Mastering Cliff: Ultimate Strategies to Conquer Pokemon GO (July 2023)

Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket is known for their mischievousness and their use of Shadow Pokemon. One of the Team GO Rocket leaders is Cliff, who answers to Giovanni, the main boss. Cliff is a tough opponent, and beating him requires trainers to have extensive knowledge of the game's metagame.

While battling the Grunts is relatively easy, taking down the Leaders and Giovanni is a more challenging task. Pokemon GO players need to defeat several Team GO Rocket Grunts first in order to face off against Cliff and obtain Mysterious Components, which are used to build a Rocket Radar. This special radar is essential for tracking down Cliff and is crucial for assembling a strong team of Pokemon before the battle.

How to Beat Cliff in Pokemon GO

Cliff's Pokemon GO team for July 2023 includes multiple potential Shadow Pokemon for a three-round battle. The initial round features a single monster, while the second and third rounds pose a more challenging task. It is difficult to anticipate the choices Cliff will make for the second and third rounds since he has three options for each phase. It is highly important to carefully analyze these subsequent rounds in order to construct a strategic team that can utilize STAB potential moves.

Phase One: Shadow Aerodactyl

Second Phase: Shadow Slowking, Shadow Cradily, Shadow Gallade

Third Phase: Shadow Dusknoir, Shadow Mamoswine, Shadow Tyranitar

Cliff’s First Phase Counters

Cliff always starts the battle with Shadow Aerodactyl. It is a dual Rock/Flying-type with boosted offensive capabilities as a Pokemon GO Shadow Monster.

Shadow Aerodactyl

Type: Rock/Flying-type

Weaknesses: Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel, Water

Resistances: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ground, Normal, Poison

Cliff’s Second Phase Counters

In Cliff’s Second Phase, there is a sense of unpredictability as his selection of Pokemon is no longer predetermined like in the First Phase. Players must be ready to confront formidable choices: Shadow Slowking, Shadow Cradily, or Shadow Gallade. It is crucial to carefully analyze the current Pokemon GO meta in order to effectively counter these formidable adversaries. Before deciding on the best strategies, players should have a comprehensive understanding of Cliff’s lineup.

Shadow Slowking

Type: Water/Psychic

Weaknesses: Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, Grass

Resistances: Fighting, Fire, Ice, Psychic, Steel, Water

Shadow Cradily

Type: Rock/Grass

Weaknesses: Bug, Fighting, Ice, Steel

Resistances: Electric, Normal

Shadow Gallade

Type: Psychic/Fighting

Weaknesses: Ghost, Flying, Fairy

Resistances: Fighting, Rock

Cliff’s Third Phase Counters

In addition to the Second Phase, Cliff presents three viable options for the Third Phase encounter. These formidable contenders are Shadow Dusknoir, Shadow Mamoswine, and Shadow Tyranitar. We have compiled a list of the most effective Pokemon GO counters for this conclusive stage of the battle.

Shadow Dusknoir

Type: Ghost

Weaknesses: Dark, Ghost

Resistances: Fighting, Normal, Bug, Poison

Shadow Mamoswine

Type: Ice/Ground

Weaknesses: Fighting, Fire, Grass, Steel, Water

Resistances: Electric, Poison

Shadow Tyranitar

Type: Rock/Dark

Weaknesses: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, Water

Resistances: Psychic, Dark, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Normal, Poison

Pokemon GO is available for Android and iOS.