Pokemon Go Cliff counters June 2021: Best Pokemon to use & weaknesses

Pokemon Go trainers are still having a hard time figuring out how to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go in June 2021, but the Team Rocket GO leader is 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 June 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.

How to beat Pokemon Go Team Rocket leaders

• How to beat Giovanni
• How to beat Arlo
• How to beat Sierra

What Pokemon does Cliff use in Pokemon Go?

• First phase: Seedot
• Second phase: Hariyama, Kingler, or Poliwrath.
• Third phase: Torterra, Sharpedo, or Tyranitar.

As part of the Luminous Legends Y event, Cliff’s lineup has been switched up. He now uses a bunch of Shadow Pokemon, and you’ll want to avoid using any Pokemon that are weak to Dark-type moves.

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

Phase 1

Cliff will always start with Seedot.

Seedot weaknesses Pokemon Go

Seedot is a Grass-type Pokemon, which means it’s vulnerable to Bug, Fire, Flying, Ice, and Poison.

Seedot counters

• Darmanitan – Fire Fang (Fast Move) and Overheat (Charge Move)
• Infernape – Fire Spin (Fast Move) and Blast Burn (Charge Move)
• Honchkrow – Peck (Fast Move) and Sky Attack (Charge Move)
• Crobat – Air Slash (Fast Move) and Sludge Bomb (Charge Move)
• Roserade – Poison Jab (Fast Move) and Sludge Bomb (Charge Move)
• Flareon – Fire Spin (Fast Move) and Overheat (Charge Move)

Phase 2

Cliff’s Phase 2 Pokemon will be Hariyama, Kingler, or Poliwrath.

Hariyama weaknesses Pokemon Go

Hariyama is a bulky Fighting-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Fairy, Flying, and Psychic.

Hariyama counters

• Togekiss – Charm (Fast Move) and Dazzling Gleam (Charge Move)
• Gardevoir – Charm (Fast Move) and Psychic (Charge Move)
• Sylveon – Charm (Fast Move) and Moonblast (Charge Move)
• Victini – Confusion (Fast Move) and Psychic (Charge Move)
• Rayquaza – Air Slash (Fast Move) and Aerial Ace (Charge Move)
• Clefable – Charm (Fast Move) and Meteor Mash (Charge Move)

Kingler weaknesses Pokemon Go

Kingler is a Water-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Electric and Grass.

Kingler counters

• Magnezone – Spark (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Electivire – Thunder Shock (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Roserade – Razor Leaf (Fast Move) and Solar Beam (Charge Move)
• Tangrowth – Vine Whip (Fast Move) and Solar Beam (Charge Move)
• Zekrom – Charge Beam (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Venusaur – Vine Whip (Fast Move) and Frenzy Plant (Charge Move)

Poliwrath weaknesses Pokemon Go

Poliwrath is a Water/Fighting-type, which makes it weak against Electric, Fairy, Flying, Grass, and Psychic.

Poliwrath counters

• Togekiss – Charm (Fast Move) and Ancient Power (Charge Move)
• Zekrom – Charge Beam (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Sylveon – Charm (Fast Move) and Moonblast (Charge Move)
• Gardevoir – Charm (Fast Move) and Psychic (Charge Move)
• Electivire – Thunder Shock (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Vileplume – Razor Leaf (Fast Move) and Moonblast (Charge Move)

Phase 3

Cliff’s Phase 3 Pokemon can be Torterra, Sharpedo, or Tyranitar

Torterra weaknesses Pokemon Go

Torterra is a Grass/Ground-type Pokemon, which means it’s weak against Bug, Fire, Flying, and Ice.

Torterra counters

• Articuno – Ice Shard (Fast Move) and Blizzard (Charge Move)
• Glaceon – Ice Shard (Fast Move) and Avalanche (Charge Move)
• Reshiram – Dragon Breath (Fast Move) and Overheat (Charge Move)
• Weavile – Ice Shard (Fast Move) and Avalanche (Charge Move)
• Ho-Oh – Incinerate (Fast Move) and Brave Bird (Charge Move)
• Heatran – Fire Spin (Fast Move) and Flamethrower (Charge Move)

Sharpedo weaknesses Pokemon Go

Sharpedo is a Water/Dark-type pokemon, so it’s weak against Fairy, Bug, Electric, Grass, and Fighting.

Sharpedo Counters

• Thundurus (Therian) — Thunder Shock (Fast Move) and Thunderbolt (Charge Move)
• Machamp — Counter (Fast Move) and Dynamic Punch (Charge Move)
• Raikou — Volt Switch (Fast Move) and Wild Charge (Charge Move)
• Sirfetch’d — Counter (Fast Move) and Close Combat (Charge Move)
• Zapdos — Thunder Shock (Fast Move) and Thunderbolt (Charge Move)
• Roserade — Bullet Seed (Fast Move) and Grass Knot (Charge Move)

Tyranitar weaknesses Pokemon Go

Tyranitar is a Rock/Dark-type Pokemon, so it’s weak against Bug, Fairy, Fighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water.

Tyranitar counters

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

Best team to beat Cliff in Pokemon Go

Togekiss would be a perfect addition to your team to take on Cliff in Pokemon Go.

One of the best – and easily accessible – lineups to defeat Cliff in Pokemon Go would be Togekiss, Magnezone, and Mamoswine (with Ice-type moves).

Togekiss with Flying and Fairy moves take care of Seedot, Hariyama, and Poliwrath; Magnezone with Electric and Steel moves will be strong against Kingler and Tyranitar; and finally, Mamoswine can take advantage of Torterra’s extreme Ice weakness.

• Read More: Pokemon Go Spotlight hour bonus & rewards

As always with these Team Go Rocket battles though, you won’t know what Cliff is going to send out until you enter the battle, making it difficult to recommend a ‘best’ team. Scouting ahead is a good idea, as it will help you plan better.

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.