Cleffa hatches from a Clefairy egg in HeartGold and SoulSilver. Cute Charm punishes contact, and Magic Guard on A-Tier Clefable blocks all passive damage through both regions.
Ability 1Cute CharmAbility 1Has a 30% chance of infatuating attacking Pokémon on contact.Ability 2Magic GuardAbility 2Protects against damage not directly caused by a move.
218HP50Attack25Defense28Speed15Sp.Def55Sp.Atk45
Cleffa
Clefairy
Clefable
Weak to
Physical
Balanced
15Speed · Very Slow

Is Cleffa Good in HeartGold & SoulSilver Playthrough?

Baby Normal-type in Gen 4, available through breeding. AbilityMagic Guard blocks all indirect damage. Friendship evolves into Clefairy, then Moon Stone for Clefable. Too many steps for a Pokemon locked behind breeding.

StrongGoodEvenToughBadEEGEEGGGGGGSGGGGGGGGGFalknerGym 1BugsyGym 2CleffaHatchClefairyEvolveWhitneyGym 3ClefableEvolveMortyGym 4ChuckGym 5JasmineGym 6PryceGym 7ClairGym 8BrockGym 9MistyGym 10SurgeGym 11ErikaGym 12JanineGym 13SabrinaGym 14BlaineGym 15BlueGym 16WillE4KogaE4BrunoE4KarenE4LanceChamp*
Falkner
Gym 1
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Falkner's team.

Even
Pidgey
Lv 9
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleSand Attack
Even
Pidgeotto
Lv 13
NormalFlying
Keen Eye
TackleRoostGust
Bugsy
Gym 2
Even

Cleffa trades roughly evenly with Bugsy's team.

Risky
Scyther
Lv 17
BugFlying
Technician
Quick AttackLeerU TurnFocus Energy
Even
Kakuna
Lv 15
BugPoison
Shed Skin
Poison Sting
Even
Metapod
Lv 15
Bug
Shed Skin
Tackle
Whitney
Gym 3
Good

Clefairy has the type edge here and should clean up Whitney's team.

You Win
Clefairy
Lv 17
Normal
Cute Charm
Double SlapMimicEncoreMetronome
Even
Miltank
Lv 19
Normal
Scrappy
RolloutAttractStompMilk Drink
Morty
Gym 4
Even

Clefable trades roughly evenly with Morty's team.

You Win
Gastly
Lv 21
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
LickSpiteMean LookCurse
Even
Haunter
Lv 21
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
HypnosisDream EaterCurseNightmare
Risky
Gengar
Lv 25
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
HypnosisShadow BallMean LookSucker Punch
Even
Haunter
Lv 23
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
CurseMean LookSucker PunchNight Shade
Chuck
Gym 5
Even

Clefable trades roughly evenly with Chuck's team.

Even
Primeape
Lv 29
Fighting
Vital Spirit
LeerDouble TeamFocus PunchRock Slide
Even
Poliwrath
Lv 31
WaterFighting
Water Absorb
HypnosisSurfFocus PunchBody Slam
Jasmine
Gym 6
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Jasmine's team.

You Win
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Magnet Pull
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
You Win
Magnemite
Lv 30
ElectricSteel
Sturdy
ThunderboltSupersonicSonic BoomThunder Wave
Even
Steelix
Lv 35
SteelGround
Sturdy
ScreechSandstormRock ThrowIron Tail
Pryce
Gym 7
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Pryce's team.

Easy KO
Seel
Lv 30
Water
Thick Fat
SnoreHailIcy WindRest
You Win
Dewgong
Lv 32
WaterIce
Thick Fat
Sleep TalkIce ShardAurora BeamRest
You Win
Piloswine
Lv 34
IceGround
Snow Cloak
HailIce FangMud BombBlizzard
Clair
Gym 8
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Clair's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 38
WaterFlying
Intimidate
TwisterDragon RageBiteDragon Pulse
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 38
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveFire BlastSlamDragon Pulse
You Win
Dragonair
Lv 38
Dragon
Shed Skin
Thunder WaveAqua TailSlamDragon Pulse
Even
Kingdra
Lv 41
WaterDragon
Sniper
SmokescreenHydro PumpHyper BeamDragon Pulse
Brock
Gym 9
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Brock's team.

