Trainers! The Winter Holiday Part 1 event in Pokémon GO kicks off on December 18, bringing festive costumed Pokémon like Sudowoodo, Charjabug, and Vikavolt into the spotlight, alongside a bunch of other Pokémon in wild and in raids.
For PvE enthusiasts, these additions offer intriguing options for raids, though their performance hinges on movesets, bulk, and matchup relevance in the current meta. This analysis dives into their practical raid utility to help you decide which ones deserve your time and effort for the grind. Let us begin!
Mamoswine Returns as the King of Ice and Ground Raids
Swinub is one of the featured wild spawns this event, and it’s one you definitely shouldn’t ignore! This cute Pig Pokémon evolves all the way into Mamoswine, the mighty Twin Tusk Pokémon — a long-standing beast in the raid meta.
When powered up and fully evolved, Mamoswine becomes a raid staple that has stood the test of time. Its Shadow form takes things even further, dishing out monstrous damage and ranking among the top three Ice-type raid attackers, sitting just behind the legendary Black and White Kyurems. Even the regular version offers fantastic value for its cost, easily ranking as a reliable budget Ice attacker for Trainers who want strong performance without needing Legendary investment.
 Mamoswine IceGround |
|
| Max CP | 3763 |
|---|---|
| ATK | 247 |
| DEF | 146 |
| HP | 242 |
What makes Mamoswine truly special is its flexibility. As a Ground-type attacker, Shadow Mamoswine easily cracks the top 10, while its non-Shadow counterpart lands comfortably in the top 20. This means that a single Pokémon line can pull weight in two major raid categories — something few others can boast.
And here’s the best part: Mamoswine doesn’t rely on any legacy moves. That means with both charged moves unlocked, you can run a Mamoswine that flexes between Ice and Ground duties with just a quick Fast TM swap. It’s efficient, versatile, and event-friendly — exactly what every Trainer wants in a meta-relevant raid Pokémon.
So don’t sleep on those Swinub spawns: catch plenty, farm that candy (especially XLs!), and prep your future raid destroyer.
Best Mamoswine Moveset
- Ice Raid Attacker: Powder Snow
Avalanche - Ground Raid Attacker: Mud Slap
High Horsepower
Shiny Swinub Family
Shadow Vikavolt’s Hidden PvE Potential
At first glance, Vikavolt, the Stag Beetle Pokémon, doesn’t exactly scream “meta-defining.” Its design is sleek, its typing is cool, but few trainers think of it as a powerhouse. However, when you take a closer look — especially at its Shadow form — Vikavolt surprises with its hidden potential in both Electric and Bug raid scenarios.
As a Electric raid attacker, Vikavolt, especially its Shadow form, is a pretty decent option. In fact, it ranks as the third-best non-Mega, non-Legendary Electric raid attacker, just behind Shadow Electivire and Shadow Magnezone. The catch? You’ll need its Community Day move: Volt Switch, to make it shine. That move gives it better raid DPS. Without it, Shadow Vikavolt’s performance takes a dip.
 Vikavolt BugElectric |
|
| Max CP | 3524 |
|---|---|
| ATK | 254 |
| DEF | 158 |
| HP | 184 |
Where things get interesting is with Vikavolt doubles as a Bug raid attacker. Bug types don’t get much love in Pokémon GO. They’re rarely relevant, but when they are, they really are. Remember Hoopa Unbound raids? That was a rare moment when Bug types shined because they were double super effective. The same situation could return soon when Legendary Pokémon like Calyrex and Wo-Chien, are introduced in game as both share that double weakness to Bug.
In those matchups, Shadow Vikavolt becomes meta relevant as it ranks among the Top 5 Bug-type raid attackers, only behind the Mega trio — Mega Heracross, Mega Pinsir, and Mega Scizor. Since you can only Mega evolve one Pokémon at a time, that effectively makes Shadow Vikavolt your second-best Bug attacker overall, and it doesn’t even need any exclusive moves to pull that off. Talk about underrated.
With Charjabug spawning in the wild, you get guaranteed 1 XL Candy per catch; perfect chance to stock up XL candies and power up your Vikavolt, especially if you’re planning ahead for future raid lineups.
