Grookey Pokemon GO Community Day (March 2026) Complete Guide

Updated by Prachi Jhalani
January 17, 2026
RobloxGaming

Get ready trainers! The first Community Day of 2026 is here, featuring the adorable Grass-type starter from the Galar region – Grookey! As someone who’s been playing Pokemon GO since its early days, I can tell you that Community Days are absolutely crucial for building your collection and stocking up on valuable resources. This January 2026 event is particularly special because it’s Grookey’s debut Community Day, bringing with it the highly anticipated Frenzy Plant move and shiny release.

Event Detail	Information
Date & Time	Sunday, January 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Local Time
Featured Pokemon	Grookey (Grass-type)
Shiny Rate	1 in 20 (5%) during event hours
Evolution Window	Event hours + 4 hours after (until 9:00 PM)
Special Move	Frenzy Plant (Rillaboom)
Special Research	$1.99 – “Pecking Order”
Weather Boost	Sunny weather

What is Community Day?

For those new to Pokemon GO, Community Day is a monthly worldwide recurring event dedicated to celebrating players in the Pokemon GO community. Each event features a specific Pokemon that appears at a higher rate than other Pokemon during a specific time frame per timezone. These events are perfect opportunities to catch rare Pokemon, earn exclusive moves, and stock up on valuable resources.

Based on my experience with dozens of Community Days, I can tell you that proper preparation is key to maximizing your gains. Let me walk you through everything you need to know to make the most of Grookey’s special day!

Event Schedule and Duration

The Grookey Community Day takes place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time. This three-hour window is when you’ll find the most Grookey spawns and active bonuses. However, there are some extended features you should know about:

Evolution Window: You can evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom with the exclusive Frenzy Plant move until 9:00 PM local time (4 hours after the main event ends)
Extended Lure Bonus: From 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Grookey will have a very high chance of appearing at PokeStops with active regular Lure Modules
Trade Bonuses: Special trade bonuses also extend until 9:00 PM

All Event Bonuses Explained

During the three-hour event window, you’ll enjoy these fantastic bonuses:

Active Bonuses (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM):

3× Catch Stardust – Perfect for stocking up on this valuable resource
2× Catch Candy – Speed up your evolution progress
2× Chance for Candy XL (Level 31+ trainers) – Essential for powering up to Level 50
3-hour Incense duration (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
1-hour Lure Module duration (excluding Golden Lure Modules)
Increased Grookey spawns in the wild

Extended Bonuses (2:00 PM – 9:00 PM):

One additional Special Trade (maximum 3 for the day)
50% less Stardust required for trades
High Grookey spawn chance at Lured PokeStops

Featured Pokemon: Grookey

Grookey, the Chimp Pokemon, is a pure Grass-type from Generation 8’s Galar region. Here’s what you need to know:

Base Stats and Evolution:

Grookey → Thwackey: 25 Candy
Thwackey → Rillaboom: 100 Candy
Type: Grass
Weather Boost: Sunny weather
Max CP (Level 50): 1,227

Shiny Grookey Availability

Yes! Shiny Grookey will be available during Community Day with significantly increased odds. Based on my research and experience, the shiny rate is approximately 1 in 20 encounters (5%) during the event, compared to the standard 1 in 500 rate for regular Pokemon.

The shiny form features:

Grookey: Lighter green body with orange accents
Thwackey: Pale green with darker markings
Rillaboom: Lighter coloration with subtle changes

Exclusive Moves: Frenzy Plant and Drum Beating

This is where things get exciting! Rillaboom will gain access to two powerful Grass-type moves:

Frenzy Plant (Community Day Exclusive)

Trainer Battles: 100 power
Gyms and Raids: 100 power
How to get: Evolve Thwackey during event hours or up to 4 hours after

Drum Beating (Permanent Addition)

Trainer Battles: 60 power + lowers opponent’s Attack by one stage
Gyms and Raids: 115 power
How to get: Evolve Thwackey anytime after the event OR use Charged TM on existing Rillaboom

From my PvP experience, Frenzy Plant makes Rillaboom one of the best Grass-type attackers in the game, while Drum Beating provides excellent utility with its Attack debuff in trainer battles.

Special Research: “Pecking Order”

For $1.99, you can purchase the exclusive Special Research story “Pecking Order.” Based on my analysis of multiple sources, here’s what to expect:

Step 1/3:

Catch 3 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 5 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 10 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Make 7 Nice Throws → 20× Ultra Balls
Make 5 Great Throws → 1× Star Piece
Make 5 Curveball Throws → 1× Incense
Rewards: Grookey encounter, 50 Grookey Candy, 50 Grookey Candy XL

Step 2/3:

Catch 3 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 5 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 10 Pokémon → Thwackey encounter
Use 3 Berries → 20× Ultra Balls
Use 5 Berries → 1× Charged TM
Use 7 Berries → 3× Silver Pinap Berry
Rewards: Grookey encounter, 7,500 Stardust, 3× Rare Candy

Step 3/3:

Catch 3 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 5 Pokémon → Grookey encounter
Catch 10 Pokémon → Rillaboom encounter
Spin 3 PokéStops → 20× Ultra Balls
Spin 5 PokéStops → 1× Rocket Radar
Explore 1 km → 1× Premium Battle Pass
Rewards: Grookey encounter, 10,000 XP, 1× Rare Candy XL

Field Research Tasks

Spin PokeStops during the event to get these special research tasks:

Confirmed Tasks:

