December Community Day is back! We have most of the weekend of December 16-17 to hunt for and evolve over 25 Pokémon that have had featured Community Days and associated exclusive moves — generally some of the best moves in PvP — over the last two years. With the sheer volume of Pokémon to hunt down and evolve in a time limited period, what are the ones to make especially sure we don’t miss out on for PvP?

A couple quick notes of markings I’ll be adding to Pokémon throughout:

🌑 – Shadow consideration. Not all Shadows are better, but most are viable alternatives, so check and see if you have de-Frustrated candidates to evolve too!

🕚 – Last chance! Very likely, this will be the last chance (at least for a significant period of time) to get these moves on these specific Pokémon without needing an Elite TM. If you care about them, these could move up in your personal priority for that reason alone!

Also of note: there’s an infographic summarizing all this if you stay until the end!

All that out of the way… let’s see what we’ve got to work with.

MUST HAVES

These Pokémon should be your highest priority. If you don’t have them built already with their exclusive moves, don’t miss this opportunity, and for many of them, this is likely our last chance to build them without dipping into Elite TMs. These are all worth grinding for and should your primary targets during your Community Day weekend hunt for good PvP IVs. Good luck!

POLIWRATH 🌑

Poliwrath WaterFighting

• Counter (Fighting, 4.0 DPT, 3.5 EPT, 1.0 Cooldown)

Great League Priority: VERY HIGH

Ultra League Priority: VERY HIGH

Master League Priority: MODERATE

PvE Priority: LOW

This might just be THE most important pickup of the weekend if you still need a good one. Counter Poliwrath showed up on nearly every team that made Day 2 at the first Play!Pokémon tournament following the move rebalance, buoyed by the addition of Icy Wind and buffs to Scald. But it all starts with Counter… take that away, and it all falls apart. Poliwrath has emerged as a top meta option in Great, Ultra, and even potentially in Master League, if you’re feeling spicy.

(My original analysis on Community Day Poliwrath can be found here.)

CHARJABUG

Charjabug BugElectric

• Volt Switch (Electric, 3.0 DPT, 4.0 EPT, 2.0 Cooldown)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: n/a

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

Similar rationale to Poliwrath, actually: Charjabug has.. well… charjed onto the scene this season, showing up on 7 out of the top 8 teams at Stuttgart’s Play!Pokémon regionals (after being the #3 most used Pokémon even on Day 1), and making a very strong mark on Retro Cup (and will be a factor in Holiday Cup and other future Limited metas as well) and even Open Great League. And it only does all that with exclusive Community Day fast move Volt Switch, which frees Charj up to even potentially move off of Discharge and run X-Scissor and Crunch instead, depending on the format. Switch pairs beautifully with X-Scissor in particular, hitting the first after three Switches but then getting to the energy required for a second just two Switches later. Charjabug is a rising star, and it and Poliwrath should probably be your top PvP targets this weekend. (They’re both extremely popular in competitive GO right now…see below.) Galvantula who? (Still love ya too, you old spooder. 🫶)

(My original analysis on Community Day Charjabug can be found here.)

GRENINJA

Greninja WaterDark

• Hydro Cannon (Water, 80 damage, 40 energy, 2.00 DPE)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: HIGH

Master League Priority: LOW

PvE Priority: MODERATE-HIGH

I mean, unless you’ve been living under a (Regi)rock, Greninja should need no introduction now. It took last season’s Catch Cup and Halloween Cup by storm, and despite being one the very flimsiest starters in all of GO, has emerged even in Open Great and Ultra Leagues as a super spammy, super annoying foe. Part of it is unique fast move Water Shuriken, with the second highest energy generation in the game (behind only Lock-On), but a huge part of it, of course, is Hydro Cannon, which brings incredible pressure to bear faster than literally ANY other Water starter. This is one you most definitely want at the ready, so if you missed out last time (or just need a good shiny version… it IS a super sweet shiny), here’s your shot. Don’t miss out!

(My original analysis on the speedy mutant ninja froggo can be found over here.)

CHARIZARD 🌑🕚

Charizard FireFlying

Dragon Breath (Dragon, 4.0 DPT, 3.0 EPT, 0.5 Cooldown)

• …AND Blast Burn (Fire, 110 damage, 50 energy, 2.20 DPE)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: VERY HIGH

Master League Priority: MODERATE

Talonflame is flying higher than ever this season with a buff to Incinerate and the addition of Fly to its arsenal… but Charizard isn’t going anywhere. Granted, in Great League it’s almost certainly Wing Attack you want rather than Community Day fast move Dragon Breath, but the uniqueness of Breath is certainly still one you want to have available in your arsenal. And it’s still very competitive in Ultra League where more Dragons roam (though Wing Attack, of course, still has its place too). Probably the best case for DB Zard is in the rarely seen Mega Master League. But regardless of any of that, you always want Blast Burn. Evolve any good prospective Zards you have for that in the here and now and you can always decide to change up the fast move later.

