How to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go (Recent Update! May 2025)

Pokemon Go is a popular augmented reality game that lets you catch, battle, and trade Pokemon in the real world. One of the features of the game is the Team Go Rocket invasion, where you can encounter and fight against the evil Team Go Rocket leaders, such as Cliff.

Cliff is one of the toughest opponents in Pokemon Go, as he has a diverse and powerful lineup of Shadow Pokemon that can deal a lot of damage and resist many attacks. However, with the right strategy and counters, you can defeat Cliff and rescue his Shadow Pokemon.

In this article, we will show you how to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go, based on his latest lineup update in November 2023.

Who is Cliff in Pokemon Go?

Cliff is one of the three Team Go Rocket leaders, along with Arlo and Sierra. He is the leader of the brute force division of Team Go Rocket, and he likes to use strong and bulky Pokemon that can overwhelm the opponent. He is also the most loyal to Giovanni, the boss of Team Go Rocket, and he will not hesitate to challenge you if you have a Rocket Radar.

Cliff’s lineup consists of three Shadow Pokemon, each with different moves and weaknesses. He will always use a Shadow Dratini as his first Pokemon, but his second and third Pokemon can vary depending on the month. In November 2023, his possible second Pokemon are Shadow Slowking, Cradily, and Gallade, and his possible third Pokemon are Shadow Dusknoir, Mamoswine, and Tyranitar.

Best Counters for Cliff’s Pokemon

To beat Cliff in Pokemon Go, you need to use Pokemon that can counter his Pokemon’s types and moves. Here are some of the best counters for each of Cliff’s Pokemon, based on their stats, movesets, and type effectiveness.

Phase 1: Shadow Dratini

Shadow Dratini is a Dragon-type Pokemon that can use Dragon Breath, Dragon Tail, Aqua Tail, Wrap, or Twister as its moves. It is weak to Ice, Dragon, and Fairy-type attacks, and resistant to Water, Fire, Grass, and Electric-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Shadow Dratini are:

Mamoswine: Mamoswine is an Ice and Ground-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Shadow Dratini with its Ice-type moves, such as Powder Snow and Avalanche. It can also resist Shadow Dratini’s Dragon and Electric-type moves, and survive its Water-type moves.
Gardevoir: Gardevoir is a Psychic and Fairy-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Shadow Dratini with its Fairy-type moves, such as Charm and Dazzling Gleam. It can also resist Shadow Dratini’s Dragon and Electric-type moves, and survive its Water-type moves.
Dragonite: Dragonite is a Dragon and Flying-type Pokemon that can use Dragon-type moves, such as Dragon Breath and Draco Meteor, to deal super effective damage to Shadow Dratini. However, it is also weak to Dragon-type moves, so it can be risky to use against Shadow Dratini.

Phase 2: Shadow Slowking, Cradily, and Gallade

Cliff’s second Pokemon can be one of the following: Shadow Slowking, Cradily, or Gallade. Each of them has different types, moves, and weaknesses, so you need to choose your counter accordingly.

Shadow Slowking

Shadow Slowking is a Water and Psychic-type Pokemon that can use Confusion, Water Pulse, Psychic, Blizzard, or Fire Blast as its moves. It is weak to Electric, Grass, Bug, Ghost, and Dark-type attacks, and resistant to Fighting, Psychic, Fire, Water, Ice, and Steel-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Shadow Slowking are:

Darkrai: Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Shadow Slowking with its Dark-type moves, such as Snarl and Dark Pulse. It can also resist Shadow Slowking’s Psychic-type moves, and survive its Fire-type moves.
Zekrom: Zekrom is a Dragon and Electric-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Shadow Slowking with its Electric-type moves, such as Charge Beam and Wild Charge. It can also resist Shadow Slowking’s Water and Electric-type moves, and survive its Ice-type moves.
Mega Venusaur: Mega Venusaur is a Grass and Poison-type Pokemon that can use Grass-type moves, such as Vine Whip and Frenzy Plant, to deal super effective damage to Shadow Slowking. It can also resist Shadow Slowking’s Water, Grass, Electric, and Fairy-type moves, and survive its Ice-type moves.

