Pokémon GO Cliff Guide

Defeat Cliff in Pokémon GO! A comprehensive guide on how to defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokémon GO. We got you covered with the best Pokémon to use against Cliff, regardless of which line-up he 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.

Cliff’s Pokémon Line-Up

Leader Cliff uses Shadow Bulbasaur as his first Pokémon. Cliff’s second Pokémon can be Shadow Crobat, Shadow Venusaur, or Shadow Omastar. His third Pokémon can be Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Torterra or Shadow Swampert.

Countering Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon

Bulbasaur

Bulbasaur

Cliff’s Shadow Bulbasaur is a Grass and Poison type opponent that is weak to Fire Ice Psychic and Flying.

It’s super important to burn as many shields as possible during this fight. This will make defeating Cliff a much easier task. Bulbasaur should be relatively easy to defeat.

Recommended counters

Cliff’s second Pokémon

Crobat

Crobat

Cliff’s Shadow Crobat is an Poison and Flying type, it is weak to Electric Ice Psychic and Rock.

Be careful not to underestimate it, always shield and get through this fight swiftly.

Recommended counters

---

Venusaur

Venusaur

Cliff’s Shadow Venusaur is a Grass and Poison type, making it weak to Fire Ice Psychic and Flying.

The same counters you used for Bulbasaur will work for Venusaur, or you can use the options below for more alternatives.

Recommended counters

---

Omastar

Omastar

Cliff’s Shadow Omastar is easy to take down with your Grass type counters (2x weakness to Grass), but it is also weak to Electric Fighting and Ground.

Usually, using Grass-typed Pokémon to counter Omastar is the way to go regardless of which move set it holds. You’re faced with Mud Shot (Ground), Water Gun (Water) or Rock Throw (Rock) as quick moves.

Recommended counters

---

Cliff’s final Pokémon

Tyranitar

Tyranitar

Cliff’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.

Note: Tyranitar does not resist Electric and Rock damage, despite common misconception. Given the low availability of strong Fighters in high CP ranges, most non-Fighting counters can be used equally as good as Machamp. Tyranitar also doesn’t have Smack Down as a quick move in Trainer Battles.

Recommended counters

---

Swampert

Swampert

Cliff’s Shadow Swampert is a Water and Ground type. Swampert is double weak to Grass, so most of the counters are based around abusing that type weakness.

Swampert can be a messy opponent if you don’t have a strong Grass attacker for PvP.

Recommended counters

---

Torterra

Torterra

Cliff’s Shadow Torterra is a Grass and Ground type that is 2x weak to Ice, and weak to Bug Fire and Flying.

Recommended counters

---

More Team GO Rocket Guides

• GO Rocket Grunts Guide: Counters and Lineups
• Giovanni Counters Guide
• Arlo Counters Guide
• Sierra Counters Guide
• Cliff Counters Guide