Pokemon GO Community Day: Dates, Moves & Tips

Pokemon GO Community Day is a monthly, limited-time in-game event where a single featured Pokemon appears more frequently in the wild for a few hours, and its evolved form can learn an exclusive charged move if evolved during or shortly after the event. You participate by opening the game during the scheduled hours, catching as many of the featured Pokemon as you can, and evolving it to get the special move. The event also includes bonuses like increased XP or Stardust, and sometimes a special research story.

Formula

While there is no single formula for the event itself, the in-game timer works on a simple countdown. If you want to plan your walking route, the average pace formula is:

Pace (min/km) = Total Time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)

And average speed in km/h is:

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total Time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where Total Time is the event duration you plan to play (e.g., 180 minutes), and Distance is how far you expect to walk. The calculator above uses these formulas to help you estimate your pace and speed during the event.

Worked Example

Suppose you plan to play for the full 3-hour Community Day (180 minutes) and you walk 5 km. Your average pace would be:

Pace = 180 ÷ 5 = 36 min/km

Your average speed would be:

Speed = 5 ÷ (180 ÷ 60) = 5 ÷ 3 = 1.67 km/h

So you’d be moving at a slow walking pace, which is typical for a relaxed Community Day stroll.

What Is Community Day?

Community Day is a monthly event in Pokemon GO that highlights a specific Pokemon. It was introduced in January 2018 and has run every month since. The event typically lasts for three hours on a Saturday or Sunday, usually from 2 PM to 5 PM local time. During those hours, the featured Pokemon spawns at a greatly increased rate, and you have a higher chance of encountering its Shiny version.

The key draw is the exclusive charged move. If you evolve the featured Pokemon into its final form during the event (or up to two hours after, in recent events), it will learn a special move that it normally cannot get. This move is often powerful in PvP (Player vs Player) battles or raids, making the Pokemon more valuable.

How Community Day Works

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of what happens during a typical Community Day:

• Check the schedule: Niantic announces the date and featured Pokemon a few weeks in advance through in-game news and social media.
• Prepare: Stock up on Poke Balls, Pinap Berries (to double Candy), and Incense. Make sure you have enough Pokemon storage space.
• Play during the event window: The featured Pokemon will appear in the wild very frequently. You can also use Incense to attract more, and sometimes the event includes special Field Research tasks.
• Catch as many as possible: Each catch gives you Candy and Stardust. Using Pinap Berries doubles the Candy, and using a Star Piece doubles Stardust.
• Evolve to get the exclusive move: After catching enough, evolve the Pokemon to its final form before the event ends (or within the grace period) to learn the special move.
• Complete the Special Research: Many Community Days include a free Special Research story that rewards additional encounters and items.

How to Choose Which Community Day to Play

Not every Community Day Pokemon is equally useful. Here are factors to consider:

• Meta relevance: Some Pokemon are top-tier attackers in raids or gyms. For example, Community Day moves like Hydro Cannon on Swampert or Meteor Mash on Metagross are extremely powerful. Check online resources like PvPoke or GamePress to see if the featured Pokemon is strong in the current meta.
• Shiny value: Some players collect Shinies. The featured Pokemon will have a boosted Shiny rate (roughly 1 in 25, compared to the usual 1 in 500). If you like the Shiny color, it’s worth playing.
• Rarity: If the Pokemon is normally rare in your area, Community Day is a great chance to get a lot of Candy and a high-IV specimen.
• Your schedule: If you are busy during the event hours, you might miss it. However, Niantic sometimes offers a makeup event in December that features all Community Day Pokemon from the year, so you can catch up.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Players often run into issues during Community Day. Here are the most common ones:

• Running out of Poke Balls: You will go through hundreds of balls. Before the event, spin PokeStops and open Gifts to stock up. You can also buy balls in the shop, but that costs real money.
• Storage full: If your Pokemon storage is full, you cannot catch more. Transfer low-IV Pokemon before the event, and consider buying more storage space.
• Network issues: The game can lag or crash due to high player activity. Restart the app, switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and avoid crowded areas if possible.
• Missing the exclusive move: If you evolve after the event ends (beyond the grace period), you won’t get the move. Set an alarm for the last hour to make sure you evolve in time.

