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The strongest answers to the 2026 Mega Halloween Cup are built around two opposing cores: Tinkaton/Mimikyu/Clodsire and Forretress/Mega Greninja/Nidoqueen. Use Ground damage for Tinkaton, Steel or Ghost for Mimikyu, Water for Clodsire and Nidoqueen, Fairy or Electric for Mega Greninja, and a Dark- or Bug-typed Fire Pokémon for Forretress. There is no universal three-Pokémon solution, so choose a core that covers the threats your local queue is showing.
The Mega Halloween Cup: Great League Edition runs globally from October 27 to November 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. PDT on both ends. Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP, only Bug, Poison, Ghost, Dark and Fairy types qualify, Mega Evolutions are eligible, and wins pay 4× Stardust (excluding end-of-set rewards).
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| Name | Best for | Key spec | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clodsire | Ground control against Tinkaton, Mawile, Klefki and Poison types | Poison Sting; Earthquake and Stone Edge; 209 Stamina | Nov 2026 |
| Mega Greninja | Water pressure against Clodsire and Nidoqueen | Water Shuriken; Hydro Cannon plus Brutal Swing or Surf | Nov 2026 |
| Tinkaton | Fairy pressure and a Steel answer to Mimikyu | Fairy Wind; Gigaton Hammer and Bulldoze | Nov 2026 |
| Forretress | Steel pivot into Fairy and Bug matchups | Volt Switch; Sand Tomb and Rock Tomb; only Fire is super effective overall | Nov 2026 |
| Azumarill | Bulky Water answer to Ground cores | Bubble; Ice Beam and Play Rough | Nov 2026 |
| Mega Houndoom | Forretress and other Steel/Fairy targets | Dark/Fire typing keeps it legal; Fire damage is the key | Nov 2026 |
| Carbink | Bulk, Rock coverage and a Fairy answer to Mega Sableye | Rock Throw; Rock Slide and Moonblast; usually requires Candy XL | Nov 2026 |
| Morpeko | Fast closer that punishes Water and Flying targets | Thunder Shock; Aura Wheel and Psychic Fangs; Attack rises 25% per Aura Wheel | Nov 2026 |
What are the Mega Halloween Cup rules in 2026?
The official format name is Mega Halloween Cup: Great League Edition. The cup is a global GO Battle League rotation, not the local 10:00 a.m. start of Halloween Part I.
“Pokémon must be at or below 1,500 CP to enter.”
“Mega-Evolved Pokémon are eligible.”
“Only Bug-, Poison-, Ghost-, Dark-, and Fairy-type Pokémon are eligible.”Popular on Amazon
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- Window: October 27–November 3, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. PDT on both ends.
- Reward bonus: 4× Stardust from win rewards; end-of-set rewards are excluded.
- Dual types: only one listed type is needed. Fairy/Steel Tinkaton, Poison/Ground Clodsire, Water/Fairy Azumarill, Bug/Steel Forretress, Water/Dark Mega Greninja, Rock/Fairy Carbink and Electric/Dark Morpeko all qualify.
- Team size: three Pokémon, each at or below the Great League CP ceiling.
Can Mega Pokémon really enter a 1,500 CP cup?
Official Mega policy says that an over-limit Mega is temporarily adjusted for the battle:
“If a Mega-Evolved Pokémon’s CP or Pokémon that has undergone Primal Reversion’s CP exceeds the CP limit in certain Battle Leagues and Cups, their levels will automatically adjust temporarily so that its CP is within that Battle Leagues’ or Cups’ limits. CP will only be reduced for the duration of the battle and will return to the original CP after completion of the battle.”
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That policy is why guides list Mega Greninja and Mega Houndoom as Great League options. The in-game team selector is still the final check: search the cup, add the candidate and confirm that the game accepts it. You do not need a Mega Evolution to compete, and the current guide rule is one Mega per team, not merely one active Mega at a time. The official cup block does not print that one-Mega cap, so follow the selector if it differs.
Which teams are most important to counter?
