Giovanni
- If you were looking for the character in the games whose Japanese name is Giovanni, see Earl Dervish. For the episode of Pokémon Origins, see File 3: Giovanni.
Giovanni (Japanese: サカキ Sakaki) is the head of Team Rocket, who serves as the secretive Gym Leader of Viridian City's Gym, known officially as the Viridian Gym, in Generation I, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, and Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!. He hands out the Earth Badge to Trainers who defeat him in battle. As a Gym Leader, he specializes in Ground-type Pokémon, but his master plan includes collecting rare Pokémon of all types. After he disbands Team Rocket and abandons his Gym, his role as the Viridian Gym Leader is taken over by Blue. In Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, he makes a return appearance as the leader of Team Rainbow Rocket. He is the only character in the games to have the Trainer classes BossFRLG/Rocket BossHGSS/Team Rocket BossPE (Japanese: ロケットだんボス Team Rocket Boss) and Team Rainbow Rocket (Japanese: Rロケットだん Team R Rocket).
Terminology
In the English version of Pokémon Stadium, his name is misspelled "Giovani" (with one n) to fit the game's seven-character limit for Trainer names. His name is correctly written as Giovanni in the Pokémon Stadium: Official Nintendo Player's Guide.
In the Japanese version of the Trainer Card from the Generation I games, he is unidentified and his name is written as ???, as opposed to other Gym Leaders who have their names written on the Trainer Card. However, the English version of the Generation I Trainer Card does not have any names of Gym Leaders. Giovanni appears as a silhouette in both language versions.
He is also unidentified and has his name is written as ??? on the list of Gym Leaders seen in Japanese and English manuals of the Generation I games and the English manual of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, even though he is identified normally in the Japanese manual of FireRed and LeafGreen.
In the core series games
Character profile
Giovanni is the primary antagonist of the games taking place in Kanto.
In the first games Giovanni appeared in, he served a dual role: one that was well known to the residents of Kanto, and one that was more secret. He was first shown as the leader of the villainous Team Rocket, the first of many criminal organizations to grace the Pokémon games. After the player defeated him and his team of Grunts at Silph Co., Giovanni fled to a hideout that the player is unaware of. Once the player returned to Viridian City, one of the major plot twists of these games revealed that Giovanni, in addition to his role as a criminal, was the final Gym Leader to be fought before the Elite Four—albeit one without a formal title. Here, he specializes in the Ground type. Once defeated, he disbanded Team Rocket and left the player with the Earth Badge and TM27 (Fissure). If talked to again, he then vanishes and is not seen again for the rest of the game.
Giovanni's role in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen is much the same; the one difference is that defeating him in the Gym battle will earn the player TM26 (Earthquake), instead of TM27 (Fissure). He also implies that he intends to return to power one day rather than being moved to dedicate his life to the study of Pokémon. There is a side-plot in the Sevii Islands that revolves around Giovanni; a group of Team Rocket members are trying to continue the aims of Team Rocket, but they abandon this when they realize that their leader has been defeated once and for all.
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, Giovanni's story is slightly expanded from his first appearance. During his first appearance, he is seen talking with Archer and giving him the permission to proceed with the plan to take over Silph Co. After being defeated for the first time, he gives the player the Silph Scope as a token of apology for mocking them, as opposed to just leaving the device behind before leaving, like in previous games. At the Silph Co., a part of his conversation with the Silph Co. President is shown, with Giovanni demanding him to hand over the Master Ball like they had previously agreed. In the Gym battle, Giovanni's reward TM once again contains Earthquake, although now, it's TM41, instead of TM26.
