Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix headline Pokémon Go’s February Community Day event, scheduled for Sunday, February 1, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. local time. Players can encounter shiny versions of both Pokémon and seek out ones with perfect 100% IV stats during this event. This marks the first dedicated Community Day for these fox-like Pokémon, complete with exclusive moves and various bonuses to enhance the experience. Even if Vulpix doesn’t appeal, the event offers triple Catch XP to help players level up faster.
How to Encounter Shiny Vulpix
Shiny Vulpix and shiny Alolan Vulpix have appeared in Pokémon Go for several years. The regular shiny Vulpix debuted in 2020 during the Seasons Change event, while its Alolan counterpart arrived in June 2019 for the third Anniversary celebration.
The standard Vulpix features an orange coat, evolving into the cream-colored Ninetales inspired by East Asian mythology. Its shiny form shifts to a dull greenish-yellow with lighter orange accents on the quiff and tails, but the shiny Ninetales shines with silver fur, lilac tail tips, and a red eye for a striking look.
Alolan Vulpix, a white snow fox, evolves into a bluish-white Alolan Ninetales. The shiny variant adds a subtle purple tint, with the evolved form adopting a more vivid pastel purple and red eye, though it remains understated.
Community Days boost shiny encounter rates for featured Pokémon like these Vulpix variants. Players can spin PokéStops and use Incense to increase spawns. Watch for the sparkle effect and shiny icon, especially in bright conditions, to spot them easily.
Finding Perfect IV Vulpix
This event provides an ideal opportunity to catch Vulpix or Alolan Vulpix with 15/15/15 IVs, perfect for a 4-star Pokédex entry, raids, or Master League battles. For trainers at Level 30 or higher, target these CP values:
- Level 30 wild maximum: 757 CP
- Level 35 weather-boosted wild maximum: 820 CP
Lower-level trainers will see adjusted CP ranges based on their progress.
Exclusive Community Day Moves
Both Vulpix forms gain unique moves upon evolution during the event or within four hours after. Evolving regular Vulpix to Ninetales unlocks Energy Ball, a strong Grass-type Charged attack. For Alolan Vulpix evolving to Alolan Ninetales, Chilling Water becomes available—a Water-type Charged attack that also reduces the opponent’s Attack stat.
Players should evolve high-IV candidates toward the event’s end to maximize potential.
Recommended Movesets for Ninetales
Ninetales performs adequately in PvP, with Alolan Ninetales edging out in Ultra League over Great League. The new moves don’t significantly alter their viability. Regular Ninetales benefits from Ember or Fire Spin as Fast Moves, paired with Weather Ball (Fire) and Overheat as Charged Moves.
Full moveset for Ninetales:
- Fast Moves: Ember (Fire), Fire Spin (Fire), Feint Attack (Dark)
- Charged Moves: Energy Ball (Grass), Fire Blast (Fire), Flamethrower (Fire), Heat Wave (Fire), Overheat (Fire), Psyshock (Psychic), Scorching Sands (Ground), Solar Beam (Grass), Weather Ball (Fire)
Alolan Ninetales uses Powder Snow as its primary Fast Move, with Weather Ball (Ice) and Dazzling Gleam for Charged options.
Full moveset for Alolan Ninetales:
- Fast Moves: Charm (Fairy), Feint Attack (Dark), Powder Snow (Ice)
- Charged Moves: Blizzard (Ice), Chilling Water (Water), Dazzling Gleam (Fairy), Ice Beam (Ice), Psyshock (Psychic), Weather Ball (Ice)
Additional Event Bonuses
The February Community Day includes these enhancements:
- Higher spawn rates for Vulpix and Alolan Vulpix
- Boosted shiny odds for both variants
- Triple Catch XP
- Double Catch Candy
- Double chance for XL Candy (Level 31+ players)
- Lure Modules last one hour and often spawn shiny Vulpix with special backgrounds
- Incense (except Daily Adventure) lasts three hours and attracts more Vulpix
- Go Snapshot photobombs
- One extra Special Trade from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time
- 50% less Stardust for trades from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Event-exclusive Field Research tasks
- Premium Special Research (ticket required)
- Exclusive moves available until four hours post-event
Best of luck in catching your shiny Vulpix and making the most of the event!
