Nothing fancy in Cleffa's spread. It leans mixed with Sp. Def out front. And you'll get 1 Sp. Def EV per KO for it. Follows a fast 800K XP curve.
In silhouette, they resemble twinkling starlight. When shooting stars rain from the night sky, Cleffa gather in numbers and dance as though they are indeed incarnations of the stars.
Poison and Steel moves hit Cleffa for super-effective damage. The upside? Dragon-type moves can't touch it at all. Cleffa's special bulk (base 55 Sp.Def) helps absorb special-type weaknesses, though physical moves exploit the lower Defense.
| Damage | Types |
|---|---|
| 2x (Weak) | Poison, Steel |
| 0.5x (Resist) | Fighting, Bug, Dark |
| 0x (Immune) | Dragon |
Archaludon's Flash Cannon hits Cleffa for 82-97%. Glimmora's Power Gem hits Cleffa for 35-41%. Salazzle's Sludge Bomb also KOs at 85-101%.
 Archaludon SteelDragon | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityStamina ItemAssault Vest NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cleffa View Archaludon builds →Flash Cannon 2x82-97% | ||
 Glimmora RockPoison | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityToxicdebris ItemRed Card NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cleffa View Glimmora builds →Power Gem35-41% | ||
 Salazzle PoisonFire | A | |
Recommended Build AbilityCorrosion ItemHeavy-Duty Boots NatureTimid Moves
Damage vs Cleffa View Salazzle builds →Flamethrower43-50% Sludge Bomb 2x85-101%KO | ||
 Ferrothorn GrassSteel | B | |
Recommended Build AbilityIron Barbs ItemLeftovers NatureImpish Moves
Damage vs Cleffa View Ferrothorn builds →Knock Off16-19% | ||
Cleffa starts the chain as a baby form and evolves into Clefairy by leveling up. To get more eggs, breed the evolved versions. The evolved forms gain up to 265 total stats over Cleffa. View every chain in the Evolution Chart.
How to Evolve
Breeding
Eviolite makes Cleffa bulkier than you'd expect from something that still evolves. Spread EVs with Modest nature handle the stat profile. Fire coverage keeps it from being passive.
Best Build
Cleffa best EVs are Sp. Atk and Sp. Def
Special Tank Moveset
- Thunder Wave
- Draining Kiss
- Protect
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Helping Hand
- Endeavor
- Heal Pulse
- Endure
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Screens Setter Moveset
- Heal Pulse
- Helping Hand
- Protect
- Reflect
Recommended Teammates
Special Tank Moveset
- Thunder Wave
- Draining Kiss
- Protect
- Flamethrower
Doubles Bulky Support Moveset
- Helping Hand
- Endeavor
- Heal Pulse
- Endure
Recommended Teammates
Doubles Screens Setter Moveset
- Heal Pulse
- Helping Hand
- Protect
- Reflect
Recommended Teammates
Legends: Arceus uses different battle mechanics.
Competitive build content is not applicable for this game. Select a main series game for builds.
No build content available for this Pokemon in Gen 8.
Try selecting a different game/generation filter, or check back later.
Moves
The level-up pool is slim, so TMs matter here. Cleffa's coverage across 9 types all comes from technical machines, built on top of Play Rough and Alluring Voice for same-type damage. Fire Blast and Flamethrower are the payoff moves.
Level-Up Moves
TM Moves
Egg Moves
Tutor Moves
Need something that threatens multiple types? Cleffa's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Moonblast and Play Rough gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
The offense anchors on Moonblast and Play Rough, with coverage across 8 types adding reach. It's a workable movepool for Cleffa that handles most situations. Psychic and Moonblast give it enough punch where it matters.
Need something that threatens multiple types? Cleffa's movepool delivers. Coverage across 10 types plus STAB from Disarming Voice gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.
No wild encounters for Cleffa in Scarlet & Violet. It's available in Crystal, Diamond, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
No wild encounters for Cleffa in Legends: Z-A. It's available in Crystal, Diamond, or Legends: Arceus and can be transferred over. The details below show where to find it.
A few locations for Cleffa with decent spawn rates across mid-game routes. The sort toggle below swaps between best odds and earliest access, so you can approach it based on where you are in the game.
Best Locations to Catch Cleffa in Legends: Arceus
Cleffa's scattered across 8 spots in early-game routes with decent spawn rates. Check the list below for the closest location to wherever you are in the game. This one's quick.
Best Locations to Catch Cleffa in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Cleffa appears in 8 walking locations at Lv. 12-14 across Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond. Not all encounters show up in every version, so check which ones match your game.
You won't have trouble finding Cleffa. It's been around since Legends: Z-A and appears in 19 games total. Latest appearances: Gold & Silver and Crystal.
Cleffa appears in 19 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
For a casual playthrough, Cleffa works as a placeholder. Fairy coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Clefairy. That's where the stats start mattering.
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Cleffa appears in 19 games across 9 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
Click a game to view version-specific details
- Gen 1Y
Yellow - Gen 1RB
Red & Blue - Gen 2GSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen 2C
Crystal - Gen 3RS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen 3FRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen 3E
Emerald - Gen 4Pt
Platinum - Gen 4HGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen 4DP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen 5BW
Black & White - Gen 5B2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen 6XY
X & Y - Gen 6ORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen 7USUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen 7SM
Sun & Moon - Gen 7LGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen 8SwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen 8PLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen 8BDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen 9SV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen 9LZA
Legends: Z-A - Gen 10WW
Winds & Waves