Guide

Pokémon GO Cliff Guide: August 2021

The best Pokémon to defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokémon GO.

August 10, 2021

A comprehensive guide on how to defeat Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokémon GO, updated for August 2021. We got you covered with the best Pokémon to use against Cliff, regardless of which line-up Cliff uses.

Remember that you can rematch Cliff if you lose the first time. Use this guide in combination with knowing Cliff’s Pokémon to ensure a victory. While Cliff is not the most difficult Team Go Rocket Leader, he is often the most unpredictable.

💡 Note: In Trainer Battles, counters need not always be Pokémon that do super-effective damage. We include Pokémon that are more viable to defeat Cliff, rather than those who do maximum damage.

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Cliff’s Pokémon Line-Up

Cliff uses Shadow Seedot as his first Pokémon. Arlo’s second Pokémon can be Shadow Hariyama, Shadow Poliwrath or Shadow Kingler. His third Pokémon can be Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Torterra or Shadow Sharpedo.

Pokemon #1	Pokemon #2	Pokemon #3
Seedot	Hariyama	Tyranitar
	Poliwrath	Torterra
	Kingler	Sharpedo

Countering Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon

Seedot

Arlo’s Shadow Venonat is a pure Grass type opponent that is easily countered by strong Fire, Flying, Ice, Bug and Poison types.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Moves
Charizard	Fire Spin Fire Blast Burn Fire Dragon Claw Dragon
Pidgeot	Gust Flying Brave Bird Flying
Moltres	Fire Spin Fire Overheat Fire Sky Attack Flying
Abomasnow	Powder Snow Ice Weather Ball Ice Energy Ball Grass

Hariyama

The Flying type counters with saved energy can do heavy damage to Hariyama with their super-effective attack(s). However, Hariyama can be easily countered by strong Psychic and Fairy types. The Fairy types should be wary of Heavy Slam though.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Moves
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut or Confusion Psychic Psystrike Psychic
Lugia	Extrasensory Psychic Sky Attack Flying
Latios	Zen Headbutt Psychic Psychic Psychic
Togekiss	Charm Fairy Aerial Ace Flying

Poliwrath

Arlo’s Shadow Poliwrath can be a little tricky but you are good to go with your Psychic, Grass, Electric, Flying and Fairy type attackers.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Fast move
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut or Confusion Psychic Psystrike Psychic
Latios	Zen Headbutt Psychic Psychic Psychic
Venusaur	Vine Whip Grass Frenzy Plant Grass
Zapdos	Thunder Shock Electric Thunderbolt Electric Drill Peck Flying

Kingler

Arlo’s Shadow Kingler is extremely glassy and is the easiest to take down with your Grass and Electric type counters.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Moves
Venusaur	Vine Whip Grass Frenzy Plant Grass
Sceptile	Bullet Seed Grass Leaf Blade Grass
Roserade	Bullet Seed or Razor Leaf Grass Grass Knot Grass
Magnezone	Spark Electric Wil Charge Electric
Zapdos	Thunder Shock Electric Thunderbolt Electric

Tyranitar

Arlo’s Shadow Tyranitar is 2x weak to the Fighting type, among other weaknesses. While Tyranitar is strong, you can beat it with little effort by taking advantage of its various weaknesses that include the Fighting, Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ground, Steel and Water types.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Lucario	Counter Fighting	Power-Up Punch Fighting Aura Sphere Fighting
Conkeldurr	Counter Fighting	Dynamic Punch Fighting
Machamp	Counter Fighting	Cross Chop[ Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting
Swampert	Mud Shot Ground or Water Gun Water	Hydro Cannon Water Earthquake Ground
Excadrill	Mud Shot Ground	Drill Run Ground

Torterra

Arlo’s Shadow Torterra has a 2x weakness to the Ice type apart from other weaknesses that include the Bug Fire and Flying types.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Mamoswine	Powder Snow Ice	Avalanche Ice
Darmanitan (Galarian)	Ice Fang Ice	Ice Punch Ice Avalanche Ice
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut Ice	Ice Beam Ice
Charizard	Fire Spin Fire or Air Slash Flying	Blast Burn Fire
Pidgeot	Gust Flying	Brave Bird Flying
Moltres	Fire Spin Flying	Sky Attack Flying Overheat Fire

Sharpedo

Arlo’s Shadow Sharpedo is mean, hits hard but has paper-thin defenses. Counter, Charm or Razor Leaf would be more than enough to take it down. Basically, you are going to use Fighting, Fairy, Grass and Electric types.

Recommended counters

Pokémon	Fast move	Charge move
Lucario	Counter Fighting	Power-Up Punch Fighting Aura Sphere Fighting
Machamp	Counter Fighting	Cross Chop Fighting Dynamic Punch Fighting
Togekiss	Charm Fairy	Ancient Power Rock Aerial Ace Flying
Venusaur	Vine Whip Grass or Razor Leaf Grass	Frenzy Plant Grass
Roserade	Bullet Seed Grass or Razor Leaf Grass	Grass Knot Grass
Raikou	Volt Switch Electric	Wild Charge Electric