Pokémon Go Piplup Community Day Guide: Shiny, Evolution & How to Get

Part 1. When Does Piplup Return in Pokémon Go?

Niantic has officially confirmed that the beloved Sinnoh starter will return in a special upcoming event called the Piplup Community Day Classic.

In this event, trainers from all over the world will get boosted opportunities to encounter this Penguin Pokémon, including much better shots at shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go and other exciting bonuses, as explained below.

Piplup Community Day Date & Time

The Piplup Community Day Classic event is set for January 4, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time .

During these hours, Piplup in Pokémon Go will appear in high numbers everywhere, making it easier to find and catch.

Event Bonuses

During the event, players will enjoy the following bonuses:

• 1/4 Hatch Distance for eggs placed in incubators.
• 3-hour Incense duration (not including Daily Adventure Incense).
• 1-hour Lure Modules.
• Snapshots with fun surprises!

Note that, even after the event hours, Piplup will still be attracted to PokéStops with regular Lure Modules until 9:00 p.m., all the while with increased spawn rates and shiny chances!

And that’s not all. If you manage to obtain the Piplup final evolution, Empoleon in Pokémon Go, anywhere from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., it will know the Hydro Cannon charged attack!

And as if that wasn’t enough, Field Research tasks will also reward you with items like Stardust, Great Balls, as well as guaranteed encounters with Piplup in Pokémon Go, among many other rewards!

Where to Find Piplup in Pokémon Go?

Wild Encounter

• During the event hours, Piplup will spawn frequently in the wild.
• Look around parks, streets, or areas with many trainers to get more encounters, including with shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go!

Community Day Special Research

• During Piplup Community Day, you can purchase a Special Research ticket for US$1.99
• It gives guaranteed encounters with Piplup, 3 of which will have a Special Background.

Hatch from Eggs

• Piplup in Pokémon Go is not part of the current Egg Pool (Dec 2025 – March 2026)
• Therefore, you cannot get it from hatching eggs during or after the event.

Lure Modules

• Activating Lure Modules at PokéStops will attract Piplup in great numbers.
• This bonus extends even after the event hours, up until 9:00 p.m.

Is Piplup Shiny in Pokémon Go?

Yes! Piplup is already available as a shiny variant in the game. During the Piplup Community Day, your chances of encountering a shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go are much higher!

In fact, the odds of getting a shiny Piplup are 1 in 20.

Part 2. How to Get Shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go Without Moving?

Piplup Community Day kicks off January 4, 2026, at 2 PM. But if you’re sick or catch a cold before or during the event, you’ll miss your chance to catch Shiny Piplup in Pokémon GO — and it’s easy to feel upset about it, since this penguin Pokémon doesn’t get featured this often. No need to worry, though, with PoGoskill on your side!

PoGoskill is a Pokémon Go spoofer app. With just a tap of a finger, it lets you teleport to any location on the world map, safely and securely. With PoGoskill, you can also create customized routes and simulate natural walking speeds on them. To further streamline your spoofing experience, you can use the built-in virtual joystick to move however you like, wherever you like!

Key Features include

• Auto-Spin PokeStops : Collects useful items from nearby PokeStops to aid you in the Piplup Community Day event.

• 1-Click Teleport : Instantly teleport to any location with just a click or finger tap.

• Bluetooth Connectivity : After the first wired pairing, PoGoskill seamlessly connects with your devices via Bluetooth.

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How to Use PoGoskill

• Step 1Click on the Download button above and install PoGoskill.

  

• Step 2Connect your device and choose “Game Mode”.

  

• Step 3Locate a high IV Pokémon location on the PoGo map, then hit "Start to Modify", move around to encounter shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go in the wild or through Special/Field Research tasks.

  

Part 3. How Does Piplup Evolve in Pokémon Go? Full Evolution Line!

Piplup in Pokémon Go follows a simple three-stage evolution line. If you plan to invest Candy and time, understanding the Piplup evolution is important, especially if your goal is to use Empoleon in Pokémon Go battles or PvP leagues.

Here’s what you need to know.

How to Evolve Piplup into Empoleon?

Piplup first evolves into Prinplup using 25 Piplup candy. After that, you need 100 more candies to reach its final form, Empoleon.

Empoleon in Pokémon Go is the Piplup final evolution. You don’t need any special items to achieve this evolution.

