Pokemon Go is kicking off 2026 with a nostalgic throwback—the Piplup Community Day Classic event is coming this January! If you missed the original Community Day featuring Sinnoh’s adorable Water-type starter, now’s your chance to catch up and snag some Shiny Piplup while you’re at it.
Community Day Classic events are special because they revisit fan-favorite Pokemon from previous years. This time, the spotlight’s on Piplup, the Penguin Pokemon that stole hearts when Gen 4 launched. Sure, it’s cute, but trainers really love its final evolution—Empoleon, a powerful Water/Steel dual-type that can absolutely dominate in both PvE and PvP content.
Let’s break down everything you need to know to make the most of this three-hour event.
Piplup Community Day Classic: Date & Time
Mark your calendars! The Pokemon Go January 2026 Community Day Classic featuring Piplup kicks off on:
- Date: Sunday, January 4, 2026
- Start Time: 2:00 PM local time
- End Time: 5:00 PM local time
- Duration: 3 hours
Since this is a short event, you’ll want to log in during this window to maximize your catches, bonuses, and chances of finding a Shiny Piplup. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out on those sparkly water penguins.
Pro tip: The event bonuses run from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, but you’ll have until 9:00 PM local time on January 4th to evolve your Piplup into Empoleon and get the exclusive move. More on that below.
Featured Attack: Hydro Cannon for Empoleon
Here’s the main reason you’ll want to grind this event—Hydro Cannon. When you evolve Piplup all the way to Empoleon during (or shortly after) the event, it’ll automatically learn this devastating Charged Move.
Hydro Cannon Stats
| Move | Trainer Battle | Gym and Raids |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro Cannon | 80 power | 90 power |
Hydro Cannon is one of the best Water-type Charged Moves in the game. It charges quickly, hits hard, and makes Empoleon a serious threat in both PvP and raids. If you’re into competitive battling or just want a reliable Water-type attacker, this is a must-have.
Evolution Requirements
To get your Hydro Cannon Empoleon, you’ll need:
- 25 Piplup Candy to evolve Piplup into Prinplup
- 100 Piplup Candy to evolve Prinplup into Empoleon
Important: You can only get Hydro Cannon if you complete the evolution between 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM local time on January 4, 2026. Don’t wait until the next day, or you’ll miss the exclusive move window.
Special Research: Piplup Community Day Classic Tasks
For just $1.99 USD (or your local currency equivalent), you can purchase a paid Special Research ticket that offers additional rewards like Premium Battle Passes, Rare Candy XL, extra Piplup encounters, and more.
Here’s a full breakdown of the Special Research tasks and rewards:
Piplup Special Research (1/3)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 3 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 5 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 7 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Make 7 Nice Throws | x20 Ultra Ball |
| Make 5 Great Throws | x1 Star Piece |
| Make 5 Curve Balls | x1 Incense |
Completion Rewards: Piplup encounter, x50 Piplup Candy, x50 Piplup Candy XL
Piplup Special Research (2/3)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 3 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 5 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 7 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Use 3 Berries to catch a Pokemon | x20 Ultra Ball |
| Use 5 Berries to catch a Pokemon | x1 Charged TM |
| Use 7 Berries to catch a Pokemon | x1 Silver Pinap Berry |
Completion Rewards: Piplup encounter, x750 Stardust, x3 Rare Candy
Piplup Special Research (3/3)
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 3 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 5 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 10 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
| Spin 3 PokeStops or Gym Photo Discs | x20 Ultra Ball |
| Spin 4 PokeStops or Gym Photo Discs | x1 Rocket Radar |
| Explore 1km | x1 Premium Battle Pass |
Completion Rewards: Piplup encounter, x1000 XP, x1 Rare Candy XL
Important Notes About Special Research
- Tickets are non-refundable, so make sure you can commit the time to complete everything during the event window.
- You can gift tickets to friends, but only if you’ve reached Great Friends or higher friendship level with them.
- The Special Research tasks are straightforward, but completing all three stages will net you tons of Piplup Candy, Candy XL, and other goodies.
Event Bonuses You Don’t Want to Miss
Community Day Classic events always come with sweet bonuses, and this Piplup event is no exception. Here’s what you’ll get:
- 1/4 Egg Hatch Distance – Any Eggs placed in Incubators during the event will hatch four times faster. Perfect for clearing out your Egg inventory.
- 3-Hour Incense Duration – Regular Incense (not Daily Adventure Incense) will last the full three hours if activated during the event.
- Snapshot Surprise – Take a few snapshots during Community Day for a special surprise encounter.
- 1-Hour Lure Modules – Lure Modules activated during the event will last for one hour and may attract Piplup.
Most bonuses are active from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, but some (like the evolution window) extend until 9:00 PM local time.
Field Research Tasks & Rewards
Even if you don’t buy the paid Special Research ticket, you can still complete free Field Research tasks during the event. These tasks reward Stardust, Great Balls, Ultra Balls, Pinap Berries, and—most importantly—more Piplup encounters.
