Cleffa needs a direct transfer into Emerald. Cute Charm is weak, and the payoff is B-Tier Clefable via friendship plus Moon Stone. Long investment for modest returns.
Ability 1Cute CharmAbility 1Has a 30% chance of infatuating attacking Pokémon on contact.
218HP50Attack25Defense28Speed15Sp.Def55Sp.Atk45
Cleffa
Clefairy
Clefable
Weak to
Physical
Support
15Speed · Very Slow

Is Cleffa Good in Emerald Playthrough?

Transfer-only baby stage. Cleffa is Normal in Gen 3 and needs friendship for Clefairy, then a Moon Stone for Clefable. Two evolution steps for a Normal-type that doesn't threaten any Emerald boss. Not worth the effort or the trade.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadBTTETETEETETERoxanneGym 1BrawlyGym 2WattsonGym 3FlanneryGym 4NormanGym 5WinonaGym 6Tate & LizaGym 7JuanGym 8CleffaTradeSidneyE4PhoebeE4GlaciaE4DrakeE4WallaceChamp*
Roxanne
Gym 1
Bad

Roxanne's Pokemon outpace and outclass Cleffa here.

Avoid
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Avoid
Geodude
Lv 12
RockGround
Rock Head
TackleDefense CurlRock ThrowRock Tomb
Avoid
Nosepass
Lv 15
Rock
Sturdy
BlockHardenTackleRock Tomb
Brawly
Gym 2
Tough

Brawly's team hits Cleffa's weaknesses hard.

Risky
Machop
Lv 16
Fighting
Guts
Karate ChopLow KickSeismic TossBulk Up
Risky
Meditite
Lv 16
FightingPsychic
Pure Power
Focus PunchLight ScreenReflectBulk Up
Risky
Makuhita
Lv 19
Fighting
Thick Fat
Arm ThrustVital ThrowReversalBulk Up
Wattson
Gym 3
Tough

Wattson's typing presses Cleffa's defenses.

Risky
Voltorb
Lv 20
Electric
Soundproof
RolloutSparkSelf DestructShock Wave
Even
Electrike
Lv 20
Electric
Static
Shock WaveLeerQuick AttackHowl
Risky
Magneton
Lv 22
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
SupersonicShock WaveThunder WaveSonic Boom
Risky
Manectric
Lv 24
Electric
Static
Quick AttackThunder WaveShock WaveHowl
Flannery
Gym 4
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Flannery's team.

Even
Numel
Lv 24
FireGround
Oblivious
OverheatTake DownMagnitudeSunny Day
Even
Slugma
Lv 24
Fire
Magma Armor
OverheatSmogLight ScreenSunny Day
Even
Camerupt
Lv 26
FireGround
Magma Armor
OverheatTackleSunny DayAttract
Risky
Torkoal
Lv 29
Fire
White Smoke
OverheatSunny DayBody SlamAttract
Norman
Gym 5
Tough

Norman's typing presses Cleffa's defenses.

Even
Spinda
Lv 27
Normal
Own Tempo
Teeter DancePsybeamFacadeEncore
Risky
Vigoroth
Lv 27
Normal
Vital Spirit
SlashFacadeEncoreFeint Attack
Risky
Linoone
Lv 29
Normal
Pickup
SlashBelly DrumFacadeHeadbutt
Risky
Slaking
Lv 31
Normal
Truant
CounterYawnFacadeFeint Attack
Winona
Gym 6
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Winona's team.

You Win
Swablu
Lv 29
NormalFlying
Natural Cure
Perish SongMirror MoveSafeguardAerial Ace
Even
Tropius
Lv 29
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
Sunny DayAerial AceSolar BeamSynthesis
You Win
Pelipper
Lv 30
WaterFlying
Keen Eye
Water GunSupersonicProtectAerial Ace
Risky
Skarmory
Lv 31
SteelFlying
Keen Eye
Sand AttackFury AttackSteel WingAerial Ace
Risky
Altaria
Lv 33
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
EarthquakeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Tate & Liza
Gym 7
Tough

Tate & Liza's typing presses Cleffa's defenses.

