TL;DR
- Bergmite debuts December 23 as rare wild spawn and 7km egg hatch
- Avalugg evolves from Bergmite with expected 50 candy requirement
- Two new costumed Pokemon: scarf Spheal and cape Glaceon
- Kyurem returns to 5-star raids alongside Mega Steelix and Abomasnow
- Event split into two phases with different Pokemon spawn rotations

The festive season brings exciting winter-themed content to Pokemon GO with the Winter Holiday event running through New Year’s Eve. This celebration marks a significant chapter in the ongoing Season of Heritage storyline, offering trainers abundant opportunities to expand their Ice-type collections.
Niantic has designed this event with careful attention to seasonal theming, featuring appropriate Ice-type Pokemon that align with winter aesthetics. The event structure follows a two-part schedule that maximizes player engagement across the holiday period.
Trainers should note the event spans from December 16th through December 31st, with distinct Pokemon rotations occurring at the midpoint. This strategic timing ensures fresh content remains available throughout the entire holiday season.
This year’s Winter Holiday celebration introduces two brand new costumed Pokemon that have never appeared before. Spheal sports a festive winter scarf while Glaceon dons an elegant cape that bears striking resemblance to Holowear cosmetics from Pokemon Unite.
Returning favorites include the classic Santa hat Pikachu, Stantler with jingle bell accessories, and Delibird and Cubchoo wearing decorative holiday bows. These special variants maintain their costume appearances when evolved, making them particularly valuable for collectors.
All costumed Pokemon will be available through multiple acquisition methods including wild encounters and various raid tiers. This multi-faceted approach ensures both casual and dedicated players have reasonable opportunities to obtain these limited-time variants.
Seasoned trainers recommend prioritizing the new costumed Pokemon since returning variants typically have higher reappearance rates in future events. The Glaceon costume is especially notable as it may hint at future cross-game cosmetic collaborations.
The second phase of the Winter Holiday event commencing December 23rd marks the highly anticipated debut of Bergmite and its evolution Avalugg. These Ice-type Pokemon from the Kalos region finally join the Pokemon GO roster after much anticipation from the community.
Bergmite will appear as an uncommon wild spawn during the event’s second half and will also hatch from 7-kilometer eggs. Its evolution Avalugg cannot be found in the wild but must be evolved from Bergmite, similar to how many newer Pokemon species are introduced.
While the exact candy requirement for evolution remains unconfirmed, data miners and community analysis strongly suggest 50 candies will be needed. This aligns with standard evolution costs for single-stage Pokemon that don’t require special items.
Avalugg reaches a maximum Combat Power of 3,615 at level 50, placing it in the mid-tier range for defensive Pokemon. Its diverse move pool gives it potential utility in Player versus Player battles, particularly in limited metas where Ice-types shine.
Advanced trainers should note that Avalugg’s typing gives it valuable resistances against Ice-type attacks while maintaining vulnerability to common Fighting, Rock, Steel, and Fire moves. Strategic use in Great League and Ultra League could prove effective against popular Dragon and Flying-type opponents.
The raid landscape undergoes significant changes throughout the Winter Holiday event, offering diverse challenges for trainers of all experience levels. Kyurem makes its return to five-star raids for the entire event duration, providing consistent endgame content.
Mega raids feature two distinct bosses across the event timeline. From December 16-23, Mega Steelix dominates mega raids, while December 23-31 shifts to Mega Abomasnow. This rotation strategy ensures variety while maintaining thematic consistency with the winter theme.
One-star raids see the introduction of Galarian Darumaka during the second event phase. This regional variant offers Ice-type utility distinct from its standard Fire-type counterpart.
Strategic raiders should coordinate with local communities to maximize raid pass efficiency. Focusing on Kyurem during the first phase while preparing Bergmite candy accumulation for the second phase represents optimal resource management.
Successfully navigating the Winter Holiday event requires strategic planning and resource allocation. The event’s two-phase structure means trainers should adjust their focus as December 23rd approaches.
During Phase One (December 16-23), prioritize catching Alolan Sandshrew and stocking up on raid passes for Kyurem and Mega Steelix. Use Pinap Berries extensively on any Bergmite encounters to accelerate candy accumulation for evolution.
Common mistakes include over-investing in common spawns and neglecting egg inventory management. Ensure you have available egg slots before opening gifts to maximize 7km egg acquisition when Bergmite becomes available.
Advanced optimization involves coordinating with local trainers to share information about rare spawn locations. Using incense during event hours significantly increases chances of encountering costumed Pokemon and the newly introduced Bergmite.
Time estimates for completing the event’s core activities suggest 4-6 hours of active gameplay per phase to obtain all exclusive content. Casual players can focus on 2-3 key objectives per phase while still benefiting substantially from the event.
Regional variant collectors will find exceptional value in this event, with multiple Alolan forms available alongside the debut of Galarian Darumaka. This represents one of the most comprehensive regional variant events in recent Pokemon GO history.
Action Checklist
- Clear egg space before December 23 for Bergmite 7km eggs
- Use Pinap Berries on all Bergmite encounters
- Coordinate Kyurem raids during first phase
- Prioritize new costumed Spheal and Glaceon
- Track wild spawn changes at December 23 transition
- Use incense during peak event hours for rare encounters
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » Pokemon GO Winter Holiday event adds Bergmite, costumed Glaceon Complete guide to Pokemon GO Winter Holiday event featuring Bergmite, Avalugg debut and exclusive costumed Pokemon
