Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup runs from October 27 to November 3, 2026, with a 1,500 CP limit and only Bug, Poison, Ghost, Dark and Fairy Pokémon allowed. Mega Evolution is legal too, provided the Mega form meets the entry restrictions. A strong starting team to try is Tinkaton, Mimikyu and Clodsire.
You don’t need a Mega Evolution to compete. Tinkaton, Mimikyu and Clodsire are highly rated early picks, while Mega Sableye is worth considering if you own one that fits the cap. The teams below include moves, matchups and options for players who don’t have every Pokémon built.
Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup: dates and official rules
| Rule | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Dates | October 27–November 3, 2026 |
| CP | At or below 1,500 |
| Eligible types | Bug, Poison, Ghost, Dark and Fairy |
| Mega Pokémon | Allowed, subject to CP and typing |
| Stardust bonus | 4× Stardust from win rewards, excluding end-of-set rewards |
The Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup opens at 8pm GMT on October 27. It closes at 9pm GMT on November 3 because US clocks change during the event. Unlike Halloween Part I, this is a GO Battle League rotation and doesn’t start at 10am local time. A Pokémon only needs one of the listed types to qualify: Fairy/Steel Tinkaton and Poison/Ground Clodsire are both legal.
Four Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup teams to try
| Team | Suggested lead | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tinkaton / Mimikyu / Clodsire | Tinkaton | Fairy and Ghost pressure with a Poison/Ground closer |
| Umbreon / Nidoqueen / Azumarill | Umbreon | Bulky Dark lead supported by Poison and Fairy |
| Carbink / Forretress / Morpeko | Carbink | Rock/Fairy bulk, a Steel/Bug switch and fast Electric/Dark damage |
| Mega Sableye / Clodsire / Tinkaton | Mega Sableye | Mega Ghost/Dark alongside Poison/Ground and Fairy/Steel |
In Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup, Tinkaton/Mimikyu/Clodsire is a good place to start. Open with Tinkaton, use Mimikyu for Ghost/Fairy pressure and save Clodsire’s Ground attacks for Steel and Poison threats. Tinkaton is weak to Fire and Ground, while Mimikyu is weak to Ghost and Steel; don’t switch either into an obvious super-effective Charged Attack.
Umbreon/Nidoqueen/Azumarill is a bulkier option. Lead Umbreon against Ghost types, bring in Nidoqueen when Fairy moves threaten it, and use Azumarill’s Water damage against Ground types. Carbink/Forretress/Morpeko is a second high-ranking option: Carbink soaks hits, Forretress resists Fairy and Bug damage, and Morpeko attacks quickly but needs careful shielding. Carbink may require substantial Candy XL investment to get close to 1,500 CP, so this is not necessarily a cheap team to build.
Should you use Mega Sableye in Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup?
Mega Sableye’s Dark/Ghost typing qualifies. However, check its CP after Mega Evolution. An ordinary Sableye below 1,500 CP can be too high once Mega Evolved. Powering that Sableye up further won’t solve the problem: use a lower-level Sableye or one of the regular teams instead.
If you have a legal Mega Sableye, Clodsire and Tinkaton both help against Fairy attacks, the Mega’s only type weakness. Mega Sableye works well with Shadow Claw, Foul Play and Dazzling Gleam. The Super Max upgrade and Night Shade+ start November 1; neither is required to enter this cup.
Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup best movesets
These are moves to aim for when building the four teams, not a requirement to enter the cup. The best choice depends on your matchups, IVs and shields. Check whether your Pokémon knows each move before spending Stardust or an Elite TM.
| Pokémon | Fast Attack | Charged Attacks |
|---|---|---|
| Tinkaton | Fairy Wind | Gigaton Hammer, Bulldoze |
| Mimikyu | Shadow Claw | Shadow Sneak, Play Rough |
| Clodsire | Poison Sting | Earthquake, Stone Edge |
| Umbreon | Snarl | Dark Pulse, Last Resort |
| Nidoqueen | Mud-Slap | Earth Power, Poison Fang |
| Azumarill | Bubble | Ice Beam, Play Rough |
| Carbink | Rock Throw | Rock Slide, Moonblast |
| Forretress | Volt Switch | Sand Tomb, Rock Tomb |
| Morpeko | Thunder Shock | Aura Wheel, Psychic Fangs |
| Mega Sableye | Shadow Claw | Foul Play, Dazzling Gleam |
Umbreon’s Last Resort is a legacy move and may require an Elite Charged TM. Gigaton Hammer was the featured move for April 2026 Tinkatink Community Day; a Tinkaton that missed that evolution window may also need an Elite Charged TM. In Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup, you can play without these ideal moves, but Tinkaton in particular loses a powerful Steel attack.
Mimikyu is allowed in GO Battle League after the June 23, 2026 PvP update. Old advice saying it’s permanently banned is out of date. Morpeko’s Aura Wheel is another move worth understanding: it switches between Electric and Dark damage as Morpeko changes forms, so the timing of your Charged Attack matters.
Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup: leads, switches and closers
In Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup, keep a switch ready for a bad lead. Umbreon should avoid heavy Fairy damage, so Nidoqueen can come in to threaten Fairies. Tinkaton needs protection from Ground attacks. Morpeko is fragile enough that you may want to save it a Protect Shield rather than burn both shields on your lead.
Mega Evolution doesn’t automatically beat a team you know how to use. If Mega Sableye exceeds 1,500 CP, you need a different Sableye or a non-Mega lineup; powering it up further won’t fix the problem. Our GO Battle League guide explains how sets and rankings work.
Why can’t my team enter Pokémon GO Mega Halloween Cup?
If your team won’t enter the cup, start with the two restrictions: every Pokémon needs a battle CP of 1,500 or lower and at least one Bug, Poison, Ghost, Dark or Fairy type. Mega Evolution can change typing and CP, so an otherwise suitable Pokémon may not qualify in its Mega form. Before spending Mega Energy or powering anything up, check our eligible Mega Pokémon and CP guide. If the cup is missing altogether, remember the GO Battle League switches at 1 PM Pacific rather than the Halloween event’s local 10 AM start.
The cup’s 4× Stardust bonus applies to battle win rewards, not end-of-set rewards. It’s separate from the Halloween GO Pass’s catch Stardust bonus. Our Halloween GO Pass guide explains the catch bonuses if you’re also completing that reward track.
Related Guides
Official source: Niantic Twilight Trails GO Battle League schedule and Mega Halloween Cup rules.