Published October 27–28 team guides repeatedly use the following lineups. They are recommended examples, not measured usage shares; no live win-rate or usage percentage has been published for this cup.
| Lineup | What it is trying to do | Most direct answers |
|---|---|---|
| Tinkaton / Mimikyu / Clodsire | Fairy and Ghost pressure followed by a bulky Ground closer | Ground for Tinkaton, Steel or Ghost for Mimikyu, Water for Clodsire |
| Forretress / Mega Greninja / Nidoqueen | Steel pivot, Mega shield pressure and Poison/Ground anti-Fairy damage | Dark-typed Fire for Forretress, Fairy or Electric for Greninja, Water for Nidoqueen |
| Umbreon / Nidoqueen / Azumarill | Bulky Dark lead, anti-Fairy Poison and Water coverage | Fairy or Bug for Umbreon, Water or Ground for Nidoqueen, Grass or Electric pressure for Azumarill |
| Carbink / Forretress / Morpeko | Rock/Fairy bulk, Steel resistances and a fast but fragile closer | Ground or Steel for Carbink, Fire for Forretress, Ground or Fairy for Morpeko |
| Mega Sableye / Clodsire / Tinkaton | Mega Ghost/Dark safe pressure with two Fairy answers behind it | Fairy for Mega Sableye, Water for Clodsire, Ground or Fire for Tinkaton |
| Shadow Drapion / Clodsire / Shadow Qwilfish | Double Poison shield pressure | Ground damage is the shared weakness |
| Runerigus / Clodsire / Drapion | Ghost and Ground bulk with repeated debuffs | Water pressure threatens both Runerigus and Clodsire |
| Greninja / Mega Houndoom / Forretress | Greninja lead with a Fire answer to Steel cores | Water, Fairy or Electric for Greninja; Water or Ground for Houndoom; Fire mirrors Forretress |
A PoGoMate snapshot cited by VGKami places Mimikyu, Tinkaton, Clodsire, Carbink, Klefki, Forretress, Mega Sableye, Morpeko, Spidops, Nidoqueen and Mega Greninja among the leading entries. A separate October 25 ranking snapshot from tomchun.tw assigns scores of Mimikyu 100.0, Carbink 99.7, Clodsire 99.5, Tinkaton 99.2, Galarian Weezing 98.9, Klefki 98.7, Shadow Galarian Weezing 98.4, Mega Sableye 98.1, Mandibuzz 97.9 and Alolan Muk 97.6, followed by Toxapex 97.3, Araquanid 97.1, Swalot 96.8, Shadow Alolan Muk 96.5, Shadow Houndoom 96.3, Drapion 96.0, Mega Houndoom 96.0, Azumarill 95.5, Forretress 95.5 and Mawile 94.9. Those are ranking scores from that snapshot, not guaranteed win rates.
What are the best counter cores to build?
Choose one of these cores according to the weaknesses you can cover and the resources you already own. Each lineup is legal only if every individual Pokémon appears in the live cup team builder.
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1. Clodsire / Tinkaton / Azumarill: broad coverage without a Mega
Clodsire handles Steel/Fairy targets with Earthquake, Tinkaton supplies Fairy and Steel pressure against Ghosts, and Azumarill supplies the Water damage that both Clodsire and Nidoqueen fear. The trio is slower than a Mega-centered team but does not depend on Mega Energy or a one-Mega slot.
2. Forretress / Mega Greninja / Nidoqueen: the Steel-pivot core
VGKami calls this a strong starting trio. Open with Forretress, use Sand Tomb first when the Defense drop helps the rest of the team, and preserve Mega Greninja for a low-shield window. Nidoqueen is the switch into Fairy-heavy lines; Poison Fang creates debuffs before Earth Power lands.
3. Umbreon / Nidoqueen / Azumarill: the budget bulky line
Umbreon absorbs neutral damage and avoids the worst Fairy matchups, Nidoqueen handles Fairies and Steel/Fairy Pokémon, and Azumarill attacks Ground types from the Water side. Umbreon’s Last Resort can be legacy, so check the individual Pokémon before committing resources.
