Lechonk Community Day: Get Ready for a Pink Pig Pandemic (and Some Surprisingly Useful Mud Slap!)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Pokémon Go's Lechonk Community Day on May 9th promises a flood of shiny pink pigs and bountiful bonuses like double catch candy and reduced egg hatch distance. Don't miss evolving Oinkologne (especially the female) with its PvP-relevant Mud Slap move, making it a surprisingly strong contender for your Great and Ultra League teams!
Alright, mates, buckle up because it's time to talk about the adorable, the chunky, the utterly pink Lechonk! Pokémon Go is rolling out the red carpet (or perhaps, a muddy path?) for this little Paldean piggie on **Saturday, May 9th, from 2-5 p.m. local time**. If you've ever dreamt of an army of shiny pink swine, well, your very specific wishes are about to come true.
As per usual for a Community Day, Lechonk's gonna be spawning like it's auditioning for a pig-themed apocalypse, and yes, those coveted shiny rates will be cranked right up. Julia Lee over at Polygon has the lowdown, and I'm here to sprinkle some wizardly insight on how to make the most of this porcine party.
### How to Conjure a Shiny Lechonk (The Art of Digital Pig Hunting)
So, how does one actually *conjure* a shiny Lechonk? Fair dinkum, it's mostly about persistence, mate. Old research from the legendary (and sadly, now-defunct, thanks Wayback Machine for the memories!) The Silph Road used to peg Community Day shiny rates at roughly 1 in 24. That means if you're tapping away for the full three hours, you're practically guaranteed to run into a few of these glittering bacon bits.
Now, here's a curious little wrinkle: Lechonk’s evolved form, Oinkologne, actually looks different depending on whether it’s male or female. So, if you're a completionist (or just a collector of cute digital pigs), you might want to try and snag both a male and female shiny.
Short on time, or perhaps your Poké Ball stash is looking a bit… thin? Pop an Incense, then do the quick tap-and-run trick. See a Lechonk, tap it to check for sparkle, and if it's not the shiny you're after, flee like a startled Gengar. A neat little trick: any Lechonk you've already tapped will turn to face your player, which is pretty handy for keeping track in the chaos. Clever, eh?
### The All-Important Community Day Move: Mud Slap
Now, what about the special move? If you evolve your Lechonk into Oinkologne between **2 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time** on May 9th, it’ll learn the fast move **Mud Slap**. Missed the window? Don't panic! You'll likely get another shot during the big Community Day recap weekend in December. Or, if you're feeling particularly flush with resources (or just impatient), an Elite TM can sort you out. It's always a bit of a strategic choice, isn't it? Do you wait, or do you blow the big one for instant gratification?
### Oinkologne in the Meta: Surprisingly Posh Porka for PvP
Right, the million-dollar question: is Oinkologne actually *good*? With its shiny new Mud Slap, the **female Oinkologne** apparently steps up quite nicely in both **Great League and Ultra League PvP**. The wizards at Polygon suggest setting her up with Mud Slap, Body Slam, and Trailblaze for maximum oomph.
However, for raids and gyms (PvE, for the uninitiated)? The original article doesn't mince words: "forget about these pigs. They have no use here." Ouch. A bit harsh, perhaps, but fair dinkum, not every Pokémon can be a raid boss slayer. It's always interesting how some Pokémon find their niche purely in PvP, while others are just glorified gym defenders. Makes you wonder about the balance, doesn't it?
### Maximizing Your Piggy Plunder: Bonuses Galore!
So, how do we, as master trainers (or at least enthusiastic digital pig wranglers), make the absolute most of this three-hour window of chaos?
* **Egg-cellent Adventures:** Pop those eggs into incubators! You'll get a sweet **1/4 hatch distance** for anything placed during the event. * **Candy Galore:** Doubled candy for catching Pokémon – this is huge, especially for evolving multiple shiny Oinkologne. * **XL Candy Boost:** Trainers level 31+ get a double chance for XL candy, which is crucial for powering up those PvP beasts. * **Time-Warping Items:** Incense will last three hours (perfect for the whole event!), and Lure Modules will last an hour. * **Photo Ops:** Lechonk will photobomb your snapshots, because who doesn't want an unexpected pig in their selfies? * **Trading Shenanigans:** One additional special trade, and halved Stardust cost for trading. Great for swapping shinies with your mates! * **Mega Boost:** If you can Mega Evolve Pidgeot, Kangaskhan, Lopunny, or Audino, you'll score even *more* Lechonk Candy per catch. Always thinking, Niantic. * **Lure Module Extended Play:** This is a neat little bonus that's been popping up recently. From 2-9 p.m. (yes, *past* the main event window!), Lechonk will appear more often at lured PokéStops. So, if you're chasing that last shiny, or just want more candy, keep those Lure Modules burning!
So, yeah, load up those Incubators, light an Incense, and get ready to tap! This Lechonk Community Day, as chronicled by Julia Lee for Polygon, looks like a proper opportunity for some serious shiny hunting and a decent PvP pickup. Just remember, not every Pokémon is a winner in every battle, and that's perfectly alright. Go forth, trainers, and may your shiny odds be ever in your favor!
Tags: Pokemon Go, Community Day, Mobile Gaming, Shiny Hunting, PvP
Original article: Polygon