In Pokémon Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, a group of Team Rocket members tries to relaunch the old team. They take over Goldenrod Radio Tower, and broadcast a radio announcement intended for Giovanni. Only in HeartGold and SoulSilver is it revealed that Giovanni does hear the broadcast, from his hideout in Tohjo Falls - an event in the remakes involving a time-traveling Celebi allows Ethan and Lyra to travel back in time and defeat Giovanni at the same time the rest of Team Rocket is being defeated at the Radio Tower. Upon defeat, he will begin ranting about how he keeps losing to children and, like before, Giovanni will leave the room and disappear. Later, in Kanto, it is revealed that Blue took over the Viridian Gym after his disappearance.
The Celebi event also reveals some of Giovanni's background from the three years between Generation I/III and Generation II/IV. While it was mentioned by Scientist Gideon in FireRed and LeafGreen that Giovanni has a son with red hair, the son's identity wasn't revealed until the time travel event in HeartGold and SoulSilver. As many fans speculated (and as was mentioned in the Pokémon Adventures manga series), this son is the rival of the Johto player character, Silver. Much of Silver's personality is a result of the treatment he received from Giovanni, which includes abandonment. Like many of Giovanni's other actions throughout the games, this reflects on his selfishness.
Giovanni reappears in Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 in the Pokémon World Tournament, replacing Blue, who instead participates in the Champions Tournament. Giovanni returns to using Ground types exclusively. While the announcer usually introduces Gym Leaders by their title, Giovanni, who does not have a title, is introduced as "The Self-Proclaimed Strongest Trainer" (Japanese: さいきょうの トレーナーと なのる Self-Proclaimed Strongest Trainer).
An alternate universe Giovanni appears in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon's Episode RR post-game story as the Boss of Team Rainbow Rocket. This version of Giovanni came from a universe where Team Rocket succeeded in taking over the world. He is first seen during the Aether Foundation's broadcast from Aether Paradise, where he seizes control of the organization from Lusamine. He uses an Ultra Wormhole to transform her mansion into Team Rocket's Castle, fortifies himself inside it, and stations versions of Archie, Maxie, Cyrus, Lysandre, and Ghetsis from other worlds as his guards, along with an army of Team Rainbow Rocket Grunts. After battling through his army, the player and Lillie find Giovanni holding an unconscious Lusamine inside his control center deep within the castle. He introduces himself and reveals that he plans to create an army of Ultra Beasts in order to conquer all worlds. For that purpose, he needs the Aether Foundation's resources, and intends to brainwash Lusamine into serving him. Feeling nostalgic that a child would challenge him, Giovanni battles the player with a party that includes a Mewtwo capable of Mega Evolving, and is ultimately defeated. Accepting his loss, Giovanni abandons his plans for the Aether Foundation but swears that Team Rainbow Rocket will never fall. He leaves as Colress begins working to revert Team Rocket's Castle back into Lusamine's mansion, and is last seen reflecting on what world he should target for his schemes next before warping away.
After Episode RR has started, Sophocles creates a battle program based on Giovanni that appears as a boss in the Battle Agency within Festival Plaza. Giovanni is also implied to have stopped by at the Alola Photo Club to leave villainous team-based stickers for the player to use after he was defeated by them.
Appearance
In most of the games he appears in, Giovanni is depicted as a tall, 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. On the left side of his shirt is the red Team Rocket logo.
In Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, he wears a black trench coat with a red triangular symbol on it instead of his usual black shirt. He also wears a black fedora hat.
In Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, he looks the same as his normal appearance, with the only difference being that his undershirt is red instead of white.
His alternate universe self in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon looks the same as his original counterpart, with the only difference being that the Team Rocket logo on his shirt being changed into the rainbow-colored Team Rainbow Rocket logo.
Fame Checker
This is a list of the Fame Checker's information on Giovanni in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Rocket Hideout - Giovanni
- What does this person do?
- Team Rocket captures Pokémon from around the world. They're important tools for keeping our criminal enterprise going. I am the leader, Giovanni!
- Silph Co. - Scientist
- Favorite kind of Pokémon?
- Those thugs that took over our building... Their Boss said he was looking for strong Pokémon.
- Silph Co. - Scientist
- What is this person like?
