Cliff Counters – How to defeat Pokémon GO Rocket Leader Cliff

A comprehensive guide on how to defeat Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokémon GO, updated for June 2021. We got you covered with 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.

💡 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

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

Countering Cliff’s Pokémon

Seedot

Seedot

Cliff’s Seedot is an easy opponent given its poor selection of moves and mediocre stats. It’s easily countered by anything that resists Grass and Dark moves, which includes a wide selection of Dragon and Flying types.

Recommended counters

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Kingler

Kingler

Cliff’s Kingler is weak to Grass and Electric moves, and is easily defeated by the majority of strong Pokémon of that type. Additionally, Pokémon like Dragonite and Gardevoir perform well against it.

Recommended counters

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Hariyama

Hariyama

Cliff’s Hariyama is your typical Fighting-typed tank, and as such it is easily defeated by Psychic and Fairy types. Whatever has Charm or Confusion is a good choice, especially if it’s a Flying type – Togekiss for the win!

Recommended counters

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Poliwrath

Poliwrath

Cliff’s Poliwrath can be a doozy to fight, since its wide variety of moves can cause some headaches. Regardless, stick with the typical picks – Togekiss, Torterra, Gardevoir – and you should have little problems.

Recommended counters

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Tyranitar

Tyranitar

Tyranitar uses Dark and Steel quick moves, and Fire, Rock and Dark charge moves. Tyranitar is double weak to Fighting, which is a feast for Conkeldurr, Machamp and Lucario. You can use Swampert or Heracross if powering up those Pokémon is too expensive (Stardust wise).

Recommended counters

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Torterra

Torterra

Cliff’s Torterra is fairly easy to counter, especially if you brought along a selection of strong Dragon types. Torterra’s weakness has always been the fact it can’t do much against Flyers, so we’ll use that in part as well.

Recommended counters

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Sharpedo

Sharpedo

Sharpedo can be easily defeated by Fighting and Electric type counters, and even Grass types. We would recommend Fighting types as they can also provide coverage for Tyranitar just in case.

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