The Pokémon GO Holiday Cup: Little Edition is here! Running from December 17th to 24th, 2024, this limited-time event presents a unique challenge: battles are capped at 500 CP, and only Electric, Flying, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Normal types are permitted. This necessitates strategic team building, departing from typical meta strategies.

Navigating the Holiday Cup's Constraints

The type restrictions, while less severe than the Fantasy Cup, still demand careful consideration. The real hurdle is finding suitable Pokémon under the 500 CP limit. Many evolved Pokémon exceed this threshold, forcing a shift in team composition.

Smeargle, previously banned but now eligible, is a major wildcard. Its ability to copy moves, particularly Incinerate and Flying Press, makes it a formidable opponent. Planning counter-strategies is crucial.

Optimal Team Combos

Several team compositions can effectively tackle the Holiday Cup, each leveraging different type advantages and Smeargle countermeasures.

Team 1: Versatile Type Coverage

Pokémon	Type
Pikachu Libre	Electric/Fighting
Ducklett	Flying/Water
Alolan Marowak	Fire/Ghost

This team utilizes dual-typed Pokémon for broader coverage. Pikachu Libre's Fighting type counters Normal-type Smeargle, while Ducklett and Alolan Marowak (or Skeledirge as a substitute) provide further type advantages.

Team 2: Embracing the Smeargle Meta

Pokémon	Type
Smeargle	Normal
Amaura	Rock/Ice
Ducklett	Flying/Water

This strategy incorporates Smeargle, leveraging its move-copying ability. Ducklett counters Fighting types targeting Smeargle, and Amaura provides Rock-type coverage against Ice and Flying opponents.

Team 3: Underdog Lineup

Pokémon	Type
Gligar	Flying/Ground
Cottonee	Fairy/Grass
Litwick	Fire/Ghost

This team features less common Pokémon but offers strong type coverage. Litwick excels against Ghost, Grass, and Ice types; Cottonee provides powerful Grass and Fairy moves; and Gligar counters Electric types and resists Fire-type attacks.

Remember, these are suggestions. Your ideal team depends on your available Pokémon and preferred play style. Good luck, trainers! Pokémon GO is available now.