Meeting Cliff: how to defeat this boss in Pokémon Go

Conquering Cliff, a formidable Team GO Rocket leader in Pokémon GO, requires strategy and the right Pokémon. This guide will help you achieve victory.

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 unfold in three phases:

• Phase 1: Always uses Shadow Cubone.
• Phase 2: Uses one of three Pokémon: Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, or Shadow Marowak.
• Phase 3: Uses one of three Pokémon: Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, or Shadow Crobat.

This unpredictability makes choosing the right counter-Pokémon crucial.

Which Pokémon Are Best to Choose?

Effective counters exploit Cliff's Pokémon weaknesses. Here are some top choices:

Shadow Mewtwo

Highly effective against Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, Shadow Machamp, and Shadow Crobat. A strong choice for phases two and three.

Mega Rayquaza

Shares similar effectiveness to Shadow Mewtwo against several of Cliff's Pokémon. Excellent for phases two and three. Using this and Shadow Mewtwo strategically across these phases is highly effective.

Kyogre

Standard Kyogre is effective in the first phase. Primal Kyogre significantly increases effectiveness, countering Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Cubone. Versatile enough for any phase with the right luck.

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Effective against Shadow Annihilape and Shadow Machoke, but limited in overall utility due to only countering two of Cliff's Pokémon.

Mega Swampert

Effective against Shadow Marowak and Shadow Cubone, making it suitable primarily for the first phase. Consider replacing it for later phases.

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 reveals a Team GO Rocket leader's location; there's a one-third chance it will be Cliff.

Cliff's Pokémon are stronger than Grunts, demanding careful preparation. Losses result in a rematch opportunity, but victory destroys the Rocket Radar. Strategic Pokémon selection and understanding Cliff's battle phases are key to success.