WALREIN 🌑🕚

Walrein IceWater

• Powder Snow (Ice, 2.5 DPT, 4.0 EPT, 1.0 Cooldown)
• …AND Icicle Spear (Ice, 65 damage, 40 energy, 1.50 DPE)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: HIGH

Master League Priority: MODERATE?

PvE Priority: LOW

The meta keeps shifting, but Wally just keeps on truckin’. It’s still really freaking good with Icicle Spear and Powder Snow, BOTH of which are Community Day exclusive moves, and that looming threat of Earthquake is just icing (oh, the puns I could make here!) on the cake. Shadow AND regular are both quite good to have on hand in Great and Ultra Leagues, able to beat not just a slew of Flying, Grass, Ground, and even opposing Ice types, but some surprising things like Steelix, Tapu Fini, and even Lanturn. And heck, even Master League Walrein isn’t the craziest idea in the world. Bulk FTW! If you already HAVE a full quiver of Wallys, maybe build a Waterfall/Icicle Spear one too? I still think that could get interesting one day too.

(While a bit outdated now, my original review on Community Day Walrein can be found back here.)

ALOLAN SANDSLASH 🌑🕚

Sandslash (Alola) IceSteel

• Shadow Claw (Ghost, 3.0 DPT, 4.0 EPT, 1.0 Cooldown)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: MODERATE-HIGH

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

I had A-Slash on the next tier down last year, but I think it’s earned an upgrade thanks to consistently awesome performances in GBL metas and on the Play!Pokémon circuit. The current meta with more powerful Fire and Water types are scary for it, no doubt, but the addition of Drill Run earlier this year has catapulted it to a top performer even today, and Shadow Claw makes it truly unique. Alternative Powder Snow is still viable, of course, but Shadow Claw/Ice Punch/Drill Run combined with Alolan Sandslash’s Ice/Steel typing makes for a unique and pretty futureproof Pokémon that can maim just about everything. This is one you want while you can still get it.

QUAGSIRE 🌑

Quagsire WaterGround

• Aqua Tail (Water, 50 damage, 35 energy, 1.42 DPE)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: MODERATE

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

I’m gonna cheat and just point back to my original analysis from only a month ago:

End of the day, there remains room for multiple different move configurations on Quagsire, both new and old-school. Which moves you use depend on your team, playstyle, and heck, even just personal preferences. For my money though, I think Aqua Tail/Stone Edge is likely to emerge as my new personal favorite for general use… but I will absolutely be holding on to my existing Mud Bomb and even Earthquake variants too. They ALL have use and the Ground moves will surely be better options in certain metas. Do not toss them out… just grab new Aqua Tail Quagsires for your collection as well while you can do so without needing any Elite TMs.

Long story short, Aqua Tail is a solid sidegrade, at worst, and at least in Great League, I think it’s more fair to call it an overall upgrade over Mud Bomb. Go check out that linked article for details on what Tail beats as opposed to what Mud Bomb is better for, but the bottom line is that you absolutely want at least one solid Aqua Tail Quag. If you lack that, you know what to do!

CHESNAUGHT

Chesnaught GrassFighting

• Frenzy Plant (Grass, 100 damage, 45 energy, 2.22 DPE)

Great League Priority: HIGH

Ultra League Priority: MODERATE

Master League Priority: MODERATE

PvE Priority: LOW

This one’s really simple, folks: Frenzy Plant is unquestionably an upgrade over Energy Ball (10 more energy for 10 less damage than Frenzy Plant), the ONLY advantage for Ball being a 10% shot at lowering the opponent’s Defense a little. Like, this is as clear an upgrade as they come. I’m not even gonna bother showing sims, beyond reminding that Chesnaught even has some utility in Master League now. Giddy up!