Even
Claydol
Lv 41
GroundPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
EarthquakeAncient PowerPsychicLight Screen
Even
Xatu
Lv 41
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
PsychicSunny DayConfuse RayCalm Mind
Risky
Lunatone
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Light ScreenPsychicHypnosisCalm Mind
Risky
Solrock
Lv 42
RockPsychic
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Sunny DaySolar BeamPsychicFlamethrower
Juan
Gym 8
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Juan's team.

You Win
Luvdisc
Lv 41
Water
Swift Swim
Water PulseAttractSweet KissFlail
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 41
WaterGround
Oblivious
Rain DanceWater PulseAmnesiaEarthquake
Even
Sealeo
Lv 43
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamAurora BeamWater Pulse
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 43
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
Water PulseCrabhammerTauntLeer
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 46
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
Water PulseDouble TeamIce BeamRest
Sidney
Elite Four
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Sidney's team.

Risky
Mightyena
Lv 46
Dark
Intimidate
RoarDouble EdgeSand AttackCrunch
Even
Shiftry
Lv 48
GrassDark
Chlorophyll
TormentDouble TeamSwaggerExtrasensory
You Win
Cacturne
Lv 46
GrassDark
Sand Veil
Leech SeedFeint AttackNeedle ArmCotton Spore
Even
Crawdaunt
Lv 48
WaterDark
Hyper Cutter
SurfSwords DanceStrengthFacade
Risky
Absol
Lv 49
Dark
Pressure
Aerial AceRock SlideSwords DanceSlash
Phoebe
Elite Four
Tough

Phoebe's typing presses Cleffa's defenses.

Even
Dusclops
Lv 48
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow PunchConfuse RayCurseProtect
Risky
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallGrudgeWill O WispFeint Attack
Risky
Sableye
Lv 50
DarkGhost
Keen Eye
Shadow BallDouble TeamNight ShadeFeint Attack
Risky
Banette
Lv 49
Ghost
Insomnia
Shadow BallPsychicThunderboltFacade
Avoid
Dusclops
Lv 51
Ghost
Pressure
Shadow BallIce BeamRock SlideEarthquake
Glacia
Elite Four
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Glacia's team.

Even
Sealeo
Lv 50
IceWater
Thick Fat
EncoreBody SlamHailIce Ball
Even
Glalie
Lv 50
Ice
Inner Focus
Light ScreenCrunchIcy WindIce Beam
Even
Sealeo
Lv 52
IceWater
Thick Fat
AttractDouble EdgeHailBlizzard
Even
Glalie
Lv 52
Ice
Inner Focus
Shadow BallExplosionHailIce Beam
Risky
Walrein
Lv 53
IceWater
Thick Fat
SurfBody SlamIce BeamSheer Cold
Drake
Elite Four
Tough

Drake's typing presses Cleffa's defenses.

Risky
Shelgon
Lv 52
Dragon
Rock Head
Rock TombDragon ClawProtectDouble Edge
Risky
Altaria
Lv 54
DragonFlying
Natural Cure
Double EdgeDragon BreathDragon DanceAerial Ace
Risky
Kingdra
Lv 53
WaterDragon
Swift Swim
SmokescreenDragon DanceSurfBody Slam
Risky
Flygon
Lv 53
GroundDragon
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
FlamethrowerCrunchDragon BreathEarthquake
Risky
Salamence
Lv 55
DragonFlying
Intimidate
FlamethrowerDragon ClawRock SlideCrunch
Wallace
Champion
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Wallace's team.

