Wait, did you actually check your storage before starting the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge? Because if you’re like most of us, you’ve probably spent twenty minutes hunting a Cubchoo that was literally sitting in your backyard two days ago. It’s that time of year. Niantic loves to clutter our maps with costumes, and honestly, the sheer volume of Berries you’re about to burn through is kind of staggering.
Let's get real. The second half of the Winter Holiday event is usually where the fatigue sets in. We’ve had the ice types, we’ve seen the hats, and now we’re just trying to check off a list for an Elite Collector medal. This year’s Part 2 challenge isn't just about catching; it’s about navigating a specific pool of spawns that feel like they’re playing hard to get. You see a shadow on the nearby radar, you run three blocks in the snow, and it’s a Pikachu. Again.
Breaking Down the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge
If you're hunting for the specific catches required for the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge, you need to know exactly where Niantic hid the goods. It’s not just "wild spawns." Some of these are locked behind Field Research, while others are basically tied to whether or not you're willing to pop an Incense while sitting on your couch.
The Wild Bunch
Most of the list is straightforward. You’re looking for the heavy hitters of the winter season.
Spheal is everywhere. You can't trip over a PokeStop without hitting one. Then there's Swinub, which is actually worth the effort because Mamoswine remains a beast for Master League and Raids. But the real friction comes from the costumed variants. Holiday Attire Pikachu and Holiday Hat Eevee are the primary roadblocks here.
Why? Because their catch rates are lower than their non-costumed counterparts. It's frustrating. You throw a Great Curveball, it breaks out, and it runs. That’s the "holiday spirit" Niantic brings to the table. If you're struggling to find the Alolan Vulpix, remember it's a rarer wild spawn for this specific part of the event compared to the first half.
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Research Encounters vs. Wild Spawns
This is where people get tripped up. Some challenges in the past required an evolution, but the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge is heavily weighted toward catching specific versions.
If you see a task like "Catch 5 Ice-type Pokemon," grab it. That’s often your ticket to an encounter with Lapras or Delibird, both of which might be on your list depending on the specific branch Niantic pushed to your region. Honestly, the Field Research is often faster than wandering around hoping the RNG gods favor your local park.
Why This Challenge Actually Matters for Your Account
You might think, "It's just a bunch of Stardust and an Incense, who cares?"
Actually, the Elite Collector medal is a point of pride for long-term players. But beyond the pixels, the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge is a massive Stardust farm. If you’re running a Star Piece during these catches, you’re looking at a significant bump to your reserves. Many of these festive Pokemon, like Shellder, have increased Stardust rewards upon catch.
The Evolution Trap
Don’t evolve yet.
Seriously. A common mistake during the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge is evolving a Swinub into a Piloswine before checking if the catch was the requirement. Check your Today View. If there’s a little pokeball icon next to the name, you must catch it. If it’s an arrow, you evolve. Mixing these up is a classic way to waste candy and realize you’ve gotta go out and find another 125 candy because you messed up the order.
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Rare Spawns and the Daily Adventure Incense
If you're stuck on that one last entry—maybe it's a Cryogonal or a Galarian Darumaka—you need to change your strategy. Stop walking the same loop.
The Daily Adventure Incense is weirdly effective during the holiday events. It seems to pull from a slightly different table, often surfacing those "rare" tier spawns that the standard event pool suppresses. I’ve seen more Abomasnow spawns off the blue incense than I have in the wild all week.
Weather Matters (A Lot)
Snowy weather is the dream for this challenge. Obviously.
But most of us aren't living in a winter wonderland. If it’s raining or clear, your spawns for the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge are going to be fighting against the weather-boosted trash. If you get lucky and it actually snows, drop a Lure. Any Lure. But specifically a Glacial Lure Module. It doesn't just attract the event Pokemon; it specifically targets the evolutions and rares that make the collection challenge a headache.
Advanced Tactics for the Holiday Grind
Listen, if you’re trying to be efficient, you need to use the "Fast Catch" trick. If you don't know it, you're playing a different game. Hold the berry icon, swipe it slightly to the side, throw the ball with your other hand, and then let go and flee.
The Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge requires a high volume of catches. Sitting through the "Gotcha!" animation 20 times for 20 Spheals is a waste of your life. Get in, get out, and move to the next spawn.
Handling the Costumed Eevee
The Eevee with the holiday hat is notorious. It has a circle color that lies to you. It looks green-yellow, but it acts like an orange. Don't be stingy with the Razz Berries here. Since Eevee is a core part of the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge, failing to catch one early can stall your progress for days if you live in a rural area.
- Tip: Check your local nests. If a park is currently an Eevee nest, the event costume should override the standard spawn, making the challenge a breeze.
The Shiny Hunt Overlay
While you’re doing the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge, don't forget the shiny rates. Some of these event-specific Pokemon have "boosted" odds, or at least they feel that way because of the sheer density of spawns. Shiny Festive Pikachu is a trophy. If you’re checking for the challenge, you’re checking for the shiny. It’s two birds with one Poke Ball.
Managing Your Resources
It’s easy to run out of Great Balls during an event like this. The Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge is designed to drain your inventory before the next big event (usually the New Year's or the Tour events).
- Open your 20 gifts a day. No excuses.
- Spin every stop, even if your bag is full—delete the Nanab Berries to make room.
- Use your Buddy Pokemon to bring you gifts if you’re stuck at home.
The rewards for completing the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge usually include an encounter with something like a Galarian Mr. Mime or a pile of XP. It's rarely "game-changing" loot, but the cumulative rewards from the catches themselves are the real prize.
What Happens If You Miss It?
If the timer runs out on the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge, that’s it. The medal stays incomplete. Unlike Special Research, Collection Challenges are "limited time" for a reason. They create FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and Niantic is the king of FOMO.
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But honestly? If you miss a costumed Spheal, the world keeps turning. The only thing you're really losing is that "Elite Collector" count on your profile. For some of us, that's everything. For others, it's just another Tuesday.
Actionable Steps for Completion
To wrap this up and get you back into the game, follow this specific order of operations to finish the challenge without losing your mind.
Check your "Today" tab immediately to see exactly which Pokemon are left. Note whether they require a catch, an evolution, or a trade.
Clear out at least 50 slots in your Pokemon storage. You don't want to find a rare spawn for the challenge only to get the "Storage Full" message and have it despawn while you're deleting Pidgeys.
Prioritize Field Research tasks that reward encounters. Look for "Spin 5 PokeStops or Gyms" or "Catch 7 Ice-type Pokemon." These are almost always event-themed and will give you the harder-to-find entries for the Pokemon Go Holiday Part 2 Collection Challenge.
Use a Glacial Lure Module at a PokeStop with high traffic. This is the most efficient way to force the event's "Rare" pool to surface. If you’re with a group, rotate who drops the lure to save coins.
Keep your eyes on the "Nearby" radar for shadows. If it’s a shadow, you haven't caught that specific costume variant yet. Go get it.
Once you’ve caught everything, double-check that you’ve claimed the rewards in the Today View. Many trainers finish the catches but forget to click the "Claim" button before the event ends at 8:00 PM local time. Don't be that person.