— December Spotlight Hours —

 

  • December 7 — Electabuzz —  2x Candy for Transfer

 

  • December 14 — Magmar —  2x XP for Evolving

 

  • December 21 — Snover —  2x XP for Catching

 

  • December 28  — Cubchoo —  2x Candy for Catching

 

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In this edition we will include a concise PvP breakdown on IVs to target and how much to prioritize grinding for XLs during the weekly spotlight hours which occur on Tuesdays between 6pm and 7pm local time.

 

GO Stadium has an excellent IV rank checker to show how your Pokémon is ranked, and you can adjust for any way you obtain the Pokémon. The website is linked in the terms section at the bottom along with some helpful explanations of common Pokémon GO phrases if needed.

 

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— December 7 — Electabuzz Spotlight — 

 

Bonus: 2x Candy for Transfer

Electabuzz: Electric - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 2639

Electivire: Electric - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 3481

Weaknesses: Ground

Resistances: Electric, Flying, Steel

Evolution Costs: 100 Electabuzz Candy + Sinnoh Stone > Electivire

2nd Charge Move Costs: 75 Electabuzz Candy & 75k stardust

Shadow 2nd Charge Move Costs: 90 Electabuzz Candy & 90k stardust

LC: N/A

GL: Electabuzz: 2/14/15 level 24

GL: Electivire: 1/15/15 level 18

UL: Electabuzz: 5/15/15 level 49.5

UL: Electivire: 1/15/15 level 30

ML: Electivire: 15/15/15 level 50

XL Priority: Low 

Shiny: Yes

Mega Evolve: Ampharos

 

PVP Considerations

Electabuzz’s evolved form, Electivire, is a solid but unspectacular Pokémon in PvP. It has seen a bit of play in all three leagues (Great, Ultra, and Master), although is typically outshined by Magnezone (which has a similar role but with a more valuable Steel typing). That being said, don’t underestimate Electivire and what it could provide to your PvP teams. You’ll want to have one in the bag for all three leagues in case you ever want to use it. Electivire typically runs Thunder Shock and Wild Charge, and pairs that with one of Ice Punch or its exclusive move Flamethrower. Both have merit, and you might want one of each in your bag to be fully prepared for any situation you might be considering Electivire. Electivire will be able to learn Flamethrower again on December Community Day, so this Spotlight Hour is a perfect chance to have one ready to evolve for the event, should you not have one yet. 

 

Electabuzz is useable in Great League but is generally worse than Electivire. It does not learn Wild Charge and does not have either of Electivire’s strong coverage options, which means it is pretty safe to not worry about having a good Electabuzz in the bag for Great League.

 

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—  December 14 — Magmar Spotlight —

 

Bonus: 2x XP for Evolving

Magmar: Fire - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 2706

Magmortar: Fire - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 3541

Weaknesses: Ground, Rock, Water

Resistances: Bug, Fairy, Fire, Grass, Ice, Steel

Evolution Costs: 100 Magmar Candy + Sinnoh Stone > Magmortar

2nd Charge Move Costs: 75 Magmar Candy & 75k stardust

Shadow 2nd Charge Move Costs: 90 Magmar Candy & 90k stardust

LC: N/A

GL: Magmar: 2/15/12 level 23.5

GL: Magmortar: 0/10/15 level 18

UL: Magmar: 2/14/15 level 48.5

UL: Magmortar: 1/15/15 level 29.5

ML: Magmortar: 15/15/15 level 50

XL Priority: Low 

Shiny: Yes

Mega Evolve: Charizard X/Y, Houndoom

 

PVP Considerations

Magmar’s evolved form, Magmortar, is alright in PvP but has never really seen significant play. It has the potential to play a role in all three leagues (Great, Ultra, and Master) and might be worth having one in the bag for each just in case you want one. It has an interesting moveset, running one of Fire Spin or Karate Chop as its fast move. Karate Chop is an interesting option that helps Magmortar stand out from other Fire types, and the move has similar stats to Vine Whip and Powder Snow. For charge moves, Magmortar typically runs Fire Punch and its exclusive move Thunderbolt. Psychic instead of Thunderbolt is an option, but Thunderbolt helps Magmortar cover its weakness to Water types more effectively and is generally preferred (just keep it away from stuff like Swampert that resists Electric). Magmortar will be able to learn Thunderbolt again on December Community Day, so this Spotlight Hour is a perfect chance to have one ready to evolve for the event, should you not have one yet. 

