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Pokemon GO: How to Beat Cliff & Best Counters in May 2023

Countering Cliff's Shadow Pokemon is essential if you want to beat him!

To defeat Team Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO, you will need to counter the Shadow Pokemon he uses with some powerful Pokemon of your own.

However, this is easier said than done, as the second and third Pokemon he uses in his battle team is a random choice of three.

Luckily, we’ve got a list of every Pokemon that Cliff can use, as well as the best counters to defeat them with ease!

But first, find out how to complete the From the Shadows Research in Pokemon GO, as you’ll need to defeat Cliff to finish it!

Pokemon GO How to Beat Cliff & Best Counters

Every Pokemon Cliff Can Use in Pokemon GO

Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff always uses Shadow Larvitar as his first Pokemon. The second and third Pokemon he uses are chosen randomly out of a possible 3.

These are all of the Pokemon that Cliff can use:

Regardless of which Pokemon Cliff chooses, you need powerful Pokemon to beat them in battle. Here’s the fastest way to earn Candy in Pokemon GO to power up your Pokemon!

This is the latest lineup of Pokemon that Cliff can choose from, following the most recent Team GO Rocket Takeover event on March 25, 2023.
Pokemon 1Pokemon 2Pokemon 3
Shadow Larvitar
Larvitar Pokemon GO
Shadow Sceptile
Sceptile Pokemon GO
Shadow Tyranitar
Tyranitar Pokemon GO
Shadow Kingdra
Kingdra Pokemon GO
Shadow Swampert
Swampert Pokemon GO
Shadow Skarmory
Pokemon GO Skarmory
Shadow Gyarados
Gyarados Pokemon GO

Best Counters to Defeat Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff

Shadow Larvitar Counters

The best counters to beat Cliff’s Shadow Larvitar in Pokemon GO include Zarude, Kartana, and Torterra.

It is weak to Grass, Water, Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel, but we have opted for Grass-type counters as they could also help defeat Shadow Swampert later!

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
ZarudeZarude Pokemon GOVine WhipPower Whip
KartanaKartana Pokemon GORazor LeafLeaf Blade
TorterraTorterra Pokemon GORazor LeafFrenzy Plant

Shadow Sceptile Counters

The best Pokemon to counter Shadow Sceptile include Reshiram, Darmanitan, and Chandelure.

It is vulnerable to Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison-type Pokemon, making it quite simple to counter in Pokemon GO.

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
ReshiramPokemon GO ReshiramFire FangOverheat
DarmanitanPokemon GO DarmanitanFire FangOverheat
ChandelureChandelure Pokemon GOIncinerateOverheat

Shadow Kingdra Counters

To counter Cliff’s Shadow Kingdra in Pokemon GO, we suggest using Garchomp, Rayquaza, or Salamence, as they all have powerful Dragon-type attacks to exploit one of its weaknesses.

The only other weakness that Shadow Kingdra has is Fairy.

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
GarchompGarchomp Pokemon GODragon TailOutrage
RayquazaRayquaza Pokemon GODragon TailOutrage
SalamenceSalamence Pokemon GODragon TailOutrage

Shadow Skarmory Counters

The best Pokemon to counter Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff’s Shadow Skarmory include Xurkitree, Reshiram, and Darmanitan.

Shadow Skaromory is weak to just two different types of attacks in Pokemon GO – only Fire and Electric-type attacks deal additional damage to it.

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
XurkitreeXurkitree Pokemon GOThunder ShockDischarge
ReshiramPokemon GO ReshiramFire FangOverheat
DarmanitanPokemon GO DarmanitanFire FangOverheat

Shadow Swampert Counters

The best counters to beat Cliff’s Shadow Swampert in Pokemon GO include Kartana, Zarude, and Torterra.

Grass is Shadow Swampert’s only weakness in Pokemon GO, so it is integral to counter it!

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
KartanaKartana Pokemon GORazor LeafLeaf Blade
ZarudeZarude Pokemon GOVine WhipPower Whip
TorterraTorterra Pokemon GORazor LeafFrenzy Plant

Shadow Gyarados Counters

Xurkitree, Zekrom, and Electivire are the best Pokemon to counter Cliff’s Shadow Gyarados. These all have strong Electric-type attacks, which Shadow Gyarados is double weak to.

Gyarados has just one other weakness in Pokemon GO – Rock-type attacks – making it tough to counter.

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
XurkitreeXurkitree Pokemon GOThunder ShockDischarge
ZekromPokemon GO ZekromCharge BeamFusion Bolt
ElectivireElectivire Pokemon GOThunder ShockWild Charge

Shadow Tyranitar Counters

The best counters for Cliff’s Shadow Tyranitar in Pokemon GO are Conkeldurr, Lucario, and Machamp. This is because it has a double weakness to Fighting-type attacks.

Shadow Tyranitar is also weak to Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water attacks.

PokemonImageFast AttackCharged Attack
ConkeldurrPokemon GO ConkeldurrCounterPower-Up Punch
LucarioPokemon GO LucarioCounterPower-Up Punch
MachampPokemon GO MachampCounterCross Chop

Now that you know how to beat Cliff, there are two more Team GO Rocket Leaders to defeat:

Cliff Pokemon GO Database

How to Find Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO

You can find Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO by using a Rocket Radar.

After you have used a Rocket Radar, spinning PokeStops or tapping on Team GO Rocket Ballons has a chance of giving you a battle with Cliff.

  • Obtain a Rocket Radar.
    • Rocket Radars are made after collecting 6 Mysterious Components – you get one Mysterious Component every time you beat a Team GO Rocket Grunt.
  • Use the Rocket Radar.
    • After you have collected 6 Mysterious Components, you will be prompted to use the Rocket Radar or can activate it from your Bag.
  • Spin Team GO Rocket PokeStops or tap on Team GO Rocket Balloons – Cliff could be the Team GO Rocket member who appears.
  • If you encounter Arlo or Sierra instead, you can back out and try again later – Cliff will appear using this method eventually.

After defeating all three of the Team GO Rocket Leaders, there is still the boss to track down. Here’s how to find and defeat Giovanni in Pokemon GO!

Pokemon GO Team Rocket Pokestop

What Pokemon Do You Get for Beating Cliff in Pokemon GO?

You always get an encounter with Shadow Larvitar for beating Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO.

This is the first Pokemon that Cliff uses on his team in every battle following the March 2023 Team GO Rocket Takeover event.

When Cliff updates which team he uses, the Pokemon which you can catch after defeating him will change too.

Rewards For Beating Team Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO

After you beat Team Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO, you will get an encounter with Shadow Larvitar as well as 1000 Stardust and two random items.

  • Shadow Larvitar Encounter
  • 1000 Stardust
  • 2 of these rewards:

Of course, the best reward is the 12km Egg. Here’s every Pokemon that can hatch from 12km Strange Eggs in Pokemon GO!

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