Pokemon X and Y Phase 2 Cliff Badge Walkthrough

Pokemon X and Y optimal walkthrough

Santalune City → Cyllage City Gym (Grant) — the longest non-endgame phase in XY.

Phase2 of 10 TargetLv 21-25 RewardCliff Badge + TM39 Rock Tomb

Route Map

Phase 2 zig-zags. You'll backtrack through Lumiose twice (north access stays locked until Phase 5) and Ambrette twice (fossil revival is round-trip). Plan ahead for inventory: ~15 Poké Balls and 10 Potions before leaving Santalune.

Exp. Share Handoff

As you leave Santalune toward Route 4 after beating Viola, Alexa — the journalist and Viola's sister — gives you the Exp. Share Key Item. This is the Gen 6 version of Exp. Share — toggle it ON in your bag and every Pokémon in your party shares experience from each battle, regardless of who fought. There is no level penalty.

Route 4 — Parterre Way

A formal hedge-garden route shaped like a giant parterre (a flower-bed pattern). The path forks; both branches lead to Lumiose. Lots of low-rank trainers and the first Flabébé spawns.

Wild Pokémon — Route 4

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Flabébé Fairy · Lv 6–8	X & Y	Grass	5 flower colors (Red, Yellow, Orange, Blue, White) — color is locked at catch. Red is most common on Route 4. Eventually evolves into Florges via Shiny Stone. Fairy STAB Dazzling Gleam is excellent endgame coverage.
Skiddo Grass · Lv 7–8	X & Y	Grass	Future Gogoat. Sap Sipper ability is rare and useful. Grass coverage doesn't overlap Chespin much because Gogoat is bulky/physical.
Bunnelby Normal · Lv 6–7	X & Y	Grass	Same notes as Phase 1. Skip if you already have one.
Combee Bug/Flying · Lv 6–8	X & Y	Horde Horde	Only ♀ Combee evolve into Vespiquen — 12.5% gender ratio means hordes are the efficient way to find one. Useful niche pick (Pressure + status stalling) but not balanced-optimal core.
Ralts Psychic/Fairy · Lv 7	X & Y	Grass Rare	★ Strong long-term pick. Gardevoir or Gallade are top-tier Phase 5+. Has a Mega Stone later. Encounter rate is low — grass-cycle for ~10 minutes if you want one.

Items & NPCs on Route 4

Trainers on Route 4

Lumiose City (South Boulevard & Avenues)

You enter Lumiose via the South Boulevard gate. The power outage caused by an off-screen Team Flare incident blocks the central plaza and Prism Tower until Phase 5. For now, only the south half is accessible: South Boulevard, Vernal Avenue (south), and the bottom of Autumnal/Estival Avenues. That's still a lot.

Sycamore’s Lab + Kanto Starter

Sycamore's Lab is a three-story building on South Boulevard. Climb to the top floor, talk to the Professor, and you get two big things: a battle, then the Kanto starter of your choice plus its Mega Stone.

The battle

Sycamore challenges you to a 3v? battle on the 3rd floor of the lab using all three Kanto starters at Lv 10 each:

• Bulbasaur Lv 10 — Tackle, Vine Whip, Growth
• Charmander Lv 10 — Scratch, Ember, Growl
• Squirtle Lv 10 — Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw

Lead with your strongest counter and they'll cycle in a fixed order. Fletchling/Fletchinder dominates Bulbasaur; your starter handles Charmander/Squirtle depending on type matchup. Visit the 2nd floor first — a researcher there gives you a few Luxury Balls.

The reward — pick a Kanto starter

After the battle, Sycamore gives you one Kanto starter at Lv 10 and the corresponding Mega Stone. You cannot get the other two during the main story — choose carefully.

Bulbasaur

Grass/Poison · Lv 10

Venusaurite (same X & Y)

Mega Venusaur with Thick Fat is one of the bulkiest walls in the game. Phase 5+ MVP if you build around it. ★ Best pick if you went Froakie or Fennekin and want defense.

