Maximize Your Gains with Event Bonuses
During the three-hour event window, Pokemon Go Charmander will appear much more frequently in the wild, offering trainers an ideal chance to catch this fan-favorite Fire-type Pokémon. The event also features a significantly increased chance of encountering a shiny Charmander, with odds estimated at approximately 1 in 25, making it a great time to build a shiny family that includes Charmeleon and Charizard.
One of the most valuable bonuses during the event is triple catch Stardust, allowing players to greatly boost their Stardust reserves, which are essential for powering up and trading Pokémon. All Lure Modules used during the event will last for three hours, attracting more Pokémon to PokéStops and increasing catch opportunities. Incense activated during the event, excluding the Daily Adventure Incense, will also last three hours, drawing more Pokémon to your immediate vicinity. Taking snapshots during the event may trigger a surprise encounter, adding an extra layer of fun to your Community Day Classic experience.
Dive into Special and Timed Research
For trainers seeking even more Charmander encounters and valuable rewards, a Community Day Classic–exclusive Special Research story will be available for purchase at a cost of US$1.00 or the local currency equivalent. This paid research provides extra opportunities to encounter both Charmander and Charizard, along with useful items to support your progress. Trainers also have the option to gift this ticket to friends, provided they’ve reached the Friendship level of Great Friends or higher.
In addition to the Special Research, a Timed Research will run from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time, offering rewards such as Charizard Mega Energy and XP upon completion. This Timed Research is an excellent way to gather the energy needed to Mega Evolve Charizard and to earn additional experience, making it a worthwhile pursuit during the event window.
Showcase Your Catches and Reap the Rewards
During Charmander Community Day Classic, make sure to check for active PokéStop Showcases as you explore. These contests give you the chance to enter your largest or smallest Charmander, depending on the Showcase criteria, for a shot at earning valuable rewards. Each trainer’s Pokémon can have slightly different size attributes, even if caught from the same spawn, which means your XXL or XXS Charmander might outperform others in terms of size rankings.
If you’re aiming for a higher placement, it can be strategic to seek out PokéStops with Showcases located in less crowded areas, where competition may be lower. Securing a top-three position often comes with greater rewards, making it worth the effort to participate and track your entries throughout the event.
Strategic Preparation for a Smooth Community Day
Before the event kicks off, a bit of preparation can go a long way in ensuring a smooth and rewarding Community Day Classic experience. One of the most important things to do is clear your Pokémon storage space, as the increased Charmander spawns will quickly fill it up. Stocking up on Ultra Balls and Great Balls is highly recommended since these improve your catch efficiency and reduce the chances of Pokémon breaking out, which is especially useful when trying to capitalize on the triple Catch Stardust bonus.
If your item bag is nearing its limit, consider removing standard Poké Balls and excess Berries to make room for more useful resources. While Pinap Berries can help you gather more Charmander Candy, using them for every catch might slow down your overall pace, so it’s worth finding a balance based on your personal goals. For those looking to catch as many Pokémon as possible within the time frame, practicing the skip animation trick can speed up encounters, particularly when paired with Ultra Balls.
Activating Star Pieces at the beginning of the event will further enhance your Stardust gain, so having several on hand is ideal. If you have any 12 km Eggs ready, incubating them before the event begins can give you a head start on progress. For players who engage in remote raids or purchase bundles through the web store, Super Incubators acquired this way can help speed up egg hatching during your walk.
Unlock Powerful Exclusive Moves for Your Charizard
A key feature of this Community Day Classic is the opportunity to obtain two exclusive Legacy moves for Charizard. By evolving Charmeleon into Charizard during the event or within the two-hour window following its conclusion—until 7:00 p.m. local time—your Charizard will automatically learn both the Fast Attack Dragon Breath and the Charged Attack Blast Burn.
Securing both moves through evolution is a major advantage, particularly for players who want a versatile Charizard for battles or raids. If you prefer to keep only one of these moves, a regular TM can be used to replace the other. It’s important to keep track of the evolution window, so setting a reminder close to 6:45 p.m. local time can help ensure you don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to strengthen your Charizard.
Choosing the Right Location for Optimal Play
Choosing the right location to play during Community Day Classic can greatly influence how successful your experience will be. Areas with a high concentration of PokéStops, such as downtown districts, parks, or popular public spaces, are ideal since Charmander will be spawning more frequently around these locations. More PokéStops mean more chances to catch Charmander, spin for items, and benefit from the extended duration of Lure Modules.