Even
Wailord
Lv 57
Water
Water Veil
Rain DanceWater SpoutDouble EdgeBlizzard
Even
Tentacruel
Lv 55
WaterPoison
Clear Body
ToxicHydro PumpSludge BombIce Beam
Even
Ludicolo
Lv 56
WaterGrass
Swift Swim
Giga DrainSurfLeech SeedDouble Team
You Win
Whiscash
Lv 56
WaterGround
Oblivious
EarthquakeSurfAmnesiaHyper Beam
Even
Gyarados
Lv 56
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Dragon DanceEarthquakeHyper BeamSurf
Even
Milotic
Lv 58
Water
Marvel Scale
RecoverSurfIce BeamToxic

Trade

Transfer-only
Type
Normal
Tier
F

Cleffa cannot be caught in this game. It must be traded in from a compatible game where it appears in the wild. Cross-region trading typically becomes available after defeating the Elite Four.

View Cleffa locations

How to Get Cleffa in Emerald

Breeding a traded-in Clefairy is the only road to Cleffa here, because Clefairy itself never appears in Hoenn. The baby has no wild spawn either, leaving the Day Care as your single workaround once the parent is over.

How to Obtain Cleffa in E

  1. Cleffa
    Step 1Cleffa ✓
    LATER APPEARANCE
    from Crystal
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Crystal via Gift · Route 34 · Hatch Odd Egg (random). Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Diamond & Pearl via Walking · Mt. Coronet. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Platinum via Walking · Mt. Coronet. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Sun & Moon via Walking · Mount Hokulani. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon via Walking · Mount Hokulani. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
    LATER APPEARANCE
    Not Tradeable
    Appears in Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl via Walking · Mt. Coronet. Forward-only transfer — no path back to this game from a later one.
  2. Clefairy
    Step 2Evolve into Clefairy
  3. Clefable
    Step 3Evolve into Clefable

How to Get Shiny Cleffa in Emerald

Cleffa cannot be produced in Emerald, so the shiny must be traded over from another Generation 3 game where its family can breed the baby. See every game where Shiny Cleffa can be hunted

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Cleffa in EmeraldNormal
Shiny Cleffa in Emerald Shiny
Color ShiftPinktoGreen
Shiny TierD Tier Shiny

Shiny Cleffa Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

Cleffa Weakness

Fighting moves hit Cleffa for super-effective damage. The upside? Ghost-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 Weakness and Resistance Chart
DamageTypes
2x (Weak)Fighting
0x (Immune)Ghost
Gen III Type Chart
  • Dark and Steel types added — Fairy does not exist yet
  • Moves are Physical or Special based on type, not per move

What is Cleffa Weak Against

Good
1Weak
0Resist
1Immune
Score+1
4xCritical
None
2xWeak
½xResist
None
¼xResist
None
0xImmune

What is Cleffa Strong Against

0Strong
2Resisted
1Immune
Score-3
2xStrong
None
½xResisted
0xImmune

Best Pokemon Against Cleffa

Hariyama
Hariyama
Fighting
B
Heracross
Heracross
BugFighting
A
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
B
Machoke
Machoke
Fighting
C

Cleffa Evolutions

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

3 Forms
Cleffa
#173Cleffa
Transfer Only
Clefairy
#035Clefairy
Transfer Only
Transfer Only
Clefable
#036Clefable
Stat Comparison 3 Stages
Cleffa
Normal
Clefairy
Normal
Clefable
Normal
HP
50
70+20
95+25
ATK
25
45+20
70+25
DEF
28
48+20
73+25
SP.ATK
45
60+15
95+35
SP.DEF
55
65+10
90+25
SPE
15
35+20
60+25
BST
218F-Tier
323E-Tier+105
483B-Tier+160
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Special
Utility
Special

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

E Cleffa Best Moveset

Normal type in Gen 3 (not Fairy) with AbilityCute Charm for contact attraction. 45 HP and 28 Defense fold instantly. Clefable two stages away is where this typing and bulk become usable.

