Cliff’s Pokemon GO Shadow Pokemon lineup for May 2025 has been updated during the Crown Clash event. New Shadow Pokemon have been introduced that the Team GO Rocket leader can deploy in battles, requiring players to carefully plan their strategies to successfully overcome Cliff in May 2025.
Before you can challenge Cliff, it’s essential to find him. To do so, you will need a Rocket Radar, which can be created by assembling six Mysterious Components obtained by defeating Team GO Rocket Grunts. Once you have the Rocket Radar, it will lead you to Cliff’s location on the map, initiating the battle. This guide offers insights on how to defeat Cliff in Pokemon GO for May 2025, including the most effective counters.
Pokemon GO: Optimal Counter Team for Cliff in May 2025
Encountering Cliff in Pokemon GO during May 2025 entails three rounds, each progressively more challenging. Cliff always begins with Shadow Gible, followed by two additional choices for the last two rounds.
|
1st Round |
Cliff starts with Shadow Gible |
|---|---|
|
2nd Round |
He can choose from Shadow Skarmory, Shadow Honchkrow, and Shadow Annihilape |
|
3rd Round |
He can opt for Shadow Tyranitar, Shadow Machamp, or Shadow Luxray |
The top counters for Cliff in Pokemon GO this May are Mega Gardevoir, Magnezone, and Xerneas. Mega Gardevoir’s Fairy-type moves are particularly effective against Shadow Gible, and can also be used against Shadow Honchkrow and Shadow Annihilape. If Cliff employs Shadow Skarmory, Magnezone’s Electric-type attacks will be useful.
Xerneas’s Fairy-type capabilities can severely damage Shadow Gible, Shadow Honchkrow, Shadow Annihilape, as well as Shadow Tyranitar and Shadow Machamp.
Pokemon GO – Comprehensive List of Cliff Shadow Pokemon Counters for May 2025
Shadow Gible Counters
- White Kyurem: Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Black Kyurem: Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Freeze Shock (Ice)
- Shadow Mamoswine: Powder Snow (Ice) & Avalanche (Ice)
- Shadow Weavile: Ice Shard (Ice) & Avalanche (Ice)
- Mega Rayquaza: Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Outrage (Dragon)
Shadow Skarmory Counters
- Shadow Magnezone: Volt Switch (Electric) & Wild Charge (Electric)
- Mega Y Charizard: Fire Spin (Fire) & Overheat (Fire)
- Shadow Raikou: Thunder Shock (Electric) & Wild Charge (Electric)
- Shadow Heatran: Fire Spin (Fire) & Fire Blast (Fire)
- Mega Manectric: Thunder Fang (Electric) & Wild Charge (Electric)
Shadow Honchkrow Counters
- White Kyurem: Ice Fang (Ice) & Ice Burn (Ice)
- Mega Diancie: Rock Throw (Rock) & Rock Slide (Rock)
- Mega Gardevoir: Charm (Fairy) & Dazzling Gleam (Fairy)
- Shadow Raikou: Thunder Shock (Electric) & Wild Charge (Electric)
- Mega Rayquaza: Dragon Tail (Dragon) & Dragon Ascent (Flying)
Shadow Annihilape Counters
- 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 Luxray Counters
- Primal Groudon: Mud Shot (Ground) & Earthquake (Ground)
- Mega Garchomp: Mud Shot (Ground) & Earthquake (Ground)
- Shadow Excadrill: Mud-Slap (Ground) & Scorching Sands (Ground)
- Shadow Rhyperior: Mud-Slap (Ground) & Earthquake (Ground)
- Shadow Groudon: Mud Shot (Ground) & Earthquake (Ground)
Shadow Tyranitar Counters
- 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 Counters
- 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)