Playing in places where other trainers are active can also be helpful, as some may share the locations of high-IV Charmander in real time, giving you a chance to target the best ones. If you’re looking to take full advantage of the three-hour Lure Modules, setting up at a well-placed PokéStop right at the start of the event can keep a steady flow of spawns coming to you without much need to move. However, if you prefer to stay mobile, choose a walking route with a dense line of PokéStops so you can continuously encounter Charmander while restocking on items and taking advantage of ongoing Lures.
Starting Strong When the Clock Strikes 2 PM
Once the event starts at 2:00 p.m. local time, it’s a good idea to activate a Star Piece right away to take full advantage of the 3× Catch Stardust bonus from the very beginning. This will help maximize your Stardust earnings over the course of the event, especially if you’re catching quickly and efficiently. If you’ve already placed your 12 km Eggs in incubators beforehand, they’ll continue progressing as you walk, giving you an additional benefit alongside your catching efforts.
In case the weather in your area is sunny, you’ll also receive a weather boost, which can further increase Charmander spawn rates and slightly boost their levels, offering even more Stardust with each successful catch. This combination of bonuses makes the first few minutes of the event especially valuable, so being ready to go as soon as the clock strikes 2:00 p.m. can give you a strong head start.
Identifying Top Charmander Candidates: IVs and PvP Potential
Understanding the Combat Power values associated with perfect Individual Values can give you a significant edge when sorting through your Charmander catches during Community Day Classic. From Field Research tasks, which always yield Pokémon at Level 15, a CP of 420 confirms a 100% IV Charmander. In the wild, a non-weather-boosted Level 30 Charmander with a CP of 840 is also a perfect IV.
If your area experiences sunny weather during the event, the weather-boosted Level 35 version of a perfect IV Charmander will appear at 910 CP. It’s worth noting that an 840 CP Charmander under sunny conditions could still be perfect, but it isn’t guaranteed, so further appraisal is needed. For trainers focused on the competitive side of Pokémon GO, especially in PvP, ideal IV spreads differ depending on the league. In the Great League, the top-performing Charizard has IVs of 0 Attack, 15 Defense, and 13 Stamina, while the Ultra League’s best version typically has 0 Attack, 13 Defense, and 15 Stamina.
For Master League battles, where no CP cap exists, a perfect 15/15/15 Charizard is the optimal choice. Weather-boosted spawns cannot achieve these specific low-Attack combinations, so if you’re targeting PvP potential, non-boosted catches are preferable. Using apps like Poké Genie during the event can help you quickly evaluate IVs and identify the best Charmander to evolve or power up.
Leveraging Mega Evolution for Extra Benefits
Before diving into catching, it’s a smart move to Mega Evolve a Fire-type Pokémon to take advantage of valuable bonuses throughout the event. A Mega Evolution that shares the same type as the featured Pokémon will grant bonus Candy, additional XP, and a higher chance of receiving XL Candy with each catch. This can significantly boost your Charmander collection, especially if you’re aiming to build a strong team or trade with friends.
Ideal choices for this event include Mega Charizard X or Y, Mega Blaziken, Mega Houndoom, or Primal Groudon, which not only qualifies for the bonus but also enhances Fire-type moves when the weather is sunny. If your Mega Evolved Pokémon has reached Mega Level 3, the bonuses become even more generous, offering a real advantage in maximizing event rewards. Be sure to Mega Evolve before the event begins so you’re set to go right at 2:00 p.m. local time.
Strategies for Amassing Charmander Candy
During Community Day Classic, make the most of Pinap Berries when catching Charmander to double the amount of Candy you receive per catch. As mentioned, having a Mega Evolved Fire-type Pokémon will also contribute to additional Candy gains, enhancing your collection even further. Trading Pokémon can also provide extra Candy, especially when trading Pokémon caught over 100 km apart, which guarantees three Candies per trade. If you have friends who live far away or recently traveled, this is a great opportunity to stockpile Charmander Candy.
While there is no transfer Candy bonus for this event, transferring any extra Charmander to Professor Willow will still reward you with one Candy per transfer. Additionally, walking with Charmander as your Buddy Pokémon is another effective way to passively earn Candy over time. Though rarer during Community Days, Charmander can occasionally hatch from 2 km Eggs, offering another source for gathering Candy. This combination of strategies will help you accumulate plenty of Charmander Candy during the event.
