Yesterday, Niantic announced that it would be doubling down on the hugely popular Community Day concept in Pokémon GO with the introduction of Limited Research, another avenue to farm shiny family trees, starting with Feebas and Milotic. But for now, Community Day remains the most popular event in GO, and today completes a circle that began several months ago with the release of Totodile today at 11 AM PT.
Totodile joins Cyndaquil and Chikorita as the full set of Gen 2 starter Pokémon that have now been featured for Community Day. Ever since Pikachu, all Community Day Pokémon have been three-stage evolutions, and obviously that’s always going to include the three generational starters. After this, after probably skipping a month, we will then start on Gen 3’s starters, Mudkip, Treecko and Torchic.
For my money, Totodile might be the best feature in a while, not just because of the special move Feraligatr will learn, Hydro Cannon, but because his shiny form is actually pretty great. Unlike say, Typhlosion, It’s a complete color change, as Totodile, Croconaw and Feraligatr are now all green, and Feraligatr now has a blue crest instead of a red one. It’s a pretty start difference, almost like what we saw with shiny Dragonite a while back.
So, how to get one? Well for me personally sitting here in the Midwest, it’s going to be tough because we’re currently getting buried in a snowstorm that is probably not going to let up in time for me to do much shiny hunting. But for everyone else, farm, farm, farm.
These days, the shiny rate seems to be about 5%, a little more than it used to be because Niantic has nudged it up over time. That means 1 in 20 catches or so should get you a shiny Totodile which you can then evolve into a shiny Feraligatr. Be sure to have incense running as that attracts Community Day Pokémon, and set up a lure nearby if you can, because they last three hours during these events. Between those and regular spawns, you should be drowning in Totodile, and your odds should be good to grab a shiny one.
Make sure you evolve it before the end of the event so it can be a shiny Feraligatr that also knows Hydro Cannon, a true rarity. Pick your highest IV one and go for it, as lord knows you should have enough candy to evolve a few of these by the end of the day. Also don’t forget that today’s bonus is quarter egg distance, so while you’re walking around catching, be sure to have all the incubators active you can.
I hope the weather works out for you as I’m a bit bummed I’m snowbound for this event today. Get out there and nab yourself some shinies. Happy hunting.
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