Pokémon GO: How to Get a Super Rocket Radar for Shadow Zekrom

To encounter and catch Shadow Zekrom in Pokémon GO, you must complete the active Team GO Rocket Special Research to claim a Super Rocket Radar, then locate and defeat Team GO Rocket leader Giovanni. The Super Rocket Radar is the required item to trigger a Giovanni encounter during his active rotation.

How to Obtain the Super Rocket Radar

The primary method for acquiring a Super Rocket Radar is progressing through seasonal Team GO Rocket Special Research assigned by Professor Willow.

1. Check Your Special Research Tab: Open your task menu and locate the active Team GO Rocket questline. If you have an uncompleted Rocket research quest from a previous rotation, you must finish it first before receiving new tasks or earning the current rotation's radar reward.
2. Complete Required Task Stages: Progress through the quest stages by completing Team GO Rocket objectives, such as battling Team GO Rocket Grunts at PokéStops and purifying Shadow Pokémon.
3. Claim the Reward: Reaching the final stages of the research path awards the Super Rocket Radar directly to your item inventory.

Locating and Defeating Giovanni

Once the Super Rocket Radar is in your inventory, use it to track down Giovanni on the world map.

1. Equip the Radar: Open your Item Bag, select the Super Rocket Radar, and tap Equip.
2. Scan the Map: Check your immediate map view. Look for signature black Team GO Rocket balloons overhead or inspect nearby PokéStops displaying a dark, visually glitched appearance.
3. Engage the Hideout: Approach the glitched PokéStop or tap the Rocket balloon. Note that some hideouts contain Decoy Grunts; continue checking hideout locations until Giovanni appears.

Battle Strategy and Team Composition

Giovanni's battle lineup follows a set structure:

• First Pokémon: Persian (always leads).
• Second Pokémon: Rotates depending on the active event cycle.
• Third Pokémon: Shadow Zekrom.

Because Shadow Zekrom is an Electric- and Dragon-type Pokémon, target its elemental weaknesses by bringing attackers with the following move types:

• Ground
• Fairy
• Dragon
• Ice

To win the fight efficiently, lead your team with a Pokémon that features a fast-charging Charged Attack. Force Giovanni to use both of his protect shields early in the fight. Once his shields are depleted, swap to your heavy-hitting Ground, Fairy, Dragon, or Ice attackers to finish the battle and initiate the Shadow Zekrom capture phase.

Encounter Rules and Resource Limits

• Radar Retention on Defeat: If you lose the battle against Giovanni, your Super Rocket Radar is not consumed. You can retry the fight as many times as needed until you win.
• Research Blocking: You cannot stack multiple active Team GO Rocket Special Research questlines simultaneously. Leaving a research line unfinished prevents you from receiving new seasonal Rocket research assignments.
• Storage Requirement: Verify that you have open Pokémon storage space before starting the encounter to prevent capture issues after defeating the boss.