Pokémon Go is set to host a Squirtle Community Day Classic event on July 9, from 2-5 p.m. local time. This event will see the popular water-type Pokémon, Squirtle, spawning in large numbers, with an increased chance of encountering its shiny variant.
Catching a shiny Squirtle is a matter of persistence and luck. According to past research by The Silph Road, the shiny rates during Community Days are approximately 1 in 25. Therefore, if you play consistently throughout the three-hour event, you stand a good chance of encountering several shiny Squirtles.
If you’re pressed for time or running low on Poké Balls, using Incense can help attract more Squirtles. You can then quickly tap each one to check if it’s shiny, fleeing from those that aren’t. A helpful tip is that any Squirtle you’ve already tapped will face your player’s direction, helping you identify which ones you’ve already checked.
The Squirtle Community Day Classic also offers several bonuses. These include a quarter hatch distance for eggs placed into Incubators during the event, three-hour durations for both Incense and Lure Modules, and special Squirtle photobombs when taking snapshots.
To maximize these benefits, players are advised to place all their eggs in Incubators, use Incense, and aim to catch as many powerful Squirtles as possible. Mega Evolving Blastoise, Slowbro, Gyarados, or Swampert during the event will also yield additional Squirtle Candy per catch.
For those seeking a Squirtle with sunglasses, this variant will not spawn in the wild. Instead, it can be obtained through event Field Research, which requires catching Squirtle to complete. Players should spin PokéStops to pick up this research if they wish to catch a sunglasses-wearing Squirtle.
As for Squirtle’s evolution, Wartortle, if evolved into Blastoise between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time, it will learn the charged move Hydro Cannon. If this evolution window is missed, players can still acquire the move using an Elite TM.
In terms of battle performance, while Blastoise may no longer be the top contender, Mega Blastoise stands as one of the most potent water-type attackers. Players looking to invest in Megas should consider catching a strong Blastoise and equipping it with Water Gun and Hydro Cannon.
Squirtle Community Day Classic offers a plethora of opportunities for trainers to catch this beloved Pokémon in its various forms, while also benefiting from numerous event-specific perks. Happy hunting!