- Team Rocket's Boss is terribly cruel! To him, Pokémon are just tools to be used.
- Viridian Gym - Giovanni
- What does this person do?
- Welcome to my hideout! It shall be so until I can restore Team Rocket to its former glory.
- Viridian Gym - Gym guide*
- What does this person do?
- Blow me away! Giovanni was the Gym Leader of Viridian?
- Rocket Warehouse - Scientist Gideon*
- Family and Friends?
- You... You're not Giovanni's kid, are you? No, that can't be right. Giovanni's kid has red hair.
- Message from Giovanni
- From: Giovanni
- To: [Player]
- "There is nothing I wish to say to you.
- I will concentrate solely on bettering myself, and none other."
Pokémon
Pokémon Red and Blue
In all three battles, Giovanni has one Guard Spec. per Pokémon to use randomly 25% of the time.
First battle
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Second battle
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Gym battle
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Pokémon Yellow
In all three battles, Giovanni has one Guard Spec. per Pokémon to use randomly 25% of the time.
First battle
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Second battle
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Gym battle
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Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen
First battle
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Second battle
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Gym battle
Giovanni has two Hyper Potions and a Full Heal.
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Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver
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Pokémon Black 2 and White 2
Pokémon World Tournament
Giovanni uses three of these Pokémon in Single Battles, four in Double and Rotation Battles, and all six in Triple Battles. Giovanni will always lead with his signature Pokémon, Rhyperior.
Kanto Leaders Tournament
Type Expert/World Leaders Tournament
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Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
Giovanni's Pokémon are kept in Master Balls. His Mewtwo's moveset and Mega Stone differ between the two versions.
Pokémon Ultra Sun
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Pokémon Ultra Moon
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Battle Agency
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Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!
First battle
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Second battle
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Gym battle
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In the side series games
Pokémon Stadium
Giovanni appears in Pokémon Stadium as the final Gym Leader the player faces during the Gym Leader Castle challenge. His name is spelled "Giovani" to fit the game's seven-character name limit.
Pokémon
Round 1
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Round 2
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In the spin-off games
Pokémon Puzzle League
In Pokémon Puzzle League, Giovanni, as he appears in Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, is one of the opponents in the 1P Stadium mode, and one of the characters available in the 2P Stadium mode.
Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!
In Pokémon Trading Card Game 2: The Invasion of Team GR!, the The Boss's Way card is available. The boss mentioned by the card is Giovanni.
Pokémon GO
- Main article: Giovanni (GO)
In Pokémon GO, Giovanni appears as the boss of Team GO Rocket, who operate by invading PokéStops and battling using Shadow Pokémon.
Pokémon Masters EX
- Main article: Giovanni (Masters)
Giovanni forms a sync pair with Mewtwo, Nidoking, Persian, Rhydon, and Nidorino in Pokémon Masters EX. His Mewtwo is capable of Mega Evolving into Mega Mewtwo Y, while his Nidoking is capable of Dynamaxing. Giovanni became a playable sync pair on December 5, 2019.
In this game, Giovanni is from an alternate universe where Team Rocket succeeded in taking over the world and later became the leader of Team Rainbow Rocket, which was introduced in Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. He has made notable appearances in the game's Main Stories: the PML Arc, Legendary Adventures, and is the overall main antagonist of the Villain Arc. The whereabouts of Giovanni from this game's continuity are currently unknown.
