How to Beat Cliff Pokémon GO: Lineup, Counters & Tips

Cliff is one of the challenging Team GO Rocket Leaders. If you want to beat him, you must know his current lineup, weaknesses, and best counters. In 2025, Cliff is using a mixture of Rock, Dark, Electric, Steel, and Fighting-type Shadow Pokémon. This matchup feels tricky but manageable with the right approach.

This updated quick guide teaches you how to beat Cliff Pokémon GO and the best counters for his entire lineup.

Part 1: Who Is Cliff in Pokémon GO

Cliff is one of the main Team GO Rocket Leaders, alongside Arlo, Sierra, and Giovanni. He commands stronger Pokémon than standard Grunts. His lineup rotates monthly. His battle style is aggressive. Cliff tends to open with high-damage Shadow Pokémon that force you to burn shields early.

Beating him is also rewarding. Cliff is tied to 12 km Strange Eggs, rare item drops, and the chance to catch his Shadow Pokémon.

Cliff Pokémon GO Weaknesses

Because Cliff’s Pokémon rotate between Rock, Steel, Dark, Electric, and Fighting types, certain Pokémon consistently perform well against him. In general, Cliff is weak to:

• Fighting-type attackers for Tyranitar and Larvitar
• Ground-type attackers
• Fairy-type attackers against Machamp, Honchkrow, and Annihilape
• Electric-type attackers for Skarmory, Honchkrow
• Water-type attackers for Rock-types like Larvitar and Tyranitar

If you prepare a team covering these weaknesses, you’ve already won half the battle.

Part 2: How to Find Cliff in Pokémon GO

To find Cliff, you must defeat six Rocket Grunts. Every six Grunts drop six Mysterious Components, which automatically assemble into a Rocket Radar. When you activate the Rocket Radar, the Rocket Leaders, including Cliff, start appearing at:

• Rocket-occupied PokéStops
• Rocket Balloons (when available)

The game doesn’t display which leader is waiting. You have a 1/3 chance of encountering Cliff every time a Leader appears. If the Leader is not Cliff, you can back out and try another PokéStop or wait for another Balloon. The Radar will stay active until you beat a Leader.

Part 3: Proven Methods to Beat Cliff in Pokémon GO

Cliff’s battle in 2025 looks difficult at first glance, but his lineup follows predictable patterns. Once you understand each Pokémon’s typing and weaknesses, it’s simple to choose the right attackers. Here is Cliff’s full lineup and weaknesses:

Cliff Pokémon GO Lineup

Best Counters for Cliff Lineup

Rewards for Beating Cliff Pokémon GO

When you defeat Cliff in Pokémon GO, you always receive 1,000 Stardust as a guaranteed reward. Along with that, the game gives you two random item bundles, which can include things like Revives, Max Revives, Hyper Potions, Max Potions, a possible Unova Stone, or even a 12 km Strange Egg. However, the Strange Egg only appears if you have at least one empty egg slot.

After the battle, you also get a Shadow Pokémon encounter with Cliff’s first Pokémon of the battle. There is even a chance 1 in 64 that this Shadow Pokémon will be shiny, if shiny eligibility is active for that species.

Part 4: Quickest Way to Find and Beat Cliff Pokémon GO

If you want the fastest and most reliable way to locate Cliff and defeat him without wasting time or resources, MoCPOGO is the shortcut you need. Instead of walking around and hoping to spot a Team Rocket Leader, MoCPOGO auto scanner helps you track, prepare, and counter Cliff instantly.

MocPOGO shows real-time Rocket PokéStop activity, so you can see exactly where Cliff is appearing. If you prefer to battle from home, MocPOGO helps you predict Rocket Balloon timings and improves your chances of getting a Cliff balloon encounter quickly.

With MoCPOGO, you will find Cliff faster and counter his team smarter, and win battles easier. It is the quickest method to beat Cliff in Pokémon GO every time.

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• Mock Locations:You can teleport or move your GPS instantly to areas loaded with Rocket PokéStops or balloons.
• Quickly Find Specific Grunt Types:If you are looking for a Dragon Grunt or Fairy Grunt, MocPOGO lets you jump between locations without walking. It’s great for farming Shadow Shinies.
• Reach Rocket Leaders Faster:When you find more Grunts, you can collect mysterious components and quickly complete Rocket Radar.
• Fight Without Wasting Time:With MocPOGO, you can instantly reach Rocket Takeovers, triple leader hotspots, and high-density PokéStop zones.

How to Use MocPOGO on iOS

Step 1Download and install the MocPOGO iOS app on your iPhone or iPad and open it.

Step 2To change location, type the location address or GPS coordinates in the search box and click on the search icon. Select “Teleport” from the pop-up.

Step 3Select “Configure VPN” to move forward. Your iPhone location will be changed instantly.

How to Use MocPOGO on Android

Step 1Open the Google Play Store on your Android. Search for MocPOGO and tap on download. Install the app and open it.

Step 2First, turn on the Pokémon Go game mode. Just select the Pikachu icon from the right side of the screen and tap on “OK.”

Step 3Type the location address in the search box and click on “Teleport.”

Part 5: Tips for Beating Cliff in Pokémon GO

Cliff is one of the trickiest Team GO Rocket leaders. To defeat him consistently, you need more than just type advantage. You need team balance, shield strategy, timing, and durability. Here are the best tips to help you win every encounter.

Tip 1: Build a Team With Mixed Type Coverage

Cliff’s second and third Pokémon can vary widely. Your team should cover Fighting, Ice, Fairy, and Ghost the types that hit most of Cliff’s lineup effectively.

A strong balanced team example includes:

• Fighting-type attackers
• Ice-type attackers
• Ghost or Psychic DPS

Tip 2: Manage Shields Wisely

Shield usage is one of the biggest deciding factors in beating Cliff.

• Phase 1: Avoid blowing both shields early. His first Pokémon is usually manageable without heavy shielding.
• Phase 2: Save at least one shield for dangerous fast-charging attackers like Honchkrow or Skarmory, whose Sky Attack can quickly delete your team.
• Phase 3: Always keep 1 shield for heavy nukes such as Stone Edge, Crunch, or Wild Charge from Shadow Tyranitar or Shadow Luxray.

Tip 3: Control Fast and Charged Move Timing

Smart timing can change the outcome of the battle. Use fast moves with high energy gain (like Counter, Shadow Claw, or Psycho Cut) to reach charged attacks sooner. Don’t fire charged moves instantly. Wait for Cliff to burn shields or for a moment when your attack will land super effectively.

Tip 4: Use Pokémon With High Bulk or High DPS

Shadow Pokémon deal 20% extra damage, so fragile attackers get wiped quickly. Use at least one bulky or tanky Pokémon to stabilize the fight. Recommended durable options include Togekiss, Snorlax, Swampert, and Mega Diancie.

Recommended heavy hitters to close battles:

• Machamp
• Lucario
• Mewtwo
• Garchomp

▶ [Pro Tips] Pokémon GO: How to Catch Armored Mewtwo Fast

Final Thoughts

Cliff looks intimidating on paper, but once you understand his type weaknesses and shield patterns, he becomes one of the easier Rocket Leaders to beat. His 2025 lineup has enough overlapping weaknesses that you can beat him consistently with just two properly built Pokémon. And if you want faster encounters and guaranteed wins, MocPOGO helps you scan and instantly teleport to active Cliff hotspots. It makes every battle smoother, quicker, and easier than ever.