Charmander

Fire · Lv 10

Charizardite X (X) / Charizardite Y (Y)

★ Different Mega per version! X gives Mega Charizard X (Fire/Dragon, Tough Claws, physical) — strongest Charizard. Y gives Mega Charizard Y (Fire/Flying, Drought, special). Both are top-tier; X is slightly stronger in-game.

Squirtle

Water · Lv 10

Blastoisinite (same X & Y)

Mega Blastoise with Mega Launcher is a strong special bulky Water attacker. Best pick if you went Chespin or Fennekin and want Water coverage.

Lab side NPCs (talk to all three)

Trainers in Sycamore's Lab

Café Soleil + Team Flare

After leaving Sycamore's Lab, head to Café Soleil (Estival Avenue, south Lumiose). Cutscene triggers: you meet Lysandre, a tall red-haired man with sharp opinions about the world. He talks philosophy, you don't fight him. He is the Team Flare boss in disguise — keep this in your back pocket.

Café Soleil NPCs

Route 5 — Versant Road

A skating route with multiple curving slopes — the first place you really use your Roller Skates mechanically. Korrina (future Shalour Gym Leader) appears at the top of the route with three Lucario and shows off Mega Evolution in a cutscene. You don't battle her yet.

Wild Pokémon — Route 5

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Pancham Fighting · Lv 9–10	X & Y	Grass Rare	★ ★ ★ Priority catch for Grant. Evolves into Pangoro (Fighting/Dark) at Lv 32 IF you have a Dark-type in your party. Pancham alone with Karate Chop crushes both of Grant's Pokémon.
Furfrou Normal · Lv 10–12	X & Y	Grass	Visit Friseur Furfrou in Lumiose post-catch to unlock the trims. Pure flavor unless you love grooming sims.
Poochyena Dark · Lv 9–11	Y only	Grass	Mightyena. Catching one solves Pancham's Pangoro evolution requirement on Y.
Houndour Dark/Fire · Lv 9–11	Y only	Grass Rare	Houndoom is a fantastic Fire/Dark option, has a Mega Stone (Houndoominite Y, post-game). Solves Pangoro requirement too.
Zigzagoon Normal · Lv 9–10	X & Y	Grass	Pickup utility — skip if you already grabbed one.
Bunnelby Normal · Lv 8–10	X & Y	Grass	Same as before.

Items & NPCs on Route 5

Trainers on Route 5

Camphrier Town

A small medieval-flavored town next to Shabboneau Castle. Two big things happen here: you find a Snorlax sleeping on the eastern road (Route 7), blocking your path, and you meet the elderly Shabboneau, who promises to give you the Poké Flute — but only after you've delivered a message to Parfum Palace south of town.

Camphrier NPCs

Items in Camphrier

Route 6 — Palais Lane

South of Camphrier, a long hedge-maze route leading to Parfum Palace. Tall hedges block sightlines — trainers will only see you if you walk directly past them, so you can stealth around fights if needed.

Wild Pokémon — Route 6

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Pancham Fighting · Lv 10	X & Y	Grass Rare	Second chance if you missed it on Route 5.
Espurr Psychic · Lv 10–11	X & Y	Grass	★ Meowstic, the evolution, has gender-differentiated movesets — male Meowstic gets support moves (Prankster, Light Screen), female gets offensive (Sucker Punch, Psychic). Both useful.
Audino Normal · Lv 11	X & Y	Rustling Grass Rustle	Big EXP. Always fight rustles here.
Drifloon Ghost/Flying · Lv 11–12	X & Y	Grass Rare	Cute Ghost option. Drifblim has decent Speed and Unburden for endgame setup runs.
Honedge Steel/Ghost · Lv 11–12	X & Y	Grass Rare	★ ★ Priority catch. Aegislash is one of the best Pokémon in Kalos (and historically OU/Ubers). Stance Change ability + Royal Guard = brick wall. Encounter rate is low (~5%) — grass-cycle for a few minutes.