Dex | Trainer | NDex | Pokémon | Type | Weakness | Role | EX role | Base potential | Availability | ||
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#074 | Giovanni | #0150 | Mewtwo Mega Mewtwo Y |
Psychic |
Dark |
★★★★★☆EX | Legendary Adventures Lurking Shadow | ||||
#074 | Sygna Suit Giovanni |
#0034 | Nidoking♂ |
Ground |
Psychic |
★★★★★☆EX | Poké Fair Sync Pair Scout | ||||
#074 | Classic Giovanni |
#0053 | Persian♂ |
Normal |
Fighting |
★★★★☆☆EX | Sync Pair-Up Event | ||||
#074 | Giovanni | #0112 | Rhydon♂ |
Ground |
Grass |
★★★★★☆EX | Variety Sync Pair Scout | ||||
#074 | Giovanni | #0033 | Nidorino♂ |
Poison |
Ground |
★★★★☆☆EX | Trainer Lodge Friendship Level 100 |
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket
- Main article: Giovanni (Genetic Apex 223)
Giovanni makes an appearance as a Supporter card in Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket's first expansion, Genetic Apex. On the turn the player plays this card, attacks used by their Pokémon do +10 damage to their opponent's Active Pokémon.
Gallery
Artwork
Headshot from Red and Green |
Artwork from Red and Blue |
Artwork from Yellow |
Artwork from FireRed and LeafGreen by Ken Sugimori[4] |
Artwork from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon |
Artwork from Pokémon Origins |
Concept art from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
Sprites and models
In the core series
Sprite from Red and Blue |
Sprite from Yellow |
Sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
VS sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Sprite from Black 2 and White 2 |
Overworld sprite from Generation I |
Overworld sprite from FireRed and LeafGreen |
Overworld sprite from HeartGold and SoulSilver |
Overworld sprite from Black 2 and White 2 | ||
VS model from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon |
Battle Agency VS sprite from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon |
High-poly model from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon |
VS model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! | ||
Overworld model from Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon |
Overworld model from Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! |
In other games
The Boss's Way from Pokémon Card GB2 |
Portrait from Stadium |
Quotes
- Main article: Giovanni/Quotes
In animation
Pokémon the Series
- Main article: Giovanni (anime)
Giovanni appears in Pokémon the Series as the head of Team Rocket. Unlike the members of other prominent criminal organizations, he is a recurring character from Pokémon the Series: The Beginning to Pokémon Journeys: The Series, usually keeping in contact with the Team Rocket trio. In Pokémon the Series: Black & White, he also appears in person to take on the role of direct antagonist at times.
Pokémon Origins
Giovanni appeared in File 3: Giovanni. Red first recalled meeting him at the Rocket Hideout. They later encountered again at Silph Co. after Team Rocket had taken over the building. Seeing Red's arrogant and determined attitude to stop Team Rocket every time, Giovanni decided to put him in his place, and battled Red's Charizard with his Nidoqueen, winning easily before escaping with a helicopter, declaring that Red could never understand what he was hoping to achieve.
Giovanni appeared once more as the Viridian Gym Leader. Giovanni accepted his Gym challenge, but Red claimed that he would battle him as the enemy of all Pokémon, instead of a Gym Leader. Hearing this, Giovanni put aside his usual Gym Leader battling team and took out his strongest pair of Pokémon, contained within Ultra Balls. The first one was Rhyhorn, which single-handedly was able to defeat four of Red's Pokémon before drawing with his Hitmonlee. During the battle, Giovanni started actually feeling excited, and wondered why he was feeling that way. When he saw the pose Red took while sending out his Charizard, he finally remembered his childhood passion for Pokémon and battling, and wondered how he could have ever turned into a person who only treated Pokémon as tools for business. After Red's Charizard had defeated Giovanni's last Pokémon, Rhydon, Giovanni offered him the Earth Badge as a proof of his victory. Red, however, refused to take a Badge from the Boss of Team Rocket. Seeing this, Giovanni turned to his minions, informing them that from that moment onward, Team Rocket would be officially disbanded. He then turned back to Red, now offering the Badge to him not as the Boss of Team Rocket but as the Viridian City Gym Leader. Red accepted the Earth Badge and left, heading for the Pokémon League.
As his battle with Red had reminded Giovanni of how Pokémon could be taken as fun rather than business, he decided that he wanted to find a new path for himself and his Pokémon, without being the Boss of Team Rocket any longer.
