Halloween Cup: What has Changed from Last Year?

 

 

A Refresher:

Pokémon GO’s Halloween Cup is a Great League (1500 CP ceiling) themed Cup running from Friday October 15th at 1p.m. Pacific Time until Tuesday November 2nd at 1p.m. Pacific Time

 

Note that this Cup starts part way into the October 11-25th rotation of Great League and ends part way into the October 25th-November 8th rotation of Ultra League in Season 9

 

 

Allowed Types:

Poison, Bug, Ghost, Dark, and Fairy-type Pokémon are allowed.

 

 

Additions:

Since November 3rd, 2020 when Halloween Cup ended last year the following Halloween Cup eligible Pokémon (and their pre-evolutions, where applicable) have been added to GO:

  • Poison-Types: 

    • Dragalge, Galarian Slowbro, and Galarian Slowking (releasing on the 15th)

  • Bug-Types:

    • None

  • Ghost-Types:

    • Jellicent, Hoopa, Trevenant, and Gourgeist (last two releasing October 22nd)

  • Dark-Types:

    • Greninja, Malamar, and Pangoro

  • Fairy-Types:

    • Slurpuff, Aromatisse, Sylveon

New Shadow Pokémon Since November 3rd, 2020:

  • Granbull and Armaldo

 

 

Move Buffs:

Since Halloween Cup ended last year the following moves learned by eligible Pokémon have been buffed for PVP:

  • Fast Moves:

    • Poison Jab (damage increased)

    • Poison Sting (energy generation increased)

    • Dragon Tail (changed to lower energy generation and higher damage)

    • Ember (damage increased)

  • Charge Moves:

    • Poison Fang (guarantee to lower opponent’s defense 1 stage added)

    • Cross Poison (damage increase and chance to raise attack 2 stages added)

    • Acid Spray (energy cost reduced)

    • Crunch (chance to lower opponent’s defense 1 stage added)

    • Megahorn (damage increased)

    • Focus Blast (damage increased)

    • Crabhammer (damage increased)

 

 

Move nerfs:

Since Halloween Cup ended last year the following moves learned by eligible Pokémon have been nerfed for PVP:

  • Fast Moves:

    • Bubble (damage reduced)

    • Razor Leaf (damage reduced)

  • Charge Moves:

    • Weather Ball (damage reduced)

    • Sky Attack (damage reduced)

    • Rock Slide (damage reduced)

    • Shadow Bone (damage reduced)

 

 

 

Moveset Additions:

Since Halloween Cup ended last year the following moves have been added to these eligible Pokémon, listed in order of projected meta-relevance of the addition:

  • Nidoqueen

    • Poison Fang

  • Cofagrigus

    • Shadow Claw

  • Roserade

    • Bullet Seed, Weather Ball (Fire), Leaf Storm

  • Alolan Ninetales

    • Weather Ball

  • Heracross

    • Rock Blast

  • Crobat

    • Poison Fang and Cross Poison

  • Ariados

    • Lunge

  • Umbreon

    • Psychic

  • Chandelure

    • Incinerate and Flame Charge

  • Nidoking

    • Sand Tomb

  • Dusknoir

    • Shadow Ball

  • Leavanny

    • Leaf Storm

  • Alolan Persian, Cacturne, Absol, and Liepard

    • Payback

 

 

Going Beyond:

The GO Beyond update occurred after Halloween Cup 2020 ended. The eligible Pokémon impacted by the addition of Candy XL and higher power levels follow:

  • Partial bonus (maximum Stat Product achieved between levels 40 and 50)

    • Azumarill

    • Wormadam (all forms)

    • Grimer (both forms)

    • Sableye

    • Pawniard

    • Dusclops

    • Nidorino

  • Full bonus (maximum CP at level 51 does not reach 1500)

    • Vullaby

    • Nidorina

    • Spritzee

    • Dustox

    • Drifloon

 

 

Likely Impacts:

For reference, this was GO Stadium’s Meta Snapshot of Halloween Cup from last year:

Notable changes from this meta to be expected:

  • Nidoqueen goes from not-on-graphic to meta-centric

  • Jellicent goes from unreleased to meta relevant

  • Cofagrigus goes from not-on-graphic to meta relevant

  • Alolan Ninetales goes from not-on-graphic to meta relevant

  • Alolan Marowak goes from the main graphic to more of a wildcard

  • Drapion likely moves from HM to main graphic after Poison Sting and Crunch buffs

  • Golbat likely moves from HM to Wildcards after Poison Fang buff

  • Azumarill has more threats (poisons, Jellicent) and a weaker Bubble but will likely stay relevant

  • Tentacruel and Qwilfish both see buffs, but if Azumarill is more scarce they lose their best target

  • Nidoqueen’s increased presence hurts Galvantula and Crustle greatly

 

While GO Stadium will not be doing a Meta Snapshot for Halloween Cup 2021 look out for a Meta Cores coming soon!