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 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 unfold in three phases:

• 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 unpredictable nature makes choosing the perfect team crucial.

Which Pokémon Are Best to Choose?

To counter Cliff's diverse team, consider these Pokémon:

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

Shares similar effectiveness to Shadow Mewtwo against several of Cliff's Pokémon, making it a powerful addition to your team. Using it in conjunction with Shadow Mewtwo significantly increases your chances of success.

Kyogre

Regular Kyogre excels in the first phase against Shadow Cubone. Primal Kyogre, however, is much more versatile, effectively countering Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Cubone, making it useful in multiple phases.

Dawn Wings Necrozma

Effective against Shadow Annihilape and Shadow Machoke, but its limited effectiveness makes it less ideal than other options.

Mega Swampert

Effective against Shadow Marowak and Shadow Cubone, making it suitable for the first phase, but less so 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 will reveal a Team GO Rocket leader's location; Cliff has a one-third chance of appearing.

Cliff's battles are challenging, requiring careful preparation and strong Pokémon. While Shadow Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza, and Primal Kyogre provide a powerful core team, remember to adapt your strategy based on the Pokémon you have available and their type matchups. Remember, defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts is the first step to encountering Cliff.