Items & NPCs on Route 6

Trainers on Route 6

Parfum Palace + Furfrou Quest

An extravagant French-château-style palace south of Route 6. Inside, you meet the eccentric Palace Owner who's lost his prized Furfrou in the gardens. Find it for him and you get rewarded.

The Furfrou search

1. Speak to the Palace Owner in the main hall — he asks you to find his Furfrou.
2. Search the gardens (large hedge maze area behind the palace). Furfrou keeps moving — chase it through 4–5 garden sections.
3. Each time you "catch" it visually, it bolts to the next zone. Track it past the fountain, then north past the topiary, then to the back hedge.
4. Finally corner it in the rear garden.
5. Return to the Palace Owner — he rewards you with TM17 Protect.

Fireworks event

After returning the Furfrou, the Palace Owner triggers a fireworks display visible from the garden — pure cinematic flavor. Walk to the central balcony, watch the show, then exit.

Items in Parfum Palace

Poké Flute + Snorlax

Back in Camphrier, Shabboneau hands you the Poké Flute (key item) as thanks for the palace errand. Walk east to the Route 7 entrance, use the flute on Snorlax via the menu, and Snorlax wakes up. You get an optional battle with it.

Optional: catch Snorlax

Route 7 — Rivière Walk

The post-Snorlax route. Crosses a long bridge over a river. Berry fields and the Pokémon Day Care sit on the south side. Battle Chateau gate is on the north side (separate location). Lots of walk-and-fight trainers.

Wild Pokémon — Route 7

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Roselia Grass/Poison · Lv 12–13	X & Y	Grass	★ Strong special attacker. Evolves into Roserade with Shiny Stone. Grass STAB + Sludge Bomb hits 70% of the metagame for neutral or better.
Smeargle Normal · Lv 13	X & Y	Grass Rare	Sketch lets it copy any move. Pure utility — strong in trick rooms / setup teams. Not a balanced-optimal core but fun.
Skitty Normal · Lv 12	X & Y	Grass Rare	Delcatty has Normalize ability — niche meme picks. Skip for balanced optimal.
Audino Normal · Lv 12	X & Y	Rustling Grass Rustle	EXP cash. Engage every rustle.
Espurr Psychic · Lv 12	X & Y	Grass	Second chance if you missed it on Route 6.

Berry Fields

Mid-route on the south side, you'll find the Berry Fields — a long stretch of soil plots managed by the Berry Picker family. Talking to them yields:

• ★ Free starter berries (one-time each): Oran, Cheri, Chesto, Pecha, Rawst, Aspear, Leppa, Sitrus.
• ★ Daily replenishing berries from the soil plots. Plant, water, harvest. Mostly used for Pokémon-Amie or held items (Sitrus for in-game HP recovery).

Trainers on Route 7

Pokémon Day Care + Battle Chateau

Pokémon Day Care (Berry Fields)

Drop off any 1–2 Pokémon here. Costs 100 P + 100 P per level gained. Eggs appear if you drop a male and female of compatible egg groups.

• ★ Use for breeding Hidden Abilities, perfect IVs, or shiny chains (Masuda method).
• For Phase 2 itself, mostly skippable — you don't need the Day Care to clear story content.
• Strategic use: drop Eevee here once you have one (Phase 5+ via gift) to chain-evolve into Sylveon (Friendship + Fairy move).

Battle Chateau (separate building, Route 7 north side)

An optional battle facility introduced in Kalos. You're given a basic membership rank and can earn higher ranks (Baron, Viscount, Earl, Marquis, Duke, Grand Duke) by repeatedly defeating noble trainers.

• ★ O-Power activation: Talk to specific trainers inside to activate temporary Prize Money / Exp Point boosts in your own party.
• ★ Trainer rematches infinite: Higher-rank trainers (Lv 30–60+) provide grind-friendly XP much later. For Phase 2, only the Baron-rank trainers (~Lv 15) are accessible.
• ★ Writs: Buy Silver/Gold/Black Writs to spawn higher-level trainers temporarily. Worth a few thousand P for endgame grinding only.