Fortunately, during the upcoming Piplup Community Day event on January 4, getting enough Piplup candy is much easier thanks to frequent spawns and bonuses.

Is It Worth Evolving Piplup in Pokémon Go?

Piplup is a fan-favorite, but is its evolution worth the investment? To find out if Empoleon is truly a competitive Water/Steel powerhouse, we need to analyze its stats, movesets, and performance in the current meta.

Empoleon's Stats & Max CP

Empoleon is a Water/Steel-type Pokémon with solid overall stats. At Level 50, Empoleon in Pokémon Go reaches a Max CP of around 3,279 with the following base stats:

• Attack: 210
• Defense: 186
• Stamina: 197

The above stats make Empoleon useful in both raids and PvP. Its Steel typing gives it many resistances, though you do need to keep Empoleon’s weaknesses in mind.

Empoleon's Best Moveset in PvP & PvE

In PvP

• Empoleon Best Moveset: Metal Claw (Fast) + Hydro Cannon (Charged)
• Hydro Cannon is a community day move and is very viable for Empoleon in Pokémon Go PvP.

In PvE

• Empoleon Best Moveset: Steel Wing (Fast) + Hydro Cannon (Charged)
• Steel Wing paired with Hydro Cannon gives solid damage and helps Empoleon break shields.

Empoleon's Battle Performance in PvP & PvE

In PvP

• In PvP, Empoleon performs well thanks to its high-DPS, low-energy move for Empoleon, Hydro Cannon, making it a strong closer or shield baiter
• Empoleon in Pokémon Go Great League performs especially well if it doesn’t face strong Electric, Fighting, or Ground types.

In PvE

• In PvE, Empoleon works best as a Water-type attacker, though it is not top-tier compared to legendary Pokémon.
• Steel Wing helps against Fairy and Rock types, while Hydro Cannon delivers consistent damage.

Part 4. How to Defeat Empoleon in Pokémon Go? 5 Best Counters

Empoleon in Pokémon Go can be tough because it’s a Water & Steel-type Pokémon, but it has clear weaknesses you can use to your advantage. Whether you face it in raids, gyms, or PvP, here are all Empoleon’s weaknesses and best counters that will help you win battles faster and save resources.

What Is Empoleon's Weakness?

Understanding Empoleon’s weakness is the key to defeating it. Empoleon’s Water and Steel typing means it is weak to:

• Electric-type moves
• Fighting-type moves
• Ground-type moves

Using Pokémon with these move types will help you win faster. Also, avoid using types that Empoleon resists, like Ice, Poison, or Steel moves, because they deal way less damage.

5 Top Pokémon Counters for Empoleon

To defeat Empoleon efficiently, you need to exploit its elemental weaknesses. We have compiled a list of the top five counters, focusing on their typing, optimal movesets, and why they are so effective in this specific matchup.

FAQs About Piplup Pokémon Go

Which Region Is Piplup From?

In Pokémon Go, Piplup’s region is Sinnoh, where it appears as one of the three starter Pokémons alongside Turtwig and Chimchar.

What Lure Attracts Piplup?

During the Piplup Community Day, Piplup can be attracted using a standard Lure Module. Outside of events, Glacial and Rainy modules can help attract Piplup in Pokémon Go.

Why Doesn't Costume Piplup Evolve?

Costume Piplup cannot evolve into Prinplup or Empoleon in Pokémon Go because special event Pokémon are locked in their base form.

How Rare Is a Shiny Piplup?

Outside of events, shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go is very rare. However, during the Piplup Community Day, shiny odds improve to 1 in 20.

Is Empoleon Good in The Great League?

Yes, Empoleon in Pokémon Go Great League is decent, thanks to Hydro Cannon and useful resistances, though it struggles against strong Ground and Fighting types.

Final Thoughts

With its return through Community Day Classic, now is the perfect time to hunt shiny Piplup in Pokémon Go. From early evolution to a strong Empoleon, this adorable Sinnoh starter is a strong addition to your team and also offers great collection value.

In case you can’t go outside during the event hours to find and catch Piplup, use PoGoskill Location Changer to play Pokémon Go from anywhere in the world and fully participate in the event!

You Might Be Interested In:

Piplup to Empoleon: Ultimate Guide to Evolving Your Pokemon Go Partner

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