Meeting Cliff: how to defeat this boss in Pokémon Go

Conquering Cliff, one of Team GO Rocket's leaders in Pokémon GO, isn't a walk in the park. However, with the right Pokémon and strategy, victory is within reach. This guide will help you understand Cliff's tactics and select the best counters.

Table of Contents

• How Cliff Plays?
• Which Pokémon Are Best to Choose?
  • Shadow Mewtwo
  • Mega Rayquaza
  • Kyogre
  • Dawn Wings Necrozma
  • Mega Swampert
• How to Find Cliff?

How Cliff Plays?

Cliff's battles are a three-phase affair:

• Phase 1: Always uses Shadow Cubone.
• Phase 2: Randomly uses Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, or Shadow Marowak.
• Phase 3: Randomly uses Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, or Shadow Crobat.

This randomness makes choosing the perfect team challenging, but we'll guide you to effective options.

Which Pokémon Are Best to Choose?

To defeat Cliff, understanding Pokémon type matchups is crucial. While Cliff's team varies, certain Pokémon excel against his common choices.

Shadow Mewtwo

Shadow Mewtwo is a top contender, effectively countering Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, Shadow Machamp, and Shadow Crobat—making it a strong choice for phases two and three.

Mega Rayquaza

Similar to Shadow Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza excels against Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, Shadow Machamp, and Shadow Crobat. Using it in conjunction with Shadow Mewtwo provides excellent coverage.

Kyogre

Regular Kyogre is effective in the first phase. Primal Kyogre is significantly stronger, capable of defeating Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Cubone, offering broader utility across all phases.

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Dawn Wings Necrozma is effective against Shadow Annihilape and Shadow Machoke, but its limited effectiveness makes it less ideal than other options.

Mega Swampert

Mega Swampert counters Shadow Marowak and Shadow Cubone, making it a good choice for the first phase. However, its limited effectiveness against later phases necessitates a strategic replacement.

A suggested team composition: Primal Kyogre (Phase 1), Shadow Mewtwo (Phase 2), Mega Rayquaza (Phase 3). Adapt this based on your available Pokémon.

How to Find Cliff?

To battle Cliff, you must first defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to obtain the Rocket Radar. Activating the Rocket Radar will reveal a Team GO Rocket Leader's location; there's a one-third chance it will be Cliff. Battles against Cliff are tougher than Grunt battles, and a successful battle destroys your Rocket Radar. Prepare for a challenge!

Cliff presents a formidable challenge, but with preparation and the right Pokémon team, victory is achievable. Remember to leverage type advantages and consider the randomness of his team composition. Good luck, Trainer!