Embrace the Magic of Friendship: Galarian Ponyta Community Day in Pokémon Go
If you believe in the enchantment of friendship—especially when it entails adorable ponies with colorful, cotton-candy-like manes—you are in for a treat this September in Pokémon Go! This month marks the Galarian Ponyta Community Day, featuring not just one, but two delightful iterations of this beloved Pokémon! Yes, the spotlight shines brightly on both the Kantonian and Galarian Ponyta.
Exploring the Two Forms of Ponyta
The stunning Ponyta exists in two unique forms: the classic Fire Horse from Kanto and its Galarian counterpart, the Unique Horn Pokémon. While both varieties share a common resource known as Ponyta Candy, it’s crucial to decide which Pokémon you want to prioritize, as they possess distinct typings and serve different roles within Pokémon Go.
This article delves specifically into the original Galarian Ponyta. If you’re inclined to focus on the flame-maned version, refer to our dedicated Kantonian Ponyta page.
Understanding Community Day
For those unfamiliar, Community Day is a recurring event in Pokémon Go that celebrates a specific Pokémon, enhances shiny catch rates, and awards an exclusive move, alongside a variety of other perks!
Throughout this event, Ponyta will appear in abundance, presenting an unparalleled opportunity to capture a Galarian Ponyta with perfect IV stats. If you manage to land one, it’s wise to be acquainted with the optimal moveset for its evolution, Rapidash.
Even if the featured Pokémon doesn’t pique your interest, there are numerous bonuses that can motivate you to venture outdoors, including double catch candy and triple catch Stardust.
Catching a Galarian Ponyta with Perfect IVs
This month’s Community Day provides an excellent chance to capture a Galarian Ponyta with ideal IV stats. The term ‘perfect’ can refer to two different interpretations in Pokémon Go depending on your intended use for the Pokémon. The first denotes a maxed-out, 100% IV Pokémon, which is a coveted 15/15/15 configuration ideal for your 4* Pokédex, raids, and Master League. However, keep in mind that a perfect IV Pokémon truly shines in the Master League, as Combat Power (CP) is determined by three stats.
To uncover a Pokémon’s IVs, catching it first is essential. Yet with a little pre-event planning, you can identify a perfect Ponyta by simply checking its CP value:
- Level 30 (wild CP maximum): 1455 CP
- Level 35 (weather-boosted wild CP maximum): 1576 CP
Keep in mind that these values align with your Trainer Level until reaching Level 30. If you’re below this level, you’ll see different values.
When it comes to the Great and Ultra Leagues, the focus is on achieving the highest level without exceeding the CP caps (1500 for Great League and 2500 for Ultra League). Typically, the strongest Pokémon in these leagues have low attack but high defense.
If you’re contemplating using Rapidash in Go Battle League, here are the optimal stats to aim for:
- A perfect Great League Rapidash is 0/13/15, reaching 1499 CP at Level 23.
- A perfect Ultra League Rapidash is 0/15/14, reaching 2495 CP at Level 47.
- A perfect Master League Rapidash is 15/15/15, achieving 2782 CP at Level 50.
The Evolution of Galarian Ponyta
The Galarian Ponyta exemplifies a unique design approach, being a Psychic-type pony donned in pink and sparkles. There’s a fascinating backstory to this Pokémon as Galar is inspired by the UK, hinting that Galarian Ponyta may be based on the Shetland pony. Given that the national animal of Scotland is the unicorn—a concept that is actualized in Kantonian Rapidash—the design merges these intriguing elements.
Galarian Ponyta evolves into Galarian Rapidash using 50 Ponyta Candy in Pokémon Go. Galarian Rapidash features a more pronounced unicorn aesthetic and has an impressive presence with its glamorous mane.
Noteworthy Moves and Recommendations
While Galarian Rapidash may not be the top choice for competitive play, if you choose to incorporate it into your Go Battle League roster, consider utilizing the moves Fairy Wind (Fast), Wild Charge (Charged), and Body Slam (Charged). This configuration can apply pressure effectively, although it also comes with its limitations.
In the Great League, it can overcome Pokémon like Malamar and Azumarill but struggles against others, such as Serperior. In Ultra League, it can defeat Golisopod but faces boundaries against formidable foes.
The Allure of Shiny Pokémon
A major highlight of any Community Day is the chance to encounter shiny variations of the featured Pokémon, thanks to the elevated shiny rate during the event. Shiny Ponyta, released in May 2018, boasts an appealing aesthetic, while shiny Galarian Ponyta offers a delightful cream and green color scheme.
For those keen to evolve shiny Galarian Ponyta after the event, you have until 10 PM (local time) to do so while ensuring it retains an exclusive move.
Additional Community Day Bonuses
Community Days usually come with an array of appealing bonuses, and September’s Community Day is no exception. Here’s a summary of some exciting perks:
- Increased Pokémon spawns
- Enhanced shiny rates
- Double catch candy
- Triple catch Stardust
- Extended duration for incense and lures
- Special Research and Field Research tasks
- An additional special trade allowed for the day
- Evolving during the event grants an exclusive move
The Galarian Ponyta Community Day runs from 2 PM to 5 PM (local time), offering three hours to stock up on Ponyta Candy and enhance your Pokémon collection!
Wishing everyone the best of luck during Ponyta’s Community Day and good fortune in finding that perfect shiny!