Pokémon GO Cliff Counters Guide - Pokemon GO Hub

Home » How To Beat Cliff December 2021 » Pokémon GO Cliff Counters Guide - Pokemon GO Hub

Maybe your like

Facebook Instagram Mail RSS Twitter Search Pokemon GO Hub FacebookInstagramTwitterYoutubeWhatsapp Pokemon GO HubGOHUB Pokémon GO Cliff Lineup and Counters (December 2025)

Learn how to defeat Rocket Leader Cliff in Pokémon GO during December 2025. Includes Cliff's full Pokémon lineup, best counters, and rewards.

Guides September 15, 2025 Zeroghan Zeroghan

Learn how to defeat GO Rocket Leader Cliff and which Pokémon they have during the month of December 2025. Includes Cliff’s current Pokémon line-up, best counters and teams to use, and rewards for defeating Cliff.

  • 🔔 Fully updated with the start of Psychic Spectacular: Taken Over.
  • 🔗 Other GO Rocket guides: Giovanni lineup and counters, Sierra lineup and counters, Arlo lineup and counters, Team GO Rocket Grunt lineups

Cliff’s Pokémon Lineup Team Rocket icon

Cliff is one of the Team GO Rocket Leaders in Pokémon GO, next to Arlo, Sierra, and Giovanni. Rocket Leader Cliff is currently using the following Shadow Pokémon:

Slot Pokémon
#1
  • Artwork of Shadow Larvitar from Pokémon GO Shadow Larvitar
#2
  • Artwork of Shadow Skarmory from Pokémon GO Shadow Skarmory
  • Artwork of Shadow Honchkrow from Pokémon GO Shadow Honchkrow
  • Artwork of Shadow Annihilape from Pokémon GO Shadow Annihilape
#3
  • Artwork of Shadow Tyranitar from Pokémon GO Shadow Tyranitar
  • Artwork of Shadow Machamp from Pokémon GO Shadow Machamp
  • Artwork of Shadow Luxray from Pokémon GO Shadow Luxray
  • Cliff’s first Pokémon is Shadow Larvitar
  • Cliff’s second Pokémon is Shadow Skarmory, Honchkrow, or Annihilape.
  • Cliff’s third Pokémon is Shadow Tyranitar, Machamp, or Luxray.

Best Counters for beating Cliff

To beat Cliff’s current Pokémon, you need to use their weaknesses and pick the best counters you can use to defeat each one. Cliff’s lineup is varied, but there is enough overlap to pick good counters. Here are some of the best Pokémon you can use against Cliff in Pokémon GO:

  • Artwork of Sceptile from Pokémon GO Sceptile
  • Artwork of Swampert from Pokémon GO Swampert
  • Artwork of Excadrill from Pokémon GO Excadrill
  • Artwork of Reshiram from Pokémon GO Reshiram
  • Artwork of Primarina from Pokémon GO Primarina
  • Artwork of Therian Thundurus from Pokémon GO Therian Thundurus
  • Artwork of Gardevoir from Pokémon GO Gardevoir
  • With strong and quick Water and Ground-type moves, Swampert is solid in this battle as it can handle Shadow Larvitar, Tyranitar, and Luxray, while also dishing out high neutral damage to others.
  • Primarina brings extra oomph to the mix as its Water and Fairy moves successfully deal with Honchkrow, Annihilape, Tyranitar, and Machamp. It can also fend off Skarmory’s attacks and hit it hard with its Water-type moves.
  • Rayquaza is a multi-purpose pick, with its supreme damaging power hitting everything except Skarmory.
  • Reshiram and Heatran are good counters to Skarmory, but you may want something like Blaziken to threaten Tyranitar
  • Excadrill’s Ground and Rock moves cover the ground as well as the sky!
  • Thundurus Therian zaps through Skarmory or Honchkrow, and leaves others in a crisp due to its powerful moves.
  • Gardevoir can cut down the opposition with Triple Axel boosted Charm.

💡 Note: In Trainer Battles, counters need not always be Pokémon that do super-effective damage. We include Pokémon that are more viable to defeat Cliff, rather than those who do maximum damage. Defeating Cliff rewards 3× Shadow Shards.

Shadow Larvitar counters

Artwork of Shadow Larvitar from Pokémon GO Shadow Larvitar

Shadow Larvitar is a Rock and Ground-type Pokémon. It is double-weak to Grass and Water, aside from being weak to Fighting, Ground, Ice, and Steel type attacks.

You should always start with a strong Pokémon that can burn Cliff’s shields fast, while still having utility after rotation. Spam charge moves and bait shields whenever possible. Here is our recommendation:

Shadow Larvitar counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Sceptile from Pokémon GO Sceptile Bullet Seed, Leaf Blade
Artwork of Greninja from Pokémon GO Greninja Water Shuriken, Hydro Cannon
Artwork of Swampert from Pokémon GO Swampert Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon
Artwork of Kartana from Pokémon GO Kartana Razor Leaf, Leaf Blade
Artwork of Garchomp from Pokémon GO Garchomp Mud Shot, Sand Tomb

Shadow Skarmory counters

Artwork of Shadow Skarmory from Pokémon GO Shadow Skarmory

Shadow Skarmory is a Steel/Flying-type Pokémon. It is weak to Electric and Fire moves.