 

Magmar happens to be the favourite Pokémon of one of the article authors, so what’s there not to love? I’ve been asked to be extra kind to the Spitfire Pokémon, so I will say that it is slightly bulkier than Magmortar in Great League, which is nice. It does not have access to coverage moves Thunderbolt or Psychic, but instead can learn the mighty Return if purified. What’s not to love? ..... Seriously though, don’t use Magmar :P.

 

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—  December 21 — Snover Spotlight —

 

Bonus: 2x XP for Catching

Snover: Grass/Ice - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 1311

Abomasnow: Grass/Ice - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 2670

Weaknesses: Bug, Fighting, Flying, Poison, Rock, Steel, 4x Fire

Resistances: Electric, Grass, Ground, Water

Evolution Costs: 50 Snover Candy > Abomasnow

2nd Charge Move Costs: 50 Snover Candy & 50k stardust

Shadow 2nd Charge Move Costs: 60 Snover Candy & 60k stardust

LC: Snover: 2/15/11 level 17

GL: Abomasnow: 0/15/15 level 24

UL: Abomasnow: 3/15/14 level 50

ML: N/A

XL Priority: High 

Shiny: Yes

Mega Evolve: Venusaur, Abomasnow

 

PVP Considerations

It might go without saying that Abomasnow is a strong Pokémon in Great and Ultra League. If you’ve played GO Battle League or other community battle formats, you’ve likely run into plenty of them. You will want to have one for both leagues. Abomasnow requires Candy XL for Ultra League, so if you don’t have enough this is a good time to stock up. You will also want to consider Shadow Abomasnow for both leagues. You won’t be able to catch Shadow Snovers during the Spotlight hour, unless you happen upon a rocket that gives one. Instead, this could be a good time to stock up on Candy XL for that Ultra League Shadow Abomasnow. Abomasnow almost always runs with the moveset Powder Snow, Weather Ball, and Energy Ball. It also learns Razor Leaf, Outrage, and Blizzard, should you be looking to mix things up a bit, but we don’t recommend it unless you find a specific meta that calls for any of these.

 

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—  December 28 — Cubchoo Spotlight —

 

Bonus: 2x Candy for Catching

Cubchoo: Ice - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 1208

Beartic: Grass/Ice - 15/15/15 level 50 - CP 3439

Weaknesses: Fighting, Fire, Rock, Steel

Resistances: Ice

Evolution Costs: 50 Cubchoo Candy > Beartic

2nd Charge Move Costs: 50 Cubchoo Candy & 50k stardust

LC: Cubchoo: 0/15/11 level 18.5

GL: Beartic: 0/15/12 level 18.5

UL: Beartic: 0/15/13 level 31.5

ML: N/A

XL Priority: Low 

Shiny: Yes

Mega Evolve: Abomasnow

 

PVP Considerations

Beartic is currently….. not good in PvP. I can’t really sugarcoat this, as its lack of bulk really holds it back from seeing a role. It has some decent tools; Powder Snow and Charm as fast moves, and Surf, Ice Punch, and Play Rough as charge moves. There was once a Silph Cup called Catacomb Cup where Dark types reigned supreme and there was a complete lack of Charm users. And even there, when Beartic was one of the only Charm users in the meta…. It was pretty much a liability to any team running it. Don’t be that person, don’t be tempted by the ice bear. If anything, have good IV versions in the Pokébag for all three leagues, just in case it ever finds a niche or receives a moveset buff.



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— Terms —

 

Spawn rate = How fast Pokémon will show up in a giving time

XP = Experience Points

CP = Combat Power

Pinap = Gives you twice the candy for catching

Silver pinap = Gives you twice the candy for catching and boost to help catching

Stacking = Keeping multiple research rewards to be used later

IVs – Individual Values

Mega Evolve = Pokemon when mega evolved will help gain extra candy

STAB – Same type attack bonus

META – Most effective tactics available

PVE = Player vs Environment – (Raiding/Gym Battles)

PVE - IVs = Individual values for Raiding – as close to 15/15/15 as possible

PVP = Player vs Player

PVP - IVs = Individual values for battling – usually low attack and high defense/stamina

Fast Move = Move used to gain energy for charge move

Charge Move = Move shown on the screen that energy is gained to use

GBL - GO Battle League

LC = Little Cup 500CP and lower 

GL = Great League 1500CP and lower

UL = Ultra League 2500CP and lower

ML = Master League unlimited CP

 

https://www.stadiumgaming.gg/rank-checker