Winter is here. Or at least, it’s here in the world of Niantic. If you've been playing long enough, you know the drill: the music changes to that slightly jingling remix, the map gets a dusting of white, and suddenly every other spawn is a Spheal wearing a scarf. But honestly, Pokemon GO Holiday Part 1 usually sets the tone for the entire end-of-year grind, and this year’s rollout has some specific nuances that even veteran players are tripping over.
It’s easy to get cynical about "costume creep." You know what I mean. Do we really need another Pikachu in a hat? Probably not. Yet, when you see that shiny festive Ribombee or a Cetoddle popping up in the wild, the lizard brain takes over. You start checking IVs. You start hoarding Silver Pinap Berries.
The Reality of the Spawn Pool
The biggest mistake people make during the first half of the winter event is ignoring the non-costume spawns. Everyone hunts the bow-tie Delibird. That's fine. It's cute. But the real value usually hides in the "boring" stuff. For example, Cryogonal. It’s a pain to find most of the year. During Pokemon GO Holiday Part 1, it actually becomes attainable for the average player who isn't willing to stand outside in a blizzard for three hours.
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Let's talk about Cetoddle. When it first debuted, people went nuts. Now, it’s a staple of the winter season. If you are looking for a budget Ice-type attacker for raids, evolving a high-level Cetoddle into Cetitan is a low-cost way to beef up your roster without burning through rare XL Candy on a Mamoswine.
The spawn density changes too. You’ll notice that "trash" spawns like Yungoos or Pidgey basically vanish. They’re replaced by a wall of blue and white. This is the best time to farm the "Catch 10 Ice-type" or "Catch 5 different species of Ice-type" tasks. They are everywhere.
Why the Timed Research is a Trap (Sometimes)
Niantic loves their branching research. We’ve seen this trend solidify throughout 2025 and into 2026. Usually, you’re given a choice: do you want extra XP, extra Stardust, or extra Candy?
Most players reflexively pick Stardust. It makes sense. Stardust is the lifeblood of the game. However, during Pokemon GO Holiday Part 1, if there’s a specific costume Pokemon that requires 125 candy to fully evolve—looking at you, festive Spheal family—the Candy path might actually save you more time in the long run.
Check the rewards before you click. Seriously. Often, the "paid" tickets offered in the shop during this window provide an encounter with a guaranteed high-IV Pokemon that isn't actually available in the wild yet. If you're a F2P (Free to Play) purist, don't sweat it. Most of these "early access" mons hit the general pool during Part 2 anyway.
The Shiny Hunt Meta
Shinies are the real endgame. During the first part of the holiday event, the odds aren't magically boosted for everything. That’s a common misconception. Usually, only the "featured" raid bosses or the very rare wild spawns have that sweet 1/64 permaboost. Your standard wild Snover? It’s still 1/512.
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- Pikachu with a holiday hat: Always a classic, but the trade value is low because everyone has ten.
- Galarian Darumaka: This is the one to hunt. It’s a top-tier Ice attacker and the shiny looks great.
- Amaura: Still relatively rare. If you see one on the nearby radar, walk the extra block.
Raids and Mega Abomasnow
Mega Abomasnow is the king of December. It’s not just about the power; it’s about the candy bonus. If you have a Mega Abomasnow active, you get extra candy for every Ice-type you catch. Since Pokemon GO Holiday Part 1 is 90% Ice-types, you should basically have an Abomasnow (or Glalie) Mega-evolved at all times.
Raids during this period move fast. People are looking for Shiny Kyurem or whatever legendary Niantic has slotted into the 5-star spot. If you’re playing in a rural area, use those remote raid passes early in the week. By the time Part 2 starts, the lobby excitement for the Part 1 bosses drops off a cliff.
Managing Your Post-Holiday Inventory
You’re going to run out of space. It happens every year. The influx of costume Pokemon creates a hoarding problem. "What if I need this hat-wearing Squirtle for a trade in three years?" Spoiler: You won't.
Keep the top 3 highest IVs of each costume. Delete the rest. Unless it’s a shiny or a 100% IV (Hundo), it’s just taking up space that you’ll need for the New Year’s event.
Honestly, the best strategy for Pokemon GO Holiday Part 1 is to focus on the 7km eggs. This is often where the "babies" like Smoochum or Galarian Mr. Mime (if we're lucky) are tucked away. Don't waste your incubators on 2km or 5km eggs during this window. Save them for the 7km eggs you get from opening gifts.
Essential Tactics for the Cold
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, playing this event is a physical challenge. Buy a stylus. It sounds stupid until you're trying to throw a curveball with a frozen thumb. A cheap capacitive stylus lets you keep your gloves on while you grind.
Also, watch your battery. Cold weather absolutely kills phone batteries. If you're planning a three-hour session at the local park, bring a power bank and keep it inside your jacket to keep the battery warm.
Next Steps for Success:
- Clear at least 100 Pokemon storage spaces before the event officially kicks off at 10:00 AM local time.
- Stockpile Poké Balls. Great and Ultra balls are preferred since many holiday spawns (like Delibird) have notoriously low catch rates.
- Sync your Mega Energy. Ensure you have enough energy to keep an Ice-type Mega active for at least 8 hours a day to maximize candy gains.
- Prioritize 7km eggs. Only open gifts when you have an open egg slot to ensure you're getting the event-specific pool rather than standard 2km or 5km junk.
- Check the Today View. Niantic often sneaks in "Collection Challenges" that expire the moment Part 1 ends. If you miss one, that medal is gone forever.