URSALUNA 🌑🕚

Ursaluna GroundNormal

• High Horsepower (Ground, 100 damage, 60 energy, 1.67 DPE)

Great League Priority: MODERATE

Ultra League Priority: LOW

Master League Priority: HIGH

PvE Priority: HIGH

Still kind of a speculative pick, I’ll admit. I mean, Ursaluna is okay-ish in Master League even now, but it’s no secret how much better it would be with a better fast move, like the Shadow Claw we’re all longing for. In hopes of that eventually happening, yes, get a good one or two while you can, and certainly evolve any hundos you have on hand, even if you don’t build them now. Because as its ONLY Ground move, High Horsepower is a very critical component to any Ursaluna that may one day work in PvP… and PvE too, where it’s already on the cusp of greatness even with Tackle holding it back (especially as a Shadow… which would ALSO be great in PvP as well). There’s just too much potential here to ignore. If you missed out past full moons, here’s a solid chance to get ahead of the (hopefully) eventual curve.

(My original review of Ursaluna, including with some better fast move help, is available over here.)

SHOULD HAVES

Slightly lower priority than the last list… these can operate okay without their Community Day moves — in some cases they’re better off without those moves — but there is enough good in running a variant with the exclusive moves that it’s still recommended you try to land at least good one. Again, this could be your last chance without dipping into Elite TM reserves and lining Niantic’s pockets.

JUMPLUFF 🌑🕚

Jumpluff GrassFlying

• Acrobatics (Flying, 110 damage, 60 energy, 1.83 DPE)

Great League Priority: MODERATE-HIGH

Ultra League Priority: n/a

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

When I originally analyzed Jumpluff, it was with Bullet Seed as its best fast move. And that IS a good move still, but these days it’s Fairy Wind that you want. Not only does it give Jumpball some additional coverage (still dealing plenty of Grass damage when needed with Energy Ball), but it races to its expensive charge moves even faster (Energy Ball costs 55, and exclusive Community Day move Acrobatics costs 60). It’s not much, but the slightly faster charging of Fairy Wind (at least half a second/one turn faster) makes Jumpluff that much better. Specifically, the combination of Fairy Wind‘s typing and energy generation bring in new Great League wins versus Mandibuzz, Umbreon, Medicham, and Cresselia that Bullet Seed struggles to match. And ShadowPluff is an overall upgrade on top of that, giving up Toxicroak and Air Slash Mandi, but holding the other wins and adding on Sableye, Defense Deoxys, Lickitung, and Galarian Stunfisk too… all obviously BIG names in the GL meta. But it really needs Acrobatics to do it, so don’t miss out on this one. You only need it for Great League, so just find one really good one and go for it!

CONKELDURR

Conkeldurr Fighting

Brutal Swing (Dark, 65 damage, 40 energy, 1.62 DPE)

Great League Priority: MODERATE

Ultra League Priority: MODERATE-HIGH

Master League Priority: HIGH?

PvE Priority: n/a

Gonna cheat again and point back to the original analysis from just two months ago and the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF) summary:

New exclusive move Brutal Swing is basically always a valid sidegrade option at all levels, and often better than that. Performance-wise, the biggest improvements are found in Great League, but that’s also the most crowded place to try and break out. I instead imagine Conkeldurr may start showing up more in Ultra League and perhaps resurging a bit in Master as well.

In many ways, Brutal Swing was just what the doctor ordered for Conkle, a ‘mon that previously had no charge moves costing less than 50 energy. And coverage versus Ghost and Psychic types is a very nice bonus. Depending on your playstyle, you may not find yourself using Conkeldurr very often — or you may find yourself using it a lot — but anytime you DO end up wanting it, you will absolutely want Brutal Swing in the mix.

SLOWBROS & SLOWKINGS 🌑

Surf (Water, 65 damage, 40 energy, 1.62 DPE)

Great League Priority: MODERATE-HIGH

Ultra League Priority: LOW-MODERATE

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

And while NOT recent, I am also going to point back to my original analysis on the Slow Family for this one too. Specifically, the BLUF:

• Get a good Surf Kanto Slowbro for Ultra League, where it sees significant improvement and MAY break out a bit moving forward. You could do the same for Slowking, but the flexibility of Slowbro (switching back and forth between Psychic and Ice Beam as needed for team coverage and perhaps Limited metas) wins out in my mind.
• Get a good Kanto Slowbro with Surf for Great League. You can spring for a Slowking instead but, again, better flexibility with KantBro.
• Get a good Surf Galarian Slowking for Great League, as it’s a unique standout in certain Limited metas (Psychic Cup especially).
• Get a Surf Galarian Slowbro for Ultra League. A few notches below Kanto Slowbro in Ultra in my mind, so if you have enough XLs to build only one, in my mind, go with Kanto. If you have enough XLs for two, then I’d go for G-Bro.
• Galarian Slowbro in Great League has had some use in the past, just not sure it wants Surf over existing moves. Get one with Surf just in case with any extra candy you have left over, even if you don’t build it just yet. Love Cup will probably be a good place for it (if Niantic ever brings it back! 💔), if nothing else.
• Very last priority, in my mind, is Galarian Slowking in Ultra League. Sure, spring for one if you can, but I don’t see this raising its stock much at all.

