One of the most exciting aspects of Pokemon GO’s Community Day events is the opportunity they provide to players. While not every featured Pokémon is rare, these events consistently allow players to collect new shinies, making them a highly anticipated part of the Pokemon GO experience. After all, the ultimate goal is to “Catch ‘Em All!”
However, February 2025’s Community Day presents some unique challenges for trainers. In a twist that mirrors frustrations currently seen in Pokemon TCG Pocket, Pokemon GO appears to be emphasizing trading over traditional catching methods. This shift could present difficulties for players who prefer to play solo or those who lack sufficient in-game resources for trading.
Trading Takes Center Stage
February’s Community Day will spotlight two Pokémon: Shelmet and Karrablast. While Pokemon GO traditionally focused on a single Pokémon for Community Day events, the game has occasionally featured multiple Pokémon, particularly in December’s special recap editions.
At first glance, Shelmet and Karrablast may seem like standard selections, but they share a key characteristic that sets them apart from other Community Day Pokémon. Both of these Bug-types require a trade to evolve unless players are willing to invest a hefty 200 candy per Pokémon. While some Pokémon, like Magikarp, also require a large candy investment for evolution, most typically evolve within the range of 50-100 candy.
The increased wild spawn rate of Shelmet and Karrablast during Community Day should make collecting 200 candy easier for determined players. However, for trainers who prefer to trade rather than stockpile candy, additional hurdles await. Trading Pokémon, especially shiny variants, can cost an exorbitant amount of Stardust, making it an impractical option for those with limited resources.
Pokemon TCG Pocket Mirrors GO’s Trading Woes
Pokemon GO isn’t the only Pokémon title frustrating players with its trading mechanics. The newly launched Pokemon TCG Pocket recently doubled down on its restrictive trade system in a controversial update. Unlike Pokemon GO, where Stardust is the only cost associated with trading, Pokemon TCG Pocket requires two separate in-game currencies—Hourglasses and Trade Tokens—each time a trade is made. Additionally, rarer Pokémon or cards demand even greater amounts of these currencies, creating a steep barrier for players hoping to complete their collections.
Given the backlash from Pokemon TCG Pocket players regarding these trading limitations, it’s likely that Pokemon GO players will voice similar frustrations when Community Day arrives on February 9, 2025. While Pokemon GO at least offers the option to evolve Shelmet and Karrablast with candy, Pokemon TCG Pocket provides no such alternative for its trading-dependent mechanics.
Will Niantic Address These Concerns?
Trading has never been Pokemon GO’s primary gameplay focus, as the game has always emphasized catching, battling, and training. However, it remains a fundamental feature that should not be overly restrictive. For players looking forward to this Community Day event, the best course of action will be to prepare in advance by stockpiling both candy and Stardust. Otherwise, evolving these Pokémon could become more trouble than it’s worth.
With trading frustrations surfacing across multiple Pokémon titles, Niantic may need to reconsider how it approaches these mechanics to avoid alienating players. Until then, trainers should brace themselves for a Community Day that may require a bit more strategy than usual.
