TL;DR
- Swablu spawns massively during May 15 Community Day with boosted shiny rates
- Evolve to Altaria before 7 PM local time for exclusive Fairy-type move Moonblast
- Six-hour event window from 11 AM to 5 PM with extended evolution period
- Mega Altaria debut post-event creates perfect synergy with Moonblast move
- Multiple bonuses including 3-hour incense, quarter-distance egg hatching, and paid research
Pokemon Go’s May 2021 Community Day arrives with the charming Cotton Bird Pokemon Swablu taking center stage. This limited-time event provides exceptional opportunities for trainers to expand their collections and strengthen their battle teams.
Swablu
Throughout the Community Day timeframe, Swablu will appear in wild encounters at dramatically increased frequencies. This spawn surge presents the ideal circumstance to accumulate substantial Swablu Candy reserves. Similar to the notorious Magikarp evolution requirement, Swablu demands an enormous 400 Candy investment to transform into Altaria. Strategic trainers should focus on maximizing catch rates using techniques like excellent throws and curveballs to optimize candy acquisition.
The event also introduces enhanced chances to discover the rare Shiny Swablu variant, distinguished by its vibrant golden-yellow plumage instead of the standard blue coloration. While shiny encounters remain uncommon, employing Incense during active play sessions significantly improves your odds. Many experienced players recommend prioritizing areas with high spawn density and utilizing quick catch methods to process more encounters efficiently.
Trainers who successfully evolve Swablu into Altaria during the designated Community Day period or within the two-hour post-event window will receive a special bonus: their Altaria will automatically learn the powerful Fairy-type Charged Attack Moonblast. This move represents a unique acquisition opportunity since Altaria cannot normally obtain Moonblast through standard gameplay mechanics in Pokemon Go.
Moonblast delivers significant strategic advantages for Altaria, particularly considering Niantic’s simultaneous introduction of Mega Altaria immediately following the Community Day conclusion. As a Dragon/Fairy dual-type in its Mega evolved state, Mega Altaria receives Same Type Attack Bonus (STAB) when deploying Fairy-type techniques like Moonblast. This synergy creates devastating offensive potential against Dragon, Fighting, and Dark-type opponents commonly encountered in gym battles and raids.
To unlock Mega Evolution capabilities for your Altaria, you must first accumulate sufficient Altaria Mega Energy. The primary acquisition method involves successfully defeating Altaria in specially designated Mega Raids. Planning your raid participation around the Community Day schedule can yield substantial efficiency gains for dedicated trainers.
May’s Community Day maintains the extended six-hour duration format, running continuously from 11 AM to 5 PM local time regardless of your geographical location. This generous timeframe accommodates various play styles and scheduling constraints while ensuring broader accessibility for the global trainer community.
The evolution deadline for obtaining Moonblast extends until 7 PM local time, providing a strategic two-hour buffer period after the main event concludes. This grace period proves particularly valuable for trainers who need additional time to gather the final Swablu Candy required for evolution. Setting reminder notifications for the 6:45 PM mark helps prevent missing this exclusive move opportunity.
Effective time management during Community Day involves balancing multiple objectives: catching sufficient Swablu to reach 400 Candy, hunting for shiny specimens, and potentially participating in Mega Raids for energy accumulation. Many successful trainers recommend creating a prioritized checklist to maximize event productivity.
Beyond the increased Swablu appearances, Niantic introduces a premium Special Research storyline titled Cotton-Winged Bird available through a $1 USD ticket purchase. This exclusive content provides additional Swablu encounters and valuable rewards that complement the standard event bonuses.
The in-game shop features a specially curated Community Day bundle priced at 1,280 PokeCoins containing premium items designed to enhance your gameplay experience throughout the six-hour window.
Several additional in-game enhancements activate during the event period. Any Incense deployed will remain effective for three hours instead of the standard duration, significantly extending your shiny hunting capabilities. Additionally, eggs placed in incubators will require only one-quarter of their normal distance to hatch, accelerating Pokemon acquisition and candy generation. These combined benefits create an optimized environment for both casual participants and dedicated min-maxers alike.
Strategic players should coordinate their item usage to maximize these temporary bonuses. Activating Incense during periods of active movement while simultaneously hatching eggs can yield remarkable efficiency gains. For comprehensive gameplay strategies, consult our Complete Guide to similar time-limited events.
Action Checklist
- Clear inventory space and stock up on Poké Balls before 11 AM
- Activate Incense immediately at event start for maximum duration
- Use quick catch technique and prioritize excellent throws for candy efficiency
- Evolve best IV Swablu to Altaria before 7 PM deadline
- Participate in Mega Raids for Altaria energy accumulation
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » Pokemon Go May Community Day: Shiny Swablu, Event Move, Hours, And More Complete guide to May 2021 Pokemon Go Community Day featuring Swablu with exclusive Moonblast evolution
