Pokemon Go January Community Day 2021 Is Today: Shiny Machop, Bonuses, Event Move, And More

TL;DR

  • January 16 Community Day features Machop with extended 6-hour spawns and triple Stardust
  • Evolve Machoke to Machamp by 7 PM local time to secure exclusive Dark-type Payback move
  • Shiny Machop rates increase significantly – use Incense strategically for maximum encounters
  • Special Research available for $1 or free with Kanto Tour ticket purchase by January 13
  • Trading distance extends to 40km and Incense lasts 3 hours for optimal resource gathering

Pokemon Go kicks off 2021 with an exciting Community Day this Saturday, January 16, offering extended gameplay opportunities and valuable combat enhancements. Unlike previous events, this edition runs for six full hours from 11 AM to 5 PM local time, giving trainers significantly more flexibility in their hunting schedule. The extended duration means you can plan your gameplay around other commitments while still maximizing your Machop captures.

The evolution window extends two hours beyond the main event, providing until 7 PM local time to evolve Machoke into Machamp with the exclusive Payback move. This buffer period is crucial for players who need extra time to gather sufficient candy or find optimal IV specimens. Strategic planning during these extended hours can yield powerful Machamp with unique move combinations.

This month’s spotlight falls on Machop, the formidable Fighting-type from Kanto’s original roster. During Community Day, Machop spawn rates increase dramatically, creating prime conditions for candy accumulation and IV hunting. For optimal results, focus on areas with multiple PokeStops and active Lures, as these locations typically generate the highest concentration of spawns.

Shiny Machop makes its Community Day debut with significantly boosted appearance rates. While still rarer than normal variants, persistent hunting should yield multiple shiny encounters throughout the six-hour window. The shiny variant features a distinctive green skin coloration, making identification straightforward during quick catch sessions.

Advanced trainers should prioritize weather-boosted Machop when possible, as these specimens start at higher levels and require less Stardust investment. Cloudy weather activates the Fighting-type boost, increasing both spawn quality and catch candy yields.

January’s exclusive move introduces Payback, a powerful Dark-type charge move that provides Machamp with crucial type coverage. This move becomes automatically available when evolving Machoke into Machamp during the event window, including specimens caught before Community Day began.

Payback offers strategic advantages against Psychic and Ghost-type opponents, filling a coverage gap in Machamp’s standard Fighting-type moveset. In PvP battles, this unexpected Dark-type coverage can surprise opponents who expect standard Fighting-type attacks.

The evolution mechanic applies retroactively to any Machoke in your collection, making this an excellent opportunity to upgrade existing high-IV specimens. Remember that the evolution must occur by 7 PM local time to secure the exclusive move, so set reminders to avoid missing this limited-time opportunity.

Niantic presents the Straight to the Top, Machop Special Research story, available through $1 in-game ticket purchase. However, trainers who secured their Kanto Tour event tickets by January 13 receive complimentary access to both January and February’s Community Day research lines.

The event features substantial bonus multipliers, including triple Stardust from all catches throughout the six-hour period. This creates an exceptional opportunity for resource accumulation, especially when combined with Star Pieces for additional Stardust amplification.

Incense effectiveness extends to three hours during the event, allowing strategic deployment to cover multiple gameplay sessions. The extended duration means single Incense can potentially last the entire active hunting period if timed correctly.

Trading distance receives a temporary boost to 40 kilometers, facilitating long-distance Pokemon exchanges with friends and trading partners. This enhancement is particularly valuable for obtaining lucky Pokemon and filling Pokedex entries from distant regions.

Maximize your Community Day efficiency by preparing inventory space and organizing Pokemon storage beforehand. Common mistakes include running out of Poke Balls mid-event or lacking sufficient storage for new captures – address these issues in advance.

For optimal Stardust farming, activate Star Pieces during peak catching periods and focus on quick-catch techniques to process more encounters. Weather-boosted Machop provide additional Stardust per catch, making them priority targets during Cloudy conditions.

Strategic Incense use involves activation at the event start and positioning in high-spawn density areas. Avoid wasting Incense during travel between locations or when gameplay will be interrupted.

When planning your Machamp evolution, prioritize specimens with high Attack IVs and optimal PvP stat distributions. Remember that previously evolved Machamp cannot learn Payback, so conserve candy for new evolutions during the designated window.

Finally, Niantic offers a special 1,280 PokeCoin bundle in the in-game shop containing valuable items for extended hunting sessions. Evaluate whether this bundle provides better value than individual item purchases based on your specific gameplay needs.

Action Checklist

  • Clear 50+ Pokemon storage spaces and stock 200+ Poke Balls
  • Activate Incense at 11 AM in high-density spawn area
  • Use Star Piece and focus on weather-boosted Machop for triple Stardust
  • Identify and prioritize high-IV Machop for evolution (aim for 90%+ IV)
  • Evolve best Machoke to Machamp with Payback by 7 PM deadline
  • Complete long-distance trades (up to 40km) for candy and lucky chances

No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Go January Community Day 2021 Is Today: Shiny Machop, Bonuses, Event Move, And More Master Machop Community Day with exclusive Payback moves, shiny hunting strategies, and triple Stardust bonuses