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How to beat Cliff in Pokémon Go in October 2024

Originally posted on Video Games on SI | By Marco Wutz | Last updated Oct 14, 2024 5:44 AM ET

Team Go Rocket’s Cliff has returned to Pokémon Go with a variety of fresh Pokémon – and as usual he’s up to no good. His roster update in October 2024 has made him a tough opponent, but you’ll still need to defeat him to get one step closer to facing off with Giovanni.

You can only encounter Cliff if you have an active Rocket Radar, so you’ll need to beat up a few grunts, relieve them of their Mysterious Parts, and construct a Rocket Radar with six of them. Once it’s activated, you can encounter Arlo, Cliff, or Sierra at PokéStops or on Rocket Balloons. Defeating all three Team Go Rocket bosses enables you to finally duel their superior, Giovanni.

This guide will tell you how to beat Cliff in Pokémon Go in 2024.

Cliff’s Pokémon in October 2024 – Pokémon Go

You can expect Cliff to always send out Shadow Galarian Zigzagoon first. Afterwards, though, he has three potential options to fill the second and third slots in his battle team.

Slot #1: Galarian Zigzagoon
Slot #2: Venusaur / Aerodactyl / Marowak
Slot #3: Tyranitar / Obstagoon / Crobat

Best counters to Galarian Zigzagoon – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Galarian Zigzagoon will make way pretty quickly if confronted with a Fighting-type Pokémon. This has the added advantage of being able to cover Tyranitar and Obstagoon as a potential third pick as well.

Terrakion (Fighting, Rock): Double Kick, Sacred Sword, Rock Slide
Lucario (Steel, Fighting): Counter, Aura Sphere, Close Combat
Conkeldurr (Fighting): Counter, Dynamic Punch, Focus Blast

Best counters to Venusaur – Pokémon Go Cliff

The Pokémon Company

Venusaur has plenty of weaknesses to exploit, such as Fire and Psychic, but we’d recommend a focus on Ice-type Pokémon in this case, as these will perform admirably in other match-ups, too.

Baxcalibur (Ice, Dragon): Ice Fang, Avalanche, Outrage
Kyurem (Ice, Dragon): Dragon Breath, Glaciate, Draco Meteor
Abomasnow (Grass, Ice): Leafage, Weather Ball (Ice), Outrage

Best counters to Aerodactyl – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Aerodactyl is one of the potential picks sharing weaknesses with Tyranitar in Cliff’s line-up, such as Ice and Steel.

Metagross (Psychic, Steel): Bullet Punch, Psychic, Meteor Mash
Baxcalibur (Ice, Dragon): Ice Fang, Avalanche, Outrage
Kyurem (Ice, Dragon): Dragon Breath, Glaciate, Draco Meteor

Best counters to Marowak – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Marowak is another potential victim for the Ice-type gang.

Baxcalibur (Ice, Dragon): Ice Fang, Avalanche, Outrage
Kyurem (Ice, Dragon): Dragon Breath, Glaciate, Draco Meteor
Abomasnow (Grass, Ice): Leafage, Weather Ball (Ice), Outrage

Best counters to Tyranitar – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Tyranitar has a fearsome appearance, but it does not lack weak points: Fighting, Bug, Fairy, Grass, Ground, Steel, and Water all do bonus damage against it, so take your pick. As we mentioned before, you’ll want to bring a few of those in any case to cover Cliff’s other options.

Metagross (Psychic, Steel): Bullet Punch, Psychic, Meteor Mash
Lucario (Steel, Fighting): Counter, Aura Sphere, Close Combat
Baxcalibur (Ice, Dragon): Ice Fang, Avalanche, Outrage

Best counters to Obstagoon – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Cradily shares key weaknesses with Tyranitar and Galarian Zigzagoon, so your Fighting-type from the start will serve you well here.

Terrakion (Fighting, Rock): Double Kick, Sacred Sword, Rock Slide
Lucario (Steel, Fighting): Counter, Aura Sphere, Close Combat
Conkeldurr (Fighting): Counter, Dynamic Punch, Focus Blast

Best counters to Crobat – Pokémon Go Cliff

Niantic / The Pokémon Company

Crobat, too, can be covered by your Ice-type Pokémon. Alternatively, a Metagross with some sort of Psychic-type move should fare well against it, too.

Metagross (Psychic, Steel): Bullet Punch, Psychic, Meteor Mash
Kyurem (Ice, Dragon): Dragon Breath, Glaciate, Draco Meteor
Baxcalibur (Ice, Dragon): Ice Fang, Avalanche, Outrage

Summing things up, you should bring a Fighting-, Psychic-, and Ice-type Pokémon to easily deal with all of Cliff’s options.

For more Pokémon Go, check out the overviews of the monthly Spotlight Hours and 5-Star Raids.

This article first appeared on Video Games on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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