The muscle of Team GO Rocket, Leader Cliff, returns in June 2025 with a new lineup to catch trainers out in Pokémon GO. For months, Cliff, along with the other Leaders Arlo and Sierra, has kept the same line-up in Pokémon GO, but it has all changed as part of a recent event, offering a new challenge for trainers. Due to Cliff using high-level Shadow Pokémon, you need to know his line-up, and the best Pokémon to beat him.

During the Crown Clash: Taken Over event Team GO Rocket were heavily featured and this marked new line-ups for all Team GO Rocket , including Grunts, Leaders and the Boss. In previous months, Cliff has been a straightforward battle for trainers to counter due to many crossover weaknesses in his Pokémon. However, a new line-up means it is vital that you know Cliff's team and the best Pokémon to counter them before taking him on in June 2025.

Cliff's Lineup & Counters (June 2025)

Four New Pokémon For June

For June 2025, Cliff will use four different Pokémon from previous teams. The Leader will still use a combination of seven Pokémon in each battle, with his second and third Pokémon chosen at random every time. In a change to his team, Cliff will now always start with the dangerous Dragon- and Ground-type Gible. His second Pokémon will be one of Dark- and Flying-type Honchkrow, Steel- and Flying-type Skarmory or the returning Fighting- and Ghost-type Annihilape.

For Cliff's third Pokémon, Electric-type Luxray is new to his potential Pokémon, along with Fighting-type Machamp and Dark- and Rock-type Tyranitar. The waves are listed below:

While Gible is one of the strongest opening Pokémon any of the Leaders have, it still has three weaknesses. I would always start with an Ice-type as Gible is double weak against their attacks. A great option is Ice- and Ground-type Mamoswine. The powerhouse can dominate Cliff's team if set up with one attack of each of its two types. Its Ice-type attack will also make quick work of Honchkrow if it is selected. As a bonus, its ground-type attacks are super-effective against Luxray and Tyranitar.

Another good choice is to include a Fairy-type such as Togekiss or Xerneas. Fairy-type moves are super-effective against five of Cliff's Pokémon this month: Gible, Honchkrow, Annihilape, Tyranitar and Machamp. The only Pokémon which isn't covered by the above is Skarmory, which is weak against Electric- and Fire-type attacks.Thundurus Therian is one of the best Electric-types available in Pokémon GO and is another option if Honchkrow is selected.

Rewards For Beating Cliff (June 2025)

A Rare Encounter And A Rare Egg

Upon victory over Cliff this month, you will immediately get the chance to catch his first Pokémon in its Shadow form, Gible. Its final stage, Garchomp, is a very powerful Pokémon, so it is definitely worth capturing. On top of this, you need to defeat all three Leaders, including Cliff, to be able to take on Team GO Rocket Boss Giovanni.

In addition, each time you defeat Cliff, you receive a number of items to assist your journey through Pokémon GO.

If you have space in your egg storage, one of these items will automatically be the rare red 12km egg, which can hatch some of the strongest Pokémon on offer. You will also receive a selection of items out of an Unova Stone, 4x Max Potions, 4x Max Revives, 4x Hyper Potions, 4x Revives. Cliff's team has had a makeover for June 2025, but you can still counter it as long as you select the right Pokémon in Pokémon GO.