In March 2025, Pokémon GO players will encounter Team GO Leader Cliff, known for wielding formidable Shadow Pokémon. As one of the most challenging opponents in the game, only surpassed by Giovanni, Cliff’s defeat is essential not only for rewards but also for progressing in the quest to locate Giovanni himself.
Before confronting Cliff, players must first locate him by defeating multiple Team GO Rocket Grunts. Each grunt defeated yields Mysterious Components, and gathering six of these allows players to construct a Rocket Radar. This tool is crucial for encountering Team GO Rocket Leaders like Cliff. However, it’s important to familiarize yourself with Cliff’s roster of Shadow Pokémon for March 2025 prior to engaging him. This guide details every Shadow Pokémon Cliff may deploy alongside the most effective counters against each.
Pokémon GO: Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon and Best Counters (March 2025)
Cliff has a total of seven different Shadow Pokémon available across a three-round battle. The first round features a fixed Pokémon, while the second and third rounds present selections from a set of three Shadow Pokémon each, increasing the unpredictability of the encounter.
| Round | Pokémon |
|---|---|
| 1st | Shadow Cubone |
| 2nd |
|
| 3rd |
|
Cliff’s First Round Battle in Pokémon GO
Shadow Cubone
- Type: Ground
- Weakness: Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves
- Resistance: Poison, Rock, and Electric-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Cubone:
- Primal Kyogre – Waterfall (Water) & Origin Pulse (Water) (Legacy)
- Mega Sceptile – Fury Cutter (Bug) & Frenzy Plant (Grass) (Legacy)
- Mega Rayquaza – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- White Kyurem – Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Sky Forme Shaymin – Magical Leaf (Grass) & Grass Knot (Grass)
Cliff’s Second Round Battle in Pokémon GO
Shadow Machoke
- Type: Fighting
- Weakness: Fairy, Flying, and Psychic-type moves
- Resistance: Bug, Dark, and Rock-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Machoke:
- Mega Rayquaza – Air Slash (Flying) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- Shadow Mewtwo – Confusion (Psychic) & Psystrike (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Mega Gardevoir – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic)
- Mega Alakazam – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Dawn Wings Necrozma – Psycho Cut (Psychic) & Moongeist Beam (Ghost)
Shadow Marowak
- Type: Ground
- Weakness: Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves
- Resistance: Poison, Rock, and Electric-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Marowak:
- Primal Kyogre – Waterfall (Water) & Origin Pulse (Water) (Legacy)
- Mega Sceptile – Fury Cutter (Bug) & Frenzy Plant (Grass) (Legacy)
- White Kyurem – Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Mega Rayquaza – Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- Mega Swampert – Water Gun (Water) & Hydro Cannon (Water) (Legacy)
Shadow Annihilape
- Type: Fighting and Ghost
- Weakness: Fairy, Flying, Ghost, and Psychic-type moves
- Resistance: Poison, Rock, Bug, Fighting, Normal-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Annihilape:
- Mega Rayquaza – Air Slash (Flying) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- Dawn Wings Necrozma – Psycho Cut (Psychic) & Moongeist Beam (Ghost)
- Shadow Mewtwo – Confusion (Psychic) & Psystrike (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Mega Gengar – Lick (Ghost) (Legacy) & Shadow Ball (Ghost)
- Rayquaza – Air Slash (Flying) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
Cliff’s Third Round Battle in Pokémon GO
Shadow Tyranitar
- Type: Rock and Dark
- Weakness: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Ground, Water, Steel, and Grass-type moves
- Resistance: Psychic, Dark, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Normal, and Poison-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Tyranitar:
- Mega Lucario – Force Palm (Fighting) (Legacy) & Aura Sphere (Fighting)
- Terrakion – Double Kick (Fighting) & Sacred Sword (Fighting) (Legacy)
- Mega Blaziken – Counter (Fighting) & Focus Blast (Fighting)
- Keldeo (Ordinary Forme) – Low Kick (Fighting) & Sacred Sword (Fighting)
- Shadow Conkeldurr – Counter (Fighting) & Dynamic Punch (Fighting)
Shadow Machamp
- Type: Dark and Normal
- Weakness: Fighting, Bug, and Fairy-type moves
- Resistance: Dark, Psychic, and Ghost-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Machamp:
- Mega Rayquaza – Air Slash (Flying) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
- Shadow Mewtwo – Psycho Cut (Psychic) & Psystrike (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Mega Alakazam – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Mega Gallade – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic)
- Mega Gardevoir – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic)
Shadow Crobat
- Type: Poison and Flying
- Weakness: Electric, Ice, Psychic, and Rock-type moves
- Resistance: Fairy, Ground, Poison, Bug, Fighting, and Grass-type moves
Best Counters for Shadow Crobat:
- Shadow Mewtwo – Psycho Cut (Psychic) & Psystrike (Psychic) (Legacy)
- White Kyurem – Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Shadow Rhyperior – Smack Down (Rock) & Rock Wrecker (Rock) (Legacy)
- Mega Alakazam – Confusion (Psychic) & Psychic (Psychic) (Legacy)
- Mega Tyranitar – Smack Down (Rock) (Legacy) & Stone Edge (Rock)
Pokémon GO: Best Cliff Counter Team (March 2025)
The optimal team for taking down Cliff in Pokémon GO consists of Mamoswine, Xerneas, and Mewtwo. This trio is highly effective against all potential Pokémon Cliff may use during the battle.
Most of Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon exhibit vulnerabilities to two types of moves. For instance, your strategy for the first round should focus on exploiting Cubone’s weaknesses to Grass, Ice, and Water-type attacks. Mamoswine, as a strong Ice-type attacker, is particularly effective against Marowak and Crobat if Cliff selects them for later rounds.
Additionally, several among Cliff’s lineup share a weakness to Fairy-type moves in Pokémon GO. It’s essential to assemble high CP Fairy-type Pokémon equipped with powerful moves to maximize damage against threats like Annihilape, Machoke, Tyranitar, and Machamp. Moreover, including a robust Psychic-type like Mewtwo is critical for countering Annihilape, Machoke, Machamp, and Crobat effectively.
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