Get ready, Trainers! On November 25th, Pokémon GO brings back the electrifying Mareep Community Day Classic, where Mareep will swarm the wild from 2 PM to 5 PM local time, offering a rare chance to catch shiny Mareep and evolve Flaaffy into an Ampharos with the powerful Dragon Pulse attack. With exclusive Special Research, extended Lure and Incense durations, and 1/4 egg hatch distance, this event charges up your gameplay like never before.
How do I catch a shiny Mareep?
To catch a shiny Mareep in Pokémon Go, the best opportunity is during the Mareep Community Day Classic event, when Mareep spawn rates are significantly boosted, increasing your chances of encountering a shiny variant. During the event, Mareep will appear more frequently in the wild, and using items like Incense and Lure Modules, especially in rainy weather, can further increase spawn rates. Additionally, completing special Research tasks tied to the event can reward encounters with Mareep that have a chance to be shiny. It is recommended to catch as many Mareep as possible during the event to maximize your chances, as shiny Mareep are rare even with boosted odds. Bringing plenty of Great Balls and Ultra Balls will help secure your catch, and evolving Mareep during the event grants Ampharos the exclusive move Dragon Pulse.
As per old research by the now-defunct website The Silph Road (via Wayback Machine), Shiny rates on Community Days are about 1 in 24, which means that if you keep playing throughout the three-hour window, you should find quite a few shiny Pokémon.

If you’re short on time or Poké Balls, you can pop an Incense, then quickly tap each Mareep to check for shiny ones, running from any that aren’t shiny. Notably, any Mareep you’ve already tapped will face where your player is standing, so that should help identify which ones you may have already checked.
What Community Day move does Mareep’s evolution learn?
During the Mareep Community Day Classic event in Pokémon Go, evolving Flaaffy into Ampharos between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. local time grants Ampharos the exclusive charged move Dragon Pulse. This Dragon-type attack deals 90 power in Trainer Battles, Gyms, and Raids, reflecting Ampharos’s Mega Evolution’s Dragon typing. However, while Dragon Pulse is a unique Community Day move for Ampharos, it is generally considered less effective compared to other Dragon-type moves for PvP or raids.

If you evolve Flaaffy into Ampharos from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. in your local time, it will learn the charged move Dragon Pulse.
If you miss out on evolving it during this period, you will likely be able to evolve it during a Community Day weekend event in December to get Dragon Pulse. If you don’t want to wait, you can use an Elite TM to get the move.
How good is Mareep’s evolution Ampharos in the meta?
Ampharos, Mareep’s final evolution, holds a modest position in the current Pokémon GO meta. With a maximum CP of 3225 and a solid attack stat of 211, Ampharos can perform decently in raids, especially if you lack stronger Electric-type options. Its best moveset includes Volt Switch and Brutal Swing, which provide balanced damage output. However, Ampharos struggles as a gym defender due to its relatively low bulk and is outclassed by many Electric-type Pokémon in both PvP and raid scenarios. To maximize its potential, Mega Evolving Ampharos is recommended, as Mega Ampharos boasts significantly higher stats and a strong moveset, making it a top-tier Electric-type attacker in raids, though it cannot be used in gyms. Overall, while Ampharos is not a top contender in the meta, it remains a viable choice for collectors and those seeking a nostalgic or specialized Electric-type option.

Ampharos is actually decent now, especially because of its Mega Evolution. It’s still behind some Shadow Pokémon like Raikou, and Legendaries like Zekrom, but it’s still worth grabbing if you have the Mega Energy. Give your Mega Ampharos Volt Switch and Zap Cannon to pack the most punch.
Without the Mega form, for most players, Ampharos sees little use in PvE (raids and gyms) content when so many other better electric Pokémon are available. For newer players, however, this Community Day is a good opportunity to get one or two decent electric attackers to round out a PvE team, especially if you’re willing to put in the time to get enough Candy and XL Candy to level them up fully.
In PvE (Battle League), meanwhile, Ampharos has some application in the current Ultra League meta, in part due to its ability to use fighting-type charged move Brutal Swing, which can throw a curveball against players not expecting it against their line-ups. This reddit reply started by CatchAmongUs goes into more detail for those looking for an alternative Battle League pick.
How do I make the most of Mareep Community Day?
To make the most of Mareep Community Day Classic in Pokémon GO, focus on maximizing your catches during the event window from 2 PM to 5 PM local time. Prioritize evolving Flaaffy into Ampharos during or up to two hours after the event to get the exclusive Charged Attack Dragon Pulse, which is powerful in battles and raids. Purchase the $1 Special Research ticket to access exclusive tasks and rewards, including guaranteed encounters with Mareep, Flaaffy, and Ampharos, and a chance for shiny variants. Take advantage of event bonuses like 1/4 egg hatch distance, extended Incense and Lure durations, and increased Mareep spawns. Prepare by clearing at least 300 Pokémon storage slots and stocking up on Great and Ultra Balls (around 500 to 750 total) to handle the high catch volume. Playing in areas with many PokéStops will help replenish resources. Also, snap AR photos during the event for a fun Mareep photobomb surprise.

