Use a strong Fighting-type lead for Persian
Best Persian counters: Lucario, Machamp, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Poliwrath
Fast moves to use: Counter, Double Kick, Karate Chop
Charged moves to use: Aura Sphere, Dynamic Punch, Cross Chop, Rock Slide
If Giovanni has Nidoking, use Water, Ground, Ice, or Psychic attackers
Best Nidoking counters: Mewtwo, Kyogre, Swampert, Garchomp, Excadrill, Groudon, Excadrill
If Giovanni has Kingler, use Electric, Grass, or Fighting attackers
Best Kingler counters: Kartana, Zarude, Roserade, Zekrom, Raikou, Magnezone
If Giovanni has Rhyperior, use Water, Grass, Ice, Fighting, or Ground attackers
Best Rhyperior counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Kartana, Roserade, Garchomp, Lucario
If Giovanni has Garchomp, use Ice or Fairy attackers
Best Garchomp counters: Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile, Gardevoir, Togekiss, Sylveon
If Giovanni has Gyarados, use Electric or Rock attackers
Best Gyarados counters: Zekrom, Raikou, Magnezone, Electivire, Rampardos, Tyranitar
If Giovanni has Kangaskhan, use Fighting attackers
Best Kangaskhan counters: Lucario, Machamp, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Hariyama
If Giovanni has Steelix, use Water, Fire, Fighting, or Ground attackers
Best Steelix counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Groudon, Excadrill, Lucario, Reshiram
If Giovanni has Cloyster, use Electric, Grass, Fighting, Rock, or Steel attackers
Best Cloyster counters: Zekrom, Raikou, Kartana, Roserade, Lucario, Metagross
If Giovanni has Honchkrow, use Electric, Ice, Rock, or Fairy attackers
Best Honchkrow counters: Zekrom, Raikou, Mamoswine, Rampardos, Togekiss, Gardevoir
If Giovanni has Nidoqueen, use Water, Ground, Ice, or Psychic attackers
Best Nidoqueen counters: Mewtwo, Kyogre, Swampert, Garchomp, Excadrill, Groudon
If Giovanni has Raticate, use Fighting attackers
Best Raticate counters: Lucario, Machamp, Conkeldurr, Terrakion, Hariyama
If Giovanni has Shadow Registeel, use Fighting, Fire, or Ground attackers
Best Registeel counters: Lucario, Reshiram, Heatran, Groudon, Terrakion, Conkeldurr
If Giovanni has Shadow Regice, use Fire, Fighting, Rock, or Steel attackers
Best Regice counters: Reshiram, Lucario, Terrakion, Metagross, Heatran, Blaziken
If Giovanni has Shadow Regirock, use Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, or Steel attackers
Best Regirock counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Kartana, Roserade, Lucario, Groudon
If Giovanni has Shadow Latias, use Ice, Dragon, Ghost, Dark, or Fairy attackers
Best Latias counters: Garchomp, Mamoswine, Weavile, Gengar, Tyranitar, Togekiss
If Giovanni has Shadow Latios, use Ice, Dragon, Ghost, Dark, or Fairy attackers
Best Latios counters: Garchomp, Mamoswine, Weavile, Gengar, Tyranitar, Togekiss
If Giovanni has Shadow Ho-Oh, use Water, Electric, or Rock attackers
Best Ho-Oh counters: Kyogre, Zekrom, Raikou, Rampardos, Tyranitar, Rhyperior
If Giovanni has Shadow Lugia, use Electric, Ice, Rock, Ghost, or Dark attackers
Best Lugia counters: Zekrom, Raikou, Mamoswine, Tyranitar, Weavile, Gengar
If Giovanni has Shadow Mewtwo, use Dark, Ghost, or Bug attackers
Best Mewtwo counters: Tyranitar, Weavile, Hydreigon, Gengar, Chandelure, Genesect
If Giovanni has Shadow Suicune, use Electric or Grass attackers
Best Suicune counters: Zekrom, Raikou, Kartana, Zarude, Roserade, Magnezone
If Giovanni has Shadow Entei, use Water, Ground, or Rock attackers
Best Entei counters: Kyogre, Swampert, Groudon, Rhyperior, Rampardos, Terrakion
If Giovanni has Shadow Raikou, use Ground attackers
Best Raikou counters: Groudon, Garchomp, Excadrill, Rhyperior, Landorus, Swampert
If Giovanni has Shadow Articuno, use Rock, Electric, Fire, or Steel attackers
Best Articuno counters: Rampardos, Tyranitar, Zekrom, Raikou, Reshiram, Metagross
If Giovanni has Shadow Zapdos, use Rock or Ice attackers
Best Zapdos counters: Rampardos, Tyranitar, Mamoswine, Glaceon, Rhyperior, Mewtwo
If Giovanni has Shadow Moltres, use Rock, Water, or Electric attackers
Best Moltres counters: Rampardos, Tyranitar, Kyogre, Zekrom, Raikou, Rhyperior
Use a team that covers Persian plus the possible second slot plus the legendary slot
Save shields for the legendary slot if your lead can handle Persian
Bait shields with cheap charged moves
Use fast-charging charged moves to pressure Giovanni’s shields
Restart if the second slot matchup is bad
Bring at least one hard counter to Persian, one flexible safe swap, and one legendary counter
Use high-level, powered-up Pokémon with strong IVs
Use shadow or mega attackers when available
Check Giovanni’s current lineup before battling
Adjust counters based on the legendary shadow currently available
Use Pokémon with spammy charged moves to break shields quickly
Keep your strongest ice, rock, dark, fighting, water, electric, and ground attackers ready