Community Day vs. Other Events

Community Day is just one of several recurring events in Pokemon GO. Here’s how it compares:

• Community Day Classic: A shorter, more focused version that features older Community Day Pokemon with the same exclusive move, but without the extra bonuses like increased XP.
• Spotlight Hour: A weekly one-hour event with a boosted spawn of one Pokemon, but no exclusive move and no Shiny boost (usually).
• Raid Day: A short event where a specific Legendary or rare Pokemon appears in raids more frequently, with a higher Shiny chance.
• Research Day: A day focused on Field Research tasks, often with a specific Pokemon as a reward.

The main difference is that Community Day is the most rewarding for catching and evolving a specific Pokemon, making it a must-play for collectors and battlers.

Costs and Rewards

Community Day is free to play, but there are optional paid items:

• Free: The event itself, including boosted spawns, Shiny chance, and the exclusive move, is available to all players.
• Incense: You can buy Incense (about 80 PokeCoins) to attract more Pokemon, but you can also get them from daily bonuses or special boxes.
• Star Piece: Doubles Stardust for 30 minutes. Costs 100 PokeCoins each.
• Lure Modules: Placing a Lure on a PokeStop attracts Pokemon to that stop. They last for 30 minutes and cost 100 PokeCoins.
• Special Research Ticket: Sometimes there is a paid Special Research (like the one for Gible in 2021) that gives extra encounters and rewards. It usually costs $1 or equivalent.

Rewards include Candy, Stardust, XP, and the exclusive move. You also get a higher chance of catching a Shiny, which many players consider the main prize.

Safety Tips for Playing

Community Day encourages walking, but safety should always come first:

• Stay aware of your surroundings: Do not cross roads without looking, and avoid walking into traffic. The game uses augmented reality, which can be distracting.
• Don’t trespass: Stick to public areas like parks and sidewalks. Do not enter private property to catch a Pokemon.
• Play with friends: It’s more fun and safer to play in a group, especially in unfamiliar areas.
• Take breaks: Three hours of walking can be tiring. Take water breaks and rest when needed.
• Charge your phone: A portable power bank is essential, as the game drains battery quickly.

Alternatives to Community Day

If you miss a Community Day, or if the featured Pokemon doesn’t interest you, there are other ways to get the exclusive move:

• December Community Day Weekend: This event typically features all Community Day Pokemon from the year, allowing you to evolve them for their exclusive moves.
• Elite TM: This special item can teach a Pokemon any exclusive move, including Community Day moves. You can get Elite TMs from PvP battles (rank 19 or higher), certain raids, or special research.
• Trading: You can trade with a friend who already has a Pokemon with the exclusive move. However, the move is not guaranteed to be transferred if the Pokemon is traded back, but it stays on the Pokemon you receive.
• Future events: Niantic sometimes brings back exclusive moves during other events, like Community Day Classic or special raids.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does Community Day start and end?

Most Community Days run from 2 PM to 5 PM local time. However, some events have different hours, so always check the in-game news for the exact times. The exclusive move evolution window usually extends an extra two hours after the event ends, but this can vary.

How do I get the exclusive move?

You must evolve the featured Pokemon into its final form during the event window (or within the grace period). For example, if the featured Pokemon is Bagon, you need to evolve it into Shelgon and then into Salamence during the event to get the move Outrage. If you evolve after the window, you won’t get the move.

Can I get the Shiny version?

Yes, the Shiny rate for the featured Pokemon is greatly increased during Community Day, typically around 1 in 25 encounters. This is much higher than the normal rate of about 1 in 500. You can catch as many as you want and check their stats to find a good one.

What is the December Community Day?

In December, Niantic holds a special weekend event that features all Community Day Pokemon from the past year. During this event, you can evolve any of them to get their exclusive moves, and the spawns rotate throughout the weekend. It’s a second chance for players who missed out.

Do I need to buy a ticket to participate?

No, the base Community Day is free for all players. However, there is often a paid Special Research ticket that gives extra tasks and rewards. The free version includes the boosted spawns, Shiny chance, and exclusive move.

How do I get more Candy during Community Day?

Use Pinap Berries on every catch to double the Candy. You can also walk with the Pokemon as your Buddy to earn Candy, but the fastest way is to catch as many as possible. If you have a Mega Evolved Pokemon of the same type, you get an extra Candy per catch.

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in t | Finish time | min | 180 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 5 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2