Pokemon Go The Cliff's Shadow Pokemon lineup has changed for the month of January 2025. Cliff has several Shadow monsters, each with amazing fighting skills and prowess. In order to defeat the leader of Team GO Rocket, you need to have the right meta knowledge and counterpick.
Pokemon Go The leaders of Team GO Rocket are among the strongest antagonists in the game. As for Cliff's battle list, it contains 7 shadow pokemon. Each of Cliff's Shadow Pokemon is extremely powerful and requires the right tokens, but you have to first find a leader fight him. Win against multiple Team GO Rocket Grunts and collect 6 mysterious components build a Missile radarwhich can navigates you to Cliff. This guide details Team GO Rocket's leader Cliff's Shadow Pokémon for January 2025 and the best tokens against them.
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How to beat Cliff in Pokemon GO? (January 2025)
Cliff has a total of 7 Shadow Pokemon and each of them is a capable fighter Pokemon Go. Battle with Cliff has 3 rounds; and Round 1 always starts with one Pokemon. The 2nd and 3rd round is unpredictable; the leader has 3 potential picks for each of these rounds. One requires extreme meta knowledge and the right tokens to win the battle.
|
Phase |
Pokemon |
|---|---|
|
First phase |
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon |
|
The second phase |
|
|
The third phase |
|
Phase One Cliff Counters
Cliff always starts with Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon for the first phase of the battle. It is a dark and normal type pokemon with an increased attack ability as a shadow monster.
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon Counter
- Type: Dark and normal
- Weakness: Fighting, Bug and Fairy type moves
- Resistance: Dark, Psychic and Ghost type moves
Best Galarian Shadow Cigzagoon Counter
|
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon Counter |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Terrakion |
Double Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Older) |
Aura Sphere (Combat Type) |
|
Marshadow |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Melee (Combat Type) |
|
Keldeo (common form) |
Low Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) |
|
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
Best Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon Shadow And Mega Counters
|
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon Counter |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Older) |
Aura Sphere (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Melee (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Focus Blast (Combat Type) |
|
Shadow of Conkeldurr |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Alakazam |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Focus Blast (Combat Type) |
Phase Two Cliff Counters
The second phase of the battle brings considerable uncertainty. Cliff's Pokemon selection is not constant like in the first stage, so Pokemon Go trainers must prepare for battle against the likes of Shadow Venusaur, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Aerodactyl. In order to effectively counter these opponents, we need to analyze the meta game.
Shadow Venusaur counters
- Type: Grass and poison
- Weakness: Fire, Flying, Ice and Psychic type moves
- Resistance: Electric, Fairy, Fighting, Water and Grass moves
The best Shadow Venusaur counters
|
Venusaur Shadow Counter |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
|
Reshiram |
Fire Fang (Fire Type) |
Fusion Flare (Fire Type) (Legacy) |
|
Salamence |
Fire Fang (Fire Type) |
Fly (flying type) |
|
Heatran |
Fire Spin (fire type) |
Magma Storm (Fire Type) (Older) |
|
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut (Psychic Type) |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Elder) |
Best Shadow Venusaur Shadow A Mega Counter
|
Venusaur Shadow Counter |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
|
Mega Y Charizard |
Fire Spin (fire type) |
Blast Burn (Fire Type) (Older) |
|
Mega Salamence |
Fire Fang (Fire Type) |
Fly (flying type) |
|
Shadow Salamence |
Fire Fang (Fire Type) |
Fly (flying type) |
|
Shadow Heatran |
Fire Spin (fire type) |
Magma Storm (Fire Type) (Older) |
Marowaka's Shadow Counters
- Type: Country
- weaknesses: Grass, Ice and Water type moves
- Resistances: Poison, Rock and Electric moves
The best Shadow Marowak counters
|
Marowaka's Shadow Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall (water type) |
Origin Pulse (Water Type) (Older) |
|
Rude |
Vine Whip (Grass Type) |
Power Whip (grass type) |
|
Dawn Wings Necrozma |
Shadow Claw (Grass Type) |
Moongeist Beam (Grass Type) |
|
Decidueye |
Leaf (grassy type) |
Frenzy Plant (Grass-Type) (Older) |
|
Meowscarade |
Leaf (grassy type) |
Grass node (grass type) |
Best Shadow Marowak Shadow And Mega Counters
|
Marowaka's Shadow Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Shadow of Kyogre |
Waterfall (water type) |
Origin Pulse (Water Type) (Older) |
|
Mega Sceptile |
Bullet Seed (grass type) |
Frenzy Plant (Grass-Type) (Older) |
|
Mega Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
|
Mega Swampert |
Mud shot (ground type) |
Hydro Cannon (Water Type) (Legacy) |
