3CL TCG

Species guide · Ages 10+ · July 2026

Cleffa

Say it: CLE-ffa

Kids summary (simpler)Tap to expand

Cleffa is the Star Shape Pokémon — Fairy baby before Clefairy and Clefable. In Pokémon GO it is usually candy on the way to Clefable — not a finished raid attacker. Fairy helps against Dragon, Dark, and Fighting; Poison and Steel hit Fairy hard. Catch Cleffa from eggs or events, then evolve. Meteor Mash belongs on Clefable.

Say it: CLE-ffa

Cleffa (#173) is a Fairy Pokémon in Pokémon GO — the baby stage of the Clefable line. Trainers almost never power Cleffa for raids; the value is candy and IVs for Clefairy/Clefable. Against Cleffa, lead with Poison or Steel. Stats, type chart, moves, and counter picks below use our Game Master snapshot.

Fairy#173

Type-colored placeholder — not official Pokémon artwork (see IP notice below).

Pokédex notes

Cleffa is a Fairy-type Pokémon in Pokémon GO. National Dex #0173. Use the Fairy type chart below before powering up — metas shift every season.

Where in GO: Wild spawns, eggs, Field Research, and seasonal events

Invest tip: Do not sink Stardust into Cleffa. Keep high-IV copies for Clefable. Shadow Cleffa is the same — evolve toward Shadow Clefable.

Type matchups

  • Fairy moves hit Fighting, Dragon, and Dark hard.

When Cleffa is your opponent, Poison, Steel hits hard.

Full type matchup guide →

GO base stats

From Game Master snapshot — IVs, buddy, and power-ups change real battle stats.

Attack
75
Defense
79
Stamina
137

Weak to

PoisonSteel

Resists

FightingBugDragonDark

Best Pokémon to use against it

When this species is your opponent (Rocket battle, gym, raid, or PvP), these picks exploit its typings. Each list is a pool of options — not a required 12-Pokémon lobby.

Recommended

Strongest practical attackers for this matchup.

  1. 1. Nihilego · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  2. 2. Mega Gengar · beats Poison

    Lick + Sludge Bomb

  3. 3. Shadow Gengar · beats Poison

    Lick + Sludge Bomb

  4. 4. Roserade · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  5. 5. Toxicroak · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  6. 6. Scolipede · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  7. 7. Gengar · beats Poison

    Lick + Sludge Bomb

  8. 8. Nidoking · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Wave

  9. 9. Nidoqueen · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Wave

  10. 10. Victreebel · beats Poison

    Acid + Sludge Bomb

  11. 11. Dragalge · beats Poison

    Acid + Gunk Shot

  12. 12. Salazzle · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

Budget

Solid alternatives when you cannot build the Recommended picks.

  1. 1. Roserade · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  2. 2. Victreebel · beats Poison

    Acid + Sludge Bomb

  3. 3. Toxicroak · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  4. 4. Muk · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Gunk Shot

  5. 5. Weezing · beats Poison

    Infestation + Sludge Bomb

  6. 6. Seviper · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Poison Fang

  7. 7. Skuntank · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Bomb

  8. 8. Garbodor · beats Poison

    Infestation + Gunk Shot

  9. 9. Ariados · beats Poison

    Poison Sting + Cross Poison

  10. 10. Qwilfish · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Aqua Tail

  11. 11. Crobat · beats Poison

    Air Slash + Sludge Bomb

  12. 12. Tentacruel · beats Poison

    Poison Jab + Sludge Wave

Recommended moves

Cleffa’s Game Master pool is temporary. Real investment is Clefable — evolve before serious TMs and power-ups.

Fast

  • Pound · Standard

    Normal energy

  • Zen Headbutt · Standard

    Psychic fast option

Charged

  • Grass Knot · Standard

    Grass coverage

  • Psyshock · Standard

    Psychic coverage

  • Signal Beam · Standard

    Bug coverage

  • Swift · Standard

    Normal filler

Moves in GO

Always-available Game Master learnset (regular TMs). Community Day / Elite TM moves appear above when we have curated notes for this species.

Fast

  • pound
  • zen headbutt

Charged

  • grass knot
  • psyshock
  • signal beam
  • swift

PvP league ranks (family snapshot)

  • Master League · rank #971 of 1023 · CP 759

    Pound + Grass Knot

Open battle tools →

In your Collect

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Raid and PvP advice uses our Game Master snapshot (updated July 2026).

In the Competitive Guide

Pokédex browserSearchGO CompanionFamily trades