Hi, I'm Boss Rocket, and over the next couple of weeks, I'll be giving card tips on Giovanni cards, Team Rocket cards, and Team Rocket Series cards. Today, I'd like to give a card strategy on Giovanni. Here's what it says:

                                         Trainer

    Giovanni

 

 

 

             Choose one of your Pokemon with Giovanni in its name now in play. If you wish, you may make that Pokemon evolve even if you put it into play this turn. You can also evolve it if you already evolved it this turn.

 

(If you wish to make it evolve, play the proper evolution card from your hand as usual).

 

 

                   Now that's what I call a good card. I don't know why Pojo's April mag says that it's totally worthless, because it's not at all worthless. It's simply too good. Here are its advantages and disadvantages:

       Advantages:

1. If you have a Giovanni Basic Pokemon in danger, use Giovanni to make it evolve(for instance, Giovanni's Machop, who's very risky. Use Giovanni to make it a Giovanni's Machoke, then use another Giovanni to make it a Giovanni's Machamp)

2.It works great in decks made up entirely of Giovanni Pokemon.

 

Disadvantages:

1. It only works on Giovanni Pokemon.

2. If you use it on the Pokemon you want, and that Pokemon doesn't have enough energy cards on it to attack in its evolved stage, you sealed your fate.

 

Now for the combos that go with this card:

1. Giovanni + Giovanni's Persian + Mew:

Giovanni's Persian's Call Boss Power summons Giovanni, then you can evolve a Giovanni Pokemon on your Bench. Since Call Boss is a one-shot power that only works when you play Giovanni's Persian from your hand, use Mew's Devolution Beam Attack and next turn, play Giovanni's Persian again and use the Call Boss Power.

2. Giovanni + Blastoise + Giovanni's Magikarp + Giovanni's Gyarados + Slowpoke(Fossil) + Team Rocket's Training Gym(Stadium Card) + Switch:

Play Giovanni to make Giovanni's Magikarp evolve into Giovanni's Gyarados. Then, use Blastoise's Rain Dance Power to charge it up, attach 4 PlusPower, and use Dragon Tornado. It'll do 80 damage to the Pokemon you're up against(unless of course, it's a fire-type, then it'll surely do it in.) If the Pokemon wasn't KO'ed by this attack, choose something weak like Brock's Mankey and make it come out. Next, play the Team Rocket's Training Gym to make it harder for him to retreat on your next turn. Then, use a Switch to bring your Slowpoke out and use Scavenge about 4-5 Times until you get those PlusPower back.

3. Giovanni + Giovanni's Nidorina + Giovanni's Nidoqueen + Giovanni's Nidoking + Venusaur(Base Set):

Since Giovanni's Nidorina hurts itself a lot, use two Giovanni to evolve it and Giovanni's Nidorino into Giovanni's Nidoking and Giovanni's Nidoqueen. Then, use Venusaur's Energy Trans Power to Get enough energy for Love Lariate and hope you get heads.

If you have any questions, e-mail me at keane.fam@rcn.com