How to beat Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, best counters, and more

Raunak Bose / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 6, 2025, 02:21 IST

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Pokemon Go trainers, get ready. Leader Cliff's May 2025 lineup is here. This guide provides counters and strategies to defeat him. Cliff's team includes Shadow Cubone, Machoke, and Tyranitar. Exploit their weaknesses with optimal Pokemon. Primal Kyogre and Mega Gardevoir are key. Assemble a Rocket Radar to find Cliff. Victory earns Shadow Cubone and rewards.

How to beat Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, best counters, and more

Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO (Image via Niantic)

Leader Cliff remains one of the toughest Team GO Rocket opponents in Pokemon Go. With his May 2025 lineup now confirmed, trainers need the right counters to secure victory. This guide covers his current team, weaknesses, and the best strategies to defeat him.

Leader Cliff’s Pokemon GO lineup (May 2025)

Cliff’s battles follow a three-phase structure, starting with Shadow Cubone. His second and third phases feature randomized picks from a pool of powerful Shadow Pokemon. Here’s his current lineup:

Phase 1: Shadow Cubone

Cliff always opens with Shadow Cubone.

Phase 2: Random selection

- Shadow Machoke
- Shadow Annihilape
- Shadow Marowak

Phase 3: Random selection

- Shadow Machamp
- Shadow Crobat
- Shadow Tyranitar

How to beat Cliff in Pokemon GO (May 2025)

Success hinges on exploiting type weaknesses. Below are the best counters for each phase, including accessible options for trainers without maxed-out legendaries.

Leader Cliff Pokemon GO counters: Phase 1 (Cubone)

Shadow Cubone is a Ground-type, weak to Grass, Ice, and Water. Avoid Electric, Poison, and Rock moves.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Primal Kyogre	Waterfall	Origin Pulse
Mega Sceptile	Fury Cutter	Frenzy Plant
Mega Swampert	Water Gun	Hydro Cannon
Shaymin (Sky Forme)	Magical Leaf	Grass Knot
Gyarados	Waterfall	Hydro Pump

Leader Cliff Pokemon GO counters: Phase 2

How to Beat Cliff in Pokémon GO 2025?

Shadow Marowak

Marowak shares Cubone’s Ground-type weaknesses.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Primal Kyogre	Waterfall	Origin Pulse
Kartana	Razor Leaf	Leaf Blade
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut	Ice Beam

Shadow Machoke

This Fighting-type is weak to Fairy, Flying, and Psychic.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mega Rayquaza	Air Slash	Dragon Ascent
Shadow Mewtwo	Confusion	Psystrike
Mega Gardevoir	Confusion	Psychic

Shadow Annihilape

A Fighting/Ghost-type, weak to Fairy, Flying, Ghost, and Psychic.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mega Gengar	Lick	Shadow Ball
Dawn Wings Necrozma	Psycho Cut	Moongeist Beam
Mega Alakazam	Confusion	Psychic

Leader Cliff Pokemon GO counters: Phase 3

Shadow Tyranitar

This Rock/Dark-type fears Fighting, Water, and Grass.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mega Lucario	Force Palm	Aura Sphere
Conkeldurr	Counter	Dynamic Punch
Mega Heracross	Counter	Close Combat

Shadow Crobat

The Poison/Flying-type is weak to Electric, Ice, and Rock.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Mewtwo	Psycho Cut	Psystrike
Rampardos	Smack Down	Rock Slide
Magnezone	Spark	Wild Charge

Shadow Machamp

Another Fighting-type, weak to Flying and Psychic.

Best Counters	Fast Move	Charged Move
Rayquaza	Air Slash	Dragon Ascent
Lugia	Extrasensory	Aeroblast+
Gallade	Confusion	Psychic

Best team to beat Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO

A balanced team covering multiple weaknesses works best:
1. Mega Gardevoir – Counters Machoke, Machamp, and Tyranitar.
2. Shadow Mewtwo – Handles Annihilape, Crobat, and Machamp.
3. Mega Sceptile – Melts Cubone and Marowak.

How to find Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO

1. Defeat 6 Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect Mysterious Components.
2. Assemble a Rocket Radar.
3. Use the radar to locate Cliff at PokeStops or in balloons.
Winning grants a Shadow Cubone and rewards like Stardust, Rare Candy, or a Charged TM.
Also read: How to beat Leader Sierra in Pokemon GO (May 2025) – Full lineup, phases, and best counters
For more boss guides, check our updated articles on Giovanni, Sierra, and Arlo. Bookmark this page—we’ll update it after the May 14 Team Rocket Takeover!

About the Author

Raunak Bose

As a passionate WWE content writer, Raunak craft engaging narratives that bring the thrilling world of wrestling to life, capturing the drama, excitement, and heroism of the ring. His work fuels the imagination of WWE fans, making every match and storyline unforgettable.

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