Easy KO
Graveler
Lv 51
RockGround
Sturdy
Defense CurlRock SlideRolloutEarthquake
Easy KO
Rhyhorn
Lv 51
GroundRock
Rock Head
SandstormScary FaceEarthquakeHorn Drill
You Win
Omastar
Lv 53
RockWater
Shell Armor
Ancient PowerBrineProtectSpike Cannon
You Win
Onix
Lv 54
RockGround
Sturdy
Iron TailRock SlideScreechSandstorm
You Win
Kabutops
Lv 52
RockWater
Battle Armor
Rock SlideAqua JetEndureGiga Drain
Misty
Gym 10
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Misty's team.

You Win
Golduck
Lv 49
Water
Damp
Water PulseDisablePsych UpPsychic
Easy KO
Quagsire
Lv 49
WaterGround
Water Absorb
Water PulseAmnesiaEarthquakeRain Dance
You Win
Lapras
Lv 52
WaterIce
Shell Armor
Water PulseSingIce BeamBody Slam
You Win
Starmie
Lv 54
WaterPsychic
Natural Cure
Water PulseConfuse RayRecoverIce Beam
Lt. Surge
Gym 11
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Lt. Surge's team.

You Win
Raichu
Lv 51
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveQuick AttackShock WaveDouble Team
You Win
Electrode
Lv 47
Electric
Static
Thunder WaveDouble TeamShock WaveLight Screen
You Win
Magneton
Lv 47
ElectricSteel
Sturdy
SupersonicDouble TeamShock WaveMirror Shot
You Win
Electrode
Lv 47
Electric
Static
ScreechDouble TeamSelf DestructCharge Beam
You Win
Electabuzz
Lv 53
Electric
Static
Quick AttackShock WaveLight ScreenLow Kick
Erika
Gym 12
Strong

Clefable resists most of Erika's coverage and hits back hard.

Easy KO
Jumpluff
Lv 51
GrassFlying
Chlorophyll
U TurnLeech SeedSunny DayGiga Drain
Easy KO
Tangela
Lv 52
Grass
Chlorophyll
Ancient PowerWring OutGiga DrainSleep Powder
You Win
Victreebel
Lv 56
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisGrass KnotLeaf Storm
You Win
Bellossom
Lv 56
Grass
Chlorophyll
Sunny DaySynthesisGiga DrainSolar Beam
Janine
Gym 13
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Janine's team.

You Win
Crobat
Lv 47
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
ScreechSupersonicConfuse RayWing Attack
You Win
Weezing
Lv 44
Poison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
Double HitSludge BombToxicExplosion
Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 47
BugPoison
Insomnia
Scary FacePoison JabPin MissilePsychic
Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 47
BugPoison
Insomnia
Pin MissilePoison JabSwaggerNight Shade
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 50
BugPoison
Tinted Lens
Sludge BombDouble TeamSignal BeamPsychic
Sabrina
Gym 14
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Sabrina's team.

You Win
Espeon
Lv 53
Psychic
Synchronize
Shadow BallSkill SwapCalm MindPsychic
You Win
Mr Mime
Lv 53
Psychic
Filter
MimicLight ScreenSkill SwapPsychic
You Win
Alakazam
Lv 55
Psychic
Inner Focus
Skill SwapPsychicEnergy BallReflect
Blaine
Gym 15
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Blaine's team.

You Win
Magcargo
Lv 54
FireRock
Flame Body
Sunny DaySmogOverheatRock Slide
You Win
Magmar
Lv 54
Fire
Flame Body
Thunder PunchOverheatSunny DayConfuse Ray
Even
Rapidash
Lv 59
Fire
Flash FireImmune to Fire attacks
Quick AttackFlare BlitzBounceOverheat
Blue
Gym 16
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Blue's team.

