Defeating Cliff in Pokemon GO: Strategies for April 2025

As we step into April 2025, the presence of Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket Leader Cliff continues to challenge trainers with his unchanged roster of Shadow Pokémon. Though his lineup remains the same as the previous month, players must utilize deep meta-knowledge and strategic planning to achieve victory. Understanding Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon is essential for formulating effective counters to advance in battles.

To encounter Cliff, players need a Rocket Radar, which can be assembled using six Mysterious Components. These components can be collected by battling and defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts. Once you find Cliff, it is crucial to have the right counters prepared, tailored specifically for his Shadow Pokémon lineup. This comprehensive guide will help you secure a win against Cliff in April 2025.

The Rocket Radar is designed to lead you to any of the three Team GO Rocket Leaders: Cliff, Arlo, or Sierra.

Strategies to Defeat Cliff in Pokémon GO (April 2025)

Pokemon GO All Cliff Counters 2025

To achieve victory against Cliff in April 2025, it’s vital to identify the Shadows in his roster and select the appropriate counters. Cliff engages players in three battle rounds, starting with a fixed Pokémon in the first round. For the subsequent two rounds, he has three potential Pokémon to choose from, making it imperative to craft a well-rounded strategy that covers the entire lineup.

Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon for April 2025

Round

Pokémon

1st Round

Shadow Cubone

2nd Round

  • Shadow Machoke
  • Shadow Marowak
  • Shadow Annihilape

3rd Round

  • Shadow Tyranitar
  • Shadow Machamp
  • Shadow Crobat

Notably, Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon typically exhibit weaknesses to Fairy and Ice-type moves. Accordingly, trainers should prioritize top Pokémon such as Mamoswine, Xerneas, and Mewtwo for optimal counters in April 2025. If these Pokémon are unavailable, consider alternatives with comparable strengths.

Utilizing Mamoswine is excellent for exploiting Shadow Cubone’s vulnerability to Ice-type attacks. Furthermore, Mamoswine can be effective against both Marowak and Crobat later in the battle. All of Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon, aside from the aforementioned, are susceptible to Fairy-type moves.

In the face of Shadow Annihilape, Machoke, Tyranitar, and Machamp, Xerneas proves invaluable given its Fairy-type advantages. Meanwhile, Psychic-type Mewtwo can be used strategically against Annihilape, Machoke, Machamp, and Crobat as well.

Complete Counter List for Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon in April 2025

To effectively defeat Pokemon GO Team GO Rocket leader Cliff, familiarizing yourself with his Shadow Pokémon meta is crucial. Each Shadow Pokémon has specific weaknesses that can be exploited. Below is a list of Cliff’s Shadow Pokémon along with their respective counters, allowing you to curate an effective battle roster.

Shadow Cubone

  • Type: Ground
  • Weakness: Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves
  • Resistance: Poison, Rock, and Electric-type moves

Best Counters for Shadow Cubone

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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)

Shadow Machoke

  • Type: Fighting
  • Weakness: Fairy, Flying, and Psychic-type moves
  • Resistance: Bug, Dark, and Rock-type moves

Best Counters for Shadow Machoke

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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
  • Weaknesses: Grass, Ice, and Water-type moves
  • Resistances: Poison, Rock, and Electric-type moves

Best Counters for Shadow Marowak

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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)

Shadow Tyranitar

  • Type: Rock and Dark
  • Weaknesses: 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

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

Mega Lucario

Force Palm (Fighting) (Legacy)

Aura Sphere (Fighting)

Terrakion

Double Kick (Fighting)

Sacred Sword (Fighting) (Legacy)

Mega Blaziken

Counter (Fighting)

Focus Blast (Fighting)

Ordinary Forme Keldeo

Low Kick (Fighting)

Sacred Sword (Fighting) (Legacy)

Shadow Conkeldurr

Counter (Fighting)

Dynamic Punch (Fighting)

Shadow Machamp

  • Type: Fighting
  • Weakness: Flying, Fairy, and Psychic-type moves
  • Resistance: Rock, Dark, and Bug-type moves

Best Counters for Shadow Machamp

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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

Pokémon

Fast Move

Charged Move

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)

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