  • Garchomp’s Sand Tomb debuffs Shadow Skarmory’s defense, making it easier for your switch-in to take it out.
  • Second Charged Moves from your first Pokémon, such as Hydro Cannon (Swampert), Stone Edge (Flygon), and Rock Wrecker (Rhyperior), deal high neutral damage to Shadow Skarmory, weakening it further.
Skarmory Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Reshiram from Pokémon GO Reshiram Fire Fang, Fusion Flare
Artwork of Magnezone from Pokémon GO Magnezone Volt Switch, Wild Charge
Artwork of Heatran from Pokémon GO Heatran Fire Spin, Magma Storm
Artwork of Electivire from Pokémon GO Electivire Thunder Shock, Thunder Punch
Artwork of Zekrom from Pokémon GO Zekrom Charge Beam, Fusion Bolt
Artwork of Therian Thundurus from Pokémon GO Therian Thundurus Volt Switch, Wildbolt Storm

Shadow Annihilape counters

Artwork of Shadow Annihilape from Pokémon GO Shadow Annihilape

Shadow Annihilape is a Ghost/Fighting-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fairy, Flying, Ghost, and Psychic-type moves, which opens up a wide variety of excellent counters.

Using any farmed Charged Moves by your first Pokémon is a wise decision.

Annihilape Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Rayquaza from Pokémon GO Rayquaza Air Slash, Dragon Ascent
Artwork of Mewtwo from Pokémon GO Mewtwo Psycho Cut, Psystrike
Artwork of Primarina from Pokémon GO Primarina Charm, Disarming Voice
Artwork of Staraptor from Pokémon GO Staraptor Wing Attack, Fly
Artwork of Xerneas from Pokémon GO Xerneas Geomancy, Moonblast
Artwork of Moltres from Pokémon GO Moltres Wing Attack, Sky Attack

Shadow Honchkrow Counters

Artwork of Shadow Honchkrow from Pokémon GO Shadow Honchkrow

Shadow Honchkrow is a Dark/Flying-type Pokémon. It is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, and Rock moves.

Since Shadow Honchkrow is weak to Rock, a Stone Edge (Flygon) or Rock Wrecker (Rhyperior), both potential first counters you can use, OHKOs it.

Shadow Honchkrow Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Mamoswine from Pokémon GO Mamoswine Powder Snow, Icicle Spear
Artwork of Primarina from Pokémon GO Primarina Charm, Disarming Voice
Artwork of Magnezone from Pokémon GO Magnezone Volt Switch, Wild Charge
Artwork of Therian Thundurus from Pokémon GO Therian Thundurus Volt Switch, Wildbolt Storm
Artwork of Gardevoir from Pokémon GO Gardevoir Charm, Triple Axel
Artwork of Terrakion from Pokémon GO Terrakion Smack Down, Rock Slide

Shadow Machamp counters

Artwork of Shadow Machamp from Pokémon GO Shadow Machamp

Shadow Machamp is a Fighting-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fairy, Flying, and Psychic moves.

Machamp Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Rayquaza from Pokémon GO Rayquaza Air Slash, Dragon Ascent
Artwork of Mewtwo from Pokémon GO Mewtwo Psycho Cut, Psystrike
Artwork of Gardevoir from Pokémon GO Gardevoir Charm, Psychic
Artwork of Moltres from Pokémon GO Moltres Wing Attack, Sky Attack
Artwork of Staraptor from Pokémon GO Staraptor Wing Attack, Fly
Artwork of Primarina from Pokémon GO Primarina Charm, Disarming Voice

Shadow Tyranitar counters

Artwork of Shadow Tyranitar from Pokémon GO Shadow Tyranitar

Tyranitar is a Rock and Dark-type Pokémon. It is weak to Fighting, Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water type moves. Note that it is double-weak to Fighting-type moves.

Tyranitar Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Lucario from Pokémon GO Lucario Force Palm, Aura Sphere
Artwork of Terrakion from Pokémon GO Terrakion Double Kick, Sacred Sword
Artwork of Conkeldurr from Pokémon GO Conkeldurr Counter, Dynamic Punch
Artwork of Machamp from Pokémon GO Machamp Counter, Dynamic Punch
Artwork of Rapid Strike Style Urshifu from Pokémon GO Rapid Strike Style Urshifu Counter, Dynamic Punch
Artwork of Kyogre from Pokémon GO Kyogre Waterfall, Origin Pulse

Shadow Luxray counters

Artwork of Shadow Luxray from Pokémon GO Shadow Luxray

Shadow Luxray is a pure Electric-type Pokémon, so it is only weak to Ground moves.

