The top Ice attackers are Galarian Darmanitan, Mega Glalie, Mamoswine, Mega Abomasnow, and Shadow Mamoswine. Galarian Darmanitan with Ice Fang and Avalanche has the highest Ice DPS in the game thanks to its 263 Attack stat and pure Ice typing. Mega Glalie with Frost Breath and Avalanche tops the Mega tier. Mamoswine with Powder Snow and Avalanche remains the most reliable budget Ice attacker, doubling as a Ground attacker thanks to STAB on Bulldoze. Shadow Weavile, Shadow Mamoswine, and Shadow Articuno round out the Shadow tier. Glaceon (with Frost Breath) and Cloyster are mid-tier picks.
Ice types are situational PvP picks. Walrein (Ice/Water) with Powder Snow and Earthquake is a top Ultra League pick thanks to its bulk and double-flip threat against Dragons and Grounds. Cloyster (Ice/Water) with Frost Breath and Avalanche is another reliable defender. Glaceon, Mamoswine, and Galarian Darmanitan see Great League cup formats. In Master League, Ice is rare due to its frailty, but Galarian Darmanitan flexes against Dragon-heavy lineups. Frosmoth (Ice/Bug) and Avalugg (Ice/Rock for Hisui) bring niche typings to specialty cups. Crabominable (Fighting/Ice) is a Hisui-style flex pick.
Ice attackers shine against Dragon (Garchomp, Salamence, Dragonite, Rayquaza, Palkia), Flying (Mega Pidgeot, Yveltal, Mega Charizard Y), Grass (Tangrowth, Mega Sceptile), and Ground (Garchomp, Excadrill). However, Ice takes 1.6× damage from Fire, Fighting, Rock, and Steel — and Mamoswine specifically takes 4× from Fighting due to dual Ice/Ground typing. Use Ice attackers in Snowy weather for the 1.2× boost. Avoid Ice types against Heatran (Fire/Steel resists Ice quadruple), Magnezone, Reshiram, and Shadow Lucario. Dragons under raid bosses like Rayquaza melt to a Galarian Darmanitan team in record time, even with raid heal cycles.
Ice Community Days have included Swinub → Mamoswine with Ancient Power, Sneasel → Weavile with Avalanche, Snover → Abomasnow with Weather Ball, Spheal → Walrein with Powder Snow rebalance, Bergmite → Avalugg, and Cubchoo → Beartic. Galarian Darmanitan debuted in 2020 and immediately took the Ice DPS crown. Galarian Mr. Mime (Ice/Psychic) was added through paid timed research. Ice Riders Calyrex and Glastrier from the Crown Tundra DLC arrived in 2025 and became top Ice options when fully invested. Mega Glalie debuted in 2023, providing the first true Mega Ice attacker that surpasses Galarian Darmanitan in shorter raid windows.