Battle Chateau trainers

Optional facility. After Hennesy gives you the Baron(ess) title, you can fight ranked trainers. Phase 2-accessible: ~5 Barons with Lv 14–17 rosters. Names rotate but include Earl Dober, Viscount Ulrich, Baroness Gillian, Baron Marcel, Baroness Riley (names vary). Each Baron pays ~3,000 P.

Connecting Cave (Zubat Roost)

The shortest cave in the game. Two screens, dark interior. No Flash needed despite the name (lighting is fine).

Wild Pokémon — Connecting Cave

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Zubat Poison/Flying · Lv 11–12	X & Y	Cave (very common)	Crobat has 130 base Speed. If you don't already run Fletchling, Zubat→Golbat→Crobat is a solid alternate Flying line.
Whismur Normal · Lv 12	X & Y	Cave	Exploud is a Normal special attacker with Boomburst — niche but very strong against gen 6 metas.
Axew Dragon · Lv 14	X & Y	Cave Rare	★ ★ Priority catch. Haxorus is one of the strongest physical Dragons in the game (147 base Attack). 5% encounter rate — patience required. Worth it.

Items in Connecting Cave

Trainers in Connecting Cave

Route 8 — Muraille Coast

A scenic coastal route — high cliffs on one side, sandy beach with surf access on the other. Fishing-heavy. Also one of two routes where Inkay spawns. Big-money trainer density.

Wild Pokémon — Route 8

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Wingull Water/Flying · Lv 13–14	X & Y	Grass (cliff side)	Pelipper. Hidden Ability Drizzle is OU-good in Rain teams. In-game, just decent secondary Flyer.
Inkay Dark/Psychic · Lv 13–14	X & Y	Grass (cliff side)	★ ★ Priority catch (especially on X). Evolves into Malamar at Lv 30 by flipping the 3DS upside down when leveling up. Strong Contrary ability with Superpower. Solves the Dark-type slot for Pangoro evolution.
Binacle Rock/Water · Lv 13–14	X & Y	Rock Smash on coastal rocks Rock Smash	Note: Rock Smash isn't available yet — comes from Cyllage area. Skip Binacle for now. Mention only.
Skrelp Poison/Water · Lv 14	Y only	Fish (Old/Good Rod) Fish	★ Y exclusive. Evolves into Dragalge (Poison/Dragon) — rare typing, niche but interesting. Sells as a key version diff.
Clauncher Water · Lv 14	X only	Fish (Old/Good Rod) Fish	★ X exclusive. Clawitzer with Mega Launcher ability — Aura Sphere / Dragon Pulse / Dark Pulse / Water Pulse all get 1.5× boost. Strong special bulky attacker.
Magikarp Water · Lv 5–15	X & Y	Fish (Old Rod) Fish	Gyarados once at Lv 20. Patient grind, huge payoff. Use Exp. Share to skip the grind.

Items & NPCs on Route 8

Trainers on Route 8

Ambrette Town + Fossil Lab

A small coastal town with a hot springs hotel, an aquarium, and the Fossil Lab. Spend time here — there are several worthwhile side stops.

Ambrette stops

Items in Ambrette

Route 9 — Spikes Passage (Rhyhorn Riding)

The rocky path between Ambrette and Glittering Cave. The whole route is a Rhyhorn ride — you mount the Rhyhorn (your mom's specialty back in Vaniville) and charge through breakable rock walls. No wild encounters during the ride. The path is linear, just smash forward.

The ride

• You're not in control of trainer battles during the ride — the Rhyhorn auto-skips them.
• Smashable rock walls give items: Hard Stone, Star Piece, occasionally Iron.
• Ride ends at the entrance to Glittering Cave.

Trainers on Route 9

Note: Some Rocker / Hex Maniac trainers are present along Route 9 but the Rhyhorn ride mechanic skips them. Return on foot post-Cyllage if you want the XP.

Glittering Cave + Fossil Choice

A multi-chamber cave with shimmering wall-crystals. Team Flare debuts here in force — you'll battle two or three Grunts alongside your rivals (Tierno and Trevor act as helpers in one cutscene). The cave also contains both fossils, but you only get to keep one.