You Win
Exeggutor
Lv 55
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
Leaf StormPsychicHypnosisTrick Room
Even
Arcanine
Lv 58
Fire
Intimidate
RoarDragon PulseFlare BlitzExtreme Speed
You Win
Rhydon
Lv 58
GroundRock
Rock Head
MegahornStone EdgeThunder FangEarthquake
Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 52
WaterFlying
Intimidate
Ice FangWaterfallDragon DanceReturn
Even
Machamp
Lv 56
Fighting
No Guard
Dynamic PunchEarthquakeStone EdgeThunder Punch
You Win
Pidgeot
Lv 60
NormalFlying
Tangled Feet
ReturnWhirlwindAir SlashMirror Move
Will
Elite Four
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Will's team.

You Win
Xatu
Lv 40
PsychicFlying
Synchronize
U TurnMe FirstConfuse RayPsychic
You Win
Jynx
Lv 41
IcePsychic
Oblivious
Double SlapLovely KissIce PunchPsychic
Easy KO
Exeggutor
Lv 41
GrassPsychic
Chlorophyll
ReflectHypnosisEgg BombPsychic
Easy KO
Slowbro
Lv 41
WaterPsychic
Own Tempo
CurseAmnesiaWater PulsePsychic
You Win
Xatu
Lv 42
PsychicFlying
Early Bird
Aerial AceOminous WindConfuse RayPsychic
Koga
Elite Four
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Koga's team.

Easy KO
Ariados
Lv 40
BugPoison
Insomnia
Poison JabSpider WebBaton PassGiga Drain
You Win
Venomoth
Lv 41
BugPoison
Tinted Lens
SupersonicGustPsychicToxic
You Win
Forretress
Lv 43
BugSteel
Sturdy
ProtectSwiftExplosionToxic Spikes
You Win
Muk
Lv 42
Poison
Sticky Hold
MinimizeScreechGunk ShotToxic
You Win
Crobat
Lv 44
PoisonFlying
Inner Focus
Double TeamQuick AttackWing AttackPoison Fang
Bruno
Elite Four
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Bruno's team.

You Win
Hitmontop
Lv 42
Fighting
Technician
CounterQuick AttackDigTriple Kick
Even
Hitmonlee
Lv 42
Fighting
Reckless
SwaggerFocus EnergyHigh Jump KickBlaze Kick
You Win
Hitmonchan
Lv 42
Fighting
Iron Fist
Thunder PunchIce PunchFire PunchBullet Punch
Easy KO
Onix
Lv 43
RockGround
Sturdy
Dragon BreathEarthquakeSandstormRock Slide
Even
Machamp
Lv 46
Fighting
No Guard
Rock SlideForesightRevengeCross Chop
Karen
Elite Four
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Karen's team.

Easy KO
Umbreon
Lv 42
Dark
Synchronize
Double TeamConfuse RayFeint AttackPayback
Easy KO
Vileplume
Lv 42
GrassPoison
Chlorophyll
Stun SporeAcidMoonlightPetal Dance
Risky
Gengar
Lv 45
GhostPoison
LevitateImmune to Ground attacks
LickSpiteFocus BlastDestiny Bond
Easy KO
Murkrow
Lv 44
DarkFlying
Super Luck
PluckWhirlwindSucker PunchFeint Attack
You Win
Houndoom
Lv 47
DarkFire
Flash FireImmune to Fire attacks
Nasty PlotDark PulseFlamethrowerCrunch
Lance
Champion
Good

Clefable has the type edge here and should clean up Lance's team.

Easy KO
Gyarados
Lv 46
WaterFlying
Intimidate
FlailDragon PulseWaterfallIce Fang
Easy KO
Dragonite
Lv 49
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveDragon RushThunderHyper Beam
Easy KO
Dragonite
Lv 49
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Thunder WaveDragon RushBlizzardHyper Beam
Even
Aerodactyl
Lv 48
RockFlying
Pressure
Aerial AceCrunchRock SlideThunder Fang
You Win
Charizard
Lv 48
FireFlying
Blaze
Shadow ClawAir SlashDragon ClawFire Fang
You Win
Dragonite
Lv 50
DragonFlying
Inner Focus
Fire BlastSafeguardOutrageHyper Beam

Hatch

Hatch from Egg after Badge 2
Type
Normal
Tier
F

Hatch Cleffa from an Egg you breed on Route 34.

View Cleffa locations

Evolve Cleffa to Clefairy

High Friendship
Type
Normal
Tier
E

Cleffa evolves into Clefairy with high friendship. Friendship is usually high enough before you reach Whitney.

