As a baby Pokemon, Cleffa is mostly a stepping stone. It eventually becomes Clefable, and that's where you want to end up. The Star Shape Pokémon — cute, but not battle-ready. Dragon moves can't touch it, and only 2 types hit it super-effectively.
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.
Cleffa Weakness
GoodPoison and Steel-type 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.
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.
How to Evolve
Eviolite makes Cleffa bulkier than you'd expect from something that still evolves. A spread EV build EVs with Modest nature handle the stat profile. Fire coverage keeps it from being passive.
Best Build
Best Cleffa Moveset
- Thunder Wave
- Draining Kiss
- Protect
- Flamethrower
Recommended Teammates
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
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
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.
At 218 BST, Cleffa is firmly in pre-evolution territory. Evolve it into Clefairy before bringing it to any serious fight.
Cleffa evolves into Clefairy by leveling up. Cleffa is the base form in a 3-stage evolutionary line.
Cleffa gets Magic Guard, Cute Charm, and Friend Guard. But Magic Guard is the one that matters — it's the centerpiece of every viable set. Build around that.
Cleffa is a physical attacker with base 25 Attack. Fragile — can't afford to take many hits, too. But the speed tells the real story — base 15 Speed is low. Priority moves or Trick Room are the way to go.
Cleffa appears in 19 games, including Gold & Silver, Crystal, and Ruby & Sapphire.
Debuting in Gold & Silver, Cleffa appears in 19 games across 8 generations. A reliable presence in most mainline games, typically found through catching or hatching as a base form.
- Gen IY
Yellow - Gen IRB
Red & Blue - Gen IIGSDebut
Gold & Silver - Gen IIC
Crystal - Gen IIIRS
Ruby & Sapphire - Gen IIIFRLG
FireRed & LeafGreen - Gen IIIE
Emerald - Gen IVPt
Platinum - Gen IVHGSS
HeartGold & SoulSilver - Gen IVDP
Diamond & Pearl - Gen VBW
Black & White - Gen VB2W2
Black 2 & White 2 - Gen VIXY
X & Y - Gen VIORAS
Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire - Gen VIIUSUM
Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon - Gen VIISM
Sun & Moon - Gen VIILGPE
Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee - Gen VIIISwSh
Sword & Shield - Gen VIIIPLA
Legends: Arceus - Gen VIIIBDSP
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl - Gen IXSV
Scarlet & Violet - Gen IXLZA
Legends: Z-A