Catch 3 Grookey → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance), 5× Great Balls, 2× Ultra Balls, 2× Pinap Berries, 500× Stardust
Win a five-star or higher raid → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance)
Trade a Pokémon → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance)
Complete a Party Challenge → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance)
Catch 5 Pokémon while in a party → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance)
Catch 50 Pokémon → Grookey encounter (Special Background chance)

Special Background Grookey

One of the exciting new features for 2026 Community Days is the Special Background mechanic! Grookey encountered during the event may have a unique background, making them extra special collectors’ items. You can find these through:

Wild encounters during event hours
Field Research task rewards
Special Research story rewards
Community Ambassador events
Lured PokeStops (2:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

Pro Tips and Strategies

Based on my extensive Community Day experience, here are my top strategies:

Before the Event:

Clear your Pokemon storage – You’ll need space for all the Grookey you’ll catch
Stock up on Poke Balls – Bring Ultra Balls and Great Balls
Plan your location – Find areas with multiple PokeStops
Charge your phone – Community Days are battery-intensive
Prepare friends for trading – Coordinate special trades in advance

During the Event:

Use Incense immediately – Activates at the start for full 3-hour duration
Activate a Star Piece – Maximizes your 3× Stardust bonus
Mega Evolve a Grass-type – Use Mega Venusaur or Mega Sceptile for extra candy
Use Pinap Berries – Double the candy for each Grookey catch
Take snapshots – Get photobombed by Grookey for surprise encounters
Spin every PokeStop – Get event-specific Field Research

Evolution Strategy:

Catch 125+ Grookey – Enough candy for 4-5 full evolutions
Check IVs – Save the best ones for evolution
Evolve during event – Get Frenzy Plant move
Keep extras – Trade for better IVs or lucky trades

Trading Maximization:

Save Pokemon for trades – Don’t trade everything immediately
Prioritize special trades – Use your 3 special trades wisely
Trade for high IVs – Use the 50% Stardust discount
Look for lucky trades – Trade Pokemon caught in 2018-2019

Shop Offers and Value

Community Day Ultra Box ($1.99):

1× Special Research ticket
5× Ultra Balls

My assessment: This is excellent value if you plan to play the full event. The Special Research alone is worth the price, and the Ultra Balls are a nice bonus.

Community Features and Social Aspects

Finding Other Trainers:

Community Day Map: Check Niantic’s official map for Community Ambassador events
Campfire App: Find local meetups and coordinate with other trainers
Local Parks: Popular gathering spots with multiple PokeStops

Community Ambassador Events:

If you have Community Ambassadors in your area, definitely check out their events! They often feature:

Additional Timed Research
Special Background encounters
Premium item rewards
Community activities

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on my experience, here are mistakes I see players make:

Catching Pokemon before the event starts – Wait until 2:00 PM for boosted spawns
Activating Lures before the event – They won’t get the extended duration
Not managing inventory – Run out of space for catches
Forgetting to evolve in time – Miss the Frenzy Plant window
Not using Star Pieces – Miss out on triple Stardust
Ignoring trades – Waste the 50% Stardust discount

Weather Considerations

Since Grookey is Grass-type, Sunny weather will:

Increase Grookey spawns
Boost Grookey’s level (higher CP)
Make Grookey easier to catch

Check your weather forecast and plan accordingly. If it’s sunny, you’re in for a treat!

Post-Event Strategy

The event doesn’t end at 5:00 PM! Here’s what to do:

5:00 PM – 9:00 PM:

Evolve your best Thwackey for Frenzy Plant
Use Lured PokeStops for extra Grookey encounters
Complete remaining trades with the Stardust discount
Finish any pending research tasks

After 9:00 PM:

Use Charged TMs to get Frenzy Plant on existing Rillaboom
Assess your collection and decide which to keep/trade
Plan your next Community Day strategy

Showcases Information

There seems to be some conflicting information about showcases. Based on my research, Grookey and Rillaboom showcases will likely be available during the Community Day weekend (Saturday 10:00 AM – Sunday 8:00 PM local time), but check the in-game news for confirmation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the exact shiny odds for Grookey Community Day?

A: The shiny rate is approximately 1 in 20 encounters (5%) during event hours, significantly higher than the standard 1 in 500 rate.

Q: Can I get Frenzy Plant after the event ends?

A: Yes! You have until 9:00 PM local time (4 hours after the event) to evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom with Frenzy Plant.

Q: Is the Special Research worth the money?

A: Absolutely! At $1.99, you get multiple Grookey encounters, valuable items, and exclusive rewards. It’s one of the best values in Pokemon GO.

Q: Should I evolve multiple Rillaboom?

A: Yes! I recommend evolving 4-5 Rillaboom with Frenzy Plant for different purposes (PvP, raids, trades, collection).

Q: What’s the best strategy for maximum Stardust?

A: Use a Star Piece during the event, catch everything with Pinap Berries, and participate in raids for additional Stardust bonuses.

Q: Can I complete the Special Research after the event?

A: Yes, you can complete the research at any time after purchasing, but the encounters and spawns are best during the event hours.

Final Thoughts

Grookey Community Day January 2026 is shaping up to be an fantastic event! With increased shiny odds, the powerful Frenzy Plant move, and generous bonuses, it’s perfect for both new and experienced trainers.

Remember to have fun, connect with your local Pokemon GO community, and enjoy the celebration of everything that makes Community Days special. Whether you’re hunting for that perfect shiny Grookey, building your ultimate Grass team, or just enjoying the atmosphere, this event has something for everyone.

Don’t forget to bookmark this guide and check back for updates as we get closer to the event. Community Days sometimes have last-minute changes or additional features announced!

Happy hunting, trainers! May your throws be accurate and your shiny rate be high!