Wild Pokémon — Glittering Cave

Pokémon	Versions	Method	Notes
Zubat Poison/Flying · Lv 15	X & Y	Cave	Higher level than Connecting Cave Zubats — better catch level if you want a Crobat line.
Machop Fighting · Lv 15–16	X & Y	Cave	Trade-evolves twice for full Machamp. Solid alternate Fighting if you skipped Pancham. Guts ability.
Kecleon Normal · Lv 15	X & Y	Cave Rare	Color Change is fun but Kecleon is mediocre as an in-game pick. Skip for balanced optimal.
Lunatone Rock/Psychic · Lv 16	X only	Cave Rare	★ Version exclusive (X). Levitate immunity to Ground. Decent special.
Solrock Rock/Psychic · Lv 16	Y only	Cave Rare	★ Version exclusive (Y). Mirror of Lunatone — physical instead of special. Both are mid-tier picks.

Team Flare's debut

The Fossil pick

The fossil chamber has two visible sparkles. You can pick up both, but you only get to revive one back in Ambrette — the lab scientist will only revive one per playthrough.

Sail Fossil → Amaura

Rock/Ice · Refrigerate

Final form: Aurorus (Rock/Ice). Special attacker with Freeze-Dry (Ice that hits Water super-effectively).

Pros: Special bulk, Freeze-Dry is a rare anti-Water tool, sets up Hail with Snow Warning. Refrigerate turns Hyper Voice into 90-power Ice STAB.

Cons: 4× weak to Fighting and Steel. Slow.

Jaw Fossil → Tyrunt

Rock/Dragon · Strong Jaw

Final form: Tyrantrum (Rock/Dragon). Physical attacker with Strong Jaw boosting all biting moves +50%.

Pros: Strong Jaw + Crunch + Dragon Claw is brutal. Decent physical bulk. Head Smash is a 150-power nuke.

Cons: 2× weak to Fighting, Ground, Steel, Ice, Dragon, and Fairy. Mediocre Speed.

Items in Glittering Cave

Trainers in Glittering Cave

Cyllage City

A seaside city built into a cliff face. The Gym is literally a rock-climbing wall going up the cliffside. Lots of secondary services unlock here.

Cyllage stops

Team Recommendations

By the time you enter Grant's gym, you want a 5–6 Pokémon party at Lv 20–24. Phase 2 is long enough that you can comfortably hit Lv 22+ on lead.

Trade evolutions to start

• Machop (if caught in Glittering Cave) trade-evolves to Machoke at Lv 28, then Machamp via trade. Skip unless you have a trading partner.

Mega Evolution status

Still locked. You have your first Mega Stone (from Sycamore) but the Mega Ring doesn't unlock until Korrina hands it to you on the Tower of Mastery in Phase 3.

Must-Grab Items (Phase 2 Master List)

Gym Strategy — Grant, the Cliff Leader

G

Grant — Cyllage City Gym

Rock-type · Climbing athlete · Specialty: defensive setup, then Rock STAB bombs

Gym puzzle: A vertical rock-climbing wall. You walk to the wall, the camera rotates, and you climb upward along set handholds. Five gym trainers are scattered across the climbing ledges. Most can be skipped by routing around them, but all of them are juicy XP and the Rising Star fight is a tough warm-up for Grant.

Gym Trainer	Roster	Notes
Rising Star Didier	Dwebble Lv 21, Relicanth Lv 23	Hardest gym trainer — Dwebble's Sturdy + Rock Tomb is annoying, Relicanth's Take Down hurts.
Hiker (mid wall)	Roggenrola Lv 24	Highest-level single mon in the gym. Sturdy guarantees one survive turn.
Battle Girl (upper wall)	Solrock Lv 22, Lunatone Lv 22	Rock/Psychic typing makes Fighting neutral overall. Bring Water, Grass, Ground, Bug, Ghost, or Dark coverage instead. Watch Confusion.
Hiker (side ledge)	Rhyhorn Lv 21, Nosepass Lv 21	Both pure Rock/Ground-ish — Water/Grass starters dominate.
Hiker (near top)	Onix Lv 21	Slow, brittle special-defense Rock/Ground. Water/Grass 4× damage.