|
Mega Abomasnow |
Leaf (grassy type) |
Weather Ball (ice type) |
Aerodactyl Shadow Counters
- Type: Rock and Flying
- weaknesses: Electric, Ice, Stone, Steel and Water moves
- Resistances: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ground, Normal and Poison type moves
Shadow Aerodactyl's best counters
|
Aerodactyl Shadow Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Xurkitree |
Shock (electric type) |
Discharge (electrical type) |
|
Metagross |
Bullet Punch (Steel Type) |
Meteor Grinder (Steel Type) |
|
Zekrom |
Charge Beam (Electric Type) |
Wild Charge (Electric Type) |
|
Kyogre |
Waterfall (water type) |
Original Pulse (Water Type) |
|
Melmetal |
Thunder Shock (Electric Type) |
Double Iron Bash (Steel Type) |
Best Shadow Aerodactyl Shadow A Mega Counter
|
Aerodactyl Shadow Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
The original Kyogre |
Waterfall (water type) |
Original Pulse (Water Type) |
|
Shadow Metagross |
Bullet Punch (Steel Type) |
Meteor Grinder (Steel Type) |
|
Mega Swampert |
Water Gun (Water Type) |
Hydro Cannon (water type) |
|
Shadow Rampardos |
Smack Down (rock type) |
Rock Slide (rock type) |
|
Shadow of Kyogre |
Waterfall (water type) |
Original Pulse (Water Type) |
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Phase Three Cliff Counters
The third phase also turns out to be a battle of predictions. Cliff has three options to choose from for the end phase: Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Obstagoon, or Shadow Crobat. Pokemon Go trainers must carefully select tokens that can match the Team GO Rocket leader's list.
Shadow tyrannical counters
- Type: Rock and Dark
- weaknesses: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Ground, Water, Steel and Grass type moves
- Resistances: Psychic, Dark, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Normal and Poison
The best Shadow Tyranitar counters
|
Shadow tyrannical counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Terrakion |
Double Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) |
|
Keldeo |
Low Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) |
|
Lucario |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Aura Sphere (Combat Type) |
|
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
|
Machamp |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
Best Shadow Tyranitar Shadow And Mega Counters
|
Shadow tyrannical counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Focus Blast (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Melee (Combat Type) |
|
The Shadow of Machamp |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
|
Shadow of Hariyama |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
|
Shadow Toxicroak |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
Shadow Obstacle Counters
- Type: Dark and normal
- Weakness: Fighting, Bug and Fairy type moves
- Resistance: Dark, Psychic and Ghost type moves
Best Shadow Obstacle Counters
|
Shadow Obstacle Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Terrakion |
Double Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
|
Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Older) |
Aura Sphere (Combat Type) |
|
Keldeo (common form) |
Low Kick (Combat Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat Type) |
|
Marshadow |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Melee (Combat Type) |
|
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
Best Shadow Obstagoon Shadow and Mega Counters
|
Shadow Obstacle Counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Older) |
Aura Sphere (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Melee (Combat Type) |
|
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Focus Blast (Combat Type) |
|
Shadow of Conkeldurr |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
|
The Shadow of Machamp |
Counter (Combat Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat Type) |
Shadow Crobat counters
- Type: Poison and flying
- Weakness: Electric, Ice, Psychic and Rock type moves
- Resistance: Fairy, Ground, Poison, Bug, Combat, and Grass type moves
The best Shadow Crobat counters
|
Shadow Crobat counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut (Psychic Type) |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Elder) |
|
Hoopa No strings attached |
Confusion (Psychic Type) |
Psychic (Psychic Type) |
|
Dusk Mane Necrozma |
Psycho Cut (Psychic Type) |
Sunsteel Strike (Steel Type) |
|
Zekrom |
Charge Beam (Electric Type) |
Fusion Bolt (Electric Type) (Legacy) |
|
Xurkitree |
Thunder Shock (Electric Type) |
Discharge (electrical type) |
Best Shadow Crobat Shadow And Mega Counter
|
Shadow Crobat counters |
Quick attack |
Charged attack |
|---|---|---|
|
Shadow Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut (Psychic Type) |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Elder) |
|
Shadow Superior |
Smack Down (rock type) |
Rock Wrecker (Rock Type) (Older) |
|
Mega Alakazam |
Confusion (Psychic Type) |
Psychic (Psychic Type) (Elder) |
|
Mega Tyranitar |
Smack Down (Rock Type) (Older) |
Stone Edge (rock type) |
|
Mega Latios |
Zen Headbutt (Psychic Type) |
Psychic (Psychic Type) |
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