Pokémon
の | This article is missing information on this character's Japanese voice actor and English voice actor. You can help by adding this information. |
On hand
Debut | File 3: Giovanni |
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Giovanni used Nidoqueen to battle Red's Charizard at Silph Co. and won easily.
Nidoqueen's known moves are Double Kick and Surf.
Debut | File 3: Giovanni |
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Rhyhorn was the first Pokémon Giovanni used in his Gym battle against Red. It was able to defeat Red's Victreebel, Kabutops, Snorlax, and Jolteon, despite the former two having the type advantage. It finally drew with Red's Hitmonlee.
Rhyhorn's moves are Horn Attack, Take Down, Thunderbolt, and Horn Drill.
Debut | File 3: Giovanni |
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Rhydon was the second Pokémon Giovanni used in his Gym battle against Red. It went up against Red's Charizard and lost after a tough fight, taken down by Charizard's Seismic Toss.
Rhydon's known moves are Mega Punch, Fury Attack, and Horn Drill.
Status unknown
Debut | File 3: Giovanni |
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Charmander only appeared in a flashback during Giovanni's battle with Red, when Giovanni recalled the time having one in his youth.
None of Charmander's moves are known.
Voice actors
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Pokémon Generations
Giovanni first appeared in The Chase. After the International Police had failed to find him during a raid at the Viridian Gym, he was seen standing on a hill near Viridian City, declaring that Team Rocket would never fall, before walking away. Along with his disapparance, rumors about Team Rocket's disbandment began circling around.
He reappeared in a flashback in The Legacy. Looker approached Giovanni's son Silver, hoping to find information on him as he had not been seen since his disappearance three years prior. However, all Silver could describe was his own last encounter with Giovanni three years ago, in which the two had a falling out that fractured their relationship.
Voice actors
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GOTCHA!
Giovanni briefly appeared as a silhouette in GOTCHA!.
In the manga
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Giovanni (Adventures)
In Pokémon Adventures, Giovanni serves much of the same role as he does in the games, although he now has Lt. Surge, Sabrina, and Koga as subordinates. However, Giovanni is much more ruthless than his other counterparts.
How I Became a Pokémon Card
Giovanni and Persian were revealed to have been together for a long time, as he rescued the Pokémon when he was a child.
Pokémon
On hand
Mentioned
Debut | PW17 |
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Giovanni's Diglett was only mentioned when it was commanded to use Sand Attack.
Diglett's only known move is Sand Attack*.
Debut | PW17 |
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Giovanni was about to send out Rhyhorn after recalling Diglett but he threw the Poké Ball too high.
None of Rhyhorn's moves are known.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
- Main article: Giovanni (Pocket Monsters)
Giovanni is the boss of Team Rocket in Pokémon Pocket Monsters.
Pokémon Zensho
Giovanni appears in PZ05, where he is watching Satoshi from the hidden cameras within the Silph Co. building. He orders one of his Team Rocket Grunts to try and stop Satoshi from reaching him. Two chapters later, he has taken the boss of Silph Co. hostage and threatens to harm him if he refuses to tell Giovanni where the Master Ball was. However, he is interrupted when Satoshi and Sabrina teleport their way to the top floor. Lapras uses Mist to blind Nidoqueen, but she launches a Poison Sting attack. One of the needles from the attacks hits Giovanni. Satoshi and the others manage to escape afterwards. In Viridian City, Giovanni was revealed to be the final Gym Leader that Satoshi challenges. Satoshi manages to defeat him and earns the Earth Badge.
Pokémon
Debut | Saffron City |
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While taking over the Silph Co., Giovanni used Nidoqueen to hold the Silph co. boss hostage.
Nidoqueen's only known move is Poison Sting.
Debut | Viridian City |
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Rhydon was Satoshi's opponent for his final Gym battle. It went up against his Lapras and was defeated by his Charizard after Satoshi switched out Lapras.
Rhydon's only known move is Take Down.
