Meeting Cliff: how to defeat this boss in Pokémon Go

In Pokémon GO, facing off against Cliff, one of Team GO Rocket's leaders, is a challenging endeavor. However, with the right companions and a solid strategy, you can secure victory with relative ease.

How Cliff Plays?

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Understanding Cliff's battle strategy is crucial before you engage him. The battle unfolds in three distinct phases:

• In the first phase, Cliff consistently deploys Shadow Cubone, offering no surprises.
• The second phase introduces an element of unpredictability, with Cliff potentially sending out Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, or Shadow Marowak.
• In the final stage, Cliff has the option to choose from Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, or Shadow Crobat.

Given the variability in Cliff's lineup, selecting the right Pokémon for battle can be tricky. Each encounter is unique, but we'll guide you through choosing Pokémon that can handle Cliff's diverse team effectively.

Which Pokémon Are Best to Choose?

To counter Cliff's Pokémon, you need to exploit their weaknesses. Here are some top picks that can help you triumph over Cliff:

Shadow Mewtwo

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Shadow Mewtwo is a powerhouse, capable of defeating opponents in the second and third phases, such as Shadow Machoke, Shadow Annihilape, Shadow Machamp, and Shadow Crobat.

Mega Rayquaza

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Mega Rayquaza shares similar strengths with Shadow Mewtwo, making it an excellent choice for the final stages of the battle. Strategically placing Shadow Mewtwo and Mega Rayquaza in the second and third phases can lead to a smooth victory.

Kyogre

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Regular Kyogre is effective in the first phase against Shadow Cubone. However, Primal Kyogre's enhanced power allows it to tackle additional foes like Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Cubone, making it versatile across all battle stages.

Dawn Wings Necrozma

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Dawn Wings Necrozma can only handle Shadow Annihilape and Shadow Machoke, making it less optimal for this battle due to its limited effectiveness.

Mega Swampert

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Mega Swampert is effective against Shadow Marowak and Shadow Cubone, suitable primarily for the first phase. For the second phase, consider switching to a more versatile Pokémon due to Cliff's unpredictable choices.

An ideal lineup could include Primal Kyogre in the first phase, Shadow Mewtwo in the second, and Mega Rayquaza in the third. If you lack any of these, you can adapt by choosing other strong Pokémon from the list.

How to Find Cliff?

To challenge Cliff, you must first defeat six Team GO Rocket Grunts to collect mysterious components. These components are used to assemble a Rocket Radar, which, when activated, will lead you to a Team GO Rocket leader, with a 33.3% chance of encountering Cliff.

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Battling Cliff is more demanding than facing Grunts due to his stronger Pokémon. If you lose, you can rematch, but a victory will destroy your Rocket Radar.

Confronting Cliff requires careful preparation and strategic selection of allies. His team of powerful Shadow Pokémon across three battle stages demands versatile fighters like Shadow Mewtwo, Mega Rayquaza, and Primal Kyogre to counter his threats effectively. Even without these specific Pokémon, you can adapt your strategy using other strong fighters, considering their strengths and weaknesses. Remember, encountering Cliff requires a Rocket Radar, obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts.