Pokemon GO Holiday Cup Lite Teams Revealed

The GO Battle League is introducing its next challenge after the Fantasy League's two-week run. The Holiday Cup: Little Edition introduces a fresh set of rules, pushing Pokemon GO trainers to rethink their strategies and build an optimal team.

Holiday Cup: Little Edition Rules for Pokemon GO: Dual Destiny Season

The Holiday Cup: Little Edition in the GO Battle League runs from December 17, 2024, to December 24, 2024.

As a Little Edition, this competition restricts Pokemon CP to 500. The Holiday Cup also limits eligible types, allowing only Electric, Flying, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Normal Pokemon.

The lower CP cap and restricted type pool mean many trainers will need to create new teams specifically for the Pokemon GO Holiday Cup.

Related: Best Pokemon GO Fantasy Cup Teams

Best Holiday Cup Teams for Pokemon GO

With six eligible types, the restrictions are less severe than the Fantasy Cup, but still challenge players who favor other types in their usual battle approach.

The main challenge will be finding suitable Pokemon with CP under 500. Let's explore some strategies to build your best team for the Holiday Cup: Little Edition in Pokemon GO.

How to Build a Strong Holiday Cup Team in Pokemon GO

Start by filtering for Pokemon under 500 CP. Next, consider the strongest PvP contenders that also fit the Electric, Flying, Ghost, Grass, Ice, and Normal type requirements.

Finding some fan-favorites may be difficult, as evolved Pokemon often have higher CP—even when found in the wild. The usual meta strategies might not be as effective here.

Smeargle, previously banned in 2023 but permitted this year, is emerging as the top pick for this Cup. Many players worry about dealing with moves like Incinerate and Flying Press it can copy. It’s wise to plan a counter for Smeargle.

Suggested Holiday Cup Team Combos for Pokemon GO

With Smeargle allowed, many players will rely on its move-copying ability. Fortunately, there are counter strategies depending on your roster. Below are our recommended team combinations:

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

This team offers diverse type coverage through dual-typing, while preparing counters for Smeargle with Incinerate or Flying Press. Pikachu Libre’s Fighting subtype allows it to defeat Normal-type Smeargle. Ducklett and Alolan Marowak provide strength against Grass and Fighting subtypes. If you lack a low CP Alolan Marowak, Skeledirge is a solid alternative with similar typing.

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

This team embraces the "can’t beat ’em, join ’em" mindset with Smeargle. Ducklett’s Flying-type move helps counter opposing Fighting subtypes targeting your Smeargle. Amaura provides Rock-type coverage against Ice and Flying opponents.

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

This lineup utilizes some underused Pokemon while still offering strong type coverage. Litwick’s Ghost/Fire typing works well against Ghost, Grass, and Ice types. Cottonee is a reliable Grass-type with useful Fairy moves. Gligar counters Electric Pokemon and resists Fire-type attacks.

Remember, these are just suggestions—your success will depend on available Pokemon and your preferred strategy. Best of luck in the Holiday Cup: Little Edition, trainers!

These are our top team recommendations for the Pokemon GO Holiday Cup Little Edition.

Pokemon GO is available to play now.