Luxray Counters
Pokémon Moves
Artwork of Groudon from Pokémon GO Groudon Mud Shot, Precipice Blades
Artwork of Garchomp from Pokémon GO Garchomp Mud Shot, Earth Power
Artwork of Excadrill from Pokémon GO Excadrill Mud-Slap, Drill Run
Artwork of Swampert from Pokémon GO Swampert Mud Shot, Earthquake
Artwork of Flygon from Pokémon GO Flygon Sand Attack, Scorching Sands
Artwork of Rhyperior from Pokémon GO Rhyperior Mud-Slap, Earthquake

How to battle Cliff in Pokémon GO?

Cliff Counters
Cliff Counters

To fight with Cliff in Pokémon GO, you need to first defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect enough Mysterious Components to build a Rocket Radar.

Activate the Rocket Radar and you will be able to see the location of a Rocket Leader. The game will not tell you which Leader you are facing, but you have a 33% chance for it to be Cliff.

Fighting Cliff is more difficult than fighting Grunts, as Leaders use higher level Pokémon than Grunts. In order to defeat Cliff, we consider using good counters mandatory.

You can rematch if you lose, and your Rocket Radar will be consumed if you win.

Rewards for defeating Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff

Trainers who manage to defeat Cliff – or any other Team GO Rocket Leader – will get a selection of rare rewards, including the chance to get a Team GO Rocket exclusive 12 km Strange Egg.

  • Trainers receive 1,000 Stardust when defeating a Rocket Leaders,
  • Trainers will receive two of the item bundles listed below when they defeat Team GO Rocket Leader like Cliff.
  • Trainers have the opportunity to catch a Shadow Pokémon used by the Leader. It is always the first Pokémon used by the Leader.
  • Shadow Pokémon from Rocket Leaders have a shiny chance of 1 in 64, if they are shiny eligible at the moment of defeating the Leader

Rewards for defeating Cliff in Pokémon GO

Defeating one of the Team GO Rocket Leader trio earns you two item bundles. If at least one of your Egg inventory slots is open, a 12km Strange Egg is guaranteed to replace one of those two bundles.

Receiving a Strange Egg does not have an effect on which item bundle drops alongside the egg.

A Strange Egg can drop into either your regular egg storage, or into your extra space if you already have 9 eggs.

Guaranteed

Stardust icon 1000× Stardust

Random drop of two of these:

  • Revive icon 4× Revive
  • Max Revive icon 2× Max Revive
  • Hyper Potion icon 4× Hyper Potion
  • Max Potion icon 2× Max Potion
  • Unova Stone icon 1× Unova Stone
  • Egg 12 km icon 1× Egg 12 km

As an example, a typical reward drop might contain 4 Revives and 4 Hyper Potions. Similarly, a reward drop might contain 1 Strange Egg and 2 Max Revives, or 1 Unova Stone and 1 Strange Egg.

Share FacebookTwitterReddItPinterestWhatsApp

Author

ZeroghanZeroghanhttps://pokemongohub.net/Zeroghan started the Hub in July 2016 and hasn't had much sleep since. A lover of all things Pokémon, web development, and writing.

About this article

Last updated on: November 30, 2025 Tagscliffcliff counterscliff pokemon go countersteam go rocket

Trending 🔥

Pokémon GO Giovanni Lineup and Counters (December 2025)

Zeroghan Zeroghan - November 30, 2025

Pokémon GO Winter Holiday 2025 Part 2

kittypokemonsalot kittypokemonsalot - December 27, 2025

Pokémon GO December 2025 Events

Zeroghan Zeroghan - December 15, 2025

Pokémon GO January 2026 Events

kittypokemonsalot kittypokemonsalot - December 18, 2025

Team GO Rocket Grunt Lineups and Guide (December 2025)

3kkoIogy 3kkoIogy - November 30, 2025

A Christmas Analysis on Coalossal (and Carkol) in PvP

JRE47 JRE47 - December 26, 2025

Pokémon GO Arlo Lineup and Counters (December 2025)

Zeroghan Zeroghan - November 30, 2025

Related

Pokémon GO Winter Holiday 2025 Part 2

kittypokemonsalot kittypokemonsalot - December 27, 2025

A Christmas Analysis on Coalossal (and Carkol) in PvP

JRE47 JRE47 - December 26, 2025

Ultra League Holiday Cup PvP Tips and Tricks

JRE47 JRE47 - December 24, 2025

Support us

Buy GO Hub merch

Get your very own GO Hub t-shirt, mug, or tote. Pokemon GO Hub FacebookInstagramTwitterYoutube

Your #1 Resource for Everything Pokémon GO. Stay updated with the latest Pokémon GO news, events, raid strategies, and top tier guides. Join a community of dedicated players and enhance your game with expert tips and in-depth analysis.

Sitemap

© 2016 – 2025 Pokémon GO Hub | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Pokémon and Pokémon GO are copyright of The Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc., and Nintendo. All trademarked images and names are property of their respective owners, and any such material is used on this site for educational purposes only. Solver d.o.o. has no affiliation with The Pokémon Company, Niantic, Inc., or Nintendo.

Tag » How To Beat Cliff December 2021