Here are 20 high-impact Pokémon GO Community Day tips to maximize your gains from the event. These tips focus on XP, Stardust, Shinies, Candy, and high-IV Pokémon, which are the main optimization goals during the event.
1. Start With a Clean Pokémon Storage
Before the event begins, transfer low IV Pokémon and duplicates that you really do not need. Ensure you have 300–500 empty slots. You can easily find the Pokémon to transfer using the Pokémon GO Search Strings to Mass Transfer everything but PVP IVs Pokémon OR Pokémon GO Search Strings to Mass Transfer everything but…
2. Stack Poké Balls
Aim for 500–800 Poké Balls beforehand. However, you can have a mix of the other Balls. Pro-trainers usually use Ultra Balls when catching during a Community Day event. So, you may want to have at least 200 Great Balls and 300 Ultra Balls as well. If you go for the Great and Ultra Balls, you can focus on having at least 300 Poké Balls.
3. Use Incense for the Entire Event
During Community Day, Incense spawns Pokémon every ~30 seconds while moving. Always keep one active. Usually, one Incense lasts for 3 hours during a Community. You only need one Incense for the event.
4. Use Lure Modules at Dense PokéStops
Lures typically last 1 hour during Community Day. You will want to find a cluster of 3–6 PokéStops to maximize spawns. These PokéStops should be at a point where you can relax comfortably if you choose to.
5. Quick Catch Technique
Use the quick catch trick when catching Pokémon. Drag the berry icon to your right (or the Ball icon to your left) with one of your fingers, then release while throwing. This will let you skip animations and catch 2–3× more Pokémon per hour.
6. Use Lucky Eggs if the Bonus Is XP
Some Community Days give 3× catch XP as one of the event-themed bonuses. With a Lucky Egg, that becomes 6× XP per catch. You can stack 6 Lucky Eggs for the entire 3-hour event.
7. Use Star Pieces if the Bonus Is Stardust
If the event has Stardust bonuses like 3x catch Stardust, stack 6 Star Pieces for 50% more Stardust per catch. With a Star Piece, that becomes 4.5× Stardust per catch.
8. Focus on Weather Boost
Weather boosts raise Pokémon levels up to Level 35, meaning higher CP catches and less powering up later. Likewise, the tendency for perfect (hundo) Pokémon in the wild increases during a weather condition that boosts the Pokémon. You are more likely to find more hundo in the wild.
9. Prioritize High IV Pokémon
Check Pokémon using the Appraisal system and keep those close to your goal. If your goal is to get high IV Pokémon for raids, focus on 15/15/15 IVs. If your goal is to get high IV Pokémon for Trainer Battles (especially, the GO Battle League), focus on PVP IVs – X/15/15 IVs. Where X is any number between 0 and 5. You can always check for this in the specific content about the featured Pokémon for the Community Day. You can also save some search strings for fast sorting during the event.
10. Search Strings for Fast Sorting
Useful filters during and after the event to properly find what to keep and what to transfer (or trade away).
- Use 4*&age0 to find the perfect (hundo) Pokémon
- Use the Pokémon GO Search Strings to Mass Transfer everything but PVP IVs Pokémon
11. Don’t Evolve Until the End
Community Day Pokémon get exclusive moves only if evolved during the event window. Check IVs first before evolving. You can either choose to evolve before 5:00 p.m. or before 9:00 p.m. on the day of the event. If you don’t get lucky during the event, you may want to trade the same Pokémon with a friend for a chance to get a better IV Pokémon. Then evolve that.
12. Use a Mega Evolution
Mega-evolve a Pokémon that matches the featured Community Day Pokémon type for extra candy, XL candy, and XP. The higher the level of that Mega Pokémon, the higher the extra candy, XL candy, and XP you get. For optimal results, use a Max Level or a Super Max Level Mega Pokémon. As an example, if it’s a Fire-type Pokémon Community Day, Mega-evolve a Fire-type Pokémon.
13. Take Event Photobombs
Taking snapshots often triggers bonus encounters with the Community Day Pokémon. You can have up to five (5) bonus encounters after taking a snapshot of your buddy Pokémon.
14. Play in High-Density Areas
The best locations for playing Pokémon GO Community Day are the places with a high number of PokéStops and easily accessible to the public. These could be downtown districts, college campuses, or parks that dramatically increase spawn rates.
15. Play the Full Event Window
Community Days often last 3 hours. Players who grind the full event can catch 300–600 Pokémon. If the featured Pokémon is what you really want, consider playing the full event hours.
16. Optimize Your Route
Plan a circular walking route through high-density PokéStops. Spawns refresh as you loop, giving you continuous encounters instead of downtime.
17. Walk Routes
Do your routes while playing the Community Day. The best routes should match your circular/loop walking.
18. Stack Field Research Rewards Before the Event
Complete tasks, but don’t claim them. Then claim during Community Day for extra encounters. This helps you benefit more from the Community Day bonuses.
19. Play With a Battery Strategy
Use a Power bank (minimum 10,000 mAh), low brightness mode, and close background apps to maximize your battery efficiency. Community Day drains battery aggressively due to constant GPS and screen usage.
20. Use Adventure Effect
Adventure Effects helps to maximize your gains during the Community Day. However, you can only use one Adventure Effect at a time. The one you use depends on what you are looking to gain. See Adventure Effects in Pokémon GO to determine which one you want to use.
These 20 tips will help you maximize the Community Day events you choose to participate in.
Above all else, have fun!
