Pokemon Go Cliff's Shadow Pokemon lineup has changed for December 2024. Cliff has several Shadow monsters, each with amazing abilities and battle prowess. You need to have proper meta-knowledge and counter-picking to defeat the leader of the GO Rocket team.
Pokemon Go Team GO Rocket leaders are among the game's strongest antagonists. As for Cliff's battle list, it features 7 Shadow Pokemon. Each of Cliff's Shadow Pokemon is extremely powerful and requires proper counters, but they have to first find the leader to fight him. Win against multiple Team GO Rocket Grunts and collect 6 Mysterious Components to build a Radar Missilewho can navigate to Cliff. This guide details GO Team Leader Rocket Cliff's Shadow Pokemon for December 2024 and the best counters against them.

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How to beat Cliff in Pokemon GO? (November 2024)
Cliff has a total of 7 Shadow Pokemon, and each of them is a capable fighter Pokemon Go. Cliff Battle has 3 rounds; THE The first round always starts with a single Pokemon. The Rounds 2 and 3 are unpredictable; the leader has 3 possible choices for each of these rounds. Extreme meta-knowledge and proper counters are needed to win the battle.
Phase |
Pokémon |
---|---|
The first phase |
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon |
The second phase |
|
The third phase |
|
Cliff's first phase counters
Cliff always starts with Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon for the first phase of the battle. It is a Dark and Normal type Pokemon with increased offensive prowess as a shadow monster.
Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon counters
- Type: Dark and Normal
- Weakness: Fight, Bug and Fairy type moves
- Resistance: Dark, Psychic, and Ghost-like moves
The best Galarian Shadow Zigzagoon counters
Galarian Zigzagoon Shadow counter |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Terrakion |
Double Strike (Combat-Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat-Type) (Heirloom) |
Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
Aura Sphere (Battle Type) |
Marshadow |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Close combat (combat-type) |
Keldeo (Ordinary Form) |
Low Strike (Combat-Type) |
Holy Sword (Combat-Type) |
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Best Galarian Zigzagoon Shadow and Mega Counters
Galarian Zigzagoon Shadow counter |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
Aura Sphere (Battle Type) |
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Close combat (combat-type) |
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Focus Blast (Battle Type) |
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Mega Alakazam |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Focus Blast (Battle Type) |
Cliff's second phase counters
The second phase of the battle comes with significant uncertainty. Cliff's Pokemon choice isn't constant like in the first phase, so Pokemon Go Trainers must prepare to battle the likes of Shadow Venusaur, Shadow Marowak, and Shadow Aerodactyl. You need to analyze the meta game to counter these opponents effectively.
Shadow Venusaur counters
- Type: Grass and poison
- Weakness: Fire, Flying, Ice and Psychic type moves
- Resistance: Electric moves, fairies, fighting, water and grass
The best Shadow Venusaur counters
Shadow Venusaur counter |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
Reshiram |
Fire Fangs (Fire-type) |
Fusion Flare (Fire-type) (Legacy) |
Šalamenci |
Fire Fangs (Fire-type) |
Fly (flying type) |
Heatran |
Fire Spin (Fire Type) |
Magma Storm (Fire-Type) (Legacy) |
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Legacy) |
Best Shadow Venusaur Shadow and Mega counters
Shadow Venusaur counter |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Mega Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
Mega Y Charizard |
Fire Spin (Fire Type) |
Blast Burn (Fire-Type) (Legacy) |
Mega Salamence |
Fire Fangs (Fire-type) |
Fly (flying type) |
Shadow Salamence |
Fire Fangs (Fire-type) |
Fly (flying type) |
Shadow Heatran |
Fire Spin (Fire Type) |
Magma Storm (Fire-Type) (Legacy) |
Shadow Marowak counters
- Type: ground
- Weak points: Grass, Ice and Water type moves
- Resistances: Poison, Rock and Electric moves
The best Shadow Marowak counters
Shadow Marowak counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Kyogre |
Waterfall (type of water) |
Origin Pulse (Water-Type) (Legacy) |
Zarude |
Vine Whip (grass type) |
Power Whip (grass type) |
Dawnwings Necrozma |
Shadow Claw (Grass Type) |
Moongeist Beam (Grass Type) |
I decide |
Leaves (grass type) |
Frenzy Plant (Grass Type) (Heirloom) |
Meowing |
Leaves (grass type) |
Grass Knot (Grass Type) |
Best Shadow Marowak Shadow and Mega counters
Shadow Marowak counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Shadow of Kyogre |
Waterfall (type of water) |
Origin Pulse (Water-Type) (Legacy) |
Mega Sceptile |
Bullet Seed (Grass Type) |
Frenzy Plant (Grass Type) (Heirloom) |
Mega Rayquaza |
Air Slash (flying type) |