View Clefairy locations

Recommended Moves

Evolve Clefairy to Clefable

Use Moon Stone
Type
Normal
Tier
A

Clefairy evolves into Clefable with a Moon Stone. You can pick up the Moon Stone in Ruins of Alph. 1 other location is also available.

Recommended Moves

How to Get Cleffa in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Get a Clefairy, leave it at the Day-Care, and the egg it produces hatches into Cleffa. There is no shortcut through the grass, since Cleffa never appears in the wild.

Wild Cleffa may be holding when caught:

Leppa Berry (50% chance) It may be used or held by a Pokemon to restore a move's PP by 10.
Moon Stone (5% chance) A peculiar stone that makes certain species of Pokemon evolve. It is as black as the night sky.

Catch Clefairy at any of these 2 spots to eventually evolve into Cleffa.

Encountered via tall grass encounters

  1. 1
    Catch Cleffa
  2. 2
    Evolve Clefairywith high Friendship
  3. 3
    Evolve ClefableUse Moon Stone
Badge 6
Badge 7
Badge 8
Post-Game

How to Obtain Cleffa in HGSS

  1. Cleffa
    Step 1Cleffa ✓

    Breed from Clefairy at the Day Care.

  2. Clefable
    Step 3Evolve into Clefable

How to Get Shiny Cleffa in HeartGold & SoulSilver

Cleffa hatches from Clefairy, so run the Masuda Method with a foreign parent at 1 in 1,638 for a shiny. Compare Shiny Cleffa odds across every game

Normal vs Shiny
Normal Cleffa in HeartGold & SoulSilverNormal
Shiny Cleffa in HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny
Color ShiftPinktoGreen
Shiny TierD Tier Shiny

Shiny Cleffa Evolution

3 Forms
Showing shiny artworkView Full Evolution Chart

HeartGold & SoulSilver Shiny Cleffa Calculator

1 Method
Shiny Odds

The only route here is Masuda Method, about 1 in 1,639 on each try.

Step 1 · Encounter Method1 in HeartGold & SoulSilver
Method: Masuda Methodthe only method here

Masuda Method: Breed with a parent from a different-language game. Works on any breedable line.

How many you have done, or plan to do.

120,000
Shiny Odds Per Try1 / 1,639Masuda Method
Chance By Now50.0%at 1,136 eggs hatchedAbout 5 in 10 hunters have one by now
What To Expect
ChanceEncountersTime
10%lucky few173----
25%one in four472----
50%coin flip1,136----
90%very likely3,773----
How is this calculated?

Every encounter has the same shiny chance, the Shiny Odds Per Try shown above. Each one is a separate roll that does not care how many you have already done, so the more you hunt, the higher your overall chance of at least one shiny. The formula below turns your odds and your number of tries into that combined chance.

chance after N tries = 1 − (1 − p)^N,  where  p = 1 / odds per try

Example at 1 in 8,192 (classic full odds): about 864 encounters for a 10 percent chance, 5,678 for 50 percent, and 18,862 for 90 percent.

The table above flips that around: it shows how many encounters it takes to reach a 10, 25, 50, and 90 percent chance at your current odds. Turning on boosts like the Shiny Charm, sandwiches, or chains improves your odds, so the encounter numbers drop.

These are estimates, not promises. Most games have no pity counter, meaning no guaranteed shiny no matter how many you hunt, so even Very Likely is not guaranteed: some hunters find one early, others go well past that point.

Where these shiny odds come from: Read our full methodology

Curious how fast a hunt could go? Work out your HeartGold & SoulSilver shiny odds for Cleffa.

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 IV Type Chart
  • Fairy type does not exist — Dragon has fewer checks
  • Physical / Special split now per-move (introduced Gen IV)

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
Gallade
Gallade
PsychicFighting
B
Blaziken
Blaziken
FireFighting
C
Hitmonlee
Hitmonlee
Fighting
C
Breloom
Breloom
GrassFighting
A

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
High Friendship
Clefairy
#035Clefairy
Moon Stone
Moon Stone
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
483A-Tier+160
ROLE
Balanced
Balanced
Balanced
TYPE
Special
Utility
Special

Breeding

Unavailable
Undiscovered egg group

HGSS Cleffa Best Moveset

Indirect damage immunity through AbilityMagic Guard, the same ability that makes Clefable elite. At baby-stage stats of 25-55, the moveset can't use it. Evolve through friendship to Clefairy.

