One of the best parts of Pokemon GO’s Community Day events is the opportunity it presents to players. Though not every Pokemon selected for Community Day is rare, the event always presents players with the chance to collect new shinies. It’s unsurprising that players look forward to this monthly Pokemon GO event. After all, the goal is to “Catch ‘em all!”.
But the Pokemon selected for February 2025’s Community Day event could present some limitations to players. In fact, this specific issue is oddly similar to one that Pokemon TCG Pocket players are currently facing. If players want to complete their Pokedex, it seems that Pokemon GO and Pokemon TCG Pocket will emphasize trading rather than catching.
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February’s Spotlighted Pokemon Could Frustrate Players
February 2025’s Community Day event boosts two Pokemon. Pokemon GO used to only promote one Pokemon each month during Community Day events, but has expanded this number on occasion to two or a whole roster in the case of December Community Days. This month’s spotlighted Pokemon are Shelmet and Karrablast. While these picks may seem mundane, both Pokemon have a key similarity. Besides both being Bug type Pokemon, both Karrablast and Shelmet can be evolved by trading or by using 200 candy. While there are other Pokemon that have high candy prices for evolution, like Magikarp, most Pokemon evolve for 50-100 candy.
Shelmet and Karrablast’s high candy price for evolution makes their alternative evolution method of trading all the more enticing. But for Pokemon GO players who have yet to add other trainers to their friends list, trading might not be possible. Fortunately, the increased number of both Karrablast and Shelmet appearing in the wild due to the Community Day event makes the two hundred candy barrier less daunting.
But even players who choose to go the trading route for February 2025’s Community Day event may run into some hurdles. Shiny Pokemon cost a ludicrous amount of Stardust to trade, even if the base Pokemon is not a rare, evolved, mythical, or legendary. Players who participate in the event in hopes of gaining a shiny Escavalier or shiny Accelgor for their Pokedex must be prepared to stock up on candy if they don’t want to lose thousands of Stardust.
Trading is Frustrating Players Across Pokemon Titles
Pokemon GO isn’t the only Pokemon title with frustrating trading limitations. Pokemon TCG Pocket just doubled down on its trading system in a recent update. Whereas Pokemon GO only requires Stardust for trades, TCG Pocket makes players use two separate currencies, Hourglasses and Trade Tokens, for almost every trade. Both TCG Pocket and Pokemon GO’s trading systems also require more currency based upon the rarity of the Pokemon. Trading isn’t the main focus of Pokemon GO, which emphasizes catching Pokemon and training them for gyms. But trading is the main focus of TCG Pocket. After all, the word “Trading” is in the game’s name. This high barrier to entry for one of TCG Pocket’s main aspects of gameplay has left players both confused and frustrated.
Player response to this roadblock of TCG Pocket’s trading could be an indication as to how players will react when February’s Community Day rolls around. While Pokemon GO players do have an option to evolve any Karrablast or Shelmet they catch with the aforementioned two hundred candy, Pokemon TCG Pocket players do not have such an option. No such alternative seems to be available for players, nor does one seem to be in development.
Trading may not be the main gameplay component of Pokemon GO, but it remains an integral aspect of the title that should not be so frustrating to players. Those participating in Pokemon GO’s February 2025 Community Event on February 9 should remember to stock up on candy and stardust if they hope to evolve their Karrablasts or Shelmets.
- Released
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July 6, 2016
- ESRB
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