Meeting Cliff: how to defeat this boss in Pokémon Go

Conquering Cliff, a Team GO Rocket leader in Pokémon GO, isn't a walk in the park. However, with the right Pokémon and strategy, victory is achievable. This guide breaks down how to defeat him.

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 three-phased:

• 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?

To effectively counter Cliff's Pokémon, consider their weaknesses. While his team varies, certain Pokémon consistently excel:

Shadow Mewtwo

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

Mega Rayquaza

Similar effectiveness to Shadow Mewtwo, excelling against the same Pokémon. Using this and Shadow Mewtwo strategically across phases two and three offers a high chance of success.

Kyogre

Standard Kyogre is only effective in phase one. Primal Kyogre, however, is significantly stronger, countering Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Cubone, making it versatile across all phases.

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Effective only against Shadow Annihilape and Shadow Machoke, limiting its overall usefulness.

Mega Swampert

Effective against Shadow Marowak and Shadow Cubone, primarily useful in phase one. Less effective in later phases due to Cliff's unpredictable choices.

A suggested team composition is Primal Kyogre (Phase 1), Shadow Mewtwo (Phase 2), and Mega Rayquaza (Phase 3). Adjust 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 Radar reveals a Team GO Rocket Leader's location; there's a one-third chance it will be Cliff. Battles with Cliff are more challenging than Grunt battles, requiring strong counter-Pokémon. Winning destroys the Rocket Radar.

Defeating Cliff requires preparation and strategic Pokémon selection. While Shadow Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza, and Primal Kyogre are highly recommended, adapting your strategy based on your available Pokémon and understanding their strengths and weaknesses is key to success. Remember, you need a Rocket Radar obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts to even encounter him.