Cliff is one of the three Team GO Rocket leaders, and he is known for being one of the most challenging opponents to defeat in Pokemon Go. He has a roster of seven Shadow Pokemon, and he can choose any three of them to battle you. This makes it difficult to predict what Pokemon he will use, so it is important to be prepared for a variety of types.
How to Beat Cliff in Pokemon Go
The key to defeating Cliff in Pokemon Go is to use a variety of Pokemon types to cover all of his potential picks. You should also pay attention to the charged attacks that his Pokemon are using, and switch out your Pokemon accordingly. Finally, use your shields wisely to protect your Pokemon from powerful charged attacks.
Phase 1
Cliff will always start with Shadow Dratini. This is a powerful Dragon-type Pokemon, but it is also weak to Fairy, Ice, and Dragon-type moves. Some good counters to beat Cliff’s Shadow Dratini in Pokemon Go include:
- Fairy: Togekiss, Gardevoir, Galarian Rapidash
- Ice: Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile
- Dragon: Rayquaza, Zekrom, Palkia
Phase 2
For the second phase, Cliff can choose from Shadow Slowking, Shadow Cradily, or Shadow Gallade. Since we do not know what exactly he will choose we need to be prepared with leveled-up Pokemon that can defeat them. Some good picks to fight Cliff’s second phase Pokemon are:
- Shadow Slowking: This is a Water/Psychic-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, and Grass-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Slowking include:
- Bug: Scyther, Scizor, Pinsir
- Dark: Tyranitar, Houndoom, Darkrai
- Electric: Xurkitree, Electivire, Thundurus
- Ghost: Gengar, Giratina, Chandelure
- Grass: Roserade, Venusaur, Rhyperior
- Shadow Cradily: This is a Rock/Grass-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Bug, Fighting, Fire, Ice, and Steel-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Cradily include:
- Bug: Scyther, Scizor, Pinsir
- Fighting: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr
- Fire: Reshiram, Chandelure, Darmanitan
- Ice: Mamoswine, Glaceon, Weavile
- Steel: Metagross, Dialga, Excadrill
- Shadow Gallade: This is a Psychic/Fighting-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Fairy, Flying, and Ghost-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Gallade include:
- Fairy: Togekiss, Gardevoir, Galarian Rapidash
- Flying: Rayquaza, Ho-Oh, Moltres
- Ghost: Gengar, Giratina, Chandelure
Phase 3
For the final phase, Cliff can choose from Shadow Dusknoir, Shadow Mamoswine, or Shadow Tyranitar. Again we need to be prepared with leveled up Pokemon. Some good counters to beat Cliff’s Phase 3 Pokemon in Pokemon Go include:
- Shadow Dusknoir: This is a Ghost-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Dark and Ghost-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Dusknoir include:
- Dark: Tyranitar, Houndoom, Darkrai
- Ghost: Gengar, Giratina, Chandelure
- Shadow Mamoswine: This is an Ice/Ground-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Water, Fire, Grass, Fighting, and Steel-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Mamoswine include:
- Water: Kyogre, Palkia, Swampert
- Fire: Reshiram, Chandelure, Darmanitan
- Grass: Roserade, Venusaur, Rhyperior
- Fighting: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr
- Steel: Metagross, Dialga, Excadrill
- Shadow Tyranitar: This is a Rock/Dark-type Pokemon, so it is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Ground, Water, Steel, and Grass-type moves. Some good counters for Shadow Tyranitar include:
- Bug: Scyther, Scizor, Pinsir
- Fairy: Togekiss, Gardevoir, Galarian Rapidash
- Fighting: Machamp, Lucario, Conkeldurr
- Ground: Kyogre, Palkia, Swampert
- Water: Kyogre, Palkia, Swampert
- Steel: Metagross, Dialga, Excadrill
- Grass: Roserade, Venusaur, Rhyperior