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4. Carbink / Forretress / Morpeko: high bulk into fast closing pressure
Carbink soaks many neutral hits, Forretress resists Fairy and Bug, and Morpeko reaches charged attacks quickly. Carbink generally needs Candy XL to approach 1,500 CP, while Morpeko is fragile enough that a saved Protect Shield matters.
5. Mega Sableye / Clodsire / Tinkaton: the single-weakness Mega line
Mega Sableye has Fairy as its only type weakness. Clodsire and Tinkaton cover that weakness while adding Ground pressure against opposing Steel/Fairy Pokémon. Super Max and Night Shade+ for Mega Sableye begin with Halloween Part II on November 1 and are not required for this cup.
6. Shadow Drapion / Clodsire / Shadow Qwilfish: aggressive double Poison
This PogoSkill example aims to force shields with two Poison attackers and Clodsire’s bulk. Ground is the shared threat, so do not use it into a queue full of Earthquake, Earth Power or Bulldoze. PogoSkill also promotes GPS location-changing software; that software is unrelated to battle strategy and should not be used.
7. Runerigus / Clodsire / Drapion: Ghost and Ground pressure
Runerigus leads with Ghost damage, Clodsire supplies Ground bulk and Drapion adds Poison pressure. Water attacks threaten both Runerigus and Clodsire, making Azumarill or Mega Greninja a natural response.
8. Greninja / Mega Houndoom / Forretress: Fire-answer variant
This ZyoniK example uses Mega Houndoom to solve the Forretress problem that can make Steel-pivot teams awkward. Mega Houndoom is legal because it is Dark/Fire; a pure Fire Pokémon without a listed Bug, Poison, Ghost, Dark or Fairy type is not eligible.
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How do you counter each common Halloween Cup Pokémon?
How do you counter Tinkaton?
Tinkaton is Fairy/Steel, with Fairy Wind, Gigaton Hammer and Bulldoze. It is weak to Fire and Ground. Clodsire Earthquake is the cleanest general answer; Nidoqueen can use Mud-Slap, Earth Power and Poison Fang; and Mega or Shadow Houndoom provides Fire damage while remaining legal through its Dark typing.
Gigaton Hammer was featured during April 2026 Tinkatink Community Day and may require an Elite Charged TM if the move is missing. Bulldoze received a Trainer Battle power increase to 80 and a guaranteed Defense drop, with a higher energy cost, so do not assume a low-health Tinkaton is harmless.
What beats Mimikyu in Halloween Cup?
Mimikyu is Ghost/Fairy, using Shadow Claw, Shadow Sneak and Play Rough. Ghost and Steel are its weaknesses. Tinkaton’s Gigaton Hammer, Forretress, Mawile’s Iron Head, Klefki and Mega Sableye’s Shadow Claw/Foul Play all pressure it.
Mimikyu became legal in GO Battle League after the June 23, 2026 PvP update. Older guides that call it permanently banned are obsolete. Avoid exposing it to an obvious Steel charged attack when you need it to close.
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How do you counter Clodsire?
Clodsire is Poison/Ground, with Poison Sting (some third-party sets use Mud Shot), Earthquake and Stone Edge. It has 209 Stamina and can lead, switch or close. Its weaknesses are Ground, Ice, Psychic and Water.
Mega Greninja’s Hydro Cannon or Surf, Azumarill’s Bubble/Ice Beam, Araquanid’s Water Pulse and Nidoqueen’s Earth Power all pressure it. Stone Edge covers Flying, Ice and Fire, so avoid assuming a Fire answer is safe just because Clodsire is low.
How do you beat Forretress and its Sand Tomb/Rock Tomb set?
Forretress uses Volt Switch with Sand Tomb and Rock Tomb. Its Bug/Steel combination has nine listed resistances and only a Fire weakness overall. Use Mega Houndoom, Shadow Houndoom or another legal Dark/Fire Pokémon; pure Fire types are excluded from this cup.
