How to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go May 2021: Best counters & Aerodactyl weakness

Pokemon Go trainers are still having a hard time battling against Team Go Rocket Leader Cliff in May 2021, but he’s much easier to beat with the right counters. Here’s everything you need to know.

After defeating six Team Go Rocket grunts and collecting their Mysterious Components as the reward, trainers will be able to form a Rocket Radar and face off against one of Team Go Rocket’s Leaders: Sierra, Arlo, and Cliff.

These leaders are far more difficult to take down than the regular Team Go Rocket grunts you’ll find at PokeStops, and to make matters worse, you won’t know which set of Pokemon they’re going to send out until you enter the battle.

Team Go Rocket Leaders put up a good fight in Pokemon Go.

Team Go Rocket Leader Cliff has long been a thorn in the side of many Pokemon Go trainers, and that’s no different in May 2021. He commands a difficult and diverse line-up of Pokemon, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

• Read More: How to catch Ditto in Pokemon Go

A recent issue with the game meant Team Go Rocket were temporarily removed from Pokemon Go, but as of April 22, they’re back in full force, meaning trainers can once again take on these powerful opponents.

Let’s take a look at all of the potential Pokemon that Cliff can use in battle, and the best counters to take each one down.

Cliff Phase 1: Aerodactyl

In the first phase, Cliff calls forth his trusty Aerodactyl. It’s a Rock/Flying-type Pokemon, which means it’s vulnerable to Water, Ice, and Lightning. Here’s a list of some of the best counters and their moves. 

Aerodactyl counters

• Electivire – Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Mega Blastoise – Water Gun and Hydro Cannon
• Raikou – Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Mamoswine – Powder Snow and Avalanche
• Kyogre – Waterfall and Surf
• Rampardos – SmackDown and Rock Slide

Cliff will always start with Aerodactyl.

Cliff Phase 2: Cradily/Gallade/Slowking

In the second phase, you’ll have some variety to contend with, as Cliff will send out one of three Pokemon: Cradily, Gallade, or Slowking.

Cradily is weak to Bug, Ice, Fighting, and Steel. Gallade, on the other hand, is weak to Fairy, Flying, and Ghost. Last but not least, Slowking is weak to Bug, Dark, Electric, Ghost, and Grass.

Cradily counters

• Breloom – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Conkeldurr – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Lucario – Counter and Aura Sphere
• Machamp – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Mamoswine – Powder Snow and Avalanche
• Weavile – Ice Shard and Avalanche

Gallade counters

• Chandelure – Hex and Shadow Ball
• Gengar – Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
• Ho-Oh – Hidden Power and Brave Bird
• Moltres – Wing Attack and Sky Attack
• Rayquaza – Air Slash and Hurricane
• Honchkrow – Peck and Sky Attack

Slowking counters

• Chandelure – Hex and Shadow Ball
• Electivire – Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Gengar – Shadow Claw and Shadow Ball
• Raikou – Thunder Shock and Wild Charge
• Magnezone – Spark and Wild Charge
• Weavile – Snarl and Foul Play

Cliff’s Phase 2 Pokemon will be Cradily, Gallade, or Slowking.

Cliff Phase 3: Dusknoir/Mamoswine/Tyranitar

In the third phase of this battle, the potential types you’ll go up against gets even more diverse. Cliff will either use Dusknoir, Mamoswine, or Tyranitar.

Dusknoir is weak to Dark and Ghost Pokemon. Mamoswine is weak to Fighting, Fire, Grass, Steel, and Water Pokemon. And of course, Tyranitar is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water Pokemon.

Dusknoir counters

• Chandelure – Hex and Shadow Ball
• Darkrai – Snarl and Shadow Ball
• Gengar – Lick and Shadow Ball
• Weavile – Snarl and Foul Play
• Absol – Snarl and Dark Pulse
• Houndoom – Snarl and Foul Play

Mamoswine counters

• Conkeldurr – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Kyogre – Waterfall and Surf
• Lucario – Counter and Aura Sphere
• Machamp – Karate Chop and Dynamic Punch
• Metagross – Bullet Punch and Meteor Mash
• Empoleon – Metal Claw and Hydro Cannon

Tyranintar counters

• Breloom – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Conkeldurr – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Lucario – Counter and Aura Sphere
• Machamp – Counter and Dynamic Punch
• Sirfetch’d – Counter and Close Combat
• Blaziken – Counter and Focus Blast

Cliff’s Phase 3 Pokemon will be Dusknoir, Mamoswine, or Tyranitar.

Team Go Rocket Leader Cliff is without a doubt one of the toughest opponents you’ll face off against in Pokemon Go. But with the right counters chosen from our lists above, he can be a walk in the park to beat.

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Don’t worry too much if you don’t have any of the counters we’ve listed. Focus on the weaknesses of each of his Pokemon and take your strongest types into battle for a good chance of emerging victoriously.

If you’re trying to take on other members of Team Go Rocket, we’ve also got guides to beating Team Go Rocket Leader Arlo and defeating Team Go Rocket Leader Sierra which should help lead you to success.