk up and challenge Giovanni for the Earth Badge / Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
Walk up and challenge Giovanni for the Earth Badge

Tips for Beating Giovanni

  • Your Party should be Level 45+: Giovanni’s Pokémon range from Level 42 to Level 50, so your Pokémon should be in the same range. I recommend a higher Level Water Type Pokémon and a higher Level Flying Type. You can utilize the Flying Type Pokémon against everything except the Rhyhorns and then swap to your Water Type for the victory.
  • Water Type Moves are best: Every single Pokémon on Giovanni’s team is weak against Water Type moves. At this point in the game, you have the HM for Surf, which is a really powerful and well-rounded Water move. So I recommend equipping your strongest Water Type Pokémon with Surf and sending it in against Giovanni for the KOs.
  • Flying Type Pokémon can avoid his Ground Moves: Ground Type moves do not affect Flying Type Pokémon, so they will be very effective against Nidoqueen and Nidoqueen. Do note, though, that Giovanni’s Rhyhorns know Rock Blast, which will do a ton of damage to Flying Types.
  • Giovanni has 2 Hyper Potions and a Full heal: Just be aware of these items when you’re facing Giovanni. If you get his Pokémon low, then he will use a Hyper Potion. You can take the opportunity to use an item of your own, set up a move, or swap Pokémon if you’d like.

Rewards for Defeating Giovanni

After defeating Giovanni, you’ll be rewarded with the following:

BACK TO THE MAIN GAME Pokémon FRLG Full Strategy Guide
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ReOcelot

115 articles

A jack of all trades when it comes to gaming. I can sit down for hours in a casual playthrough of Pokémon, or I can spend months trying to hit Diamond in League of Legends. I love and appreciate everything about games, and love sharing that passion with my readers.

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