Sand Tomb now has 55 Trainer Battle power and a Defense drop, while Rock Tomb lowers Attack and supplies coverage against Fire, Flying, Bug and Ice targets. Open with Sand Tomb when the Defense drop benefits the whole team; choose Rock Tomb when the Attack drop or coverage is more valuable. Volt Switch can farm energy against Water and Flying Pokémon.
How do you counter Mega Greninja?
Mega Greninja is Water/Dark with Water Shuriken, Hydro Cannon and either Brutal Swing or Surf. It is weak to Bug, Electric, Fairy, Fighting and Grass. Tinkaton, Mimikyu, Carbink and Azumarill provide Fairy pressure; Forretress can use Volt Switch; and Morpeko can answer with Thunder Shock and Aura Wheel.
The official Mega Finale adds Surf+ to Mega Greninja, and Pokémon can use additional Charged Attacks in GO Battle League. VGKami recommends Brutal Swing when Ghost or Psychic targets are common and Surf for consistent Water damage. Confirm that your Greninja actually knows Hydro Cannon before investing.
How do you counter Nidoqueen?
Nidoqueen is Poison/Ground with Mud-Slap, Earth Power and Poison Fang. Ground, Ice, Psychic and Water all work against it. Mega Greninja and Azumarill are the most direct Water answers; Clodsire can meet it with Earthquake; Araquanid supplies Water damage; and Ice Beam from Azumarill or Shadow Qwilfish adds another route.
Poison Fang rose to 50 Trainer Battle power and remains the cheap Defense-drop move. A common sequence is Poison Fang first, then Mud-Slap pressure or Earth Power once the opponent is debuffed.
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Mega Sableye runs Shadow Claw, Foul Play and Dazzling Gleam. Fairy is its only type weakness. Tinkaton, Mimikyu, Carbink, Azumarill, Klefki and Mawile can all apply Fairy damage, while Clodsire resists Fairy and can absorb a bait attempt.
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Check Mega Sableye’s CP in the team selector after evolving it. The Super Max and Night Shade+ feature begins November 1 with Halloween Part II, so it is not a prerequisite for this rotation.
How do you counter Carbink?
Carbink is Rock/Fairy with Rock Throw, Rock Slide and Moonblast. It is weak to Grass, Ground, Steel and Water. Clodsire Earthquake, Tinkaton Gigaton Hammer and Mega Greninja Hydro Cannon are direct answers. Forretress does not carry a Steel charged attack in the recommended set, so use Tinkaton or Mawile when you specifically need Steel damage.
Carbink often needs Candy XL to reach competitive CP. If you lack that investment, Azumarill, Clodsire or another bulky Water/Ground answer can fill the same anti-Fairy role at lower build cost.
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Full Belly Morpeko uses Thunder Shock, Aura Wheel and Psychic Fangs. It is weak to Bug, Fairy, Fighting and Ground. Aura Wheel is cheap and powerful and raises Morpeko’s Attack by 25% each time; its Electric or Dark typing changes when the form changes, so track the timing before committing a shield.
Clodsire Earthquake and Tinkaton’s Fairy damage are reliable answers. Forretress can pressure it through Bug typing and Tomb moves, but Morpeko is fast enough to punish a careless switch. Keep at least one shield for it when it is your closer.
How do you counter Umbreon?
Umbreon uses Snarl, Dark Pulse and Last Resort. It is weak to Fighting, Bug and Fairy. Tinkaton, Mimikyu, Azumarill’s Play Rough, Forretress and Carbink’s Moonblast all pressure it. Last Resort is a legacy move and may require an Elite Charged TM.
How do you counter Alolan Muk?
Alolan Muk uses Poison Jab, Brutal Swing and Ice Punch and has one weakness: Ground. Clodsire and Nidoqueen punish it with Earthquake or Earth Power. Ice Punch is its answer to Ground and should be respected before sending a Flying-leaning switch.
How do you counter Spidops?