Grant's team

Pokémon	Lv	Type	Moves	Held Item	Ability
Amaura	25	Rock/Ice	Rock Tomb, Take Down, Aurora Beam, Thunder Wave	Oran Berry	Refrigerate
Tyrunt	25	Rock/Dragon	Rock Tomb, Bite, Stomp, Charm	Oran Berry	Strong Jaw

Threat assessment

Recommended counters (in order)

Avoid leading with

• Fletchinder / any Flying type — 4× weak to Rock. Tyrunt's Rock Tomb one-shots.
• Braixen / Pyroar / Pansear — Fire weak to Rock (2× on Fire-type Pokémon). Pyroar especially fragile.
• Litleo / any Fire type lead — Same Rock vulnerability.
• Vivillon — Bug/Flying = 4× Rock weakness.
• Tyrunt your own — Rock-vs-Rock is awkward; both your Dragon and Rock take neutral or super damage back.

Predicted threat order & play

1. Grant leads with Amaura. Open with Pancham. Karate Chop crits often — 2HKO. Watch for Thunder Wave paralysis switch; if you're paralyzed, switch to a backup like Frogadier.
2. Tyrunt comes out. Pancham still 2HKOs with Karate Chop. If Pancham is below 50%, swap to Frogadier — Water Pulse 2HKOs Tyrunt and outspeeds.
3. Heal once mid-fight with a Super Potion if needed. Don't let Tyrunt set up multiple Charms unanswered.

Reward

• Cliff Badge — traded Pokémon up to Lv 50 will obey (huge upgrade).
• TM39 Rock Tomb — 60 power Rock move that drops the target's Speed. Excellent utility on Tyrantrum, Aegislash, or your fossil mon.
• Prize money — ~2,400 P.

Version Note Summary

Phase 2 Checklist

• Receive Exp. Share from Alexa before Route 4
• Catch Flabébé and/or Skiddo on Route 4
• Visit Lumiose Pokémon Center (Wonder Trade unlocks)
• Visit Stone Emporium (Vernal Avenue) — buy evolution stones as needed
• Visit at least 2 hotels for Mr. Bonding O-Powers
• Defeat Sycamore at his lab (Lv 12 Kanto trio)
• Pick a Kanto starter + Mega Stone (★ permanent choice)
• Trigger the Café Soleil cutscene to meet Lysandre
• Catch Pancham on Route 5 (★ Phase 2 MVP)
• On Y: catch Poochyena or Houndour for Pangoro evolution helper
• Tour Shabboneau Castle in Camphrier
• Catch Honedge on Route 6 (★ Aegislash priority)
• Catch Espurr on Route 6 (★ Meowstic)
• Complete the Furfrou quest at Parfum Palace
• Collect TM17 Protect from the Palace Owner
• Receive Poké Flute, wake Snorlax
• Catch Snorlax for free Leftovers (★ missable)
• Talk to all Berry Picker NPCs for free berries
• Drop in at the Pokémon Day Care (register only)
• Register at Battle Chateau — beat 1–2 Barons
• Catch Axew in Connecting Cave (★ rare, ~5%)
• Try fishing on Route 8 — Skrelp (Y) or Clauncher (X)
• Grab the Lapras from "Lapras Lady" in Ambrette (★ easy missable)
• Use the Hot Springs free PP heal in Ambrette
• Rhyhorn-ride through Route 9
• Beat Team Flare in Glittering Cave
• Pick up BOTH fossils in Glittering Cave
• Decide which fossil to revive (Tyrunt vs Amaura)
• Get the Good Rod from the Cyllage pier fisherman
• Use the Move Relearner with a Heart Scale if you missed a key move
• Defeat Grant — earn Cliff Badge + TM39 Rock Tomb