And you know what? While the meta has certainly shifted since then, all of those basically still ring true. So let’s just head to the next!

POLITOED 🌑

Politoed Water

Ice Beam (Ice, 90 damage, 55 energy)

Great League Priority: MODERATE

Ultra League Priority: MODERATE

Master League Priority: n/a

PvE Priority: n/a

I will say that, in general terms, Ice Beam is often an overall downgrade from Legacy move Earthquake. But it’s well worth noting that A.) not everyone has the means to get Earthquake Politoed, and B.) Ice Beam HAS seen effective use in Cups, and C.) Ice Beam IS an overall upgrade on Shadow Politoed. Well, situationally, at least. If Toed itself wasn’t already meta relevant on its own merits, I would probably have shoved this down into a lower tier, but Toed IS still solid (at least in Limited metas) and while you may find yourself often using your Earthquake versions more, I absolutely recommend having at least one solid Ice Beam variant on hand. It has its uses, for sure.

HAXORUS

Haxorus Dragon

Breaking Swipe (Dragon, 50 damage, 35 energy, 1.42 DPE, 50% Chance to Reduce Opponent’s Attack -1 Stage)

Great League Priority: MODERATE

Ultra League Priority: LOW

Master League Priority: MODERATE

PvE Priority: LOW-MODERATE

Darn you, Steelix! You just had to go and ruin the Breaking Swipe party for everyone! When it was a guaranteed Attack drop for each Swipe, neglected ‘mons like Rayquaza and ol’ Haxorus here had a new lease on PvP life and thrived. Now that the debuff chance is literally a coin flip, Haxorus dips back down again. But still, it’s a cheap STAB move on a Pokémon that needs all the help it can get, and absolutely a move you want to have in the mix 95% of the time. Haxorus itself may have fallen on hard times, but where it’s still relevant, it is mostly still thanks to Breaking Swipe. Try to still exit the weekend with a couple if you lack them.

CATCH ‘EM IF YOU CAN

These Pokémon either aren’t very PvP relevant even with their Community Day moves, or in most cases have other non-exclusive move(s) that are generally better. Not every exclusive move is a winner! I do still recommend getting at least one of these if you lack them, but they’re unlikely to make a big impact without further changes down the line.

Blastoise Water

• BLASTOISE 🌑🕚 is what I call a “blue collar” (that’s probably an American phrase, so you may want to Google it) , no-nonsense Pokémon: it goes out and does its job well enough, but you’re likely going to want other Hydro Cannon users the vast majority of the time. Blastie is very bulky, which allows it to overcome the shortcomings of having no secondary typing and an overall unexciting movepool. But it does its job on those rare occasions when better options are not available. This one is right on the cusp of moving into the next tier up, but I think it stays here because of how rare those times are that it’s your best option.

Tyranitar RockDark

• TYRANITAR 🌑🕚 has improved a bit with the addition of (non-exclusive) charge move Brutal Swing, but it’s the Community Day Smack Down that gives it what little PvP relevance it has in the first place. T-tar will likely never be anything but niche, but there ARE niches it has filled very capably in certain Cup formats. And it’s still a good enough build for PvEers too, for those of you who made it into this article. Hi! 👋

• BEWEAR and OBSTAGOON are in a similar boat. Both have plenty of PvP play, especially the latter, but I think that their low power buff/debuff moves Drain Punch (40 energy, 20 damage, raises Bewear’s Defense by 1 level) and Obstruct (40 energy, 15 damage, raises Obstagoon’s Defense and lowers opponent’s Defense) are fun in concept, and look like heroes in simulations… but are more likely than not to disappoint in actual practice. Neither are BAD to have on hand, and either or both moves could certainly be further buffed to be even more useful down the line, but as of now, Bewear and Obstagoon can run fine without their exclusive moves. (Bewear with Superpower and then Stomp in GL, or Payback in UL and ML, and Obstagoon with Cross Chop or Hyper Beam/Gunk Shot in all eligible Leagues.) IF you’re going to build one, I think a Drain Punch Bewear for Great League and Obstruct Obstagoon for Ultra League are the best ones to try for (as those have been where those moves HAVE found a little success), but again, these are relatively low priorities overall.