At the Pokémon Tower
Debut | Celadon City |
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Giovanni has owned this Machamp ever since he was a child. When it passed away, it turned him into a bitter person. The spirit of Machamp was called out by one of the Team Rocket grunts to deal with Satoshi. However, it was defeated by Gastly as physical attacks had no effect on the Ghost-type Pokémon.
None of Machamp's moves are known.
Debut | Viridian City |
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Giovanni has owned this Nidoking ever since his childhood. He first appeared in Satoshi's flashback while Satoshi was in his house. At the Viridian Gym, Nidoking appeared in Giovanni's imagination where it was revealed that his passing during Giovanni's childhood turned him into a bitter person.
None of Nidoking's moves are known.
Debut | Viridian City |
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Kangaskhan only appeared shadowed in Satoshi's imagination.
None of Kangaskhan's moves are known.
In the TCG
Giovanni has an eponymous Theme Deck in the Gym Challenge expansion.
Cards
This listing is of cards mentioning or featuring Giovanni or his Pokémon in the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
Giovanni's Pokémon Cards listed with a blue background are only legal to use in the current Expanded format. Cards listed with a green background are legal to use in both the current Standard and Expanded formats. | |||||||
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Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
Giovanni's Gyarados | Gym Challenge | 5/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Machamp | Gym Challenge | 6/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidoking | Gym Challenge | 7/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Persian | Gym Challenge | 8/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidoqueen | Gym Challenge | 23/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Pinsir | Gym Challenge | 24/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Machoke | Gym Challenge | 42/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Meowth | Gym Challenge | 43/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidorina | Gym Challenge | 44/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidorino | Gym Challenge | 45/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Machop | Gym Challenge | 72/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Magikarp | Gym Challenge | 73/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Meowth | Gym Challenge | 74/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidoran♀ | Gym Challenge | 75/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidoran♂ | Gym Challenge | 76/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | ||||
Giovanni's Nidoking | Unnumbered Promotional cards | ||||||
Pretend Boss Pikachu Team Rocket | SM-P Promotional cards | 191/SM-P | |||||
Diglett | Unbroken Bonds | 85/214 | Double Blaze | 043/095 | |||
Rhydon | Unbroken Bonds | 94/214 | Double Blaze | 049/095 | |||
Card | Type | English Expansion |
Rarity | # | Japanese Expansion |
Rarity | # |
The Boss's Way | T | Team Rocket | 73/82 | Rocket Gang | |||
Legendary Collection | 105/110 | ||||||
Giovanni | T | Gym Challenge | 18/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | |||
Gym Challenge | 104/132 | ||||||
Giovanni's Last Resort | T | Gym Challenge | 105/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | |||
Viridian City Gym | T [St] | Gym Challenge | 123/132 | Challenge from the Darkness | |||
Giovanni's Scheme | Su | BREAKthrough | 138/162 | Red Flash | 058/059 | ||
BREAKthrough | 162/162 | Red Flash | 064/059 | ||||
Premium Champion Pack | 121/131 | ||||||
XY-P Promotional cards | 277/XY-P | ||||||
Gym Badge | I | XY Black Star Promos | XY210 | XY-P Promotional cards | |||
Giovanni's Exile | Su | Unbroken Bonds | 174/214 | Double Blaze | 085/095 | ||
Hidden Fates | 67/68 | Double Blaze | 105/095 | ||||
Hidden Fates | 57/68 | ||||||
Tag All Stars | 151/173 | ||||||
Boss's Orders Giovanni | Su | Rebel Clash | 154/192 | Rebellion Crash | 092/096 | ||
Rebel Clash | 189/192 | Rebellion Crash | 106/096 | ||||
Rebel Clash | 200/192 | Rebellion Crash | 112/096 | ||||
Giovanni's Charisma | Su | 151 | 161/165 | Pokémon Card 151 | 162/165 | ||
151 | 197/165 | Pokémon Card 151 | 197/165 | ||||
151 | 204/165 | Pokémon Card 151 | 207/165 | ||||
Trivia
- Giovanni is the only Gym Leader in the games to appear outside of his Gym in Generation I, a feature that would become more and more common up to Generation IV, during and after which all Gym Leaders in the featured regions appear outside of their Gym in one way or another.