Cradily

Cradily is a Rock and Grass-type Pokemon that can use Bullet Seed, Infestation, Stone Edge, Grass Knot, or Ancient Power as its moves. It is weak to Steel, Fighting, Bug, and Ice-type attacks, and resistant to Ground, Water, Electric, and Rock-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Cradily are:

Metagross: Metagross is a Steel and Psychic-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Cradily with its Steel-type moves, such as Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash. It can also resist Cradily’s Rock, Grass, and Psychic-type moves, and survive its Bug-type moves.
Lucario: Lucario is a Fighting and Steel-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Cradily with its Fighting-type moves, such as Counter and Aura Sphere. It can also resist Cradily’s Rock, Grass, and Bug-type moves, and survive its Steel-type moves.
Mega Abomasnow: Mega Abomasnow is a Grass and Ice-type Pokemon that can use Ice-type moves, such as Powder Snow and Weather Ball, to deal super effective damage to Cradily. It can also resist Cradily’s Ground, Water, and Electric-type moves, and survive its Rock-type moves.

Gallade

Gallade is a Psychic and Fighting-type Pokemon that can use Confusion, Low Kick, Leaf Blade, Close Combat, or Psychic as its moves. It is weak to Flying, Ghost, and Fairy-type attacks, and resistant to Fighting, Rock, and Dark-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Gallade are:

Mewtwo: Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Gallade with its Ghost-type moves, such as Psycho Cut and Shadow Ball. It can also resist Gallade’s Psychic-type moves, and survive its Fighting-type moves.
Togekiss: Togekiss is a Fairy and Flying-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Gallade with its Fairy-type moves, such as Charm and Dazzling Gleam. It can also resist Gallade’s Fighting and Dark-type moves, and survive its Psychic-type moves.
Mega Gengar: Mega Gengar is a Ghost and Poison-type Pokemon that can use Ghost-type moves, such as Lick and Shadow Ball, to deal super effective damage to Gallade. It can also resist Gallade’s Fighting and Psychic-type moves, and survive its Grass-type moves.

Phase 3: Shadow Dusknoir, Mamoswine, and Tyranitar

Cliff’s third Pokemon can be one of the following: Shadow Dusknoir, Mamoswine, or Tyranitar. Each of them has different types, moves, and weaknesses, so you need to choose your counter accordingly.

Shadow Dusknoir

Shadow Dusknoir is a Ghost-type Pokemon that can use Hex, Feint Attack, Shadow Punch, Psychic, or Fire Punch as its moves. It is weak to Ghost and Dark-type attacks, and resistant to Poison, Bug, and Normal-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Shadow Dusknoir are:

Darkrai: Darkrai is a Dark-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Shadow Dusknoir with its Dark-type moves, such as Snarl and Dark Pulse. It can also resist Shadow Dusknoir’s Ghost and Dark-type moves, and survive its Fire-type moves.
Mewtwo: Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Shadow Dusknoir with its Ghost-type moves, such as Psycho Cut and Shadow Ball. It can also resist Shadow Dusknoir’s Psychic-type moves, and survive its Fire-type moves.
Mega Houndoom: Mega Houndoom is a Dark and Fire-type Pokemon that can use Dark-type moves, such as Snarl and Foul Play, to deal super effective damage to Shadow Dusknoir. It can also resist Shadow Dusknoir’s Ghost, Dark, and Fire-type moves, and survive its Psychic-type moves.

Mamoswine

Mamoswine is an Ice and Ground-type Pokemon that can use Powder Snow, Mud Slap, Avalanche, Bulldoze, or Stone Edge as its moves. It is weak to Fire, Water, Grass, Fighting, and Steel-type attacks, and resistant to Electric, Poison, and Rock-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Mamoswine are:

Mega Charizard Y: Mega Charizard Y is a Fire and Flying-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Mamoswine with its Fire-type moves, such as Fire Spin and Blast Burn. It can also resist Mamoswine’s Ice, Ground, and Rock-type moves, and survive its Electric-type moves.
Kyogre: Kyogre is a Water-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Mamoswine with its Water-type moves, such as Waterfall and Hydro Pump. It can also resist Mamoswine’s Ice and Electric-type moves, and survive its Rock-type moves.
Machamp: Machamp is a Fighting-type Pokemon that can use Fighting-type moves, such as Counter and Dynamic Punch, to deal super effective damage to Mamoswine. It can also resist Mamoswine’s Rock-type moves, and survive its Ground-type moves.

Tyranitar

Tyranitar is a Rock and Dark-type Pokemon that can use Bite, Smack Down, Crunch, Stone Edge, or Fire Blast as its moves. It is weak to Fighting, Ground, Water, Grass, Bug, Steel, and Fairy-type attacks, and resistant to Normal, Flying, Poison, Ghost, Fire, Dark, and Psychic-type attacks.

