Defeating Cliff in Pokémon GO: May 2025 Strategy Guide

Team GO Rocket’s formidable Leader Cliff is set to make his return in Pokémon GO for players to challenge in May 2025. This month promises to be significant for Team GO Rocket, especially with the upcoming Crown Clash: Taken Over event starting on Wednesday, May 14. However, trainers can still face off against the Leaders beginning at the start of the month. Until the event kicks off, Cliff maintains the same Pokémon lineup from April 2025.

While he’s generally one of the easier Leaders to defeat, Cliff still presents a tough challenge, so it’s crucial to understand his lineup and the best counters to it. Before you can battle Cliff this month, you must first overcome six GO Rocket Grunts, such as Ke Ke Ke Ke. All of Cliff’s Pokémon are Shadow variants, making this the perfect opportunity to utilize your own Shadow Pokémon.

Cliff’s Lineup & Counters (May 2025)

A Familiar Set-Up Against a Familiar Adversary

Leader Cliff’s Pokémon might typically have a higher CP than your own, so your best chance of overcoming his team is by selecting three Pokémon that are especially strong against his. Fortunately, Cliff’s lineup for May 2025 boasts several common weaknesses. Like his fellow Leaders Arlo and Sierra, Cliff will bring seven different Pokémon into battle, but he will only choose three for each encounter.

Each time you challenge Cliff in Pokémon GO, there’s an element of randomness regarding his lineup. The battles will always start with Ground-type Cubone. However, the second and third Pokémon will be chosen randomly each time. If you encounter a less favorable matchup, feel free to battle him again later for a different Pokémon lineup.

For each fight, his second Pokémon can be either Ground-type Marowak, Fighting-type Machoke, or Fighting- and Ghost-type Annihilape. His final Pokémon will be one of the strongest: either Poison- and Flying-type Crobat, Rock- and Dark-type Tyranitar, or Fighting-type Machamp.

As with battles against GO Rocket Boss Giovanni, it’s wise to begin with a Pokémon that has a type advantage over Cliff’s opening, Cubone. Since Cubone is vulnerable to Ice-, Grass-, and Water-type moves, an Ice-type like Mamoswine is a solid choice. Using an Ice-type also ensures you have a strong option against either Marowak or Crobat, should Cliff choose one of them in his later waves.

The Legendary Xerneas is the top choice, but if you haven’t caught one, a strong CP Togekiss can also perform well. Both are powerful attackers with access to the best Fairy-type moves available, making short work of Machoke, Annihilape, Tyranitar, and Machamp.

For your final choice, consider two options: either a Psychic-type Pokémon like Mewtwo or Latios. Both are effective against Machoke, Annihilape, Crobat, and Machamp. Alternatively, if you’re struggling specifically with the formidable Tyranitar, bringing in a second Fairy-type Pokémon as backup can be a wise decision.

Rewards For Beating Cliff (May 2025)

Encounters, Eggs, and Items

One of the primary incentives for defeating Cliff in May 2025 is that it’s a prerequisite for battling GO Rocket Boss Giovanni, as you must take down all three Leaders beforehand. Additionally, winning against Cliff grants you further rewards. Upon defeating him, you will encounter his first Pokémon, which will be Shadow Cubone for May 2025. You’ll also receive a 12km red egg, provided your egg inventory has space.

If your item storage has room, you will also receive three out of the following five potential rewards: Unova Stone, 4x Max Potions, 4x Max Revives, 4x Hyper Potions, or 4x Revives. All rewards for defeating Cliff in Pokémon GO can be earned multiple times this month.

Every time you defeat him, you have the chance to obtain a Shadow Cubone, a red egg, and three of the items listed above. While his lineup is expected to change on May 14, Cliff’s current team in Pokémon GO is fairly manageable if you assemble a team featuring Ice-type and Fairy-type Pokémon.