- He is also the only Gym Leader not to use the "A Trainer Appears (Boy Version)" song before the battle.
- In the official Red and Blue guide from Nintendo Power, Giovanni was labelled to be a regional boss of Team Rocket (implying he's not the absolute leader). This was invalidated in Gold, Silver, and Crystal, where it was made clear that Giovanni was the absolute leader of Team Rocket (even having an office in Johto).
- Giovanni is likely based on the boss of a Yakuza faction, possibly more on the bakuto factions than others, considering Team Rocket's former ownership of the Celadon Game Corner. Outside of Japan, this reference is localized, making him more akin to a Mafia boss (especially considering his English name being Italian in origin).
- In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, Giovanni and Norman are tied for using more different species of Pokémon than any other Gym Leader at the Pokémon World Tournament, with a total of 10.
- Official material for the Pokémon World Tournament uses Giovanni's official artwork from Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, even though he uses his design from Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver in the games themselves.
- He is the only character to appear in the Pokémon World Tournament who does not use his most recent official artwork in promotional material.
- In Pokémon Yellow, he is the only Gym Leader who uses a Pokémon not of the type he specializes in during Gym battles.
- In his official Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon artwork, Giovanni has the same pose as Mega Mewtwo X in its official artwork, just mirrored.
- Artwork made by Ken Sugimori suggests that Giovanni was not originally going to be the Gym Leader of Viridian City.[5]
- Giovanni debuted in Pokémon GO as a GO Snapshot photobomb at Pokémon GO Fest in Yokohama.
- The teaser trailer for the debut of Team GO Rocket in GO contains the line "Earth is where I shall unleash my evil schemes next!" This is a reference to Giovanni's final line in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, in which he ponders "Now...what new world shall I unleash my evil schemes upon...?" before warping away from Aether Paradise.
- Giovanni is the only character to be the leader of more than one villainous team.
Names
Language | Name | Origin |
---|---|---|
Japanese | サカキ Sakaki | From 榊 sakaki (a sacred tree in Shinto from which the Earth Badge bears a resemblance) and 坂 / 阪 saka (slope) |
English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Indonesian, Brazilian Portuguese, Turkish | Giovanni | From geo- (a prefix of Greek origin pertaining to earth). The name "Giovanni" is the Italian cognate of John, possibly a reference on his resemblance to a mafia boss. |
Korean | 비주기 Bijugi | From 비쭈기나무 bijjuginamu (sakaki) |
Chinese (Mandarin) | 阪木 Bǎnmù* 坂木 Bǎnmù* |
From the Japanese name 阪木 / 坂木 Sakaki and 阪 / 坂 bǎn (slope) |
板木 Bǎnmù* | Similar to his other names. May be taken from 老板 lǎobǎn (boss). | |
Chinese (Cantonese) | 阪木 Báanmuhk* | From the Japanese name 阪木 / 坂木 Sakaki and 阪 / 坂 bǎn (slope) |
坂木 Báanmuhk* 沙加 Sāgā* | ||
From the partial transcription his Japanese name and 沙 sā (sand) | ||
Hindi | जोवानी Giovanni* | Transcription of his English name |
Russian | Джованни Dzhovanni | Transcription of his English name |
Thai | ซากากิ Sakaki* ซาคากิ Sakhaki* |
Transcription of his Japanese name |
Vietnamese | Sakaki | Transcription of his Japanese name |
BossFRLG/Rocket BossHGSS/Team Rocket BossPE
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See also
References
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This game character article is part of Project CharacterDex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each character found in the Pokémon games. |
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