Best Build

Experimental
Screens Setter
Ability
Cute Charm
Item
LeftoversSUSTAIN
Best Nature for Cleffa
HardyNEUTRAL

Cleffa best EVs are Sp. Atk and Sp. Def

EVs

Screens Setter Moveset

  • Soft BoiledSTAB
  • WishRecovery
  • Thunder Wave
  • Light Screen

Moves List

Need something that threatens multiple types? Cleffa's movepool delivers. Coverage across 11 types plus STAB from Double-Edge and Mega Kick gives it answers for most defensive cores you'll run into.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Charm
D—10020Normal
Lv 1
Pound
D6010035Normal
Lv 4
Encore
C—1005Normal
Lv 8
Sing
——5515Normal
Lv 13
Sweet Kiss
——7510Normal

TM Moves

All 25 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45
AttractVerdanturf Townbadge 2
——10015Normal
TM28
DigRoute 114badge 3
D6010010Ground
TM32
Double TeamRoute 113badge 2
———15Normal
TM42D10510020Normal
TM38
Fire BlastLilycove Department Storebadge 5
D120855Fire
TM35
FlamethrowerMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
D9510015Fire
HM05——7020Normal
TM21
FrustrationPacifidlog Townbadge 5
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerFortree Citybadge 3
—9010015Normal
TM23
Iron TailMeteor Fallsnot until badge 8
D1007515Steel
TM16
Light ScreenLilycove Department Storebadge 5
A——30Psychic
TM17C——10Normal
TM29
PsychicMauville Game Cornerbadge 2
D9010010Psychic
TM18
Rain DanceAbandoned Shipnot until badge 7
C——5Water
TM33A——20Psychic
TM44
RestLilycove Citybadge 5
C——10Psychic
TM27
ReturnFallarbor Townbadge 3
D—10020Normal
TM20D——25Normal
TM43
Secret PowerRoute 111badge 3
—10510020Normal
TM30
Shadow BallMt. Pyrebadge 5
D8010015Ghost
TM34D60—20Electric
TM22
Solar BeamSafari Zonebadge 5
D12010010Grass
TM11
Sunny DayScorched Slabbadge 5
C——5Fire
TM06
ToxicFiery Pathbadge 4
A—8510Poison
TM03
Water PulsePrize for defeating Juannot until badge 8
D6010020Water

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Belly Drum
C——10Normal
Egg
Metronome
A——10Normal
Egg
Mimic
D——10Normal
Egg
Present
D—9015Normal
Egg
Splash
D——40Normal
Egg
Substitute
C——10Normal
Egg
Wish
B——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Body Slam
D12710015Normal
Tutor
Counter-5
D—10020Fighting
Tutor
Defense Curl
D——40Normal
Tutor
Double-Edge
D18010015Normal
Tutor
Dream Eater
—10010015Psychic
Tutor
Endure+4
C——10Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Mega Kick
D180755Normal
Tutor
Mega Punch
—1208520Normal
Tutor
Metronome
A——10Normal
Tutor
Mimic
D——10Normal
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Psych Up
D——10Normal
Tutor
Rollout
—309020Rock
Tutor
Seismic Toss
D—10020Fighting
Tutor
Sleep Talk
D——10Normal
Tutor
Snore
—6010015Normal
Tutor
Soft-Boiled
B——5Normal
Tutor
Substitute
C——10Normal
Tutor
Swagger
D—9015Normal
Tutor
Thunder Wave
A—10020Electric

Base Stats

Base Stats
Below
HP50
D
Attack25
F
Defense28
F
Sp. Atk45
D
Sp. Def55
D
Speed15
F
Total218
Details
Catch Rate
Moderate150 / 255
Growth Rate
Fast800,000 XP
Height0.3 m
Weight3.0 kg
Base XP44
Abilities
Cute Charm
Has a 30% chance of infatuating attacking Pokémon on contact.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

On nights with many shooting stars, CLEFFA can be seen dancing in a ring. They dance until daybreak, when they quench their thirst with the morning dew.

Pokemon Emerald

Cleffa Emerald Guide

  • Cleffa isn't catchable in Emerald. Obtain one in FireRed or LeafGreen, then trade it to Emerald.

  • In Emerald, Cleffa has 218 BST and evolves into Clefairy. Compare the two forms before you give either one a team slot.

Game Availability

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.

Explore

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