Best Moveset
- Bug Raid Attacker: Bug Bite
X-Scissor - Electric Raid Attacker: Volt Switch
Discharge
Shiny Grubbin Family
Future Megas Revealed: Mega Froslass and Mega Raichu Analysis
Warning, Legends: Z-A spoilers ahead!
Prepare boldly in the present; tomorrow hails your foresight!
Mega Froslass: The Ice-Type Mega We’ve Been Waiting For
Disclaimer: Stats and moveset in Pokémon GO are subject to change, so take this write-up with a grain of salt. Some Megas gain a new typing on Mega Evolution, and can adopt new moves, so keep that in mind as well.
When the event starts, you would probably notice Snorunt chilling all over the wild spawns, and yeah, evolving it to Glalie gives you that Mega, but let’s be real—Mega Glalie’s DPS is a bit underwhelming, just like Mega Abomasnow. They don’t hit hard enough to dominate Ice needs.
| Typing | Ice Ghost |
|---|---|
| Max CP | 4133 |
| ATK | 284 |
| DEF | 190 |
| HP | 172 |
The spotlight now shifts to female Snorunt, capable of evolving into the Snow-Land Pokémon Froslass, and thanks to Legends: Z-A, we now have a confirmed Mega Froslass on the horizon. If the projected stats hold true, Mega Froslass is shaping up to be the Ice type Mega trainers have long waited for and we can finally have a Mega Ice Dragon Slayer.
Mega Froslass also has Ghost second type but as a Ghost raid attacker, it can’t keep up with the likes of Mega Gengar and Dawn Wings Necrozma. So, let’s keep the focus on Mega Froslass’ good side: The Ice Side.
Trainers, it’s time to start farming those Snorunt spawns — especially female ones — and stockpile that candy and XLs.
Best Moveset
- Ice Raid Attacker: Powder Snow Avalanche
- Ghost Raid Attacker: Hex
Shadow Ball
Shiny Snorunt and Froslass
Want to know more about the Mega Evolutions introduced in Legends Z-A! Have a look at our Speculative Meta Analysis!
Mega Raichu X & Y: Double the Power, Double the Potential
Disclaimer: Stats and moveset in Pokémon GO are subject to change, so take this write-up with a grain of salt. Some Megas gain a new typing on Mega Evolution, and can adopt new moves, so keep that in mind as well.
| Typing | Electric |
|---|---|
| Max CP | 4274 |
| ATK | 339 |
| DEF | 157 |
| HP | 155 |
Something shocking is hatching from 7km eggs: Pichu is back in the rotation! This adorable baby Pokémon might seem small now, but it carries huge future potential. With the latest Legends: Z-A DLC update, our OG Mouse Pokémon Raichu is received two distinct Mega Evolutions: Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y. While Mega Raichu X won’t exactly electrify the top damage charts due to its modest Attack stat, Mega Raichu Y is the real thunderstorm on the horizon. This Electric beast is going to surge straight into the upper tiers of DPS charts.
For dedicated collectors, hatching those 7km eggs is now more rewarding than ever. A costumed Pichu, some extra XL Candy, and potentially high-IV Pikachu line members will pay dividends down the line. And if you’ve been holding onto that Hundo or Shundo Pikachu from the first-ever Community Day, that patience is about to pay off; its moment in the lightning spotlight is coming soon.
Best Moveset:
- Electric Raid Attacker: Thunder Shock Wild Charge
Shiny Pikachu family
Want to know more about the Mega Evolutions introduced in Legends Z-A DLC! Have a look at our Speculative Meta Analysis of DLC Megas!
Parting Words
And that wraps up our PvE deep dive for the Winter Holiday Part 1 event! With Mamoswine continuing its reign as one of the most efficient dual-type raid attackers, Shadow Vikavolt showing unexpected strength across two typings, and the thundering icy promise of Mega Froslass and Mega Raichu Y on the horizon, this event packs more meta impact than it initially seems.
Whether you’re powering up old MVPs or preparing future legends, now’s the perfect time to stock up on XL Candy, refine your raid squads, and embrace the festive grind. Stay warm, stay prepared, and may your Shiny luck shine brighter than Delibird’s gift glow. Happy Holidays, Trainers!
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