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 3 Piplup | Piplup encounter, x5 Great Ball, x2 Ultra Ball, x2 Pinap Berry, x500 Stardust |
| Catch 5 Pokemon while in a party | Piplup encounter |
| Catch 50 Pokemon | Piplup encounter |
Lucky trainers might even find Field Research that leads to Piplup encounters with a Special Background, which is a nice collectible bonus.
PokeStop Showcases
As with most Community Day events, PokeStop Showcases will pop up at various PokeStops around your area. Keep an eye out for them so you can enter event-themed competitions and show off your best catches.
Ultra Community Day Box (Web Store Exclusive)
Starting January 1, 2026, at 10:00 AM local time, you can purchase the Ultra Community Day Box from the Pokemon Go Web Store for $1.99 USD (or equivalent local pricing).
The box includes:
- x5 Ultra Ball
- x1 Special Research Ticket
This is basically the same price as buying the Special Research ticket alone, but you get five Ultra Balls thrown in for free. If you were planning to buy the ticket anyway, this is a no-brainer deal.
How to Prepare for Piplup Community Day Classic
Want to absolutely crush this event? Here’s a quick prep checklist:
- Stock up on Ultra Balls – You’ll be catching a ton of Piplup, so make sure you have enough balls to keep up.
- Save Lure Modules – They’ll last for one hour during the event, so pop them at high-traffic PokeStops.
- Purchase Incense – Regular Incense will last three hours if activated during the event, making it perfect for trainers playing from home.
- Clear Pokemon Storage – Transfer any unwanted Pokemon in advance to make room for all the Piplup you’ll be catching.
- Check Event Bonuses – Review the bonuses above so you can take full advantage of things like reduced Egg hatch distance.
- Plan Your Route – If you’re heading out, scout PokeStops and Gyms in advance to maximize your efficiency.
Pro tip: If you’re serious about hunting Shiny Piplup, consider playing with a group. Not only is it more fun, but you can also complete party-based Field Research tasks and share tips on spawn locations.
Future Community Days & Past Community Day Classic Events
Announced Community Days
Here are the upcoming Community Days that have already been confirmed:
- January 18, 2026: Grookey
- February 1, 2026: TBD
Previous Community Day Classic Headliners
If you’re curious about what other Pokemon have been featured in past Community Day Classic events, here’s the complete list:
| Date | Pokemon | Exclusive Move |
|---|---|---|
| January 22, 2022 | Bulbasaur | Frenzy Plant |
| April 10, 2022 | Mudkip | Hydro Cannon |
| November 5, 2022 | Dratini | Draco Meteor |
| January 21, 2023 | Larvitar | Smack Down |
| April 29, 2023 | Swinub | Ancient Power |
| July 9, 2023 | Squirtle | Hydro Cannon |
| September 2, 2023 | Charmander | Blast Burn |
| November 25, 2023 | Mareep | Dragon Pulse |
| January 20, 2024 | Porygon | Tri Attack |
| April 7, 2024 | Bagon | Outrage |
| June 22, 2024 | Cyndaquil | Blast Burn |
| August 18, 2024 | Beldum | Meteor Mash |
| January 25, 2025 | Ralts | Synchronoise |
| March 22, 2025 | Totodile | Hydro Cannon |
| May 24, 2025 | Machop | Payback |
| July 5–6, 2025 | Eevee | Last Resort / Scald / Zap Cannon / Superpower / Shadow Ball / Psychic / Bullet Seed / Water Pulse / Psyshock |
As you can see, Piplup joins a pretty impressive roster of classic Pokemon. If you missed the original Piplup Community Day, this is your second chance—don’t blow it!
FAQ: Piplup Community Day Classic
Can I still get Hydro Cannon if I evolve my Piplup after 5:00 PM?
Yes! You have until 9:00 PM local time on January 4, 2026 to evolve your Piplup into Empoleon and get Hydro Cannon. Just don’t wait until the next day.
Is the Special Research ticket worth buying?
If you’re planning to play for the full three hours, absolutely. You’ll get tons of Piplup Candy, Candy XL, Rare Candy, a Premium Battle Pass, and more—all for $1.99. Plus, the Ultra Community Day Box on the Web Store gives you five Ultra Balls for the same price.
Can I find Shiny Piplup during this event?
Yes! Shiny Piplup will have boosted spawn rates during the three-hour event window. Your odds are much better during Community Day Classic compared to regular gameplay.
Will Piplup spawns continue after 5:00 PM?
No. Once the event ends at 5:00 PM local time, Piplup spawns will return to normal rates. However, you can still evolve your Piplup until 9:00 PM to get Hydro Cannon.
There you have it—everything you need to dominate the Pokemon Go Piplup Community Day Classic on January 4, 2026. Whether you’re chasing Shiny Piplup, building a competitive Empoleon, or just stocking up on Candy XL, this event has something for everyone.
Looking for more gaming content? Check out our coverage of Diablo 4 Season 11’s Potion System Problems or learn about how Grand Theft Auto Tokyo almost happened at Rockstar.
Now get out there, Trainer—those Shiny Piplup aren’t going to catch themselves!