Spidops runs Shadow Claw, Lunge and Rock Tomb and is weak to Fire, Flying and Rock. Lunge now has 70 Trainer Battle power. Houndoom’s Fire damage and Carbink’s Rock Slide are straightforward answers, while Rock Tomb gives Spidops coverage against the Fire and Flying Pokémon it would otherwise fear.
How do you counter Araquanid?
Araquanid uses Infestation, Water Pulse and Mirror Coat. It is weak to Electric, Flying and Rock. Forretress Volt Switch and Carbink Rock Slide are clean counters. Mirror Coat rose to 75 power and became cheaper, so do not leave a low-health Electric counter exposed to a stored charge.
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How do you handle Klefki and Mawile?
Both are Steel/Fairy and share Fire and Ground weaknesses. Clodsire, Nidoqueen and Dark/Fire Houndoom are the direct answers. Klefki uses Astonish, Foul Play and Draining Kiss; Mawile uses Fairy Wind, Vise Grip and Iron Head. Iron Head rose to 85 power, while Draining Kiss rose to 80 power and guarantees a one-stage Defense increase for the user.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which movesets should you prepare?
These are the recommended Fast and Charged Attack combinations from the October guides. They are targets, not entry requirements; check the individual Pokémon before spending Stardust or an Elite TM.
| Pokémon | Fast move | Charged moves | Build note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinkaton | Fairy Wind | Gigaton Hammer, Bulldoze | Gigaton Hammer may require an Elite Charged TM if missed during April Community Day |
| Mimikyu | Shadow Claw | Shadow Sneak, Play Rough | Legal in GO Battle League after June 23, 2026 |
| Clodsire | Poison Sting | Earthquake, Stone Edge | Some third-party sets list Mud Shot instead |
| Forretress | Volt Switch | Sand Tomb, Rock Tomb | Sand Tomb received a Defense-drop buff |
| Mega Greninja | Water Shuriken | Hydro Cannon, Brutal Swing or Surf | Surf+ is the official additional Mega move; confirm Hydro Cannon in-game |
| Nidoqueen | Mud-Slap | Earth Power, Poison Fang | Poison Fang now has 50 power |
| Umbreon | Snarl | Dark Pulse, Last Resort | Last Resort may need an Elite Charged TM |
| Azumarill | Bubble | Ice Beam, Play Rough | Water coverage for Ground cores |
| Carbink | Rock Throw | Rock Slide, Moonblast | Usually requires Candy XL |
| Morpeko | Thunder Shock | Aura Wheel, Psychic Fangs | Protect it while Attack stacks |
| Mega Sableye | Shadow Claw | Foul Play, Dazzling Gleam | Fairy is its only weakness |
| Mawile | Fairy Wind | Vise Grip, Iron Head | Iron Head now has 85 power |
| Klefki | Astonish | Foul Play, Draining Kiss | Draining Kiss now boosts the user’s Defense |
| Alolan Muk | Poison Jab | Brutal Swing, Ice Punch | Ice Punch covers its Ground weakness |
| Spidops | Shadow Claw | Lunge, Rock Tomb | Lunge now has 70 power |
| Araquanid | Infestation | Water Pulse, Mirror Coat | Mirror Coat is stronger and cheaper |
| Shadow Drapion | Poison Sting | Crunch, Aqua Tail | Aggressive shield-pressure option |
| Runerigus | Shadow Claw | Brutal Swing, Rock Tomb | Ghost lead for the alternative core |
How should you play these counters in battle?
- Confirm legality before building. Open the Mega Halloween Cup team selector, add each candidate and verify the CP adjustment and one-Mega limit shown by the game.
- Assign a safe switch. If the lead is lost, switch to the Pokémon that shares the fewest weaknesses with the remaining two. Umbreon should not be left against Fairy, Tinkaton should not be left against Ground, and Morpeko should not spend both shields simply to survive the opening matchup.
- Use Forretress’ Tomb deliberately. Sand Tomb comes first when its Defense drop improves the team’s follow-up damage. Rock Tomb is preferable when the Attack drop or Fire, Flying, Bug or Ice coverage changes the matchup.
