Pokemon GO Cliff counters and lineup (September 2025)

The Pokemon GO Cliff counters in September 2025 will help you take down this GO Rocket boss. He has Shadow Larvitar as the lead.

While Cliff's team contains creatures that don't share too many weaknesses, some patterns can be drawn. Based on that, here are the best components for the Pokemon GO Cliff September 2025 lineup:

• One Water-/Ground-type with both moves
• One Fairy-type with Fairy moves
• One Electric-type with Electric-type moves

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Best team and strategy to beat Cliff's lineup in Pokemon GO (September 2025)

Sportskeeda Gaming's pick of the best team to counter Cliff in Pokemon GO is as follows:

Mega Swampert with Mud Shot, Hydro Cannon, and Earthquake

Lead with Swampert. The creature resists everything Shadow Larvitar has and can easily farm it down. You will leave with two Hydro Cannon, which you can use to remove shields from play from Cliff's side of the field. Mega or Shadow Swampert is great against Shadow Luxray as well, so reserve it for it.

Magnezone with Volt Switch, Mirror Shot, and Wild Charge

Bring our Magnezone only if Cliff sends out Skarmory. Magnezone's Fast Move pressure from Volt Switch will render the Steel- and Flying-type useless while resisting Shadow Skarmory's moves as well. Therefore, you can also expect to leave with quite a bit of health intact. Magnezone also does well against Shadow Honchkrow.

Mega Gardevoir with Charm and Dazzling Gleam

Close out the match with Mega Gardevoir. Charm down the first enemy and use a powerful Dazzling Gleam to counter Shadow Honchkrow, Shadow Annihilape, Shadow Tyranitar and Shadow Machamp to earn an encounter with Shadow Larvitar.

We discuss more about Cliff's counters and Pokemon lineup below.

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Pokemon GO Cliff team

Pokemon GO Cliff September 2025 team (Image via The Pokemon Company)

The following is the Pokemon GO Cliff September 2025:

Phase 1	Phase 2	Phase 3
Shadow Larvitar [shiny encounter available]	Shadow Annihilape	Shadow Machamp
	Shadow Honchkrow	Shadow Tyranitar
	Shadow Skarmory	Shadow Luxray

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How to beat the Pokemon GO Cliff team in Pokemon GO

Lead with Swampert and farm down Cliff's lead. Then use two Hydro Cannon in succession to eliminate shields. Switch in and out between suitable creatures and use Charged Attacks as soon as you get them to take down Cliff.

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Best counters against Pokemon GO Cliff

If you don't have the required creatures to make the best team against Cliff, use the following lists as metrics to build your own team:

Best Fairy-type counters against Cliff's September 2025 team: Effective against Annihilape, Honchkrow, Tyranitar, Machamp, and Luxray

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move(s)
Mega/Shadow/Regular Gardevoir	Charm	Dazzling Gleam and Triple Axel
Incarnate Forme Enamorus	Fairy Wind	Dazzling Gleam
Tapu Lele	Astonish	Nature's Madness
Zacian	Quick Attack	Play Rough and Wild Charge
Xerneas	Geomancy	Moonblast and Thunder
Togekiss	Charm	Dazzling Gleam and Flamethrower
Sylveon	Charm	Moonblast and Thunder
Hatterene	Charm	Dazzling Gleam
Primarna	Charm	Disarming Voice and Hydro Cannon

Best Electric-type counters against Cliff: Effective against Larvitar, Skarmory, Annihilape, Honchkrow, and Tyranitar

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Shadow Magnezone	Spark	Wild Charge
Shadow/Regular Raikou	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge
Xurkitree	Thunder Shock	Power Whip
Zekrom	Charge Beam	Fusion Bolt
Shadow Electivire	Thunder Shock	Wild Charge
Shadow Zapdos	Thunder Shock	Thunderbolt

Best Ground-type counters against Cliff: Effective against Larvitar, Luxray, and Tyranitar

Pokemon	Fast Move	Charged Move
Primal or Shadow Groudon	Mud Shot	Precipice Blades*
Mega or Shadow Garchomp	Mud Shot	Earth Power*
Mega Swampert	Mud Shot	Earthquake/Hydro Cannon*
Therian Forme Landorus	Mud Shot	Sandsear Storm*
Shadow Excadrill	Mud-Slap	Scorching Sands
Shadow Rhyperior	Mud-Slap	Rock Wrecker*/Breaking Swipe
Shadow Mamoswine	Mud-Slap	High Horsepower

Shiny Shadow Larvitar is one of the most chase-worthy creatures to be added as part of the Psychic Spectacular: Taken Over event, so Cliff is a TGR leader you'd want to farm.

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You can also check out the other GO Rocket Leader guides:

• Giovanni: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Sierra: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters
• Arlo: How to beat, weaknesses, and counters