In Pokémon GO’s Steeled Resolve Timed Research, trainers face a pivotal choice: team up with Blanche or join forces with Team GO Rocket leader Cliff. This decision shapes your journey with distinct Pokémon encounters and rewards, influencing whether you strengthen your PvP lineup with Blanche’s Steelix and Marill or power up your PvE team with Cliff’s shadow Machop evolving into a shadow Machamp, one of the game’s top fighting-type attackers. Which path will you choose to steel your resolve and dominate the battlefield?
Below we explain the choices between the two branched choices in Pokémon Go’s “Steeled Resolve” Timed Research.
Which path should you pick? Blanche or Cliff?
When deciding between Blanche and Cliff in Pokémon GO’s Steeled Resolve Timed Research, your choice should align with your gameplay focus and Pokémon needs. Choosing Blanche offers encounters with Marill and Steelix, with Steelix being a strong option for raids due to its Mega Evolution and usefulness in PvP, especially if you need a Steelix for your team. On the other hand, Cliff’s path provides a shadow Machop, which can evolve into shadow Machamp-one of the best fighting-type Pokémon in the game-and a Marowak, making it ideal for players prioritizing PvE content like raids and gym battles. Cliff’s path generally offers rarer Pokémon encounters, making it a slightly better pick if you want to strengthen your meta teams, particularly for PvE, while Blanche’s path is preferable for PvP-focused players seeking Steelix and Azumarill. Ultimately, your decision depends on which Pokémon complement your current team and playstyle best.
After the first step of the free research, there’ll be a branched choice: Should you pick Blanche or Cliff?
If you’re basing this on PvE meta (gyms and raids), you should pick Cliff. While the rewards are mostly the same, the encounter rewards are different. Cliff’s rewards include a shadow Machop, which you can then power up and evolve into a shadow Machamp – which is one of the best fighting-type Pokémon in the game.
If you’re basing this on PvP (Go Battle League) meta, you should pick Blanche. Blanche’s rewards give you a Marill (that you can evolve into an Azumarill) and a Steelix – both Pokémon that fair well in Great and Ultra Leagues. To be fair, Marowak and Machamp both also see use in PvP, but they lag behind Steelix and Azumarill, according to the numbers at PvPoke.
Train with Blanche or Cliff outcomes
In Pokémon GO’s Steeled Resolve Timed Research, choosing to train with Blanche or Cliff leads to distinct outcomes tailored to different gameplay styles. Opting for Blanche is ideal for players focused on PvP, especially the Go Battle League, as it rewards encounters with Marill (which evolves into the strong PvP contender Azumarill) and Steelix, a valuable Steel/Ground-type Pokémon for both Great and Ultra Leagues. Conversely, selecting Cliff suits those who prioritize PvE activities like raids and gym battles, offering a shadow Machop that evolves into shadow Machamp, a top-tier Fighting-type attacker, and Marowak. Both paths share similar tasks and rewards such as Stardust, TMs, and a Magnetic Lure Module, but the key difference lies in the exclusive Pokémon encounters that can enhance specific team needs. Ultimately, the choice depends on whether you want to strengthen your PvP lineup or boost your PvE team with rare and powerful Pokémon.
Once you have progressed past step 1 of the “Steeled Resolve” Timed Research and made the above choice, the quest outcomes change as follows:
Step 2 of 3
- Use 5 super effective charged attacks (500 Stardust)
- Power up Pokémon 5 times (2 Fast TMs)
- battle in the Go Battle League 5 times (2 Charged TMs)
Rewards: Marill (Blanche) or shadow Machop (Cliff) encounter, 2,000 XP
Step 3 of 3
- Catch 25 Pokémon (10 Ultra Balls)
- Power up Pokémon 10 times (1 Silver Pinap Berry)
- Win a trainer battle in the Go Battle League (Steelix [Blanche] or Marowak [Cliff] encounter)
Which path offers the most valuable Pokémon for my battle team
For building the most valuable battle team in Pokémon GO, the choice between Blanche and Cliff depends on the type of battles you prioritize, but generally, Blanche’s path offers more consistently powerful and versatile Pokémon for both PvP and raids.
Blanche’s Steelix and Marill provide strong Steel and Fairy-type options, with Steelix being a durable tank and Marill evolving into Azumarill, a top-tier Great League PvP contender. Steel-types like Steelix and Metagross (recommended for Master League PvP and raids) are highly valued for their defense and versatility.
On the other hand, Cliff’s path offers shadow Machop evolving into shadow Machamp, which is one of the best fighting-type attackers in the game, excellent for raids and PvP. However, shadow Pokémon often require more investment and careful use due to their glassier defenses despite higher attack.
Overall, if you want a balanced, broadly useful team with strong PvP and raid utility, Blanche’s path with Steelix and Marill (Azumarill) is generally more valuable. If your focus is on raw attack power and you are comfortable with shadow Pokémon’s fragility, Cliff’s shadow Machamp is a great asset. Consider your battle style and resource availability when choosing.
Which Pokémon are considered the most valuable for competitive battles
Some of the most valuable Pokémon for competitive battles, recognized for their versatility, power, and unique abilities, include:
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Dragonite: Known for its high overall stats and the Multiscale ability that halves damage when at full HP, making it a durable and versatile attacker with moves like Extreme Speed and Outrage.
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Flutter Mane: A Ghost/Fairy type with high Special Attack and Speed, effective as a quick disruptor using moves like Shadow Ball and Moonblast.
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Yveltal: A Dark/Flying type with the Dark Aura ability boosting Dark-type moves, capable of flinching opponents and healing with Oblivion Wing, making it a strong offensive presence.
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Ho-Oh: A Fire/Flying legendary with strong Special Attack and the Regenerator ability, allowing it to recover HP when switched out, useful for sustained battles.
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Dragapult: A Dragon/Ghost type with high Speed and mixed attacking stats, capable of sweeping teams with moves like Dragon Darts and Phantom Force.
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Mimikyu: Notably effective in competitive play due to its Disguise ability that absorbs one hit, allowing it to set up attacks like Swords Dance and surprise opponents with Ghost or Fairy moves.
Additionally, legendary Pokémon such as Arceus, Mewtwo, Palkia, and Rayquaza are often considered top-tier due to their exceptional stats, abilities, and versatile move pools.
These Pokémon are valued for their ability to perform well in various competitive formats, including PvP and tournament play, making them excellent choices for battle teams.