The following bonuses will be active during Mareep Community Day:
- 1⁄4 hatch distance for eggs placed into Incubators during the event
- Incense lasts three hours
- Lure Modules lasts three hours
- Mareep special photobombs when taking snapshots
That said, you should definitely place your eggs into Incubators and pop an Incense and try to nab some powerful Mareep.
Other ways to get more out of the event include:
- Paying $1 (or the regional equivalent) for a themed Special Research story, featuring additional spawns and Candy, as well as a short storyline to complete that adds extra structure to your afternoon.
- If you can Mega Evolve Ampharos or Manectric, or Primal Reversion Kyogre, you’ll score additional Mareep Candy per catch.
How can I maximize my rewards during the Mareep Community Day Classic
To maximize your rewards during the Mareep Community Day Classic in Pokémon GO, follow these key strategies:
-
Purchase and Complete the Special Research: For $1 (or local equivalent), unlock the exclusive Special Research with four steps to complete within 5 hours. Each step involves tasks like catching Mareep, making Nice or Curveball throws, evolving Mareep, and powering up Pokémon. Completing all steps grants multiple rewards including guaranteed encounters with Mareep, Flaaffy, and Ampharos (potentially shiny), along with items such as Rocket Radar, Incubators, Rare Candy, and XP boosts.
-
Focus on Catching Mareep Efficiently: Aim to catch many Mareep-over 300 catches are typical. Stock up on 500 to 750 Poké Balls, prioritizing Great Balls and Ultra Balls for higher catch rates and fewer failed attempts.
-
Use Event Bonuses: Take advantage of event bonuses like increased wild Mareep spawns, 1/4 egg hatch distance, and extended Incense and Lure Module durations (3 hours each, excluding some types) to maximize encounters and hatch more eggs during the event.
-
Complete Field Research Tasks: Alongside Special Research, complete Community Day Classic-themed Field Research by catching Mareep to earn rewards such as Stardust, Great Balls, Pinap Berries, and additional Mareep encounters.
-
Utilize Berries Judiciously: While Berries can help catch Mareep, the event’s high spawn rate means you don’t need to overuse them, conserving resources for more challenging catches.
-
Work on Medals and Bonuses: Use Lure Modules in busy areas to help earn medals like Picnicker and Rocker by catching many Pokémon, and take snapshots to progress Cameraman medal. Evolving extra small or large Mareep can also help with collector medals and provide extra candy for evolutions.
By combining these tactics-completing the Special Research, catching efficiently with ample balls, leveraging event bonuses, and completing Field Research-you’ll maximize your rewards and fully capitalize on the Mareep Community Day Classic.
What are the most efficient tasks to complete for extra rewards during the event
The most efficient tasks to complete for extra rewards during the Mareep Community Day Classic are those that can be stacked and completed simultaneously, focusing on catching Mareep and related throwing tasks. Prioritize tasks that reward Pokémon encounters, Stardust, or rare items like Rare Candies and Silver Pinap Berries, as these provide the most value. Specifically:
-
Catching tasks such as “Catch 7 Pokémon,” “Catch 10 Pokémon,” or “Catch 5 different species” are efficient because they align with the high Mareep spawn rate and can be completed quickly.
-
Throwing tasks like “Make 3 Great Curveball Throws” or “Make 5 Nice Throws” can be combined with catching Mareep to maximize progress.
-
Avoid tasks that reward common items like berries or Poké Balls unless you need them, as they are often less valuable and waste space.
-
Stack similar or easy-to-complete tasks to finish multiple objectives at once, saving time and effort.
-
Save walking-based tasks for Adventure Sync to complete passively during the event.
By focusing on these types of tasks, you efficiently earn extra rewards such as Stardust, XP, and useful items while maximizing your Mareep catches during the event.