Capitalize on the Triple Catch Stardust
The 3× Catch Stardust bonus is one of the key incentives to actively participate in Charmander Community Day Classic. To maximize your Stardust earnings, be sure to use Star Pieces throughout the entire three-hour event. When combined with the event bonus, the Star Piece will significantly boost the amount of Stardust you collect with each Pokémon catch. To make the most of this opportunity, focus on catching as many Charmander as possible during the event, ensuring you gather as much Stardust as you can while benefiting from the increased spawn rates and the event’s other bonuses. This is a great chance to stockpile Stardust, which can be vital for powering up and evolving your Pokémon in the future.
Post-Event Priorities: Evolution and Trading
Once the event ends at 5:00 p.m. local time, your next priority should be evolving any high-IV Charmeleon into Charizard before the 7:00 p.m. cutoff to secure the exclusive Fast Attack Dragon Breath and Charged Attack Blast Burn. To make this process smoother, have a designated folder in your Pokémon storage to easily locate the Charmeleon you want to evolve. If you were fortunate enough to catch a perfect IV (hundo) or high-IV shadow Charmander during the event, make sure to evolve it to get the full benefit of these powerful moves.
After evolving your top Charizards, consider trading any extra Charmander with friends. While there won’t be a guaranteed XL Candy bonus for trades during this event, Lucky Trades still offer a chance to improve IVs, which can be particularly valuable for high-stat Pokémon. Lastly, take some time to review your newly evolved Charizards and use your accumulated Stardust and Candy to power up those with the best potential for raids, Gym battles, or the GO Battle League. This post-event strategy will help you make the most of your hard-earned resources and ensure your Charizards are ready for future challenges.
Embrace the Hunt for Shiny Charmander
The increased shiny odds during this Community Day Classic present a fantastic opportunity to add the striking black Shiny Charizard to your collection. To maximize your chances of encountering a shiny Charmander, focus on tapping on and checking as many Charmander as possible during the three-hour event window. Activating Lure Modules and Incense will further boost the number of Charmander spawns around you, increasing your chances of finding a shiny.
Keep in mind that once you catch a shiny Charmander, you can evolve it into a shiny Charmeleon and eventually the highly coveted shiny Charizard, a true achievement and prized Pokémon for any trainer. The enhanced shiny rate during this event makes it an ideal time to aim for this rare and powerful form of Charizard.
Leveraging Field Research for Additional Encounters
During the event, be sure to keep an eye out for Field Research tasks from spinning PokéStops, as these tasks can provide additional opportunities to encounter Charmander. Some general Field Research tasks, like “Power up Pokémon 3 times,” may reward you with encounters with one of the Kanto starter Pokémon, including Charmander.
Completing these tasks not only gives you extra chances to find a shiny or high-IV Charmander, but it also rewards you with other valuable items such as Stardust, Great Balls, and even Mega Energy. If you receive a Field Research task that doesn’t appeal to you, remember that you can discard it and try for another one with more desirable rewards. These tasks are a great way to enhance your event experience and further boost your Charmander collection.
Connect with Your Community and Explore Resources
Engaging with your local Pokémon GO community can significantly enhance your Community Day experience. Joining local Discord servers, Facebook groups, or other social platforms where trainers gather can open up a wealth of information. These groups are often used to call out the locations of high-IV Pokémon, including perfect “hundo” Charmander, allowing you to target the best spawns and maximize your chances of catching rare and valuable Pokémon. Additionally, while event spawns take precedence, online nest maps can sometimes help identify areas where Fire-type Pokémon, like Charmander, may be more common, even outside of Community Day events. This extra bit of knowledge can be invaluable, particularly if you’re looking to catch high-level Charmander in less crowded areas.
By connecting with other trainers, you not only get the advantage of shared knowledge but also the opportunity to share your own findings. You can call out locations where you’ve spotted rare Charmander or offer tips about where to catch more efficiently. This collaborative approach can make the event feel more social and enjoyable, as you work together to achieve your Pokémon-catching goals. Plus, it’s a great way to learn new strategies and get the most out of the event.
Following these strategies and being proactive in your community connections will help you fully embrace the Charmander Community Day Classic in Pokémon GO. Whether you’re aiming to catch the perfect IV Charmander, increase your Stardust, or add a shiny Charizard to your roster, the event provides plenty of opportunities. By utilizing your resources, connecting with others, and employing effective catching techniques, you’ll make the most of this exciting event. Get ready to catch ‘em all, earn tons of Stardust, and possibly even evolve a stunning shiny Charizard. Have fun, and happy catching!