Best Build

Experimental
Support
Ability
Cute Charm
Item
Choice ScarfSPEED
Best Nature for Cleffa
Calm+SPD

Cleffa best EVs are Sp. Def

EVs

Support Moveset

  • Thunder Wave
  • Magic Coat
  • TrickUtility
  • AromatherapyUtility

Recommended Teammates

Moves List

Without breeding, Cleffa misses out on Amnesia and Aromatherapy. That's 11 egg moves adding depth that the base kit lacks. STAB comes from Last Resort and Uproar, with coverage across 9 types rounding things out.

Level-Up Moves

Lv 1
Charm
——10020Normal
Lv 1
Pound
—6010035Normal
Lv 4
Encore
A—1005Normal
Lv 7
Sing
——5515Normal
Lv 10
Sweet Kiss
——7510Normal
Lv 13
Copycat
———20Normal
Lv 16
Magical Leaf
—60—20Grass

TM Moves

All 22 TMs are obtainable before the Elite Four

TM
TM45——10015Normal
TM28
DigNational Parkbadge 2
D8010010Ground
TM38D120855Fire
TM35
FlamethrowerGoldenrod Game Cornerbadge 2
D9510015Fire
TM21
FrustrationCeladon Department Storebadge 2
D—10020Normal
TM10
Hidden PowerLake of Ragebadge 6
D9010015Normal
TM23D1007515Steel
TM16
Light ScreenGoldenrod Department Storebadge 2
C——30Psychic
TM83
Natural GiftGoldenrod Department Storebadge 2
D—10015Normal
TM17A——10Normal
TM33C——20Psychic
TM44
RestRoute 31badge 2
C——10Psychic
TM43
Secret PowerLake of Ragebadge 6
—10510020Normal
TM30
Shadow BallPrize for defeating Mortybadge 4
D8010015Ghost
TM22D12010010Grass
TM90
SubstituteGoldenrod Game Cornerbadge 2
C——10Normal
TM87
SwaggerOlivine Lighthousebadge 4
——9015Normal

Egg Moves

Egg
Egg
Amnesia
D——20Psychic
Egg
Aromatherapy
A——5Grass
Egg
Belly Drum
C——10Normal
Egg
Covet
—9010025Normal
Egg
Fake Tears
——10020Dark
Egg
Metronome
A——10Normal
Egg
Mimic
———10Normal
Egg
Present
——9015Normal
Egg
Splash
D——40Normal
Egg
Substitute
C——10Normal
Egg
Wish
C——10Normal

Tutor Moves

Tut
Tutor
Endeavor
A—1005Normal
Tutor
Gravity
D——5Psychic
Tutor
Headbutt
D10510015Normal
Tutor
Helping Hand+5
———20Normal
Tutor
Icy Wind
D559515Ice
Tutor
Last Resort
D1951005Normal
Tutor
Magic Coat+4
B——15Psychic
Tutor
Mud-Slap
D2010010Ground
Tutor
Role Play
———10Psychic
Tutor
Rollout
—309020Rock
Tutor
Signal Beam
D7510015Bug
Tutor
Snore
D6010015Normal
Tutor
Trick
A—10010Psychic
Tutor
Uproar
—13510010Normal
Tutor
Zen Headbutt
D809015Psychic

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.
Magic Guard
Protects against damage not directly caused by a move.
EV Yield
HPAtkDefSpASpD+1Spe
Special Defense training source
Pokedex Entry

Because of its unusual, starlike silhouette, people believe that it came here on a meteor.

When numerous meteors illuminate the night sky, sightings of CLEFFA strangely increase.

Cleffa HeartGold & SoulSilver Guide

  • In HeartGold & SoulSilver, for a casual playthrough, Cleffa works as a placeholder. normal coverage is useful early. The real payoff is Clefairy. That's where the stats start mattering.

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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