How to beat Leader Cliff in Pokemon Go (April 2025)

If you want to defeat Leader Cliff in Pokemon GO, now is the chance, as he is back and tougher than ever as of April 2025. Cliffe poses a serious challenge for trainers.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know—from Cliff’s current Pokemon rotation to the best counters and strategies for each phase of the battle.
Whether you’re a seasoned trainer or just starting out, understanding Cliff’s lineup and having the right counters are essential to defeating him and scoring a powerful Shadow Pokemon reward.

Cliff always opens with Shadow Cubone, followed by one of three Pokemon in each of the next two phases. Here’s what to expect:

This lineup is current as of April 1, 2025. Unless a Team Rocket Takeover event occurs, these Pokemon will remain the same throughout the month.


To defeat Cliff, you’ll need a well-rounded team that can cover multiple types. His team has heavy hitters, so you’ll want to go in prepared with high CP counters and smart type matchups. Let’s break it down by each battle phase.

Cubone is a Ground-type, weak to Grass, Ice, and Water moves. It resists Poison, Rock, and Electric types.







Here’s the table:










One of the most effective teams to defeat Cliff this month includes:
- Mega Gardevoir – Strong against Machoke, Machamp, and Tyranitar
- Mewtwo – Ideal for Annihilape, Crobat, and even Marowak if using Ice Beam
- Mega Sceptile – Great for taking out Cubone and Marowak early in the fight
If you lack Mega Energy, you can use their base forms or switch in alternatives like Gallade or Blastoise. Don’t worry if you lose—Cliff can be rematched as many times as needed, allowing you to rework your strategy.

To locate Cliff, follow these steps:
1. Defeat six Team Go Rocket Grunts at PokeStops or balloons.
2. Collect six Mysterious Components.
3. Combine them into a Rocket Radar.
4. Use the Rocket Radar to encounter a Team Rocket Leader—Cliff, Arlo, or Sierra.
5. Keep checking Rocket encounters until you spot Cliff’s avatar.
Once you find Cliff, you’ll get a chance to battle him and potentially catch a Shadow Cubone afterward.
Also read: How to beat Leader Arlo in Pokemon Go (April 2025)
That wraps up everything you need to know to beat Cliff in April 2025. Get your best team ready and claim those Shadow Pokemon rewards.