Lechonk's Moment in the Sun: Is May's Pokémon GO Community Day a Pig Deal or Just More Bacon?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
May's Pokémon GO Community Day is set to feature Lechonk, the charming Paldean Hog Pokémon, offering trainers the chance to hunt its shiny form and teach its evolution, Oinkologne, the new Fast Attack Mud Slap, alongside a host of useful bonuses. It might not be a meta-shaker, but it’s a solid chance to add a delightful new face to your collection and enjoy some classic GO fun.
Right, so I've been rummaging through the digital tea leaves this morning, and it seems Niantic's spilled the beans on May's Pokémon GO Community Day. And honestly, mate, it's... well, it's Lechonk. Yeah, you heard me. Lechonk. The little Paldean hog Pokémon that probably introduced you to *Scarlet and Violet* with its adorable, slightly bewildered face.
Now, you know that feeling when you're brewing a potion, and you're not quite sure if it'll be a grand elixir or just a slightly sparkly puddle? That's kinda how I feel about this one. After April's Tinkatink bash – which, let's be fair, gave us a pretty snazzy Steel/Fairy type that actually has some play – Lechonk feels... different. A change of pace, perhaps? Or maybe Niantic's just really leaning into the "Paldea early-game roster" vibe for a bit.
Derek Nichols over at Game Rant – bless his digital heart, digging through these announcements like a veteran archaeologist – gave us the rundown, confirming that on **Saturday, May 9th, from 2-5 PM local time**, we'll all be chasing after the Hog Pokémon. And let's be honest, who *doesn't* want to spend a Saturday afternoon chasing hogs? (Metaphorical ones, of course. Don't go disturbing any actual livestock, folks.)
Lechonk, for those who skipped *Scarlet & Violet* (and seriously, what were you *doing*?), is a Normal-type. A jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none kind of chap, if you will. Resistant to Ghost, weak only to Fighting. It evolves into Oinkologne, which, fun fact, actually has different designs for male and female variants. The males get that cool, slightly emo hair covering their eyes, while the females have shorter ears and a different tail. It's a nice touch, a bit of character for our porcine pals.
But what does this all mean for us, the intrepid Pokémon GO trainers, out there actually *playing the game*? Well, the main draw, as ever, is the chance to bag a shiny. A pink shiny Lechonk? Fair dinkum, that's got a certain charm to it. And then, of course, the evolution. Evolve Lechonk into Oinkologne during the event (or up to four hours after, for the procrastinators among us) and it'll learn the special Fast Attack, **Mud Slap**.
Now, this is where my curiosity starts to bubble a bit. Mud Slap. Eleven power against trainers, nineteen in raids and gym battles. Is it a game-changer? Probably not going to make Oinkologne a meta superstar, if I'm being brutally honest. Normal-types often struggle to find their niche in PvP due to type neutrality and often lack super-effective coverage. But hey, it adds to its movepool, right? Maybe there's some wild, unexpected synergy I'm not seeing yet. (My digital wizard brain is constantly asking "what if?") It's always worth experimenting, mate, you never know what hidden gems you'll uncover. Perhaps it'll be a surprisingly bulky choice in certain limited cups for its sheer tankiness, soaking up damage while chipping away. A scrappy underdog, maybe? I can dig that.
Beyond the pig itself, Community Day always brings a treasure trove of bonuses, and May is no exception. We're looking at a delightful **1/4 Egg Hatch Distance**, which is always a boon for those of us trying to clear out our egg queues. Then there's **double candy for catching Pokémon** – essential for getting those evolutions and power-ups sorted. A **three-hour Incense timer** and **double the chance at finding Candy XL** (for trainers above level 31) are solid perks for the dedicated grinders. And, as expected, using a regular Lure at a PokéStop will crank up the Lechonk spawns and, more importantly, increase those shiny odds.
My gentle skepticism, however, always perks up when I see the mention of "special research available from Pokémon GO's in-game store." Look, I get it, Niantic's gotta keep the lights on and the servers humming, but there's a part of me that always wonders if these little paywalls detract from the "community" aspect of Community Day. Are we buying access to a slightly better experience, or just supporting the game? It's a fine line, isn't it? Still, for the true completionists and those who fancy a bit more structure to their shiny hunt, it's there.
So, Lechonk for May. Is it the most exciting Community Day Pokémon we've ever seen? Perhaps not a top-tier raid attacker or a PvP behemoth that will shake up the rankings. But you know what? It's *Lechonk*. It's a charming, chunky addition from a recent generation. It brings a fresh face to the shiny hunt, and the bonuses are undeniably helpful for anyone looking to build up their resources.
Niantic often cycles through different types of Pokémon for Community Day, sometimes giving us meta-relevant monsters, other times highlighting fan favorites or simply filling out the Pokedex. This feels like the latter, a chance to really dig into a Paldean friend and maybe, just maybe, discover a hidden gem in Oinkologne. It reminds me a bit of when they featured less 'flashy' Pokémon; it makes you actually *look* at the creature, rather than just dismiss it as "not powerful enough." There's beauty in that, I reckon.
Before May rolls around, remember we've still got plenty cooking in April. Meltan's returning, Orthworm is debuting, and we're seeing Gigantamax versions of the Kanto starters and Gengar – which is always a bloody good time! Niantic's certainly keeping us busy.
So, while Lechonk might not blow a hole through the meta like a rogue spell, it's a solid, wholesome Community Day. It's an invitation to get out there, enjoy the game, and perhaps add a very adorable, very shiny pig to your collection. Sometimes, mate, the unexpected, slightly chaotic choices are the most fun. Let's embrace the porky possibilities!
Tags: Pokemon GO, Community Day, Niantic, Lechonk, Mobile Gaming
Original article: Game Rant