Dragon Ascent (flying type) |
Mega Swampert |
Mud Kick (Ground Type) |
Hydro Cannon (Water-type) (Legacy) |
Mega Abomasnow |
Leaves (grass type) |
Weather Ball (Ice Type) |
Aerodactyl counters from the shadows
- Type: Rock and fly
- Weak points: Electric, Ice, Rock, Steel and Water type moves
- Resistances: Bug, Fire, Flying, Ground, Normal and Poison moves
The best Shadow Aerodactyl counters
Aerodactyl counters from the shadows |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Xurkitree |
Shock (electric type) |
Discharge (electrical type) |
Metagross |
Bullet Punch (Steel Type) |
Meteor Mash (Steel-type) |
Zekrom |
Load beam (electric type) |
Wild Charge (Electric Type) |
Kyogre |
Waterfall (type of water) |
Origin Pulse (Water Type) |
Melmetal |
Thunder shock (electric type) |
Double Iron Strike (Steel Type) |
Best Shadow counters Aerodactyl Shadow and Mega
Aerodactyl counters from the shadows |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Primordial Kyogre |
Waterfall (type of water) |
Origin Pulse (Water Type) |
Shadow Metagross |
Bullet Punch (Steel Type) |
Meteor Mash (Steel-type) |
Mega Swampert |
Water Gun (Water Type) |
Hydrogun (water type) |
Shadow Rampardos |
Smack Down (rock type) |
Rock slide (rock type) |
Shadow of Kyogre |
Waterfall (type of water) |
Origin Pulse (Water Type) |

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Cliff's Third Phase Counters
The third phase also proves to be a battle of prediction. Cliff has three options to choose from for the final phase: Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Obstagoon, or Shadow Crobat. Pokemon Go Coaches must carefully select counters that can go toe-to-toe with the GO Rocket Team Leader roster.
Tyranitar Shadow Counters
- Type: Rock and darkness
- Weak points: Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Earth, Water, Steel and Grass type moves
- Resistances: Psychic, Dark, Fire, Flying, Ghost, Normal and Poison
The best Shadow Tyranitar counters
Tyranitar Shadow Counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Terrakion |
Double Strike (Combat-Type) |
Holy Sword (Combat-Type) |
Keldeo |
Low Strike (Combat-Type) |
Holy Sword (Combat-Type) |
Lucario |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Aura Sphere (Battle Type) |
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Machamp |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Best Shadow Tyranitar Shadow and Mega counters
Tyranitar Shadow Counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Focus Blast (Battle Type) |
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Close combat (combat-type) |
Shadow Machamp |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Shadow of Hariyama |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Shadow Toxicroak |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Shadow Obstacle Counters
- Type: Dark and Normal
- Weakness: Fight, Bug and Fairy type moves
- Resistance: Dark, Psychic, and Ghost-like moves
The best Shadow Obstagoon counters
Shadow Obstacle Counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Terrakion |
Double Strike (Combat-Type) |
Sacred Sword (Combat-Type) (Heirloom) |
Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
Aura Sphere (Battle Type) |
Keldeo (Ordinary Form) |
Low Strike (Combat-Type) |
Holy Sword (Combat-type) |
Marshadow |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Close combat (combat-type) |
Conkeldurr |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Best Shadow Counters Obstagoon Shadow and Mega
Shadow Obstacle Counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Mega Lucario |
Force Palm (Combat Type) (Legacy) |
Aura Sphere (Battle Type) |
Mega Heracross |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Close combat (combat-type) |
Mega Blaziken |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Focus Blast (Battle Type) |
Shadow Conkeldurr |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Shadow Machamp |
Counter (Battle Type) |
Dynamic Strike (Combat-type) |
Shadow crotch counters
- Type: Poison and Flight
- Weakness: Electric, ice, psych and rock moves
- Resistance: Fairy, Earth, Poison, Bug, Fighting and Grass type moves
The best Shadow Crobat counters
Shadow crotch counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Legacy) |
Whoop Unbound |
Confusion (mental type) |
Psychic (psychic type) |
Dusk Mane Necrozma |
Psycho Cut |
Sunsteel Strike (Steel-type) |
Zekrom |
Load beam (electric type) |
Fusion Bolt (Electric) (Legacy) |
Xurkitree |
Thunder shock (electric type) |
Discharge (electrical type) |
Best Shadow Crobat Shadow and Mega counters
Shadow crotch counters |
Fast attack |
Charged attack |
---|---|---|
Shadow Mewtwo |
Psycho Cut |
Psystrike (Psychic Type) (Legacy) |
Shadow Rhyperior |
Smack Down (rock type) |
Rock Wrecker (rock type) (legacy) |
Mega Alakazam |
Confusion (mental type) |
Psychic (Psychic-Type) (Legacy) |
Mega Tyranitar |
Smack Down (rock) (legacy) |
Stone Edge (rock type) |
Mega Latios |
Zen Head Butt (Psychic Type) |
Psychic (psychic type) |