- Sequence Nidoqueen’s debuffs. Use Poison Fang to lower Defense, then apply Mud-Slap or Earth Power. This is especially useful against Fairy Pokémon that can otherwise survive a single heavy hit.
- Save Mega Greninja for shields-down turns. Water Shuriken reaches Hydro Cannon quickly. Choose Brutal Swing against Ghost or Psychic targets and Surf when reliable Water damage matters more.
- Reserve Clodsire’s Earthquake. Hold it for Tinkaton, Mawile, Klefki, Carbink and other Steel/Fairy targets. Stone Edge is the better stored move against Flying, Fire and Ice Pokémon.
- Reorder after several sets. If the queue repeatedly punishes the opener, move Nidoqueen to the lead or put Forretress in the safe-switch position rather than discarding the entire core.
What are the biggest build and resource traps?
- Elite moves: Gigaton Hammer may require an Elite Charged TM, and Umbreon’s Last Resort is legacy. Hydro Cannon’s exact acquisition path depends on the Greninja you own, so check its move screen.
- Carbink XL: a non-XL Carbink may sit too far below 1,500 CP to perform the bulky role shown in rankings. Use Azumarill or Clodsire if the XL investment is unavailable.
- Mimikyu availability: it is now legal, but historically scarce. Do not build a plan that depends on Mimikyu if you cannot field one at the required CP.
- Mega Energy: Mega Sableye raids run October 28–November 8 according to the November update schedule. That Energy is useful for the Mega Sableye line but is not required for the cup.
- Shared weaknesses: avoid stacking three Water-weak Ground or Poison Pokémon such as Clodsire, Nidoqueen and Runerigus. Likewise, Forretress, Tinkaton and Klefki can create an overwhelming Fire weakness unless a dedicated answer is present.
How were these picks selected?
The ranking favors type coverage against the repeated cores, access to the required Fast and Charged moves, ability to function as a lead or safe switch, and realistic build cost. It also weighs concentrated weaknesses: a team that wins one matchup but loses instantly to a single common type is ranked below a slightly less explosive team with a reliable pivot. Snapshot scores from tomchun.tw and names highlighted by October guides identify candidates, but they do not replace matchup analysis or guarantee a win.
Is there one best Halloween Cup team?
No. As Dexerto puts it, “As with any League or Cup, it’s impossible to say what a true ‘best’ team looks like in the Mega Halloween Cup: Great League Edition, as it really depends on the Pokemon your opponent sends out – and you won’t know that until the battle begins.”
Use the Tinkaton/Mimikyu/Clodsire axis when you want Fairy, Ghost and Ground coverage without a Mega. Use Forretress/Mega Greninja/Nidoqueen when a Steel pivot, Water closer and anti-Fairy Poison damage fit your collection. Then adjust the lead and safe switch as the opponents you actually face reveal which weakness is being targeted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the one-Mega rule appear in the official cup announcement?
The published cup block confirms that Mega-Evolved Pokémon are eligible but does not print a one-Mega-per-team limit. Current guide coverage treats one Mega per team as the working rule, so the live team builder should be treated as authoritative if its validation differs.
What can I use instead of an XL Carbink?
Azumarill supplies a bulky Water/Fairy profile without Carbink’s Candy XL requirement, while Clodsire gives Ground damage against Steel/Fairy targets. Neither reproduces Carbink’s exact Rock/Fairy matchups, so adjust the rest of the team to cover Flying and Fire threats.
Why do older Halloween Cup guides say Mimikyu is banned?
Mimikyu became eligible for GO Battle League after the June 23, 2026 PvP update. Articles written before that update can still describe the old restriction, which no longer applies to this rotation.
What does a tomchun.tw score of 100.0 mean for Mimikyu?
It is the top score in that site’s October 25, 2026 ranking snapshot, not a promise of a 100% win rate. The snapshot also does not provide a live usage share, so a high score should be read as a candidate for testing against the listed cores rather than a guaranteed team slot.
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