Togekiss FairyFlying

• TOGEKISS still holds a potent spot in the Master League meta. It’s just that most of what it would want exclusive move Aura Sphere for is already under control with Flamethrower. Sphere is superior versus Dialga though, so there is most certainly that to consider. Not a strong recommendation as a mere sidegrade, but sure, if you have a hundo Togepi or Togetic on hand, this is a good time to evolve it and keep your options open.

Clodsire GroundPoison

• Similarly, CLODSIRE is a solid Pokémon (though I still pine for moves it could have had like Poison Jab or Surf, but c’est la vie) that just doesn’t really need its exclusive move (Megahorn). As you are realistically only ever going to use Clod in Great League, it can’t hurt to evolve one with Horn just in case, but only one. There will likely be SOME meta down the line where it emerges as a surprising, one-week star, I guess.

Delphox FirePsychic

• DELPHOX isn’t great, but what greatness it HAS been able to achieve (such as in Psychic Cup) runs on Blast Burn. I recommend landing one if you lack it, but you can stop with just the one.

Hydreigon DarkDragon

• HYDREIGON 🕚 is unlikely to ever find big success in PvP, but it’s decent enough in Master League (at least in theory) with Brutal Swing. You don’t have to build it up yet or anything, but if you have a hundo sitting around, may as well evolve during the weekend to get a move it NEEDS to do anything at all.

WELL, MAYBE YOU DON’T HAVE TO CATCH ‘EM ALL….

There’s nothing wrong with getting these, but I don’t see them ever seeing any serious use. If you miss them, I don’t think you’ll miss not having them.

Mamoswine IceGround

• MAMOSWINE remains a very solid Master League Pokémon. Mamoswine with Community Day move Ancient Power, however, far less so. Even in cases where you want the Rock coverage, just run Stone Edge. (But run High Horsepower anyway.)

Sandslash Ground

• Better in theory than in actual practice, Kanto SANDSLASH 🌑🕚 with Night Slash would seem to be just what the doctor ordered, as all of its other charge moves cost at least 60 energy. But interestingly, K-Slash is just as well off with existing moves rather than with Night Slash, at least in Great League. Ultra League may be a different story (as Dark moves have a bit more play in general at that level), but even then you can see that Sandslash just isn’t all that great, and is obviously VERY expensive to even get close to 2500 CP. If you have a hundo, sure, evolve it while the exclusive move is available, but I wouldn’t expect it to be one you’ll end up using often… if ever.

Ampharos Electric

• I just recently wrote a whole article about why AMPHAROS doesn’t need Dragon Pulse, so just go read that. It’s pretty short, don’t worry!

Vikavolt BugElectric

• Fellow Volt Switch user VIKAVOLT does want its exclusive move. Its problem is that it remains worthless in PvP. Just use Charjabug, folks!

Staraptor NormalFlying

• This may be a little harsh, and I would have no issue with raising it a tier for PvE alone, but yes, I have STARAPTOR 🌑 with Gust down here. Wing Attack is still the better move in PvP, and while Gust is ever so slightly better than Wing Attack in PvE, and Shadow Staraptor lies behind only Shadow Moltres, Shadow Honchkrow, and Mega Rayquaza in DPS Flying attackers (I think… somebody may want to check me on that). But for PvP? Gust has already been left in the dust. (And hey, that rhymes!) Staraptor’s stock IS way up with this season’s addition of Fly, but Gust just isn’t part of that equation.

Golem (Alola) RockElectric

• Similarly, Rollout was already inferior to Volt Switch on ALOLAN GOLEM when it was released, and really remains so now, despite Niantic trying to buff it up. It works well on things like Miltank and Dunsparce now, but A-Golem just has no need for it.

• And similar to that, there are things that appreciate new moves Poltergeist and especially Meteor Beam, but the Pokémon that debuted with them (CHANDELURE 🕚, who is much better off with existing Shadow Ball, and GIGALITH 🕚, who remains basically worthless in PvP) are not any more competitive with them. Pass.

Noivern FlyingDragon

• Nothing, however, appreciates Boombust. That most definitely includes NOIVERN.

IN SUMMATION

Got to partner with The Poke GO Hunter again this time, and I’ll leave you with a fantastic infographic (as I mentioned at the start!) we got to collaborate on, which basically puts all the above into graphical form. Thanks, my friend! 🤝

Until next time, you can always find me on Twitter for regular GO analysis nuggets, or Patreon. And please, feel free to comment here with your own thoughts or questions and I’ll try to get back to you!

Thank you for reading! I sincerely hope this helps you know what to go after during December Community Day weekend this year. Good hunting, and catch you next time, Pokéfriends!