Some of the best counters for Tyranitar are:

Mega Lucario: Mega Lucario is a Fighting and Steel-type Pokemon that can deal super effective damage to Tyranitar with its Fighting-type moves, such as Counter and Aura Sphere. It can also resist Tyranitar’s Normal, Rock, Dark, and Psychic-type moves, and survive its Fire-type moves.
Groudon: Groudon is a Ground-type Pokemon that can also deal super effective damage to Tyranitar with its Ground-type moves, such as Mud Shot and Earthquake. It can also resist Tyranitar’s Poison, Rock, and Fire-type moves, and survive its Electric-type moves.
Mega Gardevoir: Mega Gardevoir is a Psychic and Fairy-type Pokemon that can use Fairy-type moves, such as Charm and Dazzling Gleam, to deal super effective damage to Tyranitar. It can also resist Tyranitar’s Dark and Psychic-type moves, and survive its Ghost-type moves.

Tips for Beating Cliff in Pokemon Go

Besides choosing the best counters for Cliff’s Pokemon, you also need to follow some tips and tricks to beat him in Pokemon Go. Here are some of them:

Use Pokemon with type advantage: The most important factor in beating Cliff is to use Pokemon that can exploit his Pokemon’s weaknesses and resist their strengths. You can use the type chart below to help you choose the best Pokemon for each matchup.

Type	Super Effective Against	Not Very Effective Against	No Effect Against
Normal	–	Rock, Steel	Ghost
Fire	Grass, Ice, Bug, Steel	Fire, Water, Rock, Dragon	–
Water	Fire, Ground, Rock	Water, Grass, Dragon	–
Electric	Water, Flying	Electric, Grass, Dragon, Ground	–
Grass	Water, Ground, Rock	Fire, Grass, Poison, Flying, Bug, Dragon, Steel	–
Ice	Grass, Ground, Flying, Dragon	Fire, Water, Ice, Steel	–
Fighting	Normal, Ice, Rock, Dark, Steel	Poison, Flying, Psychic, Bug, Fairy	Ghost
Poison	Grass, Fairy	Poison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel	–
Ground	Fire, Electric, Poison, Rock, Steel	Grass, Bug, Flying	–
Flying	Grass, Fighting, Bug	Electric, Rock, Steel	–
Psychic	Fighting, Poison	Psychic, Steel	Dark
Bug	Grass, Psychic, Dark	Fire, Fighting, Poison, Flying, Ghost, Steel, Fairy	–
Rock	Fire, Ice, Flying, Bug	Fighting, Ground, Steel	–
Ghost	Psychic, Ghost	Dark	Normal
Dragon	Dragon	Steel, Fairy	–
Dark	Psychic, Ghost	Fighting, Dark, Fairy	–
Steel	Ice, Rock, Fairy	Fire, Water, Electric, Steel	–
Fairy	Fighting, Dragon, Dark	Fire, Poison, Steel	–

Pay attention to Cliff’s dialogue: Before the battle starts, Cliff will say something that can give you a hint about his Pokemon’s types and moves. For example, if he says “You’ll be frozen in your tracks!”, he is likely to use a Shadow Dratini with an Ice-type move, such as Blizzard or Twister. If he says “You’re in over your head!”, he is likely to use a Shadow Slowking with a Water-type move, such as Water Pulse or Fire Blast. Use this information to adjust your team accordingly.
Have a well-balanced team: While it is tempting to use only one type of Pokemon to counter Cliff’s Pokemon, it is better to have a well-balanced team that can handle different scenarios. For example, if you use only Ice-type Pokemon to counter Shadow Dratini, you may struggle against Shadow Slowking or Cradily, which can resist Ice-type attacks. Try to have a mix of Pokemon that can cover each other’s weaknesses and strengths.
Utilize Mega Evolutions and Shadow Pokemon: Mega Evolutions and Shadow Pokemon are powerful features that can give you an edge in the battle against Cliff. Mega Evolutions can boost your Pokemon’s stats and abilities, as well as the stats and abilities of your other Pokemon of the same type. Shadow Pokemon can deal 20% more damage than normal Pokemon, but they also take 20% more damage. Use them wisely to maximize your damage output and minimize your damage intake.

Conclusion

Cliff is one of the most challenging opponents in Pokemon Go, but he is not unbeatable. With the right strategy and counters, you can defeat him and rescue his Shadow Pokemon. Remember to use Pokemon with type advantage, pay attention to Cliff’s dialogue, have a well-balanced team, and utilize Mega Evolutions and Shadow Pokemon. We hope this article helped you learn how to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go. Good luck and have fun!