Niantic has a special and nostalgic surprise for Pokémon Go players and fans of the Pokémon anime next Community Day. Players who participate in Field Research tasks on July 8 will be able to encounter and capture Squirtles wearing sunglasses.
Community Day is a recurring event in Pokémon Go where players can participate in special events and collect exclusive rewards. This particular Community Day offers 1/4 egg hatching distance, 3-hour lures, and the ability to catch Blastoise with the exclusive move Hydro Cannon. Perhaps the most interesting reward though is the ability to catch Squirtle, the Generation 1 water-type starter Pokémon, sporting sweet shades.
This event will likely be a nostalgic surprise for some. In Episode 12 of the Pokémon anime, the main characters encounter a gang of mean Squirtle who love tagging walls, being overall jerks, and wearing sunglasses indoors. They’re led by another Squirtle, this one wearing an even cooler pair of angular sunglasses, because angles are cool. In the end, Ash Ketchum manages to befriend their leader, who takes off his shades and becomes a member of Ash’s Pokémon roster. The Squirtle Squad, as they were called, made some cameo appearances in future episodes.
This event also marks the first time a Community Day event allows players to catch a Pokémon in costume other than franchise mascot Pikachu. We’ve seen Pikachu in a variety of hats, including a trainer hat, a Santa hat, and a party hat. That’s all well and good making a cute character look even cuter, but this event will let another Pokémon get to play dress up, and do so in a very cool and nostalgic fashion.
The Community Day event will take place July 8. It runs from 2pm to